Meet DANII OLIVER | Beverage Anthropologist, Owner Farm & Brewing Conservation Ranch

We had the good fortune of connecting with DANII OLIVER and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi DANII, is there something you can share with us that those outside of the industry might not be aware of?
Outsiders are probably unaware of the bias, discrimination, abuses and rampant legal violations (labor laws and human rights neglect) being committed against Women, BIPOC and LGBTQ citizens trying to earn a living at something they love doing in my industry.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
My partner and I have grown to 4 people. Together we run the KIDO Family Ranch which is a Seed to Spirit Research & Development Permaculture Ranch and Brewery in Texas. Here we farm, brew and conduct anthropological research on Indigenous fermentation in the Americas and its conservation and addition to the global lexicon. I am most proud of our self directed unschooling through world schooling approach to all that we do. We implement the Ease Methodology of EQ (Emotional Intelligence), Environment, Exposure, Engagement, Experimentation and Endeavoring to learn and engage the world and subject matter we are interested in.

I come from an entrepreneurial Arawak family out of South and Central Americas. Members of my family migrated to the U.S.A. seeking greater opportunities to build up their goals and realize their dreams. Contributing a unique creative vision that adds to the world, has been a multi-generational directive. It wasn’t easy to get to this growth phase of my business, owning land and property. After all, most companies lease space and hire vendors. I started the company in New York City where I was challenged by every -ISM there is. Landlords would not rent to my company either because of the color of my skin as the owner, me being younger than their age and some landlords even refused to speak with me because of the gender they perceived me to be. New York City is a highly segregated city with a great deal of redlining in play.

Ultimately I built the business, turned a profit and ventured to grow the business to its full Seed to Spirit potential and purpose. To overcome those challenges I had to make the sacrifice of bootstrapping milestone to milestone putting the financial care of my children up as investment in the business and operating as a full time parent, educator and business professional. Since access to capital is limited to white males or white women investors identify with, I realized I could not compete and didn’t want to lose sight of my confidence and goals. Thus, I chose to focus on the “How do we make this possible?” problem solving scenarios as opposed to getting distracted and waiting for the world to be more equitable.

Along the way I’ve learned how to fit in and NOT to fit in. Being the only or the first is a lonely road but it is a road filled with potential to manifest your wildest dreams. Trying to compete and/or fit in is a setup for true struggle and possibly failure. It’s distracting if nothing else. You can not be the next guy and you can not out compete the next guy especially if you don’t have the liquid cash to run a race against the next guy. Thus I learned simply not to compete or fit in.

I want the world to know everything that is worthwhile doesn’t have to follow a eurocentric model to be successful and valuable. I want the world to know what actually equals an opportunity for You, won’t degrade you, force you to work unpaid or compromise your physical and psychological safety. I want the world to know about the work I am doing to give my people, my heritage and our way of life it’s own lexicon in history. There isn’t one way to live. Many in our society are unhappy because they’re in the rat race or operating out of fear. My contribution adds to sustainability, the ability for us to show up well as human beings and live an interconnected life.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Showing folks who visit the KIDO Family Ranch the best time of their life is actually a part of the business. In helping people to find their own self directed path we help them to see what going after their bucket list looks like and feels like. Many times we start with a conversation about what they want or need then craft itineraries based on them. Many need time and the space of the Ranch to figure that out their answer.

Bird watching on the Ranch is one of the most exciting and rewarding passive activities. Stressed out city folks may not get it when you talk to them about bird watching but after a few minutes at the conservatory windows their mesmerized and hours pass as they contemplate their needs and bucket list. We’ve taken guests to “Tandy Hills” and “Dinosaur Valley” to hike. We’ve taken guests on 100 mile drives from the country to the city and back through sunset and the darkness of night without street lights. For animal lovers we go out to “Fossil Rim” on safari to feed the giraffe and get bitten by the ostriches.

We love the farm to table offerings of our friends at “Burgundy Pasture Beef” to add to our harvested produce which are crafted into our chef’s full day’s menu. Since we juice our own produce, blend superfood smoothies and ferment our own beers, ciders and non-alcoholic probiotic sodas and drinking vinegars for our seltzer waters we have a wide range of beverages to sip on right on site. Hanging out on the porch listening to the music of the birds and cicadas always seems to stop time for our guests. Hanging in the brewery is work but the work is mediative and fosters conversations that build new relationships and help to rewire the brain. After a day outdoors many don’t want to go any further for nightlife. They’ve had all the brews they’ve wanted, gave their mind a rest and found a stream of new creative consciousness they want to sink in and flow uninterrupted. To support that we start a magical bonfire we all sit around dazing at under a full sky of stars amazed at how many there are.

When more stimulus is desired we host various day tours from Fort Worth to Dallas which include food tours, brewery tours, wine tours and nature tours.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Shoutout to Moringa For Life owned by Mariko Gifford and Best Served Podcast founded by Jenson Cummings. Together they helped to to refocus on the health aspects of my work and research on Indigenous American fermentation and Seed to Spirit permaculture practices. I lost sight of my unique focus due too a drive to understand and fix the reasons behind why diverse people like me aren’t included in the beverage, beer, fermentation and spirits industry at large. Despite a lack of respect and acceptance by industry peers Mariko and Jenson, in intersecting industries, collaborated with me to bring a dream to life an all American style brew, a Honey Moringa Beer.

Website: kidofamilyranch.com

Instagram: @kidofamilyranch

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniioliver/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/_IslandToIsland

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kidofamilyranch/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoDYkTm5yZPghyY96pCVE_A

Image Credits
Photographs by Denia Drake & Danii Oliver