Justin Staley grew up in South Central Idaho working alongside his parents and siblings where he learned the value of hard work. Honesty has always been a huge part of Staley’s life. While growing up, anyone sitting on the job was quickly reminded by Staley’s father that life was better spent on their feet with their hands in it. His parents owned a small farm that was leased out, but it enabled Staley and his siblings to learn the importance of chores such as fencing, livestock production and also equipment operations as his parents owned and operated a small construction company.
Working on ranches and for a few horse trainers, riding became a big part of Staley’s life. A summer during early high school spent on Burns Oregon’s Bell A Ranch served as a great opportunity for him to learn aspects of Great Basin traditions, as well as doctoring pasture cattle. This laid a foundation of handling and roping all classes of cattle on the ranch.
After high school, Staley served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Minnesota. Upon returning home, he enrolled at the College of Southern Idaho in Twin Falls where he met and married his sweetheart, Crystal. During summer months he worked for Brackett Ranches, a family ranch, which was close to home. Working for Ira Brackett gave Staley valuable experience that was critical in furthering the development of essential cowboy skills.
In order to further his education in pursuit of a bachelor’s degree, Staley transferred to Brigham Young University-Idaho where he graduated with a major in ag-business and a minor in animal science. An opportunity to visit Deseret Cattle and Citrus in Central Florida was key to landing him an internship with Deseret in the winter of 2009. After returning to Southern Idaho for nearly a year, Deseret Ranches called and offered Staley a full-time position at the Handcart Ranch, and later Sheridan Ranches of Wyoming. An opportunity to move with the company came again to Woodruff Utah at Deseret Land and Livestock where Staley has been a cattle foreman for the past two years. This opportunity has given him experience overseeing people, commercial and seed stock cattle, as well as range and irrigated land. Staley and his wife have three kids, Ezra (8), Atlee (5) and Kade (2). The love for ranching and the continual pursuit of this lifestyle for Staley and his family has led them to the King Ranch® Institute for Ranch Management.