The Phillips children were less than thrilled when their parents, Brent and Daniela, moved them from their luxury, dream home into a barn without air conditioning or a toilet. As Brent tells it, “I’ve always worked in software engineering. When my brother and I sold our company in 2020, we had money for the first time. Daniela and I were able to move from a small apartment where the kids shared a bedroom into the spacious home we’d always wanted to give them.”

But something didn’t sit right with Brent. He saw his children, then 11 and 13, becoming extremely entitled. He decided the family would make a shift, move to a ranch, and learn “farming and gratitude”.

“Our daughter cried every day,” Brent said. “But I felt strongly that we needed to escape the digital world and learn to be producers — not just consumers. We wanted to understand agriculture, sustainability, and hard work in a way we never had before.”

The couple scoured Facebook Marketplace and eBay for farm animals to purchase. Then, through trial and error — and copious YouTube tutorials — they learned to care for them. But it was never meant to be more than a small, family hobby farm. “It wasn’t a business. There was never any grand plan. It was just a way to teach our kids a different — better — way of life,” Brent said.

That’s when war broke out in the Ukraine, and having worked with and befriended many Ukrainians during his software years, Brent felt called to do something. So, he cobbled together a makeshift hotel from a barn and extended an open invitation to those in need of sanctuary.

The family feels like they’ve lived three lifetimes since then. “That’s when I went to bed one night a multi-millionaire and woke up flat broke,” he said. The public company that had purchased Brent’s start-up had gone belly up and, because much of what he’d been paid was in the form of stock in the now-defunct company, the family lost their savings, his 401(k), everything.

“I couldn’t even pay the electric bill,” Brent said. “At 3:00 in the morning, I went outside, collapsed on the ground, and begged God for direction. I’ve always taken my role as husband and father seriously, and I knew I couldn’t stay down long. I had to get up and do whatever I could to support my family.”

So, that’s what he did. He began working four different internet jobs in four different countries and time zones, just to keep food on the table. Out of desperation, they listed the now-empty barn conversion on Airbnb, praying someone would book it. They did — immediately.

That was the genesis of Milk & Honey Ranch, the hottest new ecotourism destination. “By the end of 2023, we had five units listed on Airbnb,” Brent said. “Any money we made went straight into building the next unit — and the next.”

By 2024, the family had money in the bank again and the resolve that this would be their year. “We’d climbed out of the hole and were able to pay our bills,” Brent said. “We were ready to see what was next for us. Then, on January 8th, I got a call that Daniela had been in a massive car accident and wasn’t expected to make it through the night.”

Brent posted on Milk & Honey’s social media calling for people to join him in praying for her. When Daniela did indeed make it through the night, he began documenting her recovery and posting it on their social media as well. Next thing they knew, the ranch was not only on the radar but booked for the next year and a half. As Daniela racked up a half million dollars in hospital expenses, God provided a way for the family to pay through the revenue the ranch was now generating.

That wasn’t the last struggle the family had to endure. A few months later, the ranch was hit by a tornado and was promptly dropped by their insurance carrier. They suddenly lost their agricultural exemption, making it all but impossible to pay state taxes on the land, and they got word they were being sued by another company over the use of the Milk & Honey name.

Through it all, the family clung to their Christian faith. And again, and again God provided a way forward. These days, Milk & Honey Ranch is at full capacity and booked several months in advance. The kids are 15 and 17. And Brent is happy to report the same daughter who cried every day after she was moved to the ranch has done a complete 180. “She told me the other day that, when she gets married, she wants to raise her kids on a farm,” Brent said.

Milk & Honey Ranch is now 54 acres of sustainable, organic paradise with five-star accommodations and fun, hands-on animal encounters and education for families to connect with the creation and with each other. Visitors of all ages can enjoy a guided farm tour, hear the Milk & Honey story, and learn about farm life, including their unique aquaponics system and vermiculture practices. They can interact with over 400 hand-raised farm animals across 13 different species, from highland cows to peacocks. And they can learn how they might do their part to become producers rather than just consumers.

One visitor, Haley, booked the manor house for her extended family of 13. “We couldn’t get over how stunning the grounds were,” she said. “And it meant a lot to us to see how they use the entire property to glorify Jesus. The manor house was gorgeous, and at 4,000 square feet, there was plenty of room for us to spread out. Everything we needed was right there, including a beautiful pool and a golf cart for our use.”

Haley’s grandkids loved petting and snuggling with the cuddle cows. “Anywhere there were animals, there were little feeders we could use to feed them,” she said. “The lake had an inflatable obstacle course we all loved. There were grills and TVs for our use. Our favorite was the sand volleyball, which we played late into the night.”

Haley loved starting her day at the gourmet coffee shop, and she and her girls had fun one night crafting custom trucker hats while sipping a selection of Texas wines. “We heard rave reviews of the onsite farm-to-table restaurant,” she said. “It was fun meeting the other guests. Some of them had driven 18 hours to get there. But we also loved that the place is large enough that you didn’t really have to see other guests, if you didn’t want to.

“We thought the Promise Land Village was particularly cute,” Haley said. “It’s made to look like an old west town complete with a diner and saloon. But they were actually rooms where you could stay.” The rustic, old-west look belies the modern, resort-style luxuries within, including stunning architecture, private courtyards, and access to an exclusive shared pool.

Also on-site are a spa and wellness center, a gym, nature trails for hiking, and a variety of activities, including e-biking, paddleboarding on the lake, tennis, pickleball, and basketball, a golf simulator, multiple pools, an elaborate floating obstacle course, and skeet shooting.

“We began this whole adventure as a way for our family to get away from city life to connect with the creation and with each other,” Brent said. “But God had a plan we never could have imagined. Now, we’re able to offer other families the same opportunity to connect with the natural world and with each other, have fun, learn, and perhaps even consider how they might make a difference themselves. We can’t wait to see where God takes us next.” MilkandHoneyRanch.com