From a Prayer to a Purpose: The Story of Ritz Ranch & 3D Cattle Co.

By Kelly Caldwell

Bret and Kim Dalrymple didn’t set out to build a beef and skincare brand. In fact, neither of them ever imagined their calling would come wrapped in butcher paper and balm jars. But what began with one man’s frustration with store-bought beef and one woman’s whispered prayer for purpose has grown into a full-fledged, family-rooted business — built on faith, community, and a whole lot of love.

“This whole story is just a good little tale of the Lord looking after idiots.”
– Bret Dalrymple

The Beef Begins: Bret's Backyard Burger Project

It all started in a barn, with a man tired of mediocre meat.

“I’m tired of eating this beef you get at the grocery store,” Bret told his dad Doug one day as he loaded cattle feed. Doug didn’t hesitate. “Well,” he said, “if you’re gonna do one, throw me one in there too.”

That one turned into two… then five… then a steady stream of cows raised not just for family, but for friends and neighbors. By 2017, Bret was raising 30 to 40 head a year, simply through word-of-mouth and burger-night demand.

He didn’t expect it to grow. “I figured I’d put one in the freezer, and if someone wanted a roast or ribeye, they could try it. Maybe they’d come back next week for more,” Bret laughs. “That was the plan. That was it.”

But the plan had its limits. Friends loved the meat — but many didn’t have space for a whole side of beef, or the funds to buy it all at once. That pushed Bret to get USDA certified and shift the model to individual cuts. Today, that decision has blossomed into 3D Cattle Co., a storefront in downtown Enterprise.

And the name? It’s as personal as it gets — named in honor of their three sons: Dalton, Dawson, and Dylan.

As Bret puts it — he's not just selling steaks. He's feeding families.

“I never dreamed it would turn into this. But here we are.”

A Soap, a Prayer, and a Spark: Kim's Journey to Ritz Ranch

While Bret was raising cattle, Kim was raising kids and seeking purpose — not out of restlessness, but from a deeper desire to do something meaningful beyond her role as matriarch. One day, she simply prayed.

And as prayers often do, hers was answered in a completely unexpected way: a bar of soap.

“I’d never even heard of tallow before that,” Kim says, “even though we’re in the beef business.”

But that gifted bar of soap, made from rendered beef fat, sparked something. She dove into research, uncovering the rich history and skincare benefits of tallow. A week later, she was rendering her own from scraps Bret brought home and mixing it up in her kitchen.

What started as a tiny table at a local farmers market became Ritz Ranch Tallow — a growing skincare line handmade with clean ingredients, deep faith, and old-fashioned care.

Markets, Mixers, and Ministry

Today, Kim manages four markets — three on the Gulf Coast and one at the Enterprise storefront they opened together. One major breakthrough came at the 30A market.

“The beach was huge for us,” she says. “People from all over the country found us and started asking if we ship.”

Her best-seller? A tallow whip infused with frankincense and castor oil — a customer favorite for eczema, diaper rash, burns, and even migraines. Kim is quick to say the results speak for themselves, but it’s the prayers behind each jar that truly set her work apart.

“Every product is prayed over,” she shares. “This whole business is a gift from the Lord, and I want people to feel that when they use it.”

Each batch is handmade — often alongside her longtime friend and prayer partner Kathy Richburg. The mixers themselves carry legacy: one from Bret’s grandmother, another from Kim’s stepmother’s mother. Every detail has heart.

More Than a Business: A Family Mission

3D Cattle Co. and Ritz Ranch aren’t just brands — they’re extensions of the Dalrymple family’s faith and values. Whether it’s a steak or a salve, a ribeye or a remedy, the spirit behind the business is the same:

Feed the body. Nourish the soul. Share the blessings.

Bret may call the journey

“a tale of the Lord looking after idiots,”
but what’s clear is this: through faith, grit, and community, the Dalrymples are building something lasting — one cut, one jar, and one prayer at a time.