Meet the Man Behind Back 40 Acres: Rion Buswell’s Journey from Family Farm to Pasture Pro

If you’ve spent any time in Parker or the surrounding Colorado plains, you know the drill. You buy a few acres, dreaming of golden sunsets and horses grazing in knee-high grass. Then reality hits: the wind picks up, the rain disappears for months, and your "dream pasture" starts looking more like a dusty, weed-choked vacant lot.

Enter Rion Buswell.

Rion isn’t just a guy with a tractor. He’s the man behind Back 40 Acres, and he’s spent his entire life learning how to make the earth cooperate: even when the earth is being particularly stubborn (which, let’s be honest, is most days in Colorado).

Rion’s journey from a family farm to becoming Colorado’s go-to guy for pasture reclamation is a story of grit, grease, and a genuine love for the land. If you’ve been staring at your acreage wondering where it all went wrong, pull up a chair. Rion has probably been exactly where you are, and he knows the way out.

Roots That Run Deeper Than a Colorado Winter

Rion didn’t learn about land management from a textbook or a weekend seminar. He learned it the old-fashioned way: by living it. Growing up on a family farm, agriculture wasn't just a job; it was the rhythm of daily life. From the time he could reach the pedals, Rion was involved in the intricate dance of planting, harvesting, and maintaining equipment.

This lifetime of expertise is the backbone of Back 40 Acres. When Rion walks onto your property, he isn’t just looking at the grass. He’s looking at the soil composition, the drainage patterns, and the subtle signs of nutrient depletion that a less experienced eye would miss.

"Growing up on the farm, you learn quickly that you can't cheat the land," Rion says with a grin. "If you don't take care of the soil, it won't take care of you. It’s that simple. We’re here to bring that farm-bred work ethic to property owners who might have the land, but not the fifty years of experience or the half-million dollars in equipment to manage it."

The Parker Problem: Reclaiming the "Dirt Lot"

When Rion moved to the Parker area, he noticed a recurring theme among residential acreage owners. People had beautiful homes on five, ten, or twenty acres, but the land itself was often "diminished." Overgrazing, invasive weeds, and the harsh Colorado climate had turned what should have been thriving pastures into what Rion calls "dirt lots."

"It breaks my heart to see a beautiful piece of Colorado land just... giving up," Rion says. "People want a pasture their horses can actually eat from, or a field that doesn't blow half its topsoil into the neighbor’s yard every time the wind kicks up. But they don’t know where to start."

Back 40 Acres was born out of a desire to bridge that gap. Rion realized that many landowners were stuck between "doing nothing" and "calling a massive commercial ag company that won't talk to you for less than a thousand acres." Back 40 Acres specializes in that medium-to-large residential sweet spot, offering everything from weed management to comprehensive seeding services.

The "Systems-First" Approach: Why Your Mower is Just a Tool

One of the things that sets Rion apart is his "systems-first" philosophy. To Rion, land management isn't a series of one-off chores; it’s a holistic system. If you just mow the weeds without addressing the soil, they’ll be back in two weeks. If you throw down seed without proper aeration or fertilizer, you’re just feeding the birds.

"We don't just 'cut grass,'" Rion explains. "We look at the whole cycle. We ask, 'What is the soil telling us? Why is the Bindweed winning here?' Once we understand the system, we can implement a plan to reclaim it."

This systematic approach is why Rion is so big on regenerative seeding methods. Instead of just dumping generic seed and hoping for the best, Rion uses methods that build soil health over time, ensuring that the pasture doesn't just look green for a month, but stays productive for years.

The Golden Rule: The 6-Inch Secret

If you want to see Rion get serious, ask him how low he mows. At Back 40 Acres, there is one non-negotiable rule that guides every job: We never mow lower than 6 inches.

To a suburban homeowner used to a manicured 2-inch lawn, 6 inches might sound like a lot. But in the world of residential and pasture mowing, it’s the difference between life and death for your grass.

"In Colorado, the sun is brutal and the moisture is scarce," Rion says. "When you scalp a pasture, you’re exposing the soil to the sun, which bakes out the moisture and kills the microorganisms that keep the grass alive. By keeping it at 6 inches, we provide natural shade for the roots, prevent erosion, and give the grass enough leaf surface to actually photosynthesize and grow back stronger."

It’s this kind of "expert neighbor" advice that makes Rion more of a guide than a service provider. He’s not here to just do what you ask: he’s here to do what’s right for your land.

Reliability: Because "Farm Time" Means On Time

If there’s one thing that frustrates Rion more than a field of Canadian Thistle, it’s a contractor who doesn’t show up when they say they will.

"On the farm, if the rain is coming and the hay isn't in, you've lost your crop. Timing is everything," Rion says. "I’ve brought that same mindset to Back 40 Acres. If we say we’re going to be there on Tuesday, we’re there on Tuesday. If a job is worth doing, it’s worth doing right and on schedule."

This commitment to reliability extends to the equipment. Rion doesn't show up with a glorified riding mower. He brings the heavy hitters: John Deere tractors, rotary cutters, and Truax seed drills: ensuring that every job, from erosion control to vacant lot maintenance, is handled with professional-grade efficiency.

Accessible Expertise for Every Budget

Rion knows that land management can feel overwhelming and expensive. That’s why he’s committed to being inclusive and flexible. Whether you have a massive budget for a full-scale pasture reclamation or just a few hundred dollars to get your weed situation under control, Rion is happy to chat.

"We work with any budget," Rion emphasizes. "Sometimes the best plan is a multi-year phase-in. We might start with weed mitigation this year to stop the bleeding, then move into seeding and fertilizing next year. The goal is progress, not perfection on day one."

He views his role as an advisor, helping clients navigate their options and understand the natural calendar of Colorado. He’ll tell you when it’s the right time to seed (and when you’re just throwing money away) and guide you on the best fire mitigation strategies for your specific lot.

The Result: A Pasture You Can Be Proud Of

At the end of the day, Rion’s goal is simple: he wants you to look out your window and see a thriving, healthy piece of Colorado. He wants to see the horses grazing on quality forage and the soil holding firm against the wind.

Success for Back 40 Acres looks like a field that has been reclaimed from the brink: a "dirt lot" turned back into a living, breathing pasture.

"There’s a certain satisfaction in seeing a property transform," Rion concludes. "When a client calls me up a few months after a seeding job and says, 'Rion, I actually have grass growing where there was only dust for ten years,' that’s why I do this. That’s the legacy of the family farm living on."

Let's Chat!

Ready to reclaim your piece of the Colorado landscape? Whether you need a one-time mow or a long-term reclamation plan, Rion and the team at Back 40 Acres are ready to help. We are local, insured, and we take your land as seriously as you do.

Click here to request an appointment or explore our full range of services. Let’s get your land back on track!