CHEF ABBY KNOWLES

Abby Knowles is a culinary visionary, rancher, and advocate for sustainable food systems. She began her career after training at the Le Cordon Bleu in Portland, Oregon and working under acclaimed chef, Jean-Robert de Cavel, in Cincinnati. Abby founded Life of Riley Foods in 2012, emphasizing natural foods, and later transitioned to the Colorado Kitchen Collective in 2016, blending her culinary expertise with a focus on local and sustainable ingredients. Abby and her family now steward the XIT Ranch, a historic Texas Panhandle operation known for its roots in the legendary cattle drives of the late 19th century. Under Abby’s leadership, the ranch has embraced regenerative agriculture and responsible land management raising grass-fed Black Angus and American Wagyu beef. The ranch also supports a robust horse breeding program with a focus on performance and ranch versatility, recently moving their headquarters to Weatherford, Texas.

In addition to her work with XIT Ranch, Abby plays an active role in food and community initiatives. She has collaborated with organizations in her former Colorado communities like the Mountain Roots Food Project and Boulder Food Rescue and has been featured at the Crested Butte Food and Wine Festival and the Waterkeepers Alliance. Although her page turn to Texas is still fresh, she has dived headfirst into the Lone Star culture. Recently, Abby was named a board member of the Cowgirl Museum, further reflecting her dedication to preserving and celebrating Western heritage. Abby’s culinary and ranching journey has also been highlighted in publications such as Cowboys & Indians, Cowgirl Magazine, Western Horseman, Garden & Gun, and The Modern Huntsman Cookbook where her vanguard approach to combining sustainable food production with ranch traditions has earned widespread recognition. Driving their roots deeper, Abby and XIT Ranch continue to balance legacy and innovation, ensuring a rich future in both the cattle and horse industries while supporting family-oriented tradition.