Ryan Wood: ex-Dallas Cowboy trades Under Armour success for cattle ranching.

• Author: Bronikowski, Lynn
• Position: EXECUTIVE EDGE

Ryan Wood played fullback for the Dallas Cowboys, co-founded the billion-dollar Under Armour apparel company, and today the Longmont native is following his dream--ranching on 652 acres at his Sweetwood Cattle Co. in Steamboat Springs.

"I don't come from generations of ranchers, but I've always had a passion for it," said Wood, who left Under Armour in 2007 after 10 years, including two years running its international operations out of Amsterdam.

"The greatest thing about Under Armour were the early years," said Wood, 38. "We sewed. We were bookkeepers, IT guys, sales and manufacturing guys. We did everything from cutting fabric to boxing products in a warehouse. That was so cool looking back on it. Worldwide, there are 2,500 employees, and you think of all those lives that you affected and opportunities you provided."

But Wood was ready to come home to Colorado--to ski, fish, hunt and start his new company producing artisan beef. Last spring his ranch became the first in Colorado to receive the "Verified Green" award from the USDA for its sustainable practices. Sweet-wood even ships its steaks across the U.S. in recycled, recyclable or reusable packaging as part of its environmental stewardship.

"When I started with Under Armour, I didn't have huge expectations but knew I was going to give it all that I had and learn as much as I could," Wood said. "It's the same with my beet business. I try to learn as much as I can from local ranchers--people in this valley who have been doing it for a long time. There's a whole culture of ranching here, and everyone comes together to help."

While working in Amsterdam, Wood spotted his ranch on the Internet, bought the land and built the ranch over 21/2 years from the ground up.

"I don't think you can ever get the mountains out of your blood once you grow up here," Wood said. "We saw everything as kids-we would go hunting, fishing, camping, and Steamboat was our getaway.''

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