In the heart of Oklahoma, Thunder Valley Ranch is a veteran-owned and operated farm run by Dr. Faye Autry, a U.S. Air Force veteran and licensed therapist, and her husband Sean Autry, a U.S. Army veteran. Together, they manage a thriving cattle and hay operation across 500 acres, specializing in British White cattle and pasture-raised beef.
Dr. Autry, originally from Pennsylvania, earned her bachelor’s degree at Saint Vincent College on a basketball scholarship before joining the Air Force in 2006. She served six years on active duty as an airborne surveillance technician aboard the AWACS airframe. During her service, she completed her first master’s degree and purchased the original 20 acres of what would become Thunder Valley Ranch. After a serious injury and honorable discharge in 2012, she transitioned into civilian life, learning to walk again and rebuilding her career.
She became a special education teacher while earning a second master’s degree in 2016. In 2014, she and Sean expanded the farm by purchasing an additional 40 acres and their first herd of cattle. Like many beginning farmers, they faced setbacks – losing their initial herd and restarting with just three bottle calves. From those humble beginnings, Thunder Valley Ranch has grown into a robust operation.
Dr. Autry earned her PhD in Applied Behavior Analysis in 2020 and became a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA-D). Today, she works as a contracted therapist and adjunct professor, balancing her professional career with life on the farm.
Sean, a native Oklahoman, grew up just four miles from the ranch. He served 15 years in the Army National Guard, including a deployment to Iraq in 2003-2004. After working as a civilian at Tinker Air Force Base for a decade, he retired early and now works full-time on the farm, overseeing daily operations, cattle care, and hay production.
Sean and Faye Autry are both veterans and together they run Thunder Valley Ranch in Oklahoma.
Thunder Valley Ranch now operates on approximately 500 acres, with 125 acres owned and the remainder leased through long-term agreements. The farm maintains two herds totaling around 80 head of British White cattle, a heritage breed known for its docile nature and high-quality beef. The Autrys also raise 20-30 free-range chickens, selling extra eggs locally. Their beef is butchered year-round and sold directly to consumers through a storefront and on-farm sales, earning a loyal customer base that values the taste, transparency, and integrity of their products.
The Autrys became Homegrown By Heroes certified after joining the Farmer Veteran Coalition, and the label has helped distinguish their products in a competitive market. “It makes our products stand out and gives us a unique identity,” Dr. Autry said. “Not many farms near us carry this certification, and it means something to our customers.”
Running a Homegrown By Heroes farm is more than a business – it’s a calling. The Autrys take pride in their breeding program and love seeing the progress in their herds. “We enjoy hearing from our customers about how much they love our beef,” Dr. Autry said. “Some go to great lengths to get it, and others won’t eat anything else.”
But behind the success is a hard truth: farming is expensive. “Without the income from my work as a licensed therapist and our military pensions, the farm would have failed a long time ago,” Dr. Autry shared. “The costs of running a farm outpace the actual income it generates. That’s why so many family farms go under. We’re lucky to have outside income to keep ours going.”
Despite the long hours and financial challenges, the Autrys remain committed to their mission. Sean runs a hay crew and bales prairie hay, selling off the surplus not used to feed their cattle. Dr. Autry balances two jobs while helping with farm operations, often working late into the night. “We’re exhausted,” she admitted. “But we’re proud of what we’ve built.”
Thunder Valley Ranch is more than a farm – it’s a reflection of the Autrys’ shared values, military service, and dedication to their community. Their story is one of perseverance, partnership, and purpose. From bottle calves to British Whites, from injury to recovery, from service to stewardship, they’ve built something lasting.
To learn more about Thunder Valley Ranch, visit their Facebook page HERE or read their local feature in the Norman Transcript: Thank a Farmer: Thunder Valley Ranch HERE.
