Arcadia Silverleaf residents and ranchers, Jeff and Tobie Harkless have built more than a ranching operation—they’ve built a legacy grounded in family, hard work, and a love of the land.

Jeff, originally from Iowa, moved to Tucson at age seven. His interest in ranching began years later while playing football at the University of Utah, when a team booster introduced him to life on a ranch. Tobie, born in San Antonio, Texas, grew up as a military child, moving around the world and gaining the adaptability and resilience that now serve her so well on the ranch.

The two met in college at a block party when they were just 20 and 21, and they’ve been married for 29 years. Together they raised their sons, Kody and Landry, in Scottsdale, where both boys grew up riding horses and working cattle alongside seasoned cowboys. Today, as young men, Kody and Landry remain deeply involved in the family operation, learning lessons of hard work, responsibility, and tradition through ranch life.

Since 2018, the Harkless family has called Arcadia Silverleaf home. Their house, inspired by Tobie’s grandmother’s home in Southern Illinois, is a place where tradition meets comfort. They love the community feel, friendly neighbors, and the easy access to Scottsdale’s restaurants and recreation.

The family loves staying active and spending time outdoors—whether it’s horseback riding, hiking, playing pickleball, working out, off-roading in their Can-Am ATV, or enjoying adventures with their white Lab, Lyla. Favorite local dining spots include Buck & Rider, Chula Seafood, Dough Bird, The Living Room, Local Bistro, and Eggstacy for breakfast. They also enjoy traveling, with favorite getaways to Florida’s 30A (Emerald Coast of Florida's Panhandle), Park City, and Fort Worth.

As empty-nesters, Jeff and Tobie now divide their time between family, ranching, and their construction business, Hark Drilling, Inc.

Though Arcadia Silverleaf is home base, the Harkless family’s passion is ranching. Hark Ranch spans thousands of acres across three properties: HR Headquarters (176 acres), HR Santa Ynez Camp (6,000 acres), and HR El Oso Camp (12,000 acres). These lands support two divisions: purebred All-American Black Angus cattle and a crossbred Black Angus line raised for grocery markets.

 

Ranch life means early mornings in the saddle, long days working cattle, and evenings gathered around the table as a family. Branding season—known as the Fall Works and Spring Works—are among the most demanding and rewarding times of the year. With the help of experienced cowboys, Kody and Landry, the calves are branded, vaccinated, and checked for health, continuing traditions as old as ranching itself.

Beyond daily work, the Harkless family values community. They host family dinners, welcome visitors to tour the ranch, and give beef customers a firsthand look at their hormone-free, pasture-raised cattle. Their approach to ranching reflects a balance of tradition and innovation, with a focus on sustainable practices and respect for the land.

For Jeff, Tobie, Kody, and Landry, ranching is more than a livelihood—it’s a calling. From the wide Arizona skies to their welcoming Silverleaf neighborhood, their lives are filled with purpose, grit, and family pride.

With their sons stepping into leadership roles, Hark Ranch continuing to grow, and Hark Drilling expanding alongside it, the Harkless family is building more than businesses—they’re shaping a legacy that reflects their values of hard work, family, and integrity.

In a world that changes quickly, the Harkless family stands as a reminder of what endures: faith in family, respect for the land, and the strength to build something that lasts.

Instagram:  @hark.ranch