OKLAHOMA CITY – A popular urban farm and community space in far northeastern OKC is going before the City Council on Tuesday morning to ask for rezoning after some residential neighbors have complained about traffic and noise.
Located on 10 acres along NE 100th St. between Hefner and Britton Rds, Ralph’s Ranch has become a well-known spot for animal-lovers, fresh produce enthusiasts, and community-centered Oklahomans.
Owner Ben Birdwell and his 10-person team grow an annual yield of 50,000 flowers, produce 800 pounds of produce including tomatoes, cucumbers, okra, beets, lettuce, carrots, herbs, berries, and greens, care for goats and chickens, and host community gatherings and other events throughout the year.
Ralph’s Ranch describes itself as a regenerative farm and agritourism operation. The farm sells produce and flowers through its farmstand and flower subscription program and has participated in the Scissortail Park Farmers Market. The Oklahoma Agritourism Association currently lists the property for farm-to-table activities, horticulture, petting farms, and more.
Financial pressures and successes
Though Ralph’s Ranch’s story is one of rapid success for a local farm, with Birdwell recently featured on the cover of EdibleOKC, it’s not a story without struggle.
Like many small farmers, Birdwell has had to get creative about his business strategies due to rising costs of farming, especially “inputs” like fertilizer and fuel and costs of land prices. On top of all of that, farming in Oklahoma’s unpredictable weather creates its own struggles, especially with recent drought conditions.
KOSU Radio reported in 2025 on the financial pressures facing Oklahoma’s small farms and the uncertainty created by cuts and freezes to federal agricultural programs. Birdwell’s farm was among the operations featured in the report.
So it’s no surprise that Birdwell has responded to challenges by diversifying his business. He has hosted “Farm Days,” and other events, welcoming visitors from all walks of life to experience local agriculture up close with goat yoga, activities for families, live music, local vendors, and more. Flowers have also become a major part of the business, as have direct-to-consumer sales.
“We know farms are dying,” Birdwell told Free Press in an interview. “And there’s a reason they’re dying because a head of lettuce sells for $3 at the grocery store, and I cannot compete with that. So I’ve got to come up with creative solutions.”
Asking for rezoning
While Birdwell is already navigating local farming’s challenges, some of his solutions to “be creative in getting people to the farm” have not gone over as smoothly with some local residents.
Some of Birdwell’s neighbors have voiced concerns about traffic and noise associated with the events, with a City memo claiming at least two dozen resident protests about the ranch.
Birdwell said he has since implemented changes such as building a new parking lot, lowering the noise, and ending late night events.
“When that all got shut down, well now I’ve got to figure out how to keep this thing going,” Birdwell said.
Birdwell is now going through the process of rezoning the property and continuing to make changes to address the concerns.
Birdwell is seeking classification as an AA Agricultural District, a designation used by Oklahoma City for agricultural land and low-intensity residential uses. The Oklahoma City Planning Commission has recommended approval for the agricultural rezoning, known as PC-11014.
“What’s on the table right now is a straight agricultural rezoning,” Birdwell said. “It’s basically taking it from R1, which is residential, to agricultural zoning, which technically makes the property less valuable, and you can do less on it, but one of the things that it does is allows us to grow row crops, and it allows a farm stand, so we can open up the farm again to the public.”
Now this decision is going before the Oklahoma City Council, which is scheduled to consider Birdwell’s request to rezone on Oct. 13. City Council is expected to decide whether the zoning is appropriate for the property and its surrounding neighborhood.
“It’s not like I want to be a wedding venue or an event space,” Birdwell said. “That is not my hope. What I want to do is farm, but to do that, I have to get creative.”
Smaller, uncertain future
Though Birdwell says the farm may not return exactly to previous uses, like the successful Farm Days, there is a goal that this change will lower friction for the farm.
“There is a need to be able to create community on the farm with my proximity to the city,” Birdwell said. “That’s a big driver. That is also one of the pain points.”
Some neighbors are urging the council to reject the motion, saying agricultural zoning could give Birdwell too much room to expand commercial activity.
Birdwell and community supporters are encouraging people to contact Ward 7 Councilperson Camal Pennington in support of PC-11014 and to attend the council meeting.
For Birdwell, the goal is to find a way to keep the farm growing while making room for the neighbors who live around it. Whether the rezoning will help to strike that balance remains unknown, but what is certain is that the ins-and-outs of local family farming may be more complicated than some realize.
“When we talk about wanting small family farms and urban farms and easy access to clean, good food, if you want to allow it, then you’ve got to not fight it and push back on them along their way to stay afloat,” Birdwell said.
Zoe Elrod covers events and happenings around Oklahoma City for Free Press bringing her skill as a reporter and photographer. Zoe has spent her career covering local musicians, artists, politicians, and everyday folks.
