A family grateful for the foresight of their ancestors in building their Black-owned ranch that continues today – San Diego Union-Tribune

Her pawpaw was Diamond Brandon’s first living and breathing understanding of a cowboy, rarely without his jeans, button-down shirts, boots, and big ol’ cowboy hat. Originally from Carthage, Texas, Sim Wallace was one of 12 children. The family moved from Texas to California’s Coachella Valley and his sister, Sarah Buncom, moved to San Diego to attend college in 1959. Not long after, Sim followed.
His dream was to one day own his own ranch and retire, so when he was looking for a place to house his horse and found a ranch for sale in the Tijuana River Valley, he talked to Sarah. Together, they raised the money and made an offer on the 10-acre property, and S&S Friendly Ranch was born. This Black-owned and operated ranch also runs their Servicing Every Soul nonprofit on the grounds, providing educational programming, hosting events, promoting regenerative agriculture, operating an animal sanctuary, and partnering with local community organizations to create a space of learning and a commitment to collective work.
Sim and Sarah passed away in 2007 and 2004, respectively, and their descendants have continued to operate and manage the ranch as a family—Brandon, daughter to Sim’s eldest son, Derek, is director of operations and programs for the nonprofit and a co-steward of the ranch; Frank Buncom III is Sarah’s only child who is also operations manager of the nonprofit; Jazzay Buncom is Frank’s daughter, serving as director of agriculture; Frank Buncom IV is his son and previously served as executive director of the nonprofit before moving on to purchase land to run a winery and mushroom business; Derek Wallace was primary steward of the ranch from 2007 to 2019; and siblings from the third generation of the family help out, as well.
Brandon, 36, also works full time as director of community partnerships for the California Federation of Labor Unions, and lives in National City with her husband, Kyle, and their three daughters, Nia, Lea, and Aya. She took some time to talk about working the ranch, creating a space on the land and in nature for family and community, and continuing the legacy of Black land stewardship that her beloved pawpaw and aunt created for their family.

Q: How would you describe who Sim Wallace was? What was his background, both before establishing the ranch, and then once he began running it?
A: When I think of my pawpaw, I first think of a provider and hard worker. He and my nana, Erma, had a marriage that produced eight children. My pawpaw worked in construction as a cement finisher for his primary source of income. The men in his generation often dropped out of school very early to help work and contribute to their households and that’s his story. While he didn’t have a formal education, he worked very hard using the tools his parents gave him to support his family, buy homes, and eventually own land. Even though he loved San Diego, he was aTexas boy through and through. He was the first definition of a cowboy for me—he loved his jeans, button downs, boots, and big cowboy hats. I think buying the ranch was a dream come true for him. He was more rancher than farmer, mostly butchered for meat processing and sales, had a horse boarding business, and also leased out small plots of land to small local farmers and ranchers of color. He was a family man who constantly stepped up to provide for me and my siblings, while indirectly providing us with life skills some of us are still using today. He was well respected and beloved in his community, always mentoring young men and providing them with unique experiences like fishing, hunting, and riding horses.
Q: How would you describe who Sarah Buncom was, and her background, both before and after acquiring the ranch?
A: My Aunt Sarah was a respected educator. She spent years as a principal in the San Diego Unified School District, and what made her special was how deeply she cared about kids having access to every opportunity, not just inside the classroom, but beyond it, too. She pushed for school bus routes in neighborhoods that were often overlooked, and she made sure students could experience San Diego through field trips to Old Town, Balboa Park, and camps. What I carry with me most is how she showed up for our family. She poured her knowledge, her resources, and her heart into making sure the people around her were cared for. She was the heart of the Wallaces; I watched her give so much of herself to her siblings, nieces, nephews, and strangers and she never looked for anything in return. She was one of the smartest people I’ve ever known, always planning ahead, being practical, but also not afraid to take risks. To me, she modeled what it looks like to lead with love in the purest form.
What I love about National City…
I love that National City still feels like a diverse community. I know my neighbors, I know the business owners, I go to Golden Donuts on Euclid and the same woman who greeted me at 5 years old is now greeting my 4-year-old. It still feels like an extension of family.
Q: How, and when, were you introduced to the ranch?
A: I was born in 1989, so the ranch had been in our family nine years prior to my birth. I have early memories of the ranch from the time I was, maybe, 4 or 5 years old. My siblings and I would come up there with pawpaw, mostly to work, but we thought it was fun. My oldest brother had the most exposure working side by side with him. When I did get to come, I was playing and feeding goats, running from chickens, and trying to get out of shoveling manure, haha.
Q: What are some of your memories of that time that stand out for you?
A: My involvement was limited, but what I loved about it was how lively it was. It was full of life and my pawpaw basically created his own little community and peace away from home. I remember it feeling like a treat to go down there.
Q: Can you walk us through what one of your recent days on the ranch looked like?
A: Oh, this is a great question. There was a week last month that was intense. I went from hosting our very first college party with Alpha Phi Alpha’s Eta Sigma chapter through or LLC on one end of the week, to a sip-and-paint event, the “Butterfly Effect,” coordinated in partnership with our nonprofit and Azili herbs (from Azil Organic), on the other. In order to pull off both, it took a couple weeks’ worth of communication, role coordination for our team members, getting the ranch in order to host between 20 to 200 guests, final tours of the space, hands-on management during the event, keeping the space secure and respected, capturing footage for marketing, cleaning during and after, and facilitating any follow up before closing out. It’s a lot of moving parts, but we have a pretty good system in place to stay on top of things.
Q: What are some of the things that you currently enjoy about ranch life?
A: The best part of ranch life is feeling connected to the ancestors who left too soon, in my opinion. When I’m there, I can feel them with me again, pushing me forward, reminding me of what I am made of, and cheering all of us on as we work together. The ranch has been a place of healing for me. There is something about disconnecting from everything else and making time to listen to the wind through trees, roosters crowing, goats calling out, birds singing, and hearing the sound of your own footsteps. These are things I never noticed until I started working there, but have become vital in pushing me forward to ensure this space in our family long term.
Q: What does it mean to you to be a part of stewarding a Black-owned ranch in San Diego?
A: It’s an act of cultural reclamation. It’s about carrying history, healing, and community in every step. It’s reclaiming space in a city where Black folks have so often been pushed out, and making sure this land tells a different story—one of belonging, joy, and legacy. It’s tending to the soil and the trees with the same care we give to people; holding space for rest and resistance; and making sure that our gatherings reflect love, dignity, and our values. It’s not just about today’s events, but about planting seed—literal and figurative—for a future where our children and community see themselves rooted, thriving, and free.
Q: How would you describe the legacy of Sim and Sarah?
A: I would describe Sim and Sarah’s legacy in one word: rooted. Their work planted deep roots that are still nourishing the work today. Their grandchildren and great-grandchildren’s hands are harvesting what they planted. Most people would sell this land for a quick buck, but it’s off the strength of them and their love that we want to see this land in our family for generations to come, and that we are willing to put in the work that ensures that happens. I miss them so much and I hope we are doing them proud.
Q: Can you talk a bit about what some of your programming on the ranch looks like? How do you approach your community education with underserved youth?
A: On any given weekend you might see us hosting a women’s retreat with a healing circle and sound bath; a “Roots of Love” volunteer day where families plant fruit trees and herbs; or a youth workshop where kids get hands-on with the soil, the animals, and the day-to-day operations of the ranch. We also hold space for community celebrations, line dancing classes, and arts and nature programs that bring folks together and that uplift wellness.
When it comes to community education, especially with underserved youth, we lead with access, creativity, and belonging. We know many of these kids don’t always get to see themselves reflected in outdoor spaces, so we design experiences that feel safe, affirming, and fun. That might look like a group of students harvesting fruit and then learning to make tea blends from herbs they picked, or sitting in a circle to hear stories about Black land stewardship before doing their own journaling and art. We mix education with play, so the lessons aren’t just “taught,” they’re lived.
Q: What’s been rewarding about your work at S&S?
A: Working with my cousins has been the most rewarding part of the work. Seeing each of us come out of our shells to lead something we didn’t always see a place for us in. Another part is getting to share who my pawpaw and aunt were in our lives and to the people around them. They were truly the definition of Black history and I get to stand on land they had the foresight to put under my feet.
Q: What has this work taught you about yourself?
A: I have always run away from the idea of being an entrepreneur or being responsible for executing big ideas. This experience has forced me into a space of direct leadership I’ve tried to avoid for most of my life. It has taught me that I can create beautiful and powerful things that have the ability to transform lives, and that when I pour myself into purposeful work, I never come up empty.
Q: What is the best advice you’ve ever received?
A: Remember your why. No matter what issue arises, no matter what conflict may come, if you root everything in your “why” and focus on your purpose, everything else is a distraction and will never have the power to break you.
Q: What is one thing people would be surprised to find out about you?
A: I am not the social person that I have to be, haha. I am actually an introvert and have to talk myself into presenting as outgoing. Also, I am a proud lefty!
Q: Please describe your ideal San Diego weekend.
A: My Ideal weekend usually entails no planning, just making decisions as I go and how I feel with my family and best friend. I like being a tourist in my city and finding new places to eat or learn.

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