Rachel and Matt met back in 2020, when everyone thought the world was ending. Both were looking for love on the various dating apps. Rachel couldn't believe it when she matched with her dream cowboy, she thought it was too good to be true. Their first date was a visit to the ranch where Rachel could size Matt up and see if he really was the cowboy she was looking for. Turns out, he was that, and much more. They spent the day touring the ranch, talking about family and history, dreams and aspirations, religion, and everything in between. They visited the family cemetery and ate tacos in the hay loft of the old horse barn. They ended their first date with a trip to Moss Landing at Phil's Fish Market where they ordered food to go and ate on the beach while Sophie and Django played in the sand. After their first date Rachel knew that she wanted to spend as much time as possible with Matt. She was smitten! She enjoyed his sense of humor, his quick wit, and intelligence. They dated long distance for quite some time. Rachel would go home 4 days a week to run her family business then return to the Nyland Ranch to help Matt and Kathleen and much as possible. She spent a lot of time sitting and watching TLC with Kathleen, talking about cutting, ranching, and San Benito gossip.

Rachel grew up on a horse property in the scenic foothills of Mount Diablo State Park in Walnut Creek, CA. There, her love of horses flourished. When she wasn't playing sports, or performing in choral performances, she was out riding the trails of Mount Diablo, team penning/sorting, helping teach horseback riding lessons, or dreaming of a cowboy with blue eyes.... (insert silly face!) In 2016 Rachel graduated with a Bachelors of Arts in Criminal Justice from the University of Nevada, Reno. She came home and took over the running of the family equestrian center. From 2016-2023 she ran an incredibly successful business teaching lessons, hosting camps, clinics, training horses, and so much more. She always said that it would have to be a very special man to steal her away from the wonderful place, and business, that she loved so much. Matthew grew up in the small mission town of San Juan Bautista, where his family has had roots for a very long time. His parents moved there from a ranch in Milpitas when he was very young, as his grandmother insisted that her only grandson should be close by on the family ranch. When he wasn't participating in 4-H, going to state league paintball tournaments, or taking riding lessons with Paula, he was learning the value of respect and honor and a passion for livestock. Matthew studied animal science at UC Davis, before returning home due to his father's, and later mother's, declining health. After his father passed, he was unsure about the future in many ways. He had never imagined meeting someone over an app. Several of his friends had found love that way, but coming from tech antiquated world of agriculture, he couldn't wrap his head around the thought of meeting someone that way. But at the time he knew one thing for sure, he didn't have interest in girls that loved horses—but that all changed when he met Rachel. Her sense of humor and joy she exudes made him smile the first time they met, and continues to fill him with happiness and warmth. Instead of feeling dread about the future, he welcomed it, as long as she was his teammate. Over the next 3 years Rachel and Matt overcame many trials. Matt spent a lot of time teaching Rachel what it was like to be a rancher and not just a girl who rides and trains horses. They had to learn how to work together, run the ranch together, make hard decisions together, and ultimately grow into effective teammates--together. Sadly, in January of 2023, Kathleen passed away after a long fight with cancer. Rachel felt incredibly grateful to have had the opportunity to get to know her. In one of her final conversations with Matthew she said "we need to get this girl a ring."

After Kathleen's passing Rachel and Matt decided that it was finally time for her to move onto the ranch. In May of 2023 he took her to lunch in Monterey and popped the question at a scenic overlook on Lover's Point. Rachel was elated to be engaged and began the arduous process of saying goodbye to clients and closing her business. She began moving belongings (and horses) over to the ranch. Rachel and Matt are incredibly excited to take on this next chapter of life together. It hasn't been easy, taking on the ranch has been both challenging and rewarding. Together they hope to continue the family legacy while building their own. They are thankful for all of the love and support they have received from family and friends. They could not do any of this with out it!