Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandon Guinn
Hi Brandon, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story is one of transformation—both personal and shared. For a long time, I lived with my own struggles, using drugs and alcohol in ways that could have been destructive, but I always felt I had control. That illusion of control made it difficult for me to understand my son’s addiction when it took hold of his life in ways I hadn’t experienced. Watching him battle something I couldn’t fix forced me to confront my own misunderstandings about addiction and recovery.
As our relationship strained under the weight of his struggles, I had to change. I learned that addiction isn’t just about willpower; it’s about healing, connection, and trust. That realization led me to create Ranch House Recovery and Simple Promise Farms—not just as a place for him, but for others like him, and for families like ours.
What started as a way to help my son became a mission to help others find purpose, connection, and meaningful work in recovery. Today, Simple Promise Farms is growing into something bigger, focused on real-world recovery solutions—housing, employment, vocational training, and partnerships that create sustainable change.
Along the way, I’ve grown too. My focus now is on building relationships, finding balance in my work, and making time for the things that matter—my family, my health, and the experiences that make life meaningful. My story isn’t just about where I’ve been; it’s about where I’m going and who I can bring along the way.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t been a smooth road—far from it. The journey has been filled with challenges, both personal and professional.
On a personal level, one of the hardest struggles was coming to terms with my son’s addiction. I had my own complicated relationship with drugs and alcohol, but I never experienced addiction the way he did. At first, I didn’t fully understand why he couldn’t just stop. That lack of understanding created distance between us, and it took time, humility, and a lot of painful moments before I realized that addiction is not just about choices—it’s about healing wounds that run deep.
Professionally, building Ranch House Recovery and Simple Promise Farms has been a battle against skepticism, bureaucracy, and the overwhelming need for resources. Early on, I had to learn how to navigate the nonprofit world, secure funding, and create programs that weren’t just well-intentioned but actually worked. Recovery isn’t a one-size-fits-all process, and I had to fight for a model that focused on relationship-building, meaningful work, and long-term transformation rather than quick fixes.
There were moments when I questioned everything—when I felt like I was pushing against a system that didn’t want to change. But every time I saw someone reclaim their life, reconnect with their family, or find purpose in recovery, it reminded me why I keep going. The struggles haven’t stopped, but neither has the mission.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
Simple Promise Farms is more than just a nonprofit—it’s a movement dedicated to redefining recovery. We don’t just help people get sober; we help them build meaningful lives through community, purpose-driven work, and long-term support.
We specialize in real-world recovery solutions, focusing on the things that truly make a difference: housing, employment, vocational training, life skills, and financial stability. What sets us apart is our commitment to relationship-based recovery—we believe that healing happens through trust, connection, and shared experiences, not just programs and policies.
One of the things I’m most proud of is how we’ve built a recovery ecosystem—not just a single program but a network of support that includes job placement and partnerships with organizations that align with our mission. We don’t do surface-level recovery; we provide real opportunities for lasting change.
Our farm-based approach, our focus on meaningful work, and our commitment to collaborating with corporate sponsors, community leaders, and other nonprofits make us unique. We are focused on recognizing that true recovery is about more than just sobriety—it’s about rebuilding lives in ways that inspire and empower.
What I want people to know is that Simple Promise Farms is not just here to help people recover; we’re here to change the way recovery works. We’re building a future where people in recovery have opportunities, dignity, and the support they need to thrive. If you believe in that vision, we’d love for you to be part of it.
Is there something surprising that you feel even people who know you might not know about?
Something surprising that most people who know me or my work might not realize is that I never set out to build a nonprofit or run a recovery program. This all started as a deeply personal journey—one that I resisted at first. I wasn’t always the person advocating for recovery and building programs to help others; I had to be broken open by my own experiences, especially through my son’s addiction, before I truly understood the depth of this work.
Another thing people might not know is that I’m not just about recovery—I’m about adventure, exploration, and pushing limits. Whether it’s hiking, kayaking, traveling, or meeting new people, I believe in living fully and creating experiences that inspire and motivate. That mindset carries over into my work—recovery isn’t just about getting sober, it’s about rediscovering life in a way that’s exciting, meaningful, and fulfilling.
Lastly, while people see me as a leader in this space, what they might not know is that I’m constantly learning, evolving, and working on myself. I don’t have all the answers, and I still face challenges in finding balance, building relationships, and growing into the best version of myself. But that’s part of what makes this work real—I’m walking this journey alongside the people we help, not above them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.simplepromisefarms.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/simple_promise_farms/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SimplePromiseFarms
- Youtube: https://youtu.be/jyUN_Mlh0i0?si=xQ7NuxcQ4EanBq2c
