Her Story
About Sonja
Sonja Howle is a Land Legacy Advisor and founder of Rooted Range, where she helps landowners navigate complex decisions around holding, transitioning, or selling land with clarity and confidence. Her work is grounded in both strategic analysis and relational advisory, supporting families as they consider not only the financial implications of land decisions, but also the legacy, meaning, and long-term impact tied to their property. She serves as a fiduciary-minded advisor, prioritizing the landowner’s values and goals throughout the decision-making process.
Her journey in land is deeply personal and lifelong. She grew up on a farm and ranch along the Kansas–Colorado border, working the land alongside her father, Harold Smith, and her grandfather. After college, she built a career in advertising and marketing before returning to land and commercial real estate, where she worked with new urban owners of rural land to design barn kits, resorts, and multi-use family properties. She later co-developed Real Estate GIS with her husband, partnering with land brokers to enhance ranch marketing, improve land positioning, and unlock additional natural resource opportunities for new landowners.
About five to six years ago, she recognized a growing need among aging landowners particularly women, who often outlive their spouses to have better tools and guidance when making major land decisions. In response, she created a framework and advisory approach to help landowners explore options beyond selling, including conservation, agritourism, agroforestry, and renewable energy opportunities. Supported by a network of estate attorneys, agricultural experts, and industry thought leaders, she helps families align values with both current and future land value. Across every stage of her career, she has built toward this mission: helping landowners protect generational wealth and make informed, regret-free decisions about their land and legacy.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Sonja
01What do you attribute your success to?
My father Harold Smith told me I could be anything I wanted to be. I'm the oldest of three girls, and he showed me through his life his passion for history and the land, the history of the land where I grew up and where I worked with him and grandpa. He instilled in me a true appreciation for the care and stewardship aspects of land. Everything I've done in my career has kind of led me to this and has given me such a rich background in working with landowners. From working with their barns and resorts to the commercial real estate side, and developing Real Estate GIS with my husband to help land brokers design better marketing, everything just naturally led me to where I need to end up and where I need to finish. I would just say continue to follow your heart.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It depends on where they are. I can give them advice on the three critical people they need to know in the county where they want to operate and how to integrate themselves as a credible person and partner. What I'd like to do is just give landowners the confidence that they're making the right decision without regret. I'd like to see something other than the traditional ways of agriculture and land use, because there are just so many great options. I'd like to see everything become the best version of themselves. It's so customized and individual based on the land and the landowner.
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