[nostrademons]

I figured that the best way to own a ranch is to start a successful tech company, sell it (or parts of it), buy a bunch of ranchland, and then hire ranch hands that always wanted to get into the business but didn't have the capital for it.

That seems to be what all the tech billionaires do. Gates, Bezos, and several old-line tech company heirs are all big ranch holders.

[bluGill]

You run into the same problem of everyone else: there is only so much land and so you compete with everyone, including those ranch hands that want to get into it (and likely have their own holdings they are working when not on your shift). That they are working their own land means they have some ability to out compete you (though their lack of capital means you will have a much larger investment).

Also many states have laws against corporate farmers that can get you.