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Building and maintaining an empire is tough work, just ask Bravo’s The McBee Dynasty: Real American Cowboys stars Steven McBee, Jr., Cole McBee, and Jesse McBee. The first season of the hit series followed the boys’ father, Steve McBee, as he dealt with the pressures of running McBee Farm and Cattle and its various businesses, keeping the peace between his sons, and maintaining his tumultuous romantic relationship with his CFO (and now-ex), Galyna Saltkovska. In Season 2, the patriarch has taken a step back and left Steven Jr. in charge. “At first, I was really excited,” remembered Steven Jr. “That quickly went away as soon as I got hit with all of the problems that my dad had to deal with on a day-to-day basis.”
Luckily, Steven Jr. had his brothers Cole and Jesse to lean on, though the three didn’t always agree on what areas of the business they should be prioritizing. “We all have found our strengths,” said Cole, but noted “there are times when all three of us want to be in charge.” While Cole and Steven Jr. “butt heads quite a bit,” Jesse admitted that he usually waits to share his opinion until he feels that “the time is right and when it’s necessary.” “I usually like them to fight it out and try to pick the winning side.” Pretty savvy on Jesse’s part!
In addition to dealing with the pressures of running the family business, all three boys have complications within their own relationships. Steven Jr.’s on-again, off-again relationship with Calah Jackson is the source of much drama. “It was a tough season for both of us,” admitted Steven Jr. with a sigh. Cole’s girlfriend Kacie Adkison was pregnant with their child during filming—a daughter named Blair—so he was torn between his everyday duties and preparing to be a father. Jesse and his now-wife Alli Ventresca struggled with distance as she stayed at their city house while Jesse worked at the farm to work during the week. “It was a challenging time,” remembered Jesse. “We had to have some really different, really honest conversations.”
Luckily, the boys had their mother Kristi McBee help them navigate their personal and professional dilemmas. Kristi, who stepped up in Steve’’ absence to be there for her sons, proves to be a powerful yet comforting force.”“We’ve always had such a close relationship with our mom,” said Steven Jr. “She was there for us while we were filming Season 1, but she just didn’t want to be on camera.” Cole agreed with Steven Jr., adding “this experience really brought her out of her shell.”
The McBee brothers recently chatted with Decider over Zoom to discuss the new season, the difficulties of running a multi-million-dollar business, and why they continue to put up with Saltkovska’s drama.
DECIDER: Steven, the burden you’ve carried since your dad left you in charge of the McBee empire has been immense. What were your initial thoughts when he asked you to take over?
STEVEN MCBEE, JR.: At first, I was really excited. I was like, “okay, this is the time that I’ve been waiting for my entire life. I’m going to single-handedly turn this farm and all these businesses around.” That quickly went away as soon as I got hit with all of the problems that my dad had to deal with on a day-to-day basis [laughs]. I realized very quickly that this was way too much for any one person to take on, and I don’t know how my dad did it for all these years. Cole, Jesse and my mom had a couple of family meetings with me where I was like: “Hey, I’m lost here. I’m gonna need your help if we’re gonna make it through all this.” It was truly a team effort to figure out how we were gonna run this place without my dad in charge. There’s no way one person could have done this successfully by themselves.
Cole and Jesse, you two still are a very big part of this business. I know there have been some growing pains with your partnership, but how are things running today?
COLE MCBEE: We all have found our strengths, and we all stay in our lanes [laughs]. That’s how we’ve been splitting things up. There are times when all three of us want to be in charge and there are times that we fight over that. Audiences will see that Steven and I butt heads quite a bit, but that’s really because we have the same personality and we just care so much about our farming operation and our businesses. We’re pouring our hearts and souls into everything, so there’s gonna be arguments.
PeacockJesse, I know you’re more soft-spoken than your brothers. Do you feel like you’re being heard?
JESSE MCBEE: Yeah, I don’t give my opinion too often. I’m surrounded by very alpha male type characters between Steven, Cole, and my dad. I usually chip in when I feel the time is right and when I think it’s necessary. Besides that, I usually like them to fight it out and try to pick the winning side [laughs].
What you boys have been asked to do, regarding the family business, is very, very difficult. Steven, you call your father “Captain Chaos.” Do you ever feel any resentment towards him for the situation you’ve been put in?
SM: No, because we’re so blessed. We have been given the opportunity that no one our age ever has been given. With the farms that we have, with the houses that we live in, we are so thankful for what both of our parents have done for us. There are times when I get frustrated, but then immediately after that, I think about everything that I’ve been given and how much we’ve been spoiled compared to anyone else. I’m like, “man, I have no reason to complain about my parents.”
Cole, this season, we finally get to meet Mama McBee, Ms. Kristi. Did she need any convincing to begin filming with you all?
CM: Yes, she did. She is the opposite of my dad. Don’t ask me how they ended up being married for 28 years. They are complete opposites. My dad is always larger than life. My mom keeps to herself. She’s doesn’t want anybody to know anything about her. So, it was lot to get her to do this. This experience really brought her out of her shell. Afterwards, I think she enjoyed it more than she thought. Even though filming was hard at times, she’s excited to be able to look back at some of the better memories we captured this season.
Guys, I don’t even know where to start with Galyna. Jesse, did you ever think your father’s love life would impact the business as much as it has?
JM: Honestly, no. He preached to us as young adults to never let a relationship get involved in business. Obviously, he very much failed at that. I did not think it would ever come to this point. We’ve had to get involved more than I’d probably like to admit. Galyna is a topic for us pretty much every day.
Steven, you’ve really had a front row seat to the Gaylna/Masha drama because you’re in the office. What do you make of that whole situation?
SM: An involuntary front seat, might I add [laughs]. I see what Galyna does day in and day out, and she is so valuable to the business. She has worked so hard and overcome so much. I have a deep respect for Galyna professionally, but it’s tough to watch some of her personal breakdowns regarding my father and Masha. I see what she does for this business, but other people only get to see the mess. It has definitely led to some very tough conversations. I’ve had to be Galyna’s main advocate in our companies and even with Cole and Jesse sometimes. I’m like, “guys, you don’t know what Galyna handles in the office. She is so important.” She works very hard, but I am not a fan of the drama between Galyna, Masha, and my dad.
Cole, congratulations on being a girl dad! How is fatherhood treating you?
CM: It’s so fun. Blair is our whole world. I knew being a dad was gonna be a lot of fun, but I just didn’t realize how awesome it was going to be. It’s amazing to see my brothers become uncles and my mom and dad become grandparents. Jesse also has a daughter now too. We’ve been very lucky, very blessed.
Congratulations, Jesse! Obviously, everything is fine now, but Jesse, it was tough to watch you and Alli navigate your relationship long distance as you decided where to make your home. How would you describe that time in your life?
JM: It was a challenging time. We had to have some really different, really honest conversations. The fact that the cameras were there actually helped us through it. I’m obviously a pretty quiet guy, so I don’t communicate how I feel all that often. I had to open up. and we’ve been able to figure out a living situation that works for both of us.
I’m so glad to hear it! Steven, I think you estimate that you and Calah have broken up and gotten back together 15 or 16 times. What is your status today?
SM: You will have to see how that plays out. We show it all in Season 2. The 15 or 16 times—
CM: Maybe you broke up 15 or 16 times the first year.
SM: Yeah, it may be more than that by now [laughs]. Calah and I didn’t hold back and had everything out. It was a tough season for both of us. Obviously, Calah had just tragically lost her sister a couple months before filming started. There were stresses and challenges that we were facing between all the businesses and the farm and ranch and my dad’s situation, which added pressure to our relationship. You’ll see it all, trust me.
BravoWith everything you boys were dealing with, personally and professional, how important was it to have your mom Kristi nearby for parental advice?
SM: We’ve always had such a close relationship with our mom. She was there for us while we were filming Season 1, but she just did not want to be on camera. In Season 2, we really wanted to show the world how special our mom is. She was a stay-at-home mom while we were growing up, then went through a tough divorce. Now, she’s this crazy successful business owner. We’re so proud of her.
Well, I’m obsessed with her, and I’m also obsessed with Tessa Lollar, who serves as the narrator of the series. Cole, why is she the perfect person to tell the story of the McBees?
CM: There’s really no one else who knows the story of the ranch, the farm, how it started, how it got built, how it got to where it is today. Tessa has been here since day one. She is so loyal. She would do anything for any one of us. She did so much for us growing up. She’s family, plain and simple.
Jesse, I’m gonna let you have the last word. What can you tease about Season 2?
JM: Be prepared for more relationship drama and more farm drama. We boys really step up in the business and play the role that my dad played in the first season. We do that all while managing our relationships and his relationships too—all without him being there. It’s chaos [laughs], but it’s our chaos.
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