Matthew Wayne Cook is a rancher. That is the first thing you need to know about him, and probably the most important. Before he ever sold a piece of property, he spent more than three decades working cattle operations across Oregon and as far away as Trubchevsk, Russia. He knows what it means to irrigate land, move livestock, and build a life around the rhythms of the seasons. Now, as part of the Hoof and Vine Group at Sotheby’s International Realty, Matt brings that lived experience to clients looking to buy or sell farm and ranch properties. His depth of knowledge regarding livestock, land management, and irrigation gives him a perspective that many agents might not have.

Understanding What Sellers Need

For sellers, this background offers something rare: a real estate agent who genuinely understands the operation they are parting with. Selling a ranch is not like selling a house in town. There are complexities involving water rights, grazing capacity, equipment, and infrastructure that someone without agricultural experience might overlook. Matt can walk a property and see what another agent might miss. He knows which questions to ask because he has faced those same questions himself. When a seller sits down with Matt, they are not explaining their operation to a stranger. They are talking to someone who has done the same work, faced similar challenges, and understands the value of what they have built over the years.

A Practical Eye for Buyers

For buyers, the benefit is just as clear. Whether someone is searching for a small slice of country living or a full commercial farming operation, Matt can evaluate a property from a practical standpoint. He is not guessing at what a piece of land can support. He has done the work himself. Buyers looking for their own piece of ranch life often have questions that go beyond square footage and acreage. They want to know if the irrigation system is sound, if the fencing will hold, and if the land can realistically support the vision they have in mind. Matt can answer those questions based on his firsthand experience, as he has faced them on his own operations.

Solutions Over Problems

When issues come up during a transaction, and they often do, Matt takes a solutions-first approach. He prides himself on not simply presenting problems to his clients. Instead, he works through the complications and presents viable options that move things forward. That reliability matters in deals where so much is at stake. Large commercial farms and ranches come with their own set of challenges, and having an agent who can think through those issues rather than panic can make a significant difference in getting a deal across the finish line.

A Growing Team and Lasting Relationships

The Hoof and Vine Group has been growing. Recently, they added two agents with marketing degrees, which has strengthened the team’s ability to reach clients through newer channels, including the use of AI and digital outreach. Even during a challenging market, the team maintained a silver standing within Sotheby’s. While that represented a step down from their previous gold status, holding that position in difficult conditions speaks to the consistency and effort that Matt and his team bring to their work.

Outside of work, Matt has been married for 32 years. He and his wife raised four children, and they now have five grandchildren. The ranching community is built on relationships, and Matt is the sort of person who would rather meet over coffee than exchange emails. That personal approach is part of how he does business. He has developed a broad network of contacts over the years, people he can call upon to help facilitate a transaction or solve a problem.

There are many agents who can list a property. Fewer can look a rancher in the eye and speak honestly about what that land is worth, what it can do, and what it will take to find the right buyer. Matt Cook is one of them. His career is not built on sales tactics or polished pitches. It is built on three decades of dirt under his fingernails and a genuine understanding of the life his clients lead.