Clay grew up in California, in a family of cattle ranchers, and from a young age started learning about the benefits of grazing animals. In 2010 he moved to Chico for school, after spending nearly a year in Alaska, and ended up joining the fire academy at Butte College. After 5 years of experience with Cal Fire, he learned a lot. In 2017 he met his (now) wife Nicole. In 2019, they were invited to live on a ranch in SLO County that Clay's friend of 10 years was buying with his parents, where the two of them lived in a 5th wheel trailer for five years. In 2020, Clay and that friend decided to start a grazing company called Golden State Goats. In 2024, Clay and Nicole found out they were expecting their first child and, a few months later, his business partner and wife were also expecting. In early 2025, they all ultimately decided the best thing to do was to separate and and start their own businesses. Later that year, Clay and Nicole moved back up to Northern California to be near family before their baby was born. On July 7th 2025, they welcomed their daughter Riley, and are expecting a son in January of 2027.