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102-Year-Old Maintains Rare Autonomy, Manages Two Farms, Drives, Fishes and Follows a Disciplined Routine That Combines Work, Leisure and Health Care.
At 102 years old, the rural producer Ranulfo Custódio Alves, a resident of Camapuã, in Mato Grosso do Sul, maintains a routine that combines driving, horseback riding, fishing in the Pantanal, and managing two farms under his direct command.
Lucid, independent, and attentive to finances, he continues organizing his daily life based on five pillars he firmly believes in: balanced nutrition, constant work, disciplined routine, medical follow-up, and leisure moments.
Vitality and Active Routine in the Field
Born on May 27, 1923, in Três Lagoas (MS), Ranulfo moved to Camapuã in 1941 in search of job opportunities.
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Heading to Brazil in a Bonanza F33 single-engine aircraft: a couple departs from Florida on a visual flight, makes technical stops in the Caribbean to refuel and organize paperwork, and begins the staged crossing until they reach the country.
It was in the municipality where he built wealth, raised a family, and consolidated a life tied to the land.
Today, having surpassed the milestone of 100 years, he continues to circulate between the city, the farms, and other regions of the state, preserving the autonomy he considers essential.
He owns two farms in the region and personally takes care of financial management and employee supervision.
He monitors the work of the teams, guides workers, checks services, helps with repairs, participates in cattle management, and closely supervises what happens on the properties.
According to Ranulfo himself, there is no fixed task: each day is organized according to the demands that arise.
His readiness also shows in traffic.
In May 2025, he renewed his National Driver’s License (CNH) after undergoing a medical examination at Detran in Camapuã, maintaining the status of the oldest active driver in Mato Grosso do Sul.
The image of arriving in his own truck to regularize the document is coupled with that of an elderly man who refuses to give up his independence.
Healthy Nutrition and Work as Pillars of Longevity
When talking about longevity, Ranulfo often points first to what he puts on his plate.
He states that healthy nutrition is the main factor for living longer and better.
He then highlights the role of work, which he defines as a kind of permanent physical activity.
“It’s a sport. While I’m working, that’s my sport, and I enjoy it. I move my body, take care of my things, my assets. It’s a leisure activity.”
In practice, this means being in motion almost every day, whether in the field or handling issues related to the farms.
According to him, continuing to be responsible for his own financial decisions also helps keep the mind active.
Ranulfo says he is the one who keeps track of accounts, debts, and investments related to the properties, without passing this task onto the family.
His routine, he says, was built over decades of manual labor, starting almost from scratch in the interior of the state.
Daily Discipline and Waking Up Before Sunrise
The organization of the day is another point he considers essential. His biological clock is adjusted to sunrise.
“I always get up very early. At 4:30 or 5 AM, I’m already up. Then I take care of what is necessary for that day. I don’t have a fixed task; each day I do something different.”
This discipline is evident both in schedule and work rhythm.
Ranulfo avoids long periods of inactivity and alternates tasks to avoid staying idle.
When he is not on the farm, he usually splits his time between the house in Camapuã and time in Campo Grande, where one of his daughters lives.
Even though everything is organized in a planned manner, he claims he also seeks to maintain time for rest and family conversations, especially with children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, who closely follow his unusual routine for someone over a century old.
Health, Prevention and Frequent Medical Follow-Up
Health care includes frequent visits to the doctor for check-ups.
According to him, the consultations serve to monitor blood pressure, vision, and other functions that require attention in old age, especially for someone who still drives and travels between roads and farms.
Despite following professional guidance, Ranulfo claims he is not reliant on continuous medication.
“I take some medications during the day, but it’s not mandatory. If I skip it, I don’t feel bad; it’s a semi-routine.”
Specialized follow-up, he says, is more of a form of prevention and security to continue living the life he has chosen.
He emphasizes his hearing ability and vision, which is currently corrected with contact lenses.
With good humor, he often jokes: “I hear normally; I just don’t listen to what doesn’t interest me.”
Fishing in the Pantanal and Habits That Span Generations
Even with a full schedule of work-related commitments, Ranulfo makes time for leisure.
Fishing is one of his favorite activities, and whenever he can, he travels to the Pantanal and river regions in the state to indulge in his hobby.
He admits that the pace of travel has slowed and that he needs to go “more slowly” due to age, but he does not give up the routine of hitting the road to fish, relax, and spend time with friends.
Additionally, he continues horseback riding, an activity he has engaged in since youth that has shaped his relationship with the land.
For the family, such energy is no surprise.
His daughter, Renata Alves, says she has always seen her father animated and involved in both work and leisure.
According to her, Ranulfo’s “life force” has always drawn attention, both at home and among acquaintances.
Journey Marked by Work, Faith, and Recognition in MS
When summarizing his journey, Ranulfo resorts to four words: work, struggle, suffering, and divine protection.
“There was a lot of work, a lot of struggle, suffering, and divine protection.”
Over the decades, the rural producer enlarged his wealth, formed a large family, and became recognized as a reference for vitality in the region.
In 2025, he was honored in the Municipal Chamber of Campo Grande for his journey and the way he maintains lucidity and independence even after turning 100.
In his speeches, he often emphasizes that he did not arrive here alone.
He makes a point of thanking the employees and collaborators he has worked with throughout his life.
He says he respects each of them and maintains an open door for those in need, a stance that, according to him, has helped build lasting relationships in the countryside and the city.
When asked if he thinks about slowing down, he replies that he feels happy and still wants to “burn a lot of wood,” an expression he uses to summarize his desire to remain active for many more years.
Now, with a journey spanning over a century, a curious question arises: what daily habits can further influence a life as long and independent as Ranulfo’s?
Se ele nasceu em 1941 a idade dele é 84 anos
Desculpe,confundi com a idade que ele foi para Camapua
Meu pai viveu 98 anos, muito lúcido e saudável, morreu de depressão pq perdeu a esposa após 70 anos juntos. O nome dele Odon Alves Cust****. Achei interessante a coincidência com o sobrenome do Sr. Ranulfo.
Trabalho, Qualidade de Vida e manter a mente ocupada é o segredo da longevidade.