Community in Grazing Association

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Most of this week was spent on the trail moving cows from low country to high country. Over this past week, I have learned more about Otter Creek (a grazing association), tricks on loading cows in the middle of nowhere, how to treat foot rot, and the importance of having a good work ethic in ranching.

Otter Creek is a grazing association in Ten Sleep, Wyoming, that is owned by ranchers for ranchers. Otter Creek allows members to own shares, use their bulls, and provides cowboys if a member needs extra help. Along with the tangible contributions, Otter Creek gives ranchers a community. This lifestyle can be lonely at times, which tends to not be talked about enough. I love the work Otter Creek is doing.

I am blessed to work under a rancher who has forty-eight years of experience and is full of knowledge! One of the things I picked up from him this week was the importance of hauling panels on your trailer and knowing how to use them. Cows are not likely to run right into the trailer; to avoid this, backing a trailer along a fence line and using panels to create a corner for the cows to turn the corner right into the trailer has worked very well for us this past week.

With my experience of working in healthcare, I always love a good chance to doctor calves. This week, a bull went lame due to the abnormal about of rain we have had this year and the muddy environment. I was able to see the treatment plan in action with sulfur pills and La200, which fights to keep bacteria under control.

One concept of ranching I would challenge would be to encourage more ranchers to get involved in grazing associations like Otter Creek, to help build a stronger community. A question I have after this week pertains to supplements – are they still needed? What are the important basics of nutrition in grazing cattle?

With what I have learned about the grazing association this week, I hope to become a part of an association. I will continue to keep an open mind about the tips and tricks ranchers have to share, which they have learned through their years of experience in the industry. Also, to be careful when it rains in the dessert, bogging down a horse is no joke!

See Chloe’s video here, Henderson_6_25_23

Submitted by: Chloe Henderson
Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team