A Bit of Solo Work

#bfrdpwy #aginternship #RightRisk

What I have learned over this week isn’t much about cows or crops, it’s understanding the work that is done on a ranch when it relies on my shoulders. Throughout the week, I worked by myself spreading seeds, feeding, and general upkeep of the ranch. And looking at that, it taught me that there is a lot more grit that comes with working solo that isn’t talked about, and how important having that grit and work ethic is to keeping a ranch functioning.

This week, I wouldn’t challenge a concept from my host operation, but more so the mindset some have about ranching. Ranching is not a standard job. From things happening before dawn to well after dusk, it can be unpredictable and demanding in the time required to keep an operation running. Such as taking care of heard after dark, checking them and ensuring that they are all okay and that the cattle aren’t bloated from eating too much green grass, just to name one instance.

At this moment, I have questions about money management of crops and the feed for cows, and even the price of cows themselves. I have had conversation about AI straws and prices of seed that was bought for us to plant this year, leading me to be genuinely curious on how my host ranch budgets this in to ensuring there is enough money, feed, etc. year-round.

Everything I have learned this past week I am going to take and use towards my educational event, so I can get a better grasp of what I am here to learn. As well, I will use what I have learned to push my understanding of cattle and what it takes money wise to run feed and have general upkeep of the heard.

Submitted by: Cody Long
Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team