Red Cows and Branding Pens: First Impressions from the Ranch

#bfrdpwy #aginternship #RightRisk

I did many things throughout this work week, but what I would like to focus on is the branding I attended at a neighboring ranch. Being from the Midwest, this is something I had never been a part of, and it was fascinating and very fun for me. I was able to do things like vaccinate and wrestle a few calves, while watching and learning how to put in implants and tie down calves to perform all the tasks at hand.

One of the things I noticed from this branding was the patience displayed by everyone there, and the willingness to let others try. It was slow paced and easy going, which was contrary to what I thought it would be like. I was later told that some brandings I may be a part of in the future may not be like this, so this was a great one to experience for the first time and allowed me to prepare for future brandings.

Another thing I want to focus on from this week was a lesson I learned from my host. On our way back from the branding, I asked him about why he runs primarily red angus cows as opposed to black angus, and if he sees a difference in price he receives at the sale barn. He answered with yes, there is a difference in prices I receive because of the color of my cows, but it always depends on who is sitting in the buyer’s seat at the sale barn. He then went on to say, “Sometimes it pays to be different than everyone else around you… just because everyone else is doing it doesn’t make it right or better.”

After he said this, I began to think, this lesson has so many different applications, not just in selling calves, but in other areas of life. I began to apply it to my life and future careers. I believe that beginning to equip myself with skills and a work ethic that stands apart from my peers will bring me success in many ways going forward in school and future careers. Just like my host said, it matters who is sitting in the sale barn seat, or in my case, at the desk of the job I am interviewing for, or the desk of the professor that is lecturing me on a topic. Either way, setting myself apart in good ways will be beneficial to the right people.

Some people see the things that may set me apart from my peers as something to shrug off, but when I least expect it, the right person may recognize those skills I have and provide me with a job or other opportunities I had only dreamed of before.

Submitted by: Jonah Verhoef Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team