This week I did an array of things. Post-surgery, the bottle calf that I’ve been taking care of and talking about in my last reflections is doing much better. In the beginning, its recovery was hit or miss, but it’s now running around with a healthy appetite. Seeing such a change, has been very rewarding, and a great reminder that a little bit of patience goes a long way.

I also learned how to do plant transects. Using randomized coordinates, my boss lays out a 100-foot measuring tape, and at every 1ft mark we identify the plant species or ground type. The categories included perennial grass, annual grass, forb, bare ground, litter, cactus, sage, yucca, and lichen. We recorded a tally for each category by pasture, and over the course of the week we completed a total of 18 pastures. It was interesting to see how vegetation varied from pasture to pasture and how this information can be used to evaluate rangeland health and grazing management. Especially the potential changes in bio mass and diversity, as my boss sprayed some pastures with Rejuvera last year, an herbicide to kill non-native Cheatgrass, that cows will choose to eat around once its cured.

I was also invited to my first rope-and-drag branding, where I got to help and learn from a neighbor and some of his friends. It was a unique and enjoyable experience, and I picked up many practical skills throughout the day. Everyone had their own techniques and tips for making the process run smoothly, and it was valuable to work alongside people with years of experience in the cattle industry. It also gave me the opportunity to meet more producers and see different approaches to handling cattle, as in contrast to table branding which my boss does.

 
 
 

One question I still have is why opinions on branding methods are so divided. Similar to a question I had before, I would like to know why some people are so strongly against table branding while others are equally opposed to rope-and-drag branding. I think it’s interesting how the agriculture community can be split so firmly on certain practices, with each side believing their method is the only correct approach. It makes me curious about what other management practices or traditions have similarly strong differences in opinion and what factors shape those preferences.

 
 
 

One thing I would like to challenge is the way some people treat newcomers in agriculture. During my time in the GrowinG Program, I have met many people who have been welcoming and willing to teach those who are new to the industry. However, I have also met people who are not as accepting. Even though many agree that agriculture needs more people, some are still hesitant to welcome newcomers. I challenge those people to be more open-minded and willing to share their knowledge, because people who want to learn and care about agriculture can help keep the industry strong in the future.

Submitted by: Celise Pacheco
Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team

This week I was able to spend a lot of time up on the mountain working on a couple of different projects. The project I would like to focus on is a bucking pole fence we built in one of my host family’s horse pastures. They chose to build a bucking pole fence in this area because the ground is very unforgiving with too many rocks to pound any posts in the ground. This was another great example of different ways to get the same job done and how understanding limitations and working around those limitations allow us to complete a job successfully.

Some of the challenges when using bucking pole fence is the bulkiness of the material. This was especially difficult at times because we had to pack most of the material down into a draw with a four-wheeler, which prompted us to be creative and balance our materials to where we could bring them down successfully. After getting over the initial hurdle of gathering and bringing down everything we need to build the fence, the process of construction was smooth and actually very fun seeing the progress we made and the satisfaction after it was done. This was another task I got to experience on the ranch that I had never done before, and it was full of learning moments with times of struggle and satisfaction, giving me another skill that I can use elsewhere in other endeavors I find myself on as I move forward with my career in agriculture.

An important lesson I have learned to truly apply as I work with my host family on their ranch is making time for rest. Another simple concept, but one that is very easy for me to lose sight of. My host family has made rest a part of their weekly routine by leaving Sundays as a day to recharge, a day to leave the ranch work to rest, and instead focus on other important things like their family and faith. I have found their ability to follow through with this idea very inspirational. I know in my own life, I have told myself I will make time for other important things besides academics or work but fail to follow through. As I reflect on these actions, I realize that this is a fast-track to physical and mental burnout. In ranch and farm work especially, I see the ease in getting caught up in the work that must be done, because there is always something that can be worked on.

What my host family has challenged me to realize is that the work will always be there, and that idea gives us even more of a reason to give our bodies and minds a day to relax, so that on Monday morning we are more equipped to complete the tasks at hand to the best of our ability’s. Practicing this lesson now when I’m young will help me in my future as the responsibilities in my day-to-day life become more significant. This will keep me from letting work control my life and remind me to focus on other things that are arguably more important than our work.

Submitted by: Jonah Verhoef
Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team

This week I wanted to write about our irrigators and how I get the opportunity to learn from them about another culture and work ethic. We work together on everyday ranch chores and doctoring every day, but the conversations we had throughout the day ended up being the most valuable part of the week. Even with a language barrier at times, we always found a way to communicate and get the job done.

 
 
 

As my internship continues here, I learn more about where they came from and what ranching is like in Mexico. Some of the guys grew up around dairies in Mexico. Some others weren’t involved in ag at all. It was interesting to hear about the similarities and differences between the way they grew up working livestock and what I have experienced. I also enjoyed sharing stories about my own background and learning a few new Spanish words along the way.

 
 
 

Juan is one of the guys here, and he helps almost daily with the doctoring and movement of the steers on top of his irrigation responsibilities. He’s handy with big loop roping and rides very well. Day-to-day, we have been able to communicate more and more. We can understand what the other is looking at or for as I learn more about his style of doctoring and roping.

 
 
 

 
 
 

I will use this ability to learn from people from other cultures for the rest of my life. Getting to know my coworkers and learning about their culture made me appreciate the opportunity to work with people from different backgrounds. It was a good reminder that ranching is built just as much on relationships as it is on hard work.

 
 
 

Submitted by: Sean Frost
Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team

On one of our fields called the Alfalfa Bench, we have been struggling with raccoons coming and ripping the gates off of our gated pipe. A few days ago, one of my coworkers set up live traps. However, they have remained empty since they were set. Firstly, I’m sure there was bait put into the traps but I would like to know what kind and since it is clearly not working, maybe there is a better alternative bait. Secondly, today, when I went up there to move the water, I noticed a severe lack of water pressure. I ended up walking the pipe downstream and came to find out that ten more gates were ripped off but also the endcap was missing. Last week, we had slowly been adding pipes to that north line, allowing the end to be open and irrigate downstream. However, once the line is finished and the pipe has been irrigating overnight, an endcap is supposed to be put in. I was the one to move the water on the Alfalfa Bench for the past couple days and was not told that an endcap still had not been applied. Therefore, water had been flowing out of that pipe for days before I found it today. This oversight emphasizes the importance of communication amongst coworkers.

As we began setting up the roundbaler for the next few weeks, we encountered an issue with the hydraulic hoses. Each hose is supposed to be labelled properly to which input valve they’re correctly supposed to be in. Two of the three hoses were functional for opening the liftgate of the baler but the third hose was not working in either of the last two valve slots to operate the pickup rake. We called the tractor mechanic yesterday and were hoping that he could come out and take a look at it but unfortunately he got sick and could not make it. That being said, later today, my host got the baler to work. My question is, how did he get it to work? What did he change? Is the rake automatic? Or is it just not important to operate manually?

This week, while moving hay and doing many physically demanding tasks, the importance of endurance was engraved into my mind and my body. I already knew the importance of seeing your tasks through and not quitting when things get difficult. However, doing intense manual labor through extreme heat breeds a different kind of persistence. I am grateful to have had the opportunity to gain usable, physical strength and grow the kind of perseverance that will get me through all of the tough things that are to come.

Submitted by: Kaylee Pearce
Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team

This week consisted of continued maintenance and chores while contributing to some long-term goals. Each morning, after moving irrigation pipe, I would clean the Airbnb’s for the next guests. On Tuesday, I handled the fall sale calves again and desensitized them using a blower. Wednesday we worked on the future barn living space again, installing outlets and putting in flooring. Thursday and Friday we fixed up an old swamp cooler and installed it in the cool room in the show barn.

 
 
 

The theme of this week for me was preparation. An important part of ranching is thinking ahead. We focused on fixing the swamp cooler this week because of the heat wave coming next week. Weather is one condition that a rancher needs to watch out for. Another important thing to prepare for is the fall sale. Though the sale isn’t until September, the calves need to be worked with consistently now so they are calm and ready later. If you keep putting off tasks that don’t have an immediate deadline, it will land you in trouble later.

 
 
 

As we worked with the fall calves, some were very tame, but a couple were frantic. I wondered how much a bad temperament is ingrained, and how much can be trained out of a calf. Will the wilder calves always tend that way, or can they grow out of it?

 
 
 
 
 
 

All the irrigation work so far this summer has made me consider implementing it in the future. Even a little water can go a long way and make a pasture immensely more productive. Though irrigating takes a lot of work, the results may make it worth considering in my future.

 
 
 
 
 
 

Submitted by: Anna Steinle
Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team

Week 3 was one of my favorites so far. It had a great mix of travel, new experiences, and the kind of everyday ranch work that I am slowly getting more comfortable with. The week started on Monday with a trip up to Montana to visit some family members of the ranch and tour their operation. Seeing a completely different landscape and climate made for a striking contrast to what I have grown used to here in Wyoming. The ranch was beautiful, and I had the chance to check on some cattle, talk about how their operation runs, and gain a broader perspective on what ranch life can look like depending on where you are. No two operations are the same, and visits like this are a great reminder of that. On the way back, I also had to check on the sheep’s water at home. The trough had developed a hole and was completely dry when I got there, so I hauled out a replacement and got them taken care of. Even on a travel day, the animals still need tending to.

Tuesday was a productive day out at the homestead. We went out to gather a cow and her calf. The cow was heading to auction on Wednesday, and the calf needed to be brought in for closer monitoring, bottle feeding, and hay. The gather itself was straightforward. I helped lead them to the corral; we loaded them onto the trailer and brought them back to the house. It was a smaller scale than moving a full herd, but it was a good opportunity to practice reading the animals and staying patient through the process. After that, my host taught me how to check fences, which was a new task I had not done before. I walked the perimeter of the homestead looking for loose or broken wire and used staples and other fasteners to tighten wire back around the metal posts where needed. It is not physically demanding work, but it requires attention. Walking those fence lines made me realize how easy it would be to overlook a small gap that could become a big problem. Keeping the living quarters safe for the animals and for everyone else on the property depends on the consistent upkeep.

 
 
 

Wednesday was a more relaxed day. After my morning chores and riding out to check on the sheep and their water, I joined others for a drive to South Dakota to drop off two cows, pick up feed, and look at trailers. I did not have a significant role in the logistics of the day, but it was another chance to see what goes into running an operation at this scale. Such as the sourcing, the hauling, the decisions that happen behind the scenes. On the drive back, we had a good conversation about the challenges farmers and ranchers face, from policy changes to shifting climate patterns. It was one of those conversations that broadened my understanding of agriculture well beyond what I see day to day on the ranch. This week also reinforced something I have been noticing more that the days are long, and a single task can easily take up most of your afternoon. But everything that gets done has a reason behind it, and I am learning to appreciate that more with each passing week.

Thursday followed my usual morning routine before heading back out to finish the fence work at the homestead and do my regular check on the cows and bulls. That evening, we went to a community event downtown. There was live music, good people, and a relaxed atmosphere. It was a nice reminder that ranching is not just about the land and the animals; it is also deeply tied to the community around it. The people of Gillette have been nothing but welcoming, and it was enjoyable to spend an evening socializing outside of the ranch.

Friday was a full day. After morning chores, I helped clean out the chute area in preparation for eventually setting up a new one. From there, I helped unload the grain that had been brought back from South Dakota and transfer it into the grain silo. My job was operating the hydraulics on the tractor to control the auger, and I genuinely loved being part of that process. It felt good to be trusted with an important role in something I had never done before. They mentioned that they used to mill their own grain, which would have taken significantly longer. A detail I found fascinating and would love to learn more about someday. Later that evening, we moved some heifers to a temporary plot with better grazing, slowly walking them down the road and letting them graze the ditch grass along the way. On the way back, we took the long route so I could see more of the land and get a sense of where the cattle might be moving next. Then, when I went out that evening to feed the two calves, I found that one had passed away. Just a few hours earlier when I had fed it, it had seemed to be improving. We had known it was struggling and that the odds were not in its favor, but it still caught me off guard. Watching the family work so hard to give that calf every possible chance, even knowing it might not make it, showed me something important: every animal matters to them. That kind of care and dedication is something I want to carry with me.

Saturday was a bit lighter. I did my chores, ran some errands in town, and then headed out to the homestead to roll up old barbed wire. It got very hot in the afternoon, so I wrapped up around 4:30, fed the calf, and called it a day. One thing I want to mention from across the week is the challenge of counting the bulls at the homestead. On one of my checks, I could only account for four of the five bulls and spent about two hours searching for the last one. He had been there the day before and turned up later that evening when someone else went out to check so he was fine. But this experience did push me to think more carefully about how I search a pasture and where animals tend to hide themselves. I also spent time this week working with the sheep we are taking to Nationals on Wednesday, getting them comfortable on a halter and practicing moving their feet. It is slow, patient work, but I am hopeful they will be ready in time. As I look ahead, I want to keep sharpening my eye when I am out checking animals and get more efficient at covering ground when I need to account for every head.

Submitted by: Kaci Jericoff
Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team

Compared to last week, Week 2 was a bit slower in pace, but that did not make it any less valuable. We kicked things off with the ranch’s monthly meeting after dinner on Monday , where everyone received a printout covering what needs to get done this month, upcoming events, and other important details. It was a good way to start the week with a clear picture of what lies ahead and helped me understand how intentional and organized ranch life really is behind the scenes.

On Monday, we transitioned three of the calves to an automatic bottle feeder, which was a a lot better from making bottles two to three times a day by hand. We also began introducing them to hay. Tuesday morning I rode out to check on the cattle and land at what we call the homestead. This is something I will be doing at least once a week to make sure everything looks good out there. It is a peaceful and important part of the weekly routine that gives me a broader sense of the ranch beyond just the immediate yard and corrals. After returning, I was taught how to operate a loader for the first time in order to help move sand and fill in a large hole. I was genuinely excited about this. Running equipment is something I have always wanted to learn, and while I know I have a lot of room to grow, getting behind the controls for the first time felt like a real milestone.

One of the trickier parts of using the loader was adding sand to our existing sand pile. I had to keep the ground level, avoid digging too deep, and knock sand off the wall where it had built up. It took more finesse than I expected and I would not say I nailed it, but I kept at it and got through the task. This was actually a theme now looking back that was prominent this week which is patience. Whether I was working the loader, moving animals, or helping with doctoring, there were moments where things felt slow or repetitive and I found myself getting a little restless. But I kept coming back to the same realization: patience is not just a nice quality to have out here, it is a necessary one.

Wednesday brought an interesting addition to the week when an inspector came out to evaluate some of our rams. One of them is heading to Nationals in about two weeks, so we needed to make sure everything was in order and dong any necessary medication and separating him from the rest of the herd. I am still getting more comfortable with herding animals efficiently, though I will say it is becoming more natural each time. Thursday was another full day. I did my normal chores and we went out on another ride. I also had the chance to drive the trailer again, and while the drive itself went fine, I made a mental note on the way back when parking I forgot to take a wider turn. Nothing was hit, but it was a good reminder that I need to keep working on that skill.

Thursday evening brought one of my favorite moments of the week. We needed to feed a calf on the cow but specifically on the back udder, which took some patience to get the calf positioned just right. Once that was done, I was able to milk the cow for the first time which is something I had genuinely been looking forward to. I was slower than I would have liked, but it was one of those experiences where I just smiled the whole way through. It is the kind of thing that reminds me why I am here, and I am looking forward to getting faster and more comfortable with it as the weeks go on.

On Friday, we loaded up two lambs and a cow and drove to Buffalo to have them butchered. It was a straightforward but eye-opening part of ranch life that I had not yet been directly involved in. When we returned, I went back out to pick rocks from a field to help prepare it for the tractor. I also spent some time fixing tree posts that they had planted earlier in the season. The plastic coverings meant to protect the young trees had all been blown sideways by high winds, so I pushed the pipes deeper into the ground and fastened the coverings back tightly. It was one of those small but satisfying jobs where you can clearly see the difference when you are done.

Saturday was the Fourth of July, so it was a lighter day on the ranch. We went into town for the parade, which was a fun way to learn a little more about the community I am living in for the summer. Afterward, we loaded, weighed, and moved some bulls out to the homestead before winding down the evening. I took Cheese and Pumpkin, two of the horses, out to check on the sheep. As I reflect on these past seven days, one question that has been on my mind is whether the timing of moving the bulls was specific to this point in the season or whether there is a broader window for that kind of move. I am curious to learn more about the reasoning behind those decisions. Going into Week 3, my biggest goal is to get sharper and faster when working gates, especially with the bulls, and to make sure I have a clear picture of exactly what is needed before jumping in to help. A little more communication and preparation on my end will go a long way.

Submitted by: Kaci Jericoff
Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team