After the excitement of last week’s National Show and Sale, it was a welcome change of pace to ease into Week 5 a little more slowly. Monday started with a morning ride to check on the cattle, make sure all the bulls were accounted for, and look over the water situation at the homestead. It is something we try to do every day, and I am getting more comfortable with what to look for and what a normal day out there should look like. After returning, I made a run up to Buffalo to pick up meat from the butcher we had visited a few weeks back. By the afternoon I was back at the ranch doing the usual chores and refilling water tanks for the heifers. It was the kind of steady, unglamorous day that keeps everything running, and I have come to appreciate those days just as much as the more eventful ones.

Tuesday followed a similar rhythm. After morning chores, I rode out to check on the sheep in the barley field. With coyote activity in the area becoming more of a concern, keeping a close eye on the sheep. Just making sure they have water, that they are healthy, and that nothing seems off. This is an important part of the routine. From there, I spent the rest of the day rolling up old wire at the homestead. The wire had been sitting there from old fencing for quite some time, and I will be honest I was not entirely sure why it needed to be done after sitting untouched for so long. But I reminded myself that learning these skills and understanding land maintenance is part of why I am here, and even if I did not have all the answers, putting in the work matters. That evening I was shown how to drive a tractor and harrow a nearby corral, which I was looking forward to getting to do on my own the following day.

Wednesday was a full and eventful day. I spent about two hours harrowing the corral on the tractor, and I genuinely enjoyed it. There is something satisfying about covering a space methodically and watching it come together. It did get me thinking about the reasoning behind harrowing and how much of a difference it makes to break up what accumulates on the ground over time. Something I want to ask more about going forward. Once that was done, I needed to move the ten heifers and one bull out of their field to graze along the side of the road, which has become a more regular task given how little green grass there is right now. I took Faith, one of the horses, out to move them. Things were going well at first, but as I got close to the opening the bull planted himself and refused to move, and Faith was not responding the way I needed her to. It got frustrating quickly. I made the call to go back, swap the horse for the side-by-side, and grab a flag. That combination worked, and I finally got the heifers out and grazing along the road. I was a little nervous watching cars pass by, but everything went smoothly. In hindsight, I think I moved them along a bit too quickly and next time I will give them more time to graze. It was a longer process than expected, but I was glad I found a way through it.

Thursday brought a change in the weather, which was a relief given how hot it had been. Bobbi and I gathered all the rams to take wool samples and photographs for record keeping, with some of them likely heading to auction in the near future. Documenting this kind of information such as physical condition, wool quality, and photos is something I am starting to understand as an essential part of managing a sheep operation well. Just as we got into it, the rain came, which made for an interesting afternoon but also a welcome break from the heat. After wrapping up with the rams, I packed up and headed to Deadwood, South Dakota, to help work as a vendor at the Days of 76 Rodeo, where I stayed through Saturday night.

The Days of 76 was a fantastic experience. The arena was beautiful, the atmosphere was lively, and the town of Deadwood itself was worth exploring. I walked downtown, caught part of the parade, and took some time to look around. Everyone I met was friendly and welcoming. One of the highlights was running into another intern from South Dakota. We ended up having a great conversation comparing our day-to-day experiences, and it was genuinely interesting to hear how different her work looked compared to mine. Her days seemed more intensive with a larger cattle operation, which gave me a new perspective on the range of what these internships can look like. Talking with someone going through a similar experience, even in a very different setting, was one of those unexpected but meaningful moments. It reinforced for me how valuable it is to connect with others in agriculture, ask questions, and keep learning from people who are navigating the same path in their own way.

Submitted by: Kaci Jericoff
Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team

This week we finished cutting and baling our lease property down the road. We concluded that the field was just watered so thoroughly that the wet spots in the west side of the field were just residual from the irrigation. During this process, my hosts were raking and baling at the other field and I have been left at the main property to do the majority of the irrigating and weed pulling. All of the thistle plants are beginning to seed and we have made it a priority to mitigate the new growth in order to preserve the hay fields. Additionally, I learned how to cut and set up new tarp dams for irrigating. We also got the water back on our lease property up the hill so we have been able to leapfrog it into three ditches to utilize all of the runoff effectively.

At our lease property, there is a sort of makeshift corral to stack hay. Originally, the corrals used to be used for cattle doctoring and branding. Currently, horses are held in the corrals and the hay is being stored in a separate part. However, the fences are still set up for cattle. This makes storing hay and maneuvering a tractor difficult because the corrals are too narrow. Mixed species operations are difficult because the setup for the previous cattle operation is different from the curing horse and hay operation. Due to these issues, we did some fence and panel deconstruction, essentially rearranging the furniture and opening up the space to allow for more hay. Personally, I think that all of the deconstructive efforts should have been made in advance to avoid doing it while we have hay waiting to be put away.

As I stated previously, we have made weeding a priority. However, there isn’t a clear cut “great” way to do it. Using a backpack with weed spray in 97 degree heat risks heat stroke and other difficulties. Weed spray also doesn’t kill the plant immediately and they can still come to seed even after being sprayed. Hand pulling is tedious and strains your back, along with the fact that there are simply too many groves of thistle to hand pull. Recently, we ordered a scythe. Hopefully that will be more efficient. We also have dabbled in the idea of having goats come onto the property in fenced sections to eat the thistle. My question is, what is the best way to get rid of the thistle and prevent them from seeding and repopulating further?

This week, I have had a lot of time by myself on the ranch to handle all of the irrigating and the other tasks. This has taught me to be a self-starter and to take my knowledge that I have learned and apply it. I’ve been able to look around and see what needs to be completed in addition to my original task list. I think this is one of the life lessons that will be the most prolific and significant in my life after I leave the ranch. It is one thing to do your tasks under supervision. It is another to do that plus the extra of your own accord.

Submitted by: Kaylee Pearce
Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team

This week was the Teton County Fair and another busy week on the ranch. Spending time at the fair reminded me how important these events are for bringing the community together and showcasing agriculture. It was great to see so many people supporting local exhibitors and learning more about the livestock industry.

I was surprised by how homely the county fair felt. It wasn’t much different from the fairs at home. We got to watch the greased pig scramble, which was good fun. Community and agriculture are why fairs were brought about, and it’s great to see that tradition continue.

Earlier in the week, I had the opportunity to participate in a team branding. For this team branding, we were in teams of three. Our goal was to rope one steer, set ropes, and “brand” the left side. It’s a good way to showcase a skill set that you have learned in town and to have fun with coworkers and friends.

Whether it was enjoying the county fair or working cattle at the branding, both experiences showed how important community is to the ranching lifestyle. They also reinforced the value of working alongside others toward a common goal.

 

Submitted by: Sean Frost
Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team

This week I got the opportunity to stay up on the mountain at my host family’s cow camp. It was an amazing experience. Throughout the couple of days we stayed at the cabin, we moved cows, fixed some fences, and put up trail cameras to try and get photos of elk. I was very glad I got another opportunity to work on my horsemanship and livestock handling skills.

One of the most memorable learning experiences from my time on the mountain was while moving livestock. On our first morning of work, we split up into two groups to gather cows and bring them to a different pasture. After a long while of not locating any cows, we ran across two bulls in the thick timber. We had to maneuver and find the best path to get to these bulls, which was a challenge and tested my ability to be patient with my horse and make smart and effective movements through the unforgiving terrain. We eventually located the bulls, and they also tested my patience and ability to read an animal’s movements. This is still something I am working on as I have only moved cows a handful of times, but the more I do it, the more comfortable I feel.

CLICK the image to view the video

After coming off the mountain it was time to irrigate. One of the ditches my host family irrigates out of is on a rotation, and it was our turn with the water. Overall, being able to go up and stay on the mountain at my host family’s cow camp was a great experience. Getting to see a place that holds so much history not just in their family, but over the last century opened my eyes to the importance of tradition and keeping some things the same as the years go on.

The big lesson I learned this week was about recognizing our progress and achievements. Entering the last week of my internship has challenged me to look back and compare where I started to where I am now. An important aspect to this is recognizing what achievements I have made and reflecting on what got me to this point.

What prompted me to write about this was my experiences on the mountain this week, more specifically when riding and moving cattle. I noticed how much I improved in my horsemanship and riding skills compared to the first time I rode on the mountain. Everything went very smoothly and my knowledge of knowing where to be at certain times and in certain situations was much better. I was very glad to feel this way and it gave me a great sense of accomplishment. I think realizing and knowing when and where we have made improvements is extremely important, and remaining humble in doing so is just as important.

When we acknowledge these milestones, it feeds our desire to try other new things, even if we have no or little previous experience, pushing us to keep learning and expanding the knowledge we have in various subjects. Lastly, we must look around and show appreciation for those who aid you in your improvement. Thanking those that helped you in the process shows them that these lessons learned wouldn’t be possible without them. In the end, recognizing our progress in learning is what will keep us going, and being surrounded by great people to help you and celebrate with you is an amazing feeling.

Submitted by: Jonah Verhoef
Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team

This week was definitely one of the more memorable weeks of my internship. We started out doing a lot of the everyday ranch work, like checking water, spraying weeds, and keeping an eye on the cow-calf pairs. Even though those jobs seem simple, I’m starting to realize how important they are to keeping the operation running smoothly. We also took a group of bulls to the sale yard, which gave me a better understanding of everything that goes into preparing cattle for marketing. Watching how everything was organized and handled helped me see how much planning happens behind the scenes before cattle ever leave the ranch.

One of the more hands-on experiences this week was doctoring a sick calf. It was another reminder that no two days on a ranch are ever the same. I learned how important it is to notice when something seems off because catching problems early can make a huge difference.

The biggest lesson of the week, though, came from something none of us planned. While we were checking cattle on horseback, we ended up getting stuck in a canyon after running into a huge area of fallen trees. There wasn’t an easy way through, so we spent quite a while walking up and down the canyon, leading our horses behind us while trying to find a safe route out. It definitely wasn’t how any of us expected the day to go, but it turned into one of the best learning experiences I’ve had so far. It reminded me that working with livestock and riding in rough country means things don’t always go according to plan, and sometimes you have to stay patient, think through the situation, and adapt instead of forcing your way through.

That experience made me appreciate how important problem-solving is in ranching. It’s easy to think the job is mostly taking care of cattle, but every day brings new challenges that require quick decisions and teamwork. Seeing everyone stay calm instead of getting frustrated showed me that experience and communication are just as valuable as physical work. I hope that as I continue learning, I’ll become more confident making decisions when unexpected situations come up.

After this week, I still have questions about how experienced ranchers make decisions so quickly in situations they’ve never seen before. I’m also interested in learning more about how they recognize health problems in calves so early and how they decide which treatment is best. Every week I realize there is so much knowledge that comes from years of experience, and I want to continue learning from the people around me by asking questions whenever I have the chance.

Looking ahead, I plan to keep building on everything I’ve learned this week. I want to pay closer attention to the little details during everyday jobs because I’m realizing those routine tasks are just as important as the bigger events. I also want to become more confident handling cattle, recognizing health concerns, and working through unexpected situations without panicking. This week reminded me that ranching is about being flexible, thinking ahead, and learning something new every single day, and I’m excited to keep gaining experience throughout the rest of my internship.

Submitted by: MacKenzie Jones
Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team

With this being my last week, I was fortunate to be part of my boss’s final branding. We finished branding the heifers that did not take to the AI and were live serviced. Since this group was smaller, we were able to finish fairly quickly. It was nice to see everyone one last time that I had the opportunity to meet during my internship. With fewer calves to work, I was also taught how to castrate the calves on my own.

On Thursday, we moved 12 bulls between pastures. The first move went smoothly in the morning, but later we had to move them again after a group of seven got into the neighboring pasture. The only thing separating them from a group of cycling cows was the highway, so we had to act quickly. When we arrived, the bulls were in the corner, pushing on the fence. The other group of five stayed in the pasture we had moved them to that morning, but to keep them from getting out as well, we moved them back to their original pasture. Moving the smaller group started well, but one bull decided he wanted to eat thistle flowers on the other side of the fence, thus squeezed between the barbed wire and ended up in the area along the train tracks. This took some extra work to get him back. Luckily, there was a gate nearby, and we were able to guide him through it and continue moving the group without any issues.

CLICK the image to view the video

Lastly, we moved our larger group of branded cow-calf pairs to a pasture farther from the house the week before, so it became my job to check on them each day. The neighbors, who own the pasture next to ours, have a group of Longhorn steers. While they are very interesting to see, the fence between the pastures is not in the best shape. Because of this, it was my job to ensure none of our calves were on the wrong side of the fence, that their stock tank stayed full, and that they always had mineral available.

Checking this group was especially important because a calf in our smaller group got caught in a fence either Sunday or Monday. The calf now needs daily antibiotics and wound spray, with the additional hope that the blood circulation returns to normal in its hoof. As of right now, the hoof and leg below the wire wound are extremely swollen and unable to be flexed, with the vet suggesting the possibility that the hoof may become necrotic. Because of that, making sure the larger group stayed safe became a top priority.

This week I would like to challenge the idea that good management and daily livestock checks can prevent every accident or injury. This week showed that even with regular monitoring and proper care, cattle can still be unpredictable. The bulls getting into the wrong pasture and the calf becoming caught in a fence showed that unexpected situations can still happen. While daily checks help identify problems early and allow for quick treatment, they cannot eliminate every risk. This experience reinforced the importance of checking your livestock, despite not being able to change certain outcomes. By staying alert, you can catch issues early and adapt as needed.

This also made me question: When is it better to change a management practice versus accept the risks that come with raising livestock? While some situations seem to require changes to improve safety and prevent future problems, other challenges appear to simply be a part of working with livestock. Understanding where that balance falls can be difficult, but it also emphasizes the importance of continuing to learn and improve as a producer.

This week provided me with valuable experience in understanding the importance of adaptability, responsibility, and decision-making when working with livestock. Even with proper care and daily checks, unexpected situations can still occur, which showed me the importance of staying observant and being prepared to respond when challenges arise. Through moving cattle, monitoring pastures, and taking on new responsibilities, I gained more confidence in my ability to handle different situations independently. In the future, I can apply these experiences by continuing to focus on animal care, paying attention to details, and understanding that successful livestock management requires both prevention and the ability to adjust when things do not go as planned.

Submitted by: Celise Pacheco
Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team