September 30, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Montana Rancher Q and A: John Henry Beardsley, Miles City

Like many Montanans, cattle ranching goes back several generations in the family’s history. One of these ranchers is John Henry Beardsley of Miles City, Montana. John Henry grew up on his family’s ranch and recently, graduated from Montana State University. Today, we learn what his next steps are and how the family ranch plays a role in his future….

What is the history of your family’s ranch? 

The ranch was homesteaded in 1910 by my great-grandpa John Henry Beardsley. My Grandpa, John Henry, kept slowly building the ranch by raising crops, kids, cattle, horses, pigs and sheep. My dad, Jim Beardsley, has expanded what my grandpa had to where we are today.

John Henry on his working horse.

John Henry on his working horse.

What is the ranch like today?

Our cow herd consists of Angus and Red Angus cows that we have developed through 40+ years of artificially inseminating (A.I.). We use Hereford bulls on the cows now and still have an A.I. program in place.  Recently, we started doing a terminal cross and have been really pleased with it for its marketing and maternal aspects. We strive to raise a very low input, productive cow that will make a living for herself. We have a rotational grazing program in place and have developed water to enhance grazing.

Can you describe a hardship that your family had to overcome on the ranch? 

The process of trying to keep the ranch in the family and pass it on to the next generation…while having it be a successful business.

Can you recall any advice your grandparents gave you about ranching? 

I was never fortunate to meet either of my grandpas, but people tell me stories of my grandpa Beardsley and how he started with nothing…but went on to build an operation to support his family and make a manageable business. It shows me that with hard work and dedication, you can achieve anything.

John Henry Beardsley 2What are a few things you’ve learned growing up on a ranch?

  • Taking care of the land. I have learned from a very young age that if you take care of the land it will take care of you.
  • How to be a entrepreneur. When I was little I would always get frustrated of why dad wouldn’t just do something and it seemed as easy as just writing that check to pay for something. When you get behind the books and see how its done, you lose that mindset in a hurry.
  • Not everything is wine and roses, but there are so many little things in everyday ranch life that makes you stop and enjoy what you are doing.

What does Montana family ranching mean to you?

Montana ranching is one of the biggest conservation groups that I have been around. Every rancher is a steward of the land while sustaining a viable operation that helps supply the world with a great source of protein and creating an environment that is appealing to families and making memories.

John Henry looks over the 2014 piglets.

John Henry looks over the 2014 piglets.

What do you hope the ranch (or business) will look like in 10 years? 50 years?

I hope to keep expanding the ranch. The future excites me in not knowing what it will hold. We recently went back to our roots with raising sheep on the ranch. I hope to follow in past generations footsteps and keep expanding and moving forward.

Is there anything else you would like to share? 

I recently signed on as a representative for Superior Livestock Auction, with my partner John Andras of Big Timber, MT. We operate as J&J Cattle Marketing LLC. This past year has been one full of windshield time, but at the end of the day I couldn’t ask for a better job. I am very excited about this position and the network of people I have met over my short time here has been incredible.

I am very proud to say that my four siblings and I are all involved in agriculture. My family is great to have around, because we are all different enough that we look at a situation in five different ways, and definitely makes you keep an open mind. I have five nieces and three nephews that make it so there is never a dull moment.

To participate in a future Q&A or to recommend someone from the Montana ranching community, please contact [email protected].

September 25, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Nominations for Ranching Woman of the Year Due November 1

Glenna Stucky Avon - Ranching Woman of the Year - Montana Stockgrowers

2013 Ranching Woman of the Year, Glenna Stucky of Avon.

The Montana Stockgrowers Association is seeking nominations for the 2014 Montana Ranching Woman of the Year. The annual award is presented to an MSGA member who has made great contributions to the Montana ranching community and has gone above and beyond to support their family and friends. Nominations are due November 1 and the recipient will be recognized at MSGA’s annual convention in Billings, December 11-13.

“Women are often the backbone of Montana’s ranching communities. These women often go above and beyond to support their immediate family members and pitch in whenever the need arises in their communities,” said Tucker Hughes, MSGA President from Stanford. “We look forward to recognizing these accomplished women each year at our annual convention and thanking them for their hard work.”

Last year’s recipient of the Ranching Woman of the Year was Glenna Stucky, who ranches with her husband, Earl, near Avon. Along with raising their family, Glenna has been heavily involved in local 4-H programs, CattleWomen’s activities and several community events. Family friends Ed and Bev Fryer describe Glenna as “just one of those people who when you meet them, you know that they are very happy and successful being a Ranch Woman.”

Past recipients of the award include Floydena Garrison of Glen, Helen Hougen of Melstone, Marian Hanson of Ashland, Carol Mosher of Augusta, Donna Sitz-Arthun of Billings, and Holley Smith of Glen.

Nomination letters submitted by family or close friends should identify a ranching woman, who is a member of Montana Stockgrowers, describe her role on the ranch, and the characteristics that set her apart when supporting the family and ranch, as well as describe her involvement in community efforts. Biographies should include the ranching woman’s hometown, family members, and number of years involved in ranching activities.

Along with the nomination biography, submissions should include photos depicting the ranching woman’s family, ranch and community involvement.

Nominations should be submitted to the Montana Stockgrowers office by November 1, 2014 via mail (420 N. California, Helena, MT 59601) or email ([email protected]). For more information contact the MSGA office at (406) 442-3420 or visit mtbeef.org.

September 23, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Longevity of Ladies and Livestock

LL Book Promo Banner2

(By Lauren Chase, author of the new photography book, Ladies and Livestock, to be released October 1 exclusively on the Apple iBooks store.)

When I began traveling across Montana and collecting content for the Montana Family Ranching Project, I had no idea what all I would get to see and experience on the ranches. I went from knowing absolutely nothing about cattle production to being able to discuss topics like heterosis without just nodding along. Beyond gaining knowledge of beef and a better understanding of agriculture, something else stuck me as important: the longevity of Montana’s ranches. While many Americans can no longer relate to multi-generational family businesses, it’s still viewed with high esteem and awe.

Vicki Olson on her family's ranch near Malta, Montana.

Vicki Olson on her family’s ranch near Malta, Montana.

It’s hard for me to comprehend what fifth and sixth generations actually mean. However, many of the women featured in Ladies and Livestock wear that title with pride. Their ranches have been within their families for more than 100 years…through droughts, fires, blizzards, poor economic times, and even differences in opinions on how the ranch should run. They have gone from log cabins and no electricity to some of the largest and most efficient ranches in the country…and all kept in the family name.

“We have had parts of the ranch in the family for almost 100 years. Each generation has loved it and the lifestyle as much as the next,” said Vicki Olson of Malta, Montana.

This attitude of ranch life is shared by women all across Montana.

“I get to spend every day with the love of my life and together we raise our children to appreciate this life as much as we do. Breeding good black cattle, riding great ranch horses and conserving the beautiful nature around us is not what we do…it’s who we are,” said Lori Swanson of Chinook, Mont.

Ladies and Livestock coverReflecting on stories from grandparents and parents, women learn to appreciate their heritage and livelihood on the ranch, and work hard to raise their children with the same upbringing and passion for cattle ranching. It’s important to remember that beef production is a business, but ran by families who hope that for many generations to come will still be raising healthy, wholesome and nutritious beef for the world.

You can read more stories about Montana ranch women in the Montana Stockgrowers Association’s new digital photo book, “Ladies and Livestock: Life on the Ranch,” which will be available for download on the Apple store for $14.99 starting October 1, 2014. Be sure to flip through the pages to watch video interviews with some of the ladies and follow MSGA’s social media sites for daily updates about Montana ranchers.

September 18, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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New Digital Photography Book to Feature Ladies of Montana Ranching

LL Book Promo BannerHelena, MT – “Ladies and Livestock: Life on the Ranch,” the second book in the Montana Family Ranching Series, from the Research and Education Endowment Foundation of the Montana Stockgrowers Association (REEF), is set to be released on October 1. The digital book is a pictorial explanation of Montana women and their roles in the ranching community.

“Women are often described as the ‘backbone’ to the ranch and we want to capture what that means in this book,” said Lauren Chase, author and photographer.

Ladies and Livestock is leading the way in multimedia technology and storytelling as it will be released in digital format instead of print. Available in the Apple iBook store beginning October 1, 2014, readers will be able to download Ladies and Livestock to their iPads and flip through the vivid imagery with the swipe of their fingers.

This book features over 130 pages of stories, photographs and video features of the ladies who raise livestock, care for the land, and build their families’ legacies on Montana ranches. Not only are these Montana women working on the ranch, many have jobs in town, volunteer in their communities, and are involved in the legislation process of issues affecting agriculture.

Ladies and Livestock is the second in a series of book featured in the Montana Family Ranching Series. The first edition, Big Sky Boots, released in 2012, features the working seasons of the Montana cowboy and is available in print edition from the Montana Stockgrowers Association by visiting bit.ly/BigSkyBoots.

 “This series is meant to help people understand what it takes to make a Montana ranch operate successfully and also, to show the wonderful ranch families that make it possible. Creating the book for the iPad is really exciting for us because we can reach new audiences much easier through digital means,” said Chase.

By utilizing the digital technology, “Ladies and Livestock” adds a new dimension to reading a book. Included on nearly 30 of the pages are video features that play with the touch of the finger. These videos show interviews of the ladies speaking on their ranch history, family life and how they feel about being part of Montana’s agriculture.

This book is a multimedia journey through the life of a woman on a Montana ranch. Not only can readers see photographs, but can hear the woman tell her own story and see the emotion on her face as she talks about how important her family is to her.

The book can be downloaded for $14.99 in the Apple iBook store by searching title: Ladies and Livestock. Proceeds from the sales of the book contribute to the Montana Stockgrowers Association’s Foundation to help support educational programs and scholarships for youth.

To learn more about this project and the author, visit www.mtbeef.org. You can also follow along with this story-telling project on MSGA’s Facebook, Twitter, Blog, Instagram and Pinterest pages.

The Research and Education Endowment Foundation of the Montana Stockgrowers Association is a 501(c) 3 nonprofit organization established to provide resources for education and research that support the Montana Stockgrowers Association in protecting and enhancing the ability of the Montana ranching community to produce healthy and environmentally responsible beef. To learn more about REEF programs or to donate to the Foundation, visit mtbeef.org/REEF or contact the Montana Stockgrowers Association, (406) 442-3420.
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September 16, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Montana Rancher Q and A: Tyrel Obrecht

Many of us in Montana got to know Tyrel Obrecht pretty well while he was interning for the Montana Stockgrowers Association two summers ago. But today, we learn more about his family’s ranching background, some of the obstacles faced on a Montana ranch, and his advice for other young ranchers. Read today’s Q&A feature:

Tyrel Obrecht of Turner, Montana.

Tyrel Obrecht of Turner, Montana.

How long has your family been involved in ranching? 

My great-great Grandpa, George Petrie, got off the train in 1901 in Harlem, MT. From there, he headed north, and ran sheep on the ranch that is ours today. Today, my dad (Sam), and grandpa (Sonny) run cows. The ranch headquarters are exactly where they were when the ranch started

What was your favorite part about growing up on the ranch?

It’s something different everyday. The type of work changes with the seasons, and you are able to be your own boss and be outdoors whenever you want.  I’m also very fortunate the ranch was located in Turner, MT.  Small communities are like one big family. Neighbors always come help, and we return the favor.

Haying in full swing during the summer of 2014.

Haying in full swing during the summer of 2014.

Tell us about your ranch today.

We run Black Angus cattle.  I’m proud that the operation has been in my family for as long as it has and has been able to succeed through hard times.

What have been some of the trials you’ve had to overcome?

Weather is a big issue for cattle ranchers in Montana.  In the late early 2000s, the summers were dry and we spent a lot of time pulling black plastic pipe across our pasture to pump water for our cattle.  This also led to low hay production, so that added more stress to look for hay to purchase. There have also been a few harsh winters that require a lot of work to feed the cattle, break ice so they can drink, and plow snow.  Montana is certainly a land of extremes, and ranchers are exposed to every one of them.

What is one thing you wish more people knew about life on the ranch?

The time that ranchers put in to care for the animals.  There is a lot of negative media out there about animal cruelty, and agriculture seems to be in the spotlight for it.  What people don’t see is the rancher who is outside saving a calf when it’s cold in the spring or taking extra time at branding to examine an animal who appears sick.  These animals are how Montana ranchers make their living, so it is the rancher’s best interest to take the best care of them they can.

Tyrel and his father, Sam.

Tyrel and his father, Sam.

What does it mean to you to be able to work with your family every day? 

Working with family can be very hard, but it’s also a great learning experience.  By working along side another generation, you are able to learn what worked for them, and what didn’t.  Nobody knows more about an operation than the owner themselves, so being able to work alongside them is a great learning experience.

Tell us about your job now and how you keep connected to the ranch.

Being involved with Ag-lending with Wells Fargo has enabled me to meet producers from different areas and see what they do differently, as well as what they do the same as my family.  Majority of the bankers I work with came from an agricultural background, so everyone has similar roots, interests, and knowledge base.  Through building a network in banking, I’m able to continually share ideas with my dad.  Living in a place centrally located like Billings has also made it easy for me to come home on weekends from time to time and help.

Tyrel participated in the NCBA internship program during the Cattle Industry Convention.

Tyrel participated in the NCBA internship program during the Cattle Industry Convention.

After spending a summer as the MSGA intern, what did you learn from that experience? About Montana cattle ranching?

Just like my experience at Wells Fargo, working with MSGA enabled me to meet cattle ranchers from all over in Montana and learn about their success and trials.  The MSGA staff really showed me the importance of networking, and being able to meet as many people as you can.  That has really helped me so far in banking.  Knowing as many people as I can expands my knowledge base, which enables me to assist customers as efficiently as possible.

Do you have any advice for fellow young Montana ranchers about the beef cattle business?

Get to know as many people as possible, and treat people properly.  You never know obstacles you might meet in the future, and knowing as many people as possible could help make those obstacles much easier to overcome.  Also, when doing business or working with someone, treat them properly.  If they had a good experience working with you, chances are they’ll call back again.

What’s your favorite beef dish?

All beef dishes are good!  But barbequed t-bone steak is my favorite.

 To participate in a future Q&A or to recommend someone from the Montana ranching community, please contact [email protected].

September 12, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Young Stockgrower Visits King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management

Todd Inglee Ralston Valley Beef King ranch headquartersBy Travis Brown, Sand Springs, Young Stockgrowers Vice-Chair

What an exciting time to be involved in this industry! Record high calf prices, strong demand, an expanding cow herd, and good moisture across much of the United States has made this an electrifying time in our business. I am also very encouraged by the young leaders who are looking at beef production as a great way to make a good living.

I had the opportunity last week to travel to Kingsville, TX and attend the John B. Armstrong Systems Thinking Lectureship put on by the King Ranch Institute for Ranch Management. It was a great chance to think through some of the micro- and macro-economic issues facing the beef industry ranging from questions about defining sustainability, endangered species protection, water usage, beef promotion, and production challenges. Throughout the intensive 4-day lectureship we discussed, and admired these issues hoping to begin to understand them better.

It was a humbling feeling to be surrounded by young, innovative, progressive thinkers who all have a vested interest in all of our future. The teacher of the lectureship, Michael Goodman, helped us to understand how the structure of our business or industry creates the results that it does. How we can make a long-term improvement on our ranch, or in our state Capitol that will make a lasting difference on the real problems we are facing. In out instant gratification society, it is often easy to look for the “quick fix” which may have unintended consequences to the long-term solution.

King ranch lectureshipOne of the highlights of the trip was having the chance to go on a private tour with Vice President & General Manager of the King Ranch, Dave DeLaney to get a look at where they brand the famous Running W. For over 150 years, they have run cattle in South Texas, between Corpus Christi and Brownsville. There is an incredible amount of history on this storied ranch, and an exciting future.

I could not help but be excited for what is in store for our own Young Stockgrowers. We have the upcoming Cattle Crawl, giving us a chance to interact with our consumers and show them what a great tasting, healthy, and environmentally friendly product we are proud to produce. We also have our biannual Calling on the Capitol coming up where we will have a real opportunity to interact with our legislators to make a difference on the issues facing our industry here in Montana. Our annual convention coming up in December will help us to set the policy of Montana Stockgrowers, to ensure that we have a united voice within our industry to institute positive change on the state and national level.

September 11, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Introducing Dr. Megan Van Emon – Montana State Extension Beef Specialist

megan van emon msu extension beef specialistDr. Megan Van Emon began as the MSU Extension Beef Cattle Specialist located at the USDA-ARS Fort Keogh Livestock and Range Research Laboratory in Miles City, MT on August 1.

Megan grew up on a small farm in northeast Indiana, where they raised pigs and dairy steers. She was a 10-year 4-H member and showed rabbits, goats, and beef. She studied Animal Science at Purdue University and graduated with her BS in 2006. Megan continued her education at Purdue with Dr. Scott Lake, studying ruminant nutrition and graduating with her MS in 2008. Her research topic was the optimization of protein quality of dried distillers grains with solubles for ruminants.

Megan moved to Hettinger, ND in May of 2009 to begin her Ph.D. in ruminant nutrition with Drs. Chris Schauer and Kim Vonnahme. Using sheep as a model for cattle, her research focus was supplementing metabolizable protein to ewes during late gestation and determining the effects on the offspring.

While in Hettinger, she also conducted research in weaning strategies with Angus calves and ram fertility. In May of 2013 Megan graduated from North Dakota State University with her Ph.D. After graduating from NDSU, she moved to Iowa State University as a Post-Doctoral Associate with Drs. Stephanie Hansen and Dan Loy in beef feedlot nutrition. Megan’s main research focus at ISU was to determine the effects of feeding algae meal to beef steers on digestibility, preference, and performance.

Megan says, “I’m excited to be here in Miles City and I’m looking forward to getting around the state to discuss the opportunities available here in Montana. Please call, email, text, and stop by.”

Megan’s Contact Information: Megan Van Emon; Office: 406-874-8286; Cell: 701-928-1096; Fax: 406-874-8289; Email: [email protected].

September 9, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Affiliate Highlight: Fergus County Livestock Association

Todd Olsen on Ag Ed DayThe Fergus County Livestock Association is striving diligently to accomplish its purpose to “provide a local, organized body to aid the individual livestock producer and to promote knowledge and information to the industry as a whole.” Both the quality and quantity of the information sources we have made available to our membership has improved as we have formed alliances and partnerships within our community.

One of the best examples of our collaborative efforts was the Montana Winter Fair Farm Forum held in January. We sourced a $5,000 speaker through Scott Hughes from our sister affiliate Judith Basin Stock Growers. The speaker was approved by the forum committee and it was agreed that they would help us to promote and advertise the event statewide. Next, we sought and received major corporate sponsorships from Torgerson’s and Northwest Farm Credit Services.

With these financial commitments in place, and some money from Fergus County Livestock Association and the Judith Basin Stock Growers, we were successfully able to pursue co-sponsorships from the Montana Grain Growers Association, the Montana Farm Bureau Federation, the Montana Stockgrowers Association, and the Montana State University Extension, all of whom helped us promote this event statewide.

Bret Smith on Ag Ed DayLast fall we partnered with Zoetis to bring in a 50 K presentation, and with Western Sustainability Exchange and Torgerson’s to bring in a low stress livestock handling seminar. We found that while some of our membership attends the seminars regularly, we are able to engage a broader portion of our membership by bringing in different topics.

During September of last year, we put a considerable effort toward both welcoming and participating in the National Red Angus Association convention. The programs and activities that they had available to commercial cow calf producers was yet another value-added opportunity for our membership.

Some examples of activities that we sponsor and provide resources to on our own include providing ice cream to the grade school kids that attend the annual ag day in May, and supplying and cooking the beef portion of the meal for the local Chamber of Commerce ag tour which occurs in October of each year. These annual activities are part of what keeps our organization present in the local media and top of mind with community leaders, community organizations, and community businesses.

All of this activity and publicity contributes to the success of our annual banquet, which last year saw $1600 in gift certificates being donated, as well as many hundreds of dollars’ worth of merchandise in door prizes. During the banquet, in addition to entertainment by cowboy poet Jeff Bolstad, we held a director slave auction, which raised $2000 and funded three scholarships, one for $1000 and two at $500 each. The consistency of this level of support and generosity has contributed to the growth of our organization, which is currently 189 members in this, our 60th year as an organization.

Ag Tour CooksIn January, four of our directors went to Helena for MSGA’s AMP program. Thank you to MSGA for having us and we think this will be a great way to keep local groups connected.

Our Board of Directors includes President Todd Olsen, Vice President Kirk Donsbach, Treasurer Thad Moseman, Ryan Green, Eric Wickens, Bret Smith, Scott Jenni, Dennis Descheemaeker, and Cory Merrill. The board is supported by secretary Joe Eckhardt and office administrator Linda Jones.

September 8, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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T-Bone Classic Golf Tournament & Gala at Big Sky, Sept. 12

By John Grande, Martinsdale, Research & Education Endowment Foundation Chair.

Tbone Classic Golf Tournament Gala Montana Logo JPEGPlanning for the Montana Stockgrowers’ Foundation T-Bone Classic is off and running in a new location. After several years of the Montana Stockgrowers holding the T-Bone Classic Golf Tournament in Billings, the tournament is now being hosted by the Research, Education and Endowment Foundation (REEF) and has been moved to Big Sky. A full itinerary is planned with the golf tournament being held at the Arnold Palmer –designed Big Sky Golf Course on Friday, September 12, followed by the T-Bone Classic Gala that evening at the Huntley Lodge.

In addition to the new host and new location, another new feature is the expanded T-Bone Classic Gala banquet. Anyone is welcome, non-golfers as well as those in the tournament. We are particularly reaching out to the business community to get others outside of the beef industry to attend so we can all get acquainted and work together.

The MSGA board and the REEF trustees will both be meeting at Big Sky prior to the T-Bone Classic. The REEF trustees will be using this as an opportunity to do some goal-setting and long-term planning in addition to our normal business, so if anyone has input as to where our foundation should be headed, please provide your input to any of the trustees. As always, we appreciate any support you can give to help us in our educational efforts on behalf of the Montana Stockgrowers Association.

Sponsorship opportunities for the T-Bone Classic are almost filled up and as of this writing we have sixteen golf teams confirmed and about ten more in the works so if you’re interested in golfing, sign up now before the field is full. For more information, contact the MSGA office or any REEF trustee. Details and registration are listed on the website at mtbeef.org/tboneclassic.

September 4, 2014 Comments are off Montana Stockgrowers Association
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Montana Young Stockgrower Spends Summer Down Under

Written by Kelsey Haughian

Kelsey in the lead of 500 weaner calves to trail across the river.

Kelsey in the lead of 500 weaner calves to trail across the river.

Gidday all! I am Kelsey Haughian, a senior animal science student at Montana State University, who has recently returned to Montana after 3 months on a remote cattle station in South Central Queensland, Australia. I was asked to give a little break down of my internship and experience down under!

I interned with Australian Agriculture Company (AACo), a company that is on its way to becoming fully integrated in the beef industry (from breeding/genetics to feedlots to slaughter facilities). AACo owns about 600,000 cattle across wide areas of Australia‘s Queensland and Northern Territory. The property I was at, Wylarah Station, is the breeding and genetics base for AACo. They operate on 30,300 hectares (about 117 sections) with a carrying capacity of 7,000 head on 550mm (22 inches) of rain a year.

Trailing 700 Wagyu cows in the dust to the next paddock.

Trailing 700 Wagyu cows in the dust to the next paddock.

I had the opportunity to work with the world’s largest herd of Wagyu cattle as well as elite Brahman/Santa Gertrudis/Bonsmara/Senepol/Charolais composite herds owned by AACo. The Wagyu stud herd (female sires) are now the largest herd of Wagyu in the world and produce offspring for AACo’s branded beef product that is sold mostly to Japan. This beef is very unique as the feeder cattle are on feed anywhere from 400 to 700 days! This length of time is for adequate marbling and growth time for the best quality of Wagyu. These cattle are fattened at one of the company’s feedlots (I had the opportunity to visit it during my stay and it is quite impressive!). At my station (Aussie term for ranch), we had about 2,000 Wagyu studs that were monitored like any registered herd in the US ­ records on performance are highly extensive!

The elite Composite herds at the station have been closely monitored for economically important traits (high fertility, adaptability, fast growth, feed conversion efficiency, as well as carcass traits) to increase efficiency and productivity of the company. My station provides the base genetics of Composites for the larger stations in the northern region of Australia, including bulls and replacement heifers to keep optimal levels of each breed within the Composite breeds itself.

Kelsey at the backgrounding paddocks with "re-hydrating" bullocks in the background.

Kelsey at the backgrounding paddocks with “re-hydrating” bullocks in the background.

One of the most unique aspects of the my internship was the actual handling of cattle. As is well known, cattle have distinct flight zones, and a good grasp on these zones makes for easier, more efficient processing/gathering/etc. Wylarah hires a contractor who specializes in “breaking” cattle; “teaching” them to work with people, horses, and dogs as well as process through yards (known as corrals to us!). The contractor works with the newly weaned calves for a couple weeks. The idea behind this “breaking” is to increase efficiency and decrease stress. If the cattle are relaxed and stress free, performance is increased. It is also used on the genetic side; to cull the flighty and keep the calm cattle, which is important with the large scale of the company. The low stress handling was a constant learning experience for me; the cattle work for you, you don’t work for them. I will miss mustering(also known as gathering) with a couple packs of dogs!

Looking out over the bush at the far end of the station.

Looking out over the bush at the far end of the station.

I can’t say enough how exhilarating this “holiday” was for me! The personal growth and cultural experience was just as beneficial as the livestock experience. I can’t express how thankful I am to the Wylarah Station staff who accepted me as one of the “family.” This internship would not have been possible if it wasn’t for the financial assistance from scholarships, grants, and family. MSU’s Exc.e.ed Grant helped tremendously with airfare and transportation; I am very appreciative to receive their financial assistance to fulfill a life long dream. I have so many stories and experiences to share, so feel free to contact me with questions!

Call it an internship, working holiday, or an experience of a lifetime…either way, I had the most amazing opportunity in Australia on a working cattle station!