Meet the Leadership Series – Shaelyn Meyer

Meet the Leadership Series – Shaelyn Meyer

Shaelyn Meyer

About

I grew up on a commercial cattle ranch 12 miles outside of Ekalaka. Following high school I completed 2 years of college at Montana State University- Bozeman with no real idea what I wanted to study. I decided that some time off to pursue other interests was in order so I moved home to the ranch to work for my dad. I started my first colt during that time and some family friends offered me the opportunity to go to Oklahoma and ride cutting horses for 2 weeks. My interest in cow horses was piqued to say the least! After a few more months working at home I found a job working for a cutting horse trainer in Laurel. After loping horses in about a billion circles I decided there had to be some better scenery out there so I inquired with a couple horse training outfits in Australia. Within a week I had a job lined up, a one way plane ticket bought and a very worried mother. I worked for Salt River Performance horses near Perth for part of the year where I starting colts, worked with problem horses and assisted with the equine breeding operation. From there I went to work on a ½ million acre cattle station in Northern Territory called Moolooloo which means “plenty of water” to the aboriginals. I had the opportunity to work with a lot of the colts on the place in between “musters”. I miss my time spent as a “jillaroo on the top end”!

Occupation:

MSU Agriculture Extension Agent – Pondera County

What sparked your interest in agriculture?

When I came home from Australia the family ranch was in the process of converting to an intensive grazing system so I was needed for a few months to help put in tanks and fencing. During that time I realized I wanted to study sustainable agriculture which I was able to do at Montana State. I completed an internship with MSU Extension before graduation in December of 2014 and that helped me get my current job which I started in April of 2015!

What makes a great leader?

I would never ask someone to do a job that I’m not willing to do myself.

If you could learn to do anything, what would it be?

To operate a successful and sustainable ranching business and help others do the same.

Where do you hope to be in five years?

I hope to have my master’s degree and be back on the Meyer Ranch watching my dad enjoy his stress free retirement.

What do you hope to gain from the leadership series?

I hope to gain confidence as a leader and further develop my interpersonal skills, which are something that every great leader has.