Ladies And Livestock Book Makes The Perfect Gift For Mom

Ladies and Livestock cover

Mother’s Day is just around the corner – May 10. Have you selected your gift for mom yet? If you are like most of us, mom is a champion who takes care of everyone in the family and worries about herself later. This year, as you are trying to find that gift that will let mom take a few moments to enjoy herself, consider an iBook that she can appreciate with a good cup of coffee.

Released this past Fall, Ladies and Livestock: Life on the Ranch, is a multimedia exploration of the roles of Montana women on the ranch. 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 family’s legacy 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.

By utilizing the digital format, 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 about their ranch history, family life and how they feel about being part of Montana’s agriculture communities.

This book is an educational tool for anyone who wants to learn more about where their beef comes from and understand the lives of the people who raise cattle. Not only can a reader 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.

Purchase or gift your copy of Ladies and Livestock today. Available exclusively on iTunes or in the iBooks store for only $14.99, or go to bit.ly/LadiesAndLivestock.

Proceeds from sales of Ladies and Livestock benefit the Research & Education Endowment Foundation of the Montana Stockgrowers Association, a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization established to ensure the future of Montana’s cattle industry through producer and public education, and promotion of MSGA programs. For more information, contact the Montana Stockgrowers Association at (406) 442-3420 or go to mtbeef.org.

Montana ranch women featured in new iBook

Ladies and Livestock coverContinuing coverage from the release of our new book, Ladies and Livestock, the following is an article by Amanda Radke for Tri-State Livestock News. The book is now available exclusively on iTunes for $14.99. Click here to go to the store.

Grit and grace, boots and biscuits, flowers and financial plans. The term “ranch woman” evokes countless images, memories and thoughts for the livestock community. Ladies that literally grow the food to feed their families and the world can often tend to a fussing baby just as handily as sorting off a waspy fence-crawling bull. Multi-talented doesn’t seem like a big enough word to describe the ranch gals of the west that hold their families and business operations together.

“During my travels to Montana ranches, one theme became evident as I visited Montana Stockgrowers Association members’ operations,” said author Lauren Chase. “The ladies on the ranch were often described by their family as ‘the backbone’ of the place. We wanted to honor this and all the work the women do by sharing their stories in ‘Ladies and Livestock.’ Often, the ladies have many roles, and we want the public to understand how each of these roles helps make the ranch successful.”

Besides being a writer, Chase is also a photographer and former multimedia outreach specialist for the MSGA. She released a new e-book entitled, “Ladies and Livestock” on Oct. 1. Available exclusively on iTunes, Chase takes a tour of rural Montana and introduces readers to the ladies of Montana and their roles on the ranch.

Chase is no stranger to advocating for agriculture through social media. She brings a rancher’s world to life through photographs, which she shares on online platforms like Facebook. She believes this outreach is critical to bridging the gap between urban and rural America.

“I believe that consumers, in general, have no idea how much work it takes to get beef on their plates,” said Chase. “Even more so, they don’t know how much work the women do on any ranch or farm to help make that possible. I was really interested in sharing that information, but also, making the connection between women on the ranch and women in the city though shared experiences, like raising a family.”

The women in the book come from all walks of life, but each has a shared passion for agriculture, which Chase captures in her storytelling.

For example, one of the women featured in the e-book is Chaley Harney, who works as the executive director for the Montana Beef Council. Raised in Red Lodge, Harney traveled the country before finding her way back to her home state to work for the beef council. In her travels, she worked for the California Cattlemen’s Association followed by a job at a remote cow camp in the high desert of northern Nevada, where she met her husband, Deeth Harney.

“I guess I have always been enamored with agriculture,” said Harney. “The satisfaction that comes from working on the land and providing for others is deeply gratifying. Not to mention the contentment that comes with a day full of physical labor.”

Harney says she is humbled to be included in the book, which features “a strong force of women in the West.”

“The book ‘Ladies and Livestock’ shares the passion and commitment of women in agriculture,” said Harney. “As wives, mothers, sisters and daughters, these women represent a glimpse into a day in their life and exude their appreciation for the ranching heritage that allows them to raise their families where they love to live and work. This book also provides a look into the business of ranching and the family that ties it all together. I am honored to be included as part of this book to help further broadcast the Montana families that work every day to provide a nutritious, complete source of protein for the world to enjoy.”

Although Chase didn’t come from an agricultural background, she says she’s fascinated with learning more about the ranching lifestyle and was surprised to discover that ranching wasn’t just a man’s job; there are plenty of women involved in beef production, too.

“Readers will be surprised by the young women that are dedicating their life to working on the ranch,” said Chase. “Before I got involved in agriculture, I thought that kind of work was for older men, but I couldn’t have been more wrong! It’s inspiring to see women my age (25) who are passionate about working cows and raising kids to do the same.”

Flipping through the photographs featured in “Ladies and Livestock,” it’s quite evident that Chase has captured the heart and soul of these women of the West.

“Women in agriculture are not only sweet and loving, but they are tough and their work ethic is unlike any other,” said Chase. “If the job needs done in negative 20 degrees, they don’t fuss about having to do it. They are there when their families and neighbors need them – willing to cook a meal out of love for anyone who is hungry and then head out to ride through hundreds of acres of pasture. They are truly inspiring.”

Another woman featured in the e-book is Rachel Endecott, PhD, Extension beef/cattle specialist at Montana State University (MSU). Endecott grew up on a family cow-calf operation near Ennis. In addition to her Extension work, she teaches the 400-level beef cattle management class at MSU, serves as an advisor for the Collegiate Stockgrowers Club, and was recently appointed the MSU Extension Ag and Natural Resources Program Leader. She runs cattle on shares with her family back in Ennis and goes home in her spare time to help with the operation.

“Agriculture has made me what I am,” said Endecott. “I feel a deep sense of responsibility to do all I can to help the beef cattle ranching way of life continue. Food production is not faceless – real people are involved in every step from farm to fork and pasture to plate. Our consumers want to know about those real people and what they do; I want to help tell their story and do what I can to help them stay on the ranch to keep telling that story for generations to come.”

Endecott was featured alongside her mother, whom she calls her best friend. Her father was featured in Chase’s first coffee table book, “Big Sky Boots: Working Seasons Of A Montana Cowboy,” which was released in 2012.

“It’s fun to have the entire family be included in these two books,” said Endecott. “It’s exciting to be included in this latest book. I’m honored to call many of those featured my friends. Several of those ladies I’ve known since college and it’s fun to see all the different things we’ve accomplished in our lives.”

While women in agriculture are the minority, Endecott said what makes them special is “a unique combination of work ethic, determination, and compassion.”

“This book is an authentic, honest look at the life and times of ranching women – what more compelling subject could you find?” she added.

Although Chase didn’t follow the format of a coffee table book like her last published work, she hopes to reach a new audience – particularly consumers – in her latest release.

“This book was developed for the general public,” said Chase. “Millions of people across the world have iPads and can download the digital book in minutes. What’s unique about the book is that on some of the pages there are videos that readers can click ‘play’ and watch interviews with the women on their ranches. This format is an easy way for us to get outside of the ‘agriculture box.’”

Continue reading this article on Tri-State Livestock News…

Longevity of Ladies and Livestock

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(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.

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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