How did you become a rancher?

[kolanuraven]

[efb]

If you get into it you will find, It's the hardest buck you will ever earn, and the greatest feeling you will ever have. The problem is , the bucks and the feelings are too far apart.

[Jinglebob]

Go work for a farmer or reancher. It will pay better than owning it and you will learn whether you really want to do it for a living/ lifetime.

[CattleArmy]

[the_jersey_lilly_2000]

My first question is.......Is the small family farm you grew up on, still in the family? And if so...can you use it?

The way we got started was, moving to Mr Lilly's family's land. Wasn't intentional, just couldn't see it sittin there not doin a thing. So one day I said, "Why don't we put some cows on this?" (I grew up with cattle, my parents and my grandparents) I didnt realize how much I missed the cows until I got into it again for myself. Started off with 3 cows....now up to 120 head of mama's. It's not a huge operation by any means, but it's enuff to keep us busy, we make a lil money, but Mr Lilly has always had a day job. I worked for 8 years (off the ranch) of the 17 we've been here. We are blessed in the fact that we don't have a land payment, and we've bought what we could afford equipment wise over the years. None of which would have worked without Mr Lilly bein a mechanic/machinest. It's a job you put alot of time in, and try to be as thrifty as you can with the money you do make. Alot of it's reinvested, in all sorts of things rangin from new fences to new corrals....the list goes on forever. But if you "love the job" you'll figure out a way to make it work.

[Northern Rancher]

I was just lucky I guess!!!!

[Ltdumbear]

Remember the tale of the 'City Mouse and the Country Mouse' ?

One thing I've learned (the HARD way) over the past fifteen yrs I've been earning my keep working for these ranchers out here, is that no matter where I am...it only SEEMS better, somewhere else.

My graduating class in NJ in 86' was 850 students...I was one of 3 who decided to serve my country for 4 yrs...then a year of trade school learning all about computers, before being reactivated for 6mos of duty for 'Desert Shield'. Soon after coming back, I hurled myself out west, feeding cows for $800.00 mo + room & board. I've been out here ever since. My folks have never stepped foot off the eastern-seaboard, so it's a foregone conclusion they think what I'm doing is 'short-sighted' because I don't have 401k, medical, dental, stocks, bonds, investments, a house in the Hamptons, paid vacations in Bermuda, etc...and I just now got out the bathroom after pulling 3 ticks off me, from fixing fenceline all damn day (uhm...make that 4 ticks...) under the hot sun, for an absentee-owner, who could'nt answer my questions about when exactly I'd be expecting a shipment of lick-tubs and bentonite for our leaky stock tanks, because he's more concerned about his 'cozy' little summer-retreat in Tahoe going up in flames.

Then I log on here and see this new forum index.

To the feller who wants to 'cash in', buy his own land out west (what little of it that's left to buy) and learn to 'Be' a rancher: I've just spent the past 7 (out of 15) yrs jumping from one foot to the other, trying to figure out how to work for people like you, who are in the 'learning curve' themselves.

If by the grace of God, you somehow manage to find the oppurtunity and cash flow to make it happen, BEFORE you make the leap of faith, you might want to ask yourself this question: WHY on earth would you want to add to the long and distinguished list of new-wave 'venture-capitalists' re-inventing themselves as 'ranchers' ?

Be very careful what you wish for...because THIS trap is very hard to get out of, once you get caught in it...

[Shortgrass]

Might try marryin' some rancher's daughter