oldblood
Well-known member
Kevinl if you are going to write a book write about what you know and love, if you would love to ranch I will be calving around Jan 15 on a hill that you can see for 40 miles to the northwest, might want to bring a coat.
bunch of questions concerning livestock and ranching
- Thread starter KevinL
- Start date
movin' on
Well-known member
oldblood said:
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Clarencen
Well-known member
Kevin:
Don't let us guys on Ranchers net discourage you. I would agree it would be good if you would live and work on a ranch to get the feel of things. Ranch operation in it self is not all that interesting, it is the out of ordinary things that happen on a ranch, and how the people respond to them. To get the real stories behind a ranch that has been in the family for years you should get stories from the fellows who have been in or are who are in ranching today.
Old timers can give you a lot of stories, but I would want to hear stories from those who are just starting up today too. Yes, true stories are more interesting then fiction, but this will be your story. When you get enough information and stories together, use your perspective of them to write your story. You might see something in them that the story teller doesn't. Your story might be fiction, but rely mostly on facts to make it seem real.
Don't let us guys on Ranchers net discourage you. I would agree it would be good if you would live and work on a ranch to get the feel of things. Ranch operation in it self is not all that interesting, it is the out of ordinary things that happen on a ranch, and how the people respond to them. To get the real stories behind a ranch that has been in the family for years you should get stories from the fellows who have been in or are who are in ranching today.
Old timers can give you a lot of stories, but I would want to hear stories from those who are just starting up today too. Yes, true stories are more interesting then fiction, but this will be your story. When you get enough information and stories together, use your perspective of them to write your story. You might see something in them that the story teller doesn't. Your story might be fiction, but rely mostly on facts to make it seem real.
Thank you for your comments. 
For a few days I dropped the whole idea, cause you people really had a point there: I don't know anything about ranching.
I was sort of discouraged, and then I found out why. There is no way I'm gonna write this novel out of my city-living-point of view... but my thoughts kept coming back to ranching. And I kept forcing them away from it. Then I wondered why.
So, I won't write a novel. But I will write some sort of silly little story just for myself the way I imagine things on a ranch. And every rancher would laugh, so I'll make sure nobody will ever read that story. (haha)
It will not keep me from learning about ranching though. I will do my best and I will spend time on ranches in order to improve my knowledge.
This last part is tough, as I'm living in a totally different part of the world and am interested - of all places! - in north american ranching. But I'll get there. Someday.
For a few days I dropped the whole idea, cause you people really had a point there: I don't know anything about ranching.
I was sort of discouraged, and then I found out why. There is no way I'm gonna write this novel out of my city-living-point of view... but my thoughts kept coming back to ranching. And I kept forcing them away from it. Then I wondered why.
So, I won't write a novel. But I will write some sort of silly little story just for myself the way I imagine things on a ranch. And every rancher would laugh, so I'll make sure nobody will ever read that story. (haha)
It will not keep me from learning about ranching though. I will do my best and I will spend time on ranches in order to improve my knowledge.
This last part is tough, as I'm living in a totally different part of the world and am interested - of all places! - in north american ranching. But I'll get there. Someday.
per
Well-known member
When you get that story written many on here like to write and critique prose so post it up. If it is funny we most certainly also like humour.
Clarencen
Well-known member
I agree with per. I would like to read it also. I would be interested in how the people in cities and other places see the Ranchers and ranching.
You might be surprised how much of the way people in ranching dress, and even how they veiw themselves, because of the way eastern writers have portrayed them.
You might be surprised how much of the way people in ranching dress, and even how they veiw themselves, because of the way eastern writers have portrayed them.
Blkbuckaroo
Well-known member
Heck, we all live it everyday,romantic and not so romantic,maybe we could help him with a few passages.
I keep coming back to the ranching-issue time and time again. I have phases where I can't stop thinking of being on a ranch, working on a ranch. Then I tell myself "not gonna happen", and go on with my life.
I was telling a friend about how to achieve dreams, how to make them come true. I say to her first she needed to find out what her dream was, then be totally honest about why it seems far fetched. We kept talking, and all of the sudden I was like "how come I never follow my own dream?"
Because ranching to me feels as impossible as being an astronaut. When I told my friends about this being my dream, they were amused.
And I thought "I have to follow my own advice and at least try."
Easier said than done.
I'm not talking about having a ranch myself or anything. I'm talking about working on one, living there. As I mentioned before, I really don't know anything about ranching, other than what I've read on the net.
I'm not physically in shape to do it neither. Which leads to a simple conclusion: nobody would hire me.
So I was thinking about how I could come closer to this dream anyway.
First I would have to find out if me and ranching fit together.
But I tell you, I'm scared to end up on a dude ranch where I can't really work. Is there something like internships on ranches? This would be perfect for me to find out.
If I only had the basics down, like being able to tell front and rear of a horse (hehe). I will take riding lessons in fall.
And I realize ranchers don't have time for people like me, who cause more work than there already is.
Everything about this is saying "impossible. Forget it."
And still I would like to try.
I don't want to end up OLD, wondering what could have been.
I'd really like to know what you think.
Oh, about that story I was writing, I stopped writing it. It was quite painful to write about something I will probably never have. Also I knew too little about it.
I was telling a friend about how to achieve dreams, how to make them come true. I say to her first she needed to find out what her dream was, then be totally honest about why it seems far fetched. We kept talking, and all of the sudden I was like "how come I never follow my own dream?"
Because ranching to me feels as impossible as being an astronaut. When I told my friends about this being my dream, they were amused.
And I thought "I have to follow my own advice and at least try."
Easier said than done.
I'm not talking about having a ranch myself or anything. I'm talking about working on one, living there. As I mentioned before, I really don't know anything about ranching, other than what I've read on the net.
I'm not physically in shape to do it neither. Which leads to a simple conclusion: nobody would hire me.
So I was thinking about how I could come closer to this dream anyway.
First I would have to find out if me and ranching fit together.
But I tell you, I'm scared to end up on a dude ranch where I can't really work. Is there something like internships on ranches? This would be perfect for me to find out.
If I only had the basics down, like being able to tell front and rear of a horse (hehe). I will take riding lessons in fall.
And I realize ranchers don't have time for people like me, who cause more work than there already is.
Everything about this is saying "impossible. Forget it."
And still I would like to try.
I don't want to end up OLD, wondering what could have been.
I'd really like to know what you think.
Oh, about that story I was writing, I stopped writing it. It was quite painful to write about something I will probably never have. Also I knew too little about it.
the_jersey_lilly_2000
Well-known member
Someone else was asking about gettin into ranching. and possibly doin an internship.
I suggested contacting the Galt Ranch from the Series on Animal Planet a few weeks back. They were saying how they are always having interns come and go. It's a possiblity that you might be able to get on with them. I will tell you tho...that winter is a hard hard time there. Not that I have experience with it there......but it just will be....snow..ugh LOL
I'm sure some of the members here can tell you how hard winter is on ranchers. But give it a shot. If they aren't looking..or taking any new one's on...ask them if they know of any ranchers that would be interested in doin that.
I suggested contacting the Galt Ranch from the Series on Animal Planet a few weeks back. They were saying how they are always having interns come and go. It's a possiblity that you might be able to get on with them. I will tell you tho...that winter is a hard hard time there. Not that I have experience with it there......but it just will be....snow..ugh LOL
I'm sure some of the members here can tell you how hard winter is on ranchers. But give it a shot. If they aren't looking..or taking any new one's on...ask them if they know of any ranchers that would be interested in doin that.
I would think it wouldn't be too difficult to befriend a rancher and give him / her a hand from time to time just to get a feel for what all is involved. You may be disappointed to find that most ranch work isn't glamorous or even very fun most times, and not nearly enough of it is done from horse back. It often involves long hours on machinery, pulling wrenches, fixing fence, or a multitude of other menial tasks that are very 'uncowboy like'.
Lilly has winter all wrong though, it's the easiest time of year for a rancher 99 % of the time. The further north the easier it gets. You go from a warm house to a warm tractor (if it starts) feed cows for an hour or two then decide what to do with the rest of your day. In the frozen north winters tend to be pretty relaxed because there is not a lot of chores you can do, so guilt isn't even an issue.
I think if you're going to experience any kind of ranching you want to do it where it doesn't get too hot (above 90F) in the heat of summer.... that kind of weather isn't fit for man OR beast. :wink:
Lilly has winter all wrong though, it's the easiest time of year for a rancher 99 % of the time. The further north the easier it gets. You go from a warm house to a warm tractor (if it starts) feed cows for an hour or two then decide what to do with the rest of your day. In the frozen north winters tend to be pretty relaxed because there is not a lot of chores you can do, so guilt isn't even an issue.
I think if you're going to experience any kind of ranching you want to do it where it doesn't get too hot (above 90F) in the heat of summer.... that kind of weather isn't fit for man OR beast. :wink:
the_jersey_lilly_2000
Well-known member
Aww come on Silver...don'tcha wanna come do a Summer in South East Texas? :wink:
Oh, I read about Galt Ranch. It was a book by David McCumber, who spend a year there, learning how to live and work on a ranch. It was very interesting.
And, no, I don't expect much traditional cowboying.
Thing is since I live in Europe it will not be that easy to befriend any american ranchers (like Silver suggested). I couldn't spend more then 90 days there nor work for money, because of visa-issues.
I even looked up working ranches (which are too close to dude ranches for my taste) but I don't think I can afford about 2000$ a week, in addition to a flight from Europe and back again...
Well. If you ever feel like you could use some "help" for a few months, drop a line 8)
(You never know, right?)
And, no, I don't expect much traditional cowboying.
Thing is since I live in Europe it will not be that easy to befriend any american ranchers (like Silver suggested). I couldn't spend more then 90 days there nor work for money, because of visa-issues.
I even looked up working ranches (which are too close to dude ranches for my taste) but I don't think I can afford about 2000$ a week, in addition to a flight from Europe and back again...
Well. If you ever feel like you could use some "help" for a few months, drop a line 8)
(You never know, right?)
Big Muddy rancher
Well-known member
KevinL said:
Check into IAEA, International Agricultural Exchange association.
Hey
I had a look at that exchange organization big muddy rancher suggested, and I found that it is only for people that are doing agricultural stuff in any way - so it is not for people liek me who don't know anything about it. Too bad. The program sounds great.
I don't know if it is a silly idea or not, but I decided to take riding lessons (like I said, I'm from the city...) and I also found roping lessons. Can't hurt, what do you think? I'm very limited here in my options, and it's getting more frustrating by the hour. So I thought it could be fun to do those roping lessons. And yeah, I know you will laugh. Go ahead. It's alright
And, yes, I'm pretty embarassed to come here and tell a bunch of actual ranch people about my pathetic ranchhand-wannabe dreams. Thanks for bearing with me.
I had a look at that exchange organization big muddy rancher suggested, and I found that it is only for people that are doing agricultural stuff in any way - so it is not for people liek me who don't know anything about it. Too bad. The program sounds great.
I don't know if it is a silly idea or not, but I decided to take riding lessons (like I said, I'm from the city...) and I also found roping lessons. Can't hurt, what do you think? I'm very limited here in my options, and it's getting more frustrating by the hour. So I thought it could be fun to do those roping lessons. And yeah, I know you will laugh. Go ahead. It's alright
And, yes, I'm pretty embarassed to come here and tell a bunch of actual ranch people about my pathetic ranchhand-wannabe dreams. Thanks for bearing with me.
Northern Rancher
Well-known member
Send Dylan biggs a pm he can help you out!
I Luv Herfrds
Well-known member
We start calving the first of March. If you want your more then welcome to come spend a week or two here.
A
Anonymous
Guest
Kevin, best way to do this is to jump in feet-first, and the only way to do that is to keep at it...contact as many ranchers as you can; it's the exact same way I go about finding ranch-employment.
all you can do is ask, and the worst they can say is 'no'....but the more ranchers you contact, the better chance you have.
You gotta WANT it Kevin, and don't let anything stand in your way. Ranching (and especially WORKING for ranchers is all about sacrifice...you maintain your own life of course, but when you sign on to work for a rancher, your not hiring on just to do a 'job'...it's more like being 'adopted' by a FAMILY...and all families go through ruff times and good times...no one is immune to the ups and downs, whether ranching or not. But if you look at it as a 'job'...and (worse yet) one that you'll never qualify for, for whatever reason, then it'll never happen...your goals will never be realized. Sacrifice, Stick to your word, open your heart to everything you experience...
...it IS worth it.
Best times of the year to look for work is January (when they start thinking about extra feeding/calving help; May (when they start having doubts that they have enuf help for farming (irrigation and haying) and August (when they're starting to think about the 'fall-works' (gathering off forest permit/weaning/shipping/processing/preg-testing.
After Late Sept, early October though...the 'window of oppurtunity' is kindof closed (until after the 2nd or 3rd hard-blizzard, and THEN they'll start thinkin about havin' an extra hand around), and some (if not all) ranchers would actually be sending thier 'extra' hired-help down the road...just too much expense and frustration trying to keep guys like me 'busy'...
...unless of course we're talking about farmer-outfits, where there's ALWAYS fields to dig-up, fertilize, equipment to maintain, etc, etc....
I would'nt recommend a dude-outfit to visit though...they'll be more focused on keeping you 'safe' than letting you go in there and get hurt.
Liability is the biggest issue on a dude-ranch...some (the one's with the deepest pockets and a stable of Defence Attorneys on retainer) might not care so much...but most of them will do all they can to cover thier butts, by protecting yours.
Just my two cents, for what it's worth....not like I have'nt 'been there' or anything...lol
all you can do is ask, and the worst they can say is 'no'....but the more ranchers you contact, the better chance you have.
You gotta WANT it Kevin, and don't let anything stand in your way. Ranching (and especially WORKING for ranchers is all about sacrifice...you maintain your own life of course, but when you sign on to work for a rancher, your not hiring on just to do a 'job'...it's more like being 'adopted' by a FAMILY...and all families go through ruff times and good times...no one is immune to the ups and downs, whether ranching or not. But if you look at it as a 'job'...and (worse yet) one that you'll never qualify for, for whatever reason, then it'll never happen...your goals will never be realized. Sacrifice, Stick to your word, open your heart to everything you experience...
...it IS worth it.
Best times of the year to look for work is January (when they start thinking about extra feeding/calving help; May (when they start having doubts that they have enuf help for farming (irrigation and haying) and August (when they're starting to think about the 'fall-works' (gathering off forest permit/weaning/shipping/processing/preg-testing.
After Late Sept, early October though...the 'window of oppurtunity' is kindof closed (until after the 2nd or 3rd hard-blizzard, and THEN they'll start thinkin about havin' an extra hand around), and some (if not all) ranchers would actually be sending thier 'extra' hired-help down the road...just too much expense and frustration trying to keep guys like me 'busy'...
...unless of course we're talking about farmer-outfits, where there's ALWAYS fields to dig-up, fertilize, equipment to maintain, etc, etc....
I would'nt recommend a dude-outfit to visit though...they'll be more focused on keeping you 'safe' than letting you go in there and get hurt.
Liability is the biggest issue on a dude-ranch...some (the one's with the deepest pockets and a stable of Defence Attorneys on retainer) might not care so much...but most of them will do all they can to cover thier butts, by protecting yours.
Just my two cents, for what it's worth....not like I have'nt 'been there' or anything...lol
Today was the first day of my ranch roping course. My right shoulder is a wreck.
Much like I expected, everybody understood the drill better than I did, everybody was able to get the loops right before I did, everybody was 6 lessons ahead of me all the time. I'm really slow.
It's with everything that I learn: driving, roping, dancing, you name it. I need so much time to learn stuff. You'll have to show me again and again and again. I'm really slow. People will think I'm retarded. I just never get it right. And when I do, it takes a looooooooot of time.
I wonder why. I really hate this about me.
The course was fun, though. I was just happy taking my time while learning to get along with my rope, trying not to rope myself in while at it. By the end of the day the roping guys pushed me a little, I guess they'll want me to rope calves tomorrow... which I can't. I just can't. I didn't even manage to rope in that wooden cow. I always smacked it on the ash with the rope, instead of getting the rope around her neck. *sigh*
At least my loop opens up now. In the beginning I just whirled it way too fast.
And since I moved my arm wrong it hurts like hell now. While at it, I wasn't even able to hold my arm up anymore, because it hurt so much. And they kept saying "bring that arm a little more back, bring it more to the left, bring it more to the right" and my arm just wouldn't.
Why am I doing this?
Because I want to be able to do ranch work someday. It just looks like everybody is able to do this way better then I would. (maybe except Paris H.)
And in order to learn stuff, you go through with this. You get laughed at for being so slow. I didn't care much, since I don't know those people. I'm getting pretty good in not caring anyway. I want to learn this, and I will have to take my time. If I can aim at a cow and get the rope at exact that point by tomorrow, I'm happy. I don't need to know those fancy 30 different throws.
There is a course for ranch work somewhere not too far from here. There they'll teach you how to make and fix fences. I'm dying to learn this, but I'm so discouranged by today, and I will be much more discouraged tomorrow. I always make a fool of myself. But how do you learn stuff? By doing it.
I suck... but at the same time, I'm really proud of me for going through with this.
*shakes head* City slicker.
I'm sure you'll laugh now, but I just need to do this.
Sorry for the long text.
Any opinions would be much appreciated.
Much like I expected, everybody understood the drill better than I did, everybody was able to get the loops right before I did, everybody was 6 lessons ahead of me all the time. I'm really slow.
It's with everything that I learn: driving, roping, dancing, you name it. I need so much time to learn stuff. You'll have to show me again and again and again. I'm really slow. People will think I'm retarded. I just never get it right. And when I do, it takes a looooooooot of time.
I wonder why. I really hate this about me.
The course was fun, though. I was just happy taking my time while learning to get along with my rope, trying not to rope myself in while at it. By the end of the day the roping guys pushed me a little, I guess they'll want me to rope calves tomorrow... which I can't. I just can't. I didn't even manage to rope in that wooden cow. I always smacked it on the ash with the rope, instead of getting the rope around her neck. *sigh*
At least my loop opens up now. In the beginning I just whirled it way too fast.
And since I moved my arm wrong it hurts like hell now. While at it, I wasn't even able to hold my arm up anymore, because it hurt so much. And they kept saying "bring that arm a little more back, bring it more to the left, bring it more to the right" and my arm just wouldn't.
Why am I doing this?
Because I want to be able to do ranch work someday. It just looks like everybody is able to do this way better then I would. (maybe except Paris H.)
And in order to learn stuff, you go through with this. You get laughed at for being so slow. I didn't care much, since I don't know those people. I'm getting pretty good in not caring anyway. I want to learn this, and I will have to take my time. If I can aim at a cow and get the rope at exact that point by tomorrow, I'm happy. I don't need to know those fancy 30 different throws.
There is a course for ranch work somewhere not too far from here. There they'll teach you how to make and fix fences. I'm dying to learn this, but I'm so discouranged by today, and I will be much more discouraged tomorrow. I always make a fool of myself. But how do you learn stuff? By doing it.
I suck... but at the same time, I'm really proud of me for going through with this.
*shakes head* City slicker.
I'm sure you'll laugh now, but I just need to do this.
Sorry for the long text.
Any opinions would be much appreciated.
per
Well-known member
30 years in the ranching business and I still can't rope. It is a good and useful skill but there are other ways for us roping handicapped folks. Just keep on learning and do really good what you do well and use your head on the other stuff.