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Definition of a rancher to a cityslicker.

IluvAltaBeef

Well-known member
A few years ago, I had something sort of "strange", if you can call it that, happen to me. Well, "strange" as in threw me for a loop. True story, btw!!

I was in the city for a study session thing that I had signed up for (english :roll: ) and a tutor had me and another kid had to do some practice writing thing; more of a biography. So we were given a minute to write up this biography of our selves, then share it (read it out loud).

So I was first up and reading out loud my biography, and going over writing errors, stuff like that, when he started askin me things about my farm. So I told him that we're mixed farmers, growing crops and raise cattle, and I think the word "cattle" kinda did it...

"Oh, you're a rancher! Wow!!" (This was me: :shock: :oops: ) And then he started bombarding me with questions about THAT. :roll:

Me, I'm just sittin there shakin my head, mentally smacking my head against the wall. Yep, I got thrown for a loop, and that statment really caught me off guard!!

I guess he thought that since I'm part of helping raising and handling cattle (cows, in his opinion, lol), that equalled: rancher!

I mean, I have no real problems with being called that, but, seriously, I'm not a rancher! I'm just a simple farm girl raised on a farm 150 k north of Edmonton who likes her cattle. That's it!

I dunno 'bout you, but to me, the definition of a rancher is a person who raises a large number of livestock on a large piece of land, right?
And to the tutor, a person who raises cattle, period = rancher. :roll:


(Oh yeah. You probably already guessed that my tutor was obviously a real city slicker :lol:)


THat is one hell of a strange incident that I swear I will never forget. Never!! :lol:
 

MN Farm Girl

Well-known member
I can see why you felt the way you did. City people, (i mean this in a good way) don't have any concept as to what happens on a farm or outside the city limits. :roll:
 

Judith

Well-known member
I still have friends who believe that beef is grown in convenient styrofoam packages. You go out to the feilds and pick what you need :) :roll: Beef is not really an animal is it?????
 

Canadian_Cowgirl

Well-known member
In my oppinion CitySlickers are pretty much ignorant! expecily when it come to farming, we were at this thing with my 4-H group(im president this year :x ) and and we were doing diffferent subjects(cant think of the right word) on the cows, and i was vollinteered to do the milking of a old holstien, and after i was done, the city folk, got to ask questions, and there was this like 34 year old guy and hes like(honestly , him being serious) he say" are you telling me thats where milk comes from?" were like yes his expression turned from serious to discusted and he says" I'm not gonna drink milk ever again" we all burst out laughing! It was amazing how they dont learn that stuff! Or Mom and I were driving home from town, and there were these two guys standing on the side of the road in shorts and they were lookin at there little bug, and so we stop to see if they need help and one guy says "no, well yes, im taking pictures of this plant it looks llike its anousesnce" and I say" oh no thats a crop people plant them on purpose" hes like "oh really what kind is it?" i said "its canola(iot wa sin full bloom), thats what canola oil is made out of" he says "oh thats interesting I never knew that" Can people really be that iggnorante? :shock: :???:
 

IL Rancher

Well-known member
Some thigns are regional.. I mean, most folks out here wouldn't know what Canola looks like pre oil in a bottle because it is not grown around here... Its just a matter of what you are used to and what you aren't... Most grain farmers wonder what that Sudex or Millet is growing in our fields and most think the barley usually confuses them as well. If itsn't Corn or Beans here most won't grow it. Sorghum will show up now and again as will Oats and wheat and field Peas or Sunflowers but mainly it is Corn or Soy..90+%.. When I was registering with the USDA this past year they didn't know what code/average to use for Barley in the County... All though they did have the loan rate posted.

I would say most city folks are oblivious to a lot of the reality of farm life (Although didn't they watch that excellent representaiton of a Dairy on the Simple Life :roll: :lol: :lol: ) but sometimes I think it is ignorance that they force on themselves... I know folks who won't take beef from us as a gift because it makes it to real that it came from a cow. These same folks will only eat boneless chicken or Turkey Breats becasue a whole roast Turkey looks too much like something was alive.. Whatever floats your boat I guess...
 

IluvAltaBeef

Well-known member
Ever wondered if they'd get barley and canola mixed up just by looking at the plant itself? Like they'd think barley's canola and canola's barley... :lol: :lol:

Or that a cow's a deer...:lol2: :lol2:
 

IL Rancher

Well-known member
nr.. I lived it. I go into the city a lot and folks just realy don't know much about day to day ag stuff. It isn't really a big deal because to most folks, if the food is at the grocery store is all that really matters.. Otherwise noone would eat hotdogs :wink: :lol: :lol: I don't really think it is a big deal that they don't know what is going on (Although where milk comes from and the fact an egg comes out the same place chicken crap comes out I would think was common knowledge) but as far as what plant looks like what, fertilizer stuff, feeds and all of that.. Why would they know? I don't know much about the day to day stuff my Dad does, it is over my head or half of the stuff that my brother does at a Hospital.. I don't live it, why should I know it as well as someone who does?
 

Canadian_Cowgirl

Well-known member
nr, they make lots of fun of us! Asking if weve ever seen or used a computer, if we have electricity! calling us hicks saying we live in the boonies( well that part they got right about me :p ) there not acusations if there true, know are they? :lol:
 

IluvAltaBeef

Well-known member
Lol, I love to tell them that I live out in the boonies where it's real quiet and you can see the stars soooo clear at night, EVERY night! THey get envious of me, lol! They can't imagine to live where they can't here sirens or traffic going by constantly on a daily basis!

Suckers!! :lol: :wink:

I had one girl ask me if bulls were always one solid colour. :roll: But I had fun teaching her about country life and life living on the farm, like what a swather was, what silage was, etc., etc.,.

But then she had to say that she didn't like country life, or farming and such. :roll:

City folk as so weird! :?
 

nr

Well-known member
Canadian_Cowgirl said:
nr, they make lots of fun of us! Asking if weve ever seen or used a computer, if we have electricity! calling us hicks saying we live in the boonies( well that part they got right about me :p ) there not acusations if there true, know are they? :lol:

Kids will make fun of kids. Period. If you don't let it show that it gets under your skin they'll cease and desist. Eventually. Some folks just have to make comments about anything in life that is different than what they know. They have to downgrade others, you know, to make themselves feel more secure. I really believe it is a fear issue way down deep. And it often works both ways. Hunt for the common ground. I'll get off my soap box now. :wink:
 

Clarencen

Well-known member
IluvA

Its a fun thing. Gives you the chance to teach and tell. Made you the center of his attention.

I have a nephew who works with the Argonne Co. in Chicago. He knows a lot more about the ranch than I do about his line of work.

Heck, that's why we are on ranchers net; to teach and tell.
 

IluvAltaBeef

Well-known member
Clarencen said:
IluvA

Its a fun thing. Gives you the chance to teach and tell. Made you the center of his attention.

I have a nephew who works with the Argonne Co. in Chicago. He knows a lot more about the ranch than I do about his line of work.

Heck, that's why we are on ranchers net; to teach and tell.

Exactly. :D :D
 
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