Starting a ranch

[countryboy22]

hi guys,

im gunna be 18 soon and im from New Jersey and i always had loved horses and animals and ive been having the passion when im older to own a ranch in the mid west. I dont want it to be a dream. i want it to happen so i want to go to college and study ag. i wanted to know how hard is it gunna be to get land in the mid west and is it possible? i know to start small and work my way up. hopefully soon next summer i can intern at a ranch to get some experience too. also i know you only get one paycheck and im fine with that because i want to do it not just for the money.

if you guys could just give some input on what i could do with ur experience let me know!

 

[LazyWP]

Come out and work for the summer. Then you will know if its something for you. Go to school for business, pickup a few classes, as your electives in production ag, welding, and basic mechanics.
I will guarantee you will use your welding, mechanics, and business aspects a bunch more then most production ag.

 

[porkchop]

I couldn't agree with WP more. I have the ag degree but most colleges these days don't teach you how to dry your boots with the directions on the heel. They are usually 10 years behind in my opinion. That old school of hard knocks is the best one around. Once you loose enough blood sweat and tears you may be ready for this life. My advice would be to find the general local you are wanting to live in and find an older farmer/rancher that is willing to let you get some experience working for him. Then work like a dog and try not to tear up any equiptment, be very respectfull and remember the days out here are usually from 5 to 9 or later, not the other way around.
Good luck! :wink:

 

[Faster horses]

Where is RA when we need him? He could give this fella a lot of first hand
information.

You've gotten some good advice already!

 

[Steve]

Hi,..

I can understand not wanting to "ranch" in Jersey but there are alot of ag opportunities locally if you are motivated and don't get out west as soon as you want..

good luck.. Steve

 

[R A]

Where is RA when we need him? He could give this fella a lot of first hand
information.

You've gotten some good advice already!

I might write a how to start a ranch book someday..on how I did it....and on the very last page I'll put --- Now do the opposite of all that...

 

[Faster horses]

Where is RA when we need him? He could give this fella a lot of first hand
information.

You've gotten some good advice already!

I might write a how to start a ranch book someday..on how I did it....and on the very last page I'll put --- Now do the opposite of all that...

Hey, glad to see you are back! You've been missed.
What have you been up to? I bet your youngen's are really growing.
We want pictures, of course!

On the last page you put "Ranchers live poor and die rich." :lol: :lol: :lol:

 

[jcarkie]

my boys are now late 20's they started out in 2006 one son joined the military and became a helicopter mechanic (you need mechanical ability). he stayed in 6 years and bought a place through beginning farmers FSA and his 18 younger brother farmed the place with my help. then he went and worked for a contractor in Iraq and paid a down payment on the place next to him, then he came home and then the younger brother went to LPN school. they both work and farm and now they bought another place close to them. it is very hard to get started and it is a lot of work, we all work together at it but you better love doing it.

 

[R A]

Hey, glad to see you are back! You've been missed.
What have you been up to? I bet your youngen's are really growing.
We want pictures, of course!

On the last page you put "Ranchers live poor and die rich." :lol: :lol: :lol:

Well, I own most of NW Missouri now and own cattle I'll never see....wait, that's not true... I'm still working the world's smallest ranch, trying to make it something someday. I was finally able to start in haying, got quite a few gardens, gotta pig breeding program going, a Californian meat rabbit program going, as well as Bourbon Red turkeys, Rouen and Pekin ducks, starting a pet lop and lionhead rabbit breeding program, pygmy cross goats, cats (ha), just butchered my Cornish cross meat chickens, still feeding my Red Ranger meat chickens, still feeding my Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys, got chicken eggs in a homemade incubator right now, about to start in breaking my mule and building mucho lot and pasture fence to name a few things.... It takes me 4 hours a day to feed small critters and enrich their lives.... My boys are growing, but I still spank them and ground them everyday for not being big enough to help put up hay....

I still can't buy any more land yet, but have been studying what people with just a few acres or even an acre or less are doing and realize how wasteful I am on what little land I do have. Some of it is kinda inspiring. It's going to be a long road before I ever have a few hundred head like I'd like to have...heck, I may never have more land or cattle than I do now..... . So, I can't give advice on starting a ranch... Especially when everybody that posts they want to start one knows more than I do and is better set up already.... I have nothing to offer... I never went to any extra schooling or anything. I just do things. I bought a horse, then learned to saddle it. I bought that small square baler not working and knew nothing about them and just learned. Everything I've done so far has been like that. That's why I said maybe people should do the opposite??? ... .

I refuse to use the new photobucket.... ...or any other image hosting sites. I kill half a day or more messing with them and my computer. I like sites where you unload your pics right to your post and the site hosts them for you with no extra steps. I wish ranchers was like that.

I hope all is well up there! I never go any where, I just have been hiding in the bushes... . Silly for me not to get on here all the time with what I am wanting to have someday.... .

Good luck countryboy22! Your starting small will be probably be bigger than I will ever be and I imagine you know more than I.... .

 

[balestabber]

finishing a ranch can be just as hard and heart breaking as starting one.keep thinking about the future.family may be involved,,,and sometimes family ,,money,,and perspectives come in place.thinking today,,, a ranch can be today or generations to come.

 

[gcreekrch]

RA, what sites are you posting pics on? I'm with you on the new photobucket for the time it takes.

Don't let the lack of photos keep you from posting. Your infectious, positive enthusiasm does as much or more for a lot of us than you may realize. :wink:

Best of luck with your projects and plans.

 

[jodywy]

probably the fasts was way I ever saw was a guy I went to college with married the daughter of a large highway construction company and gas and old companies. when they sold one gas field they bought a huge cattle and sheep ranch

 

[Faster horses]

Hey, glad to see you are back! You've been missed.
What have you been up to? I bet your youngen's are really growing.
We want pictures, of course!

On the last page you put "Ranchers live poor and die rich." :lol: :lol: :lol:

Well, I own most of NW Missouri now and own cattle I'll never see....wait, that's not true... I'm still working the world's smallest ranch, trying to make it something someday. I was finally able to start in haying, got quite a few gardens, gotta pig breeding program going, a Californian meat rabbit program going, as well as Bourbon Red turkeys, Rouen and Pekin ducks, starting a pet lop and lionhead rabbit breeding program, pygmy cross goats, cats (ha), just butchered my Cornish cross meat chickens, still feeding my Red Ranger meat chickens, still feeding my Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys, got chicken eggs in a homemade incubator right now, about to start in breaking my mule and building mucho lot and pasture fence to name a few things.... It takes me 4 hours a day to feed small critters and enrich their lives.... My boys are growing, but I still spank them and ground them everyday for not being big enough to help put up hay....

I still can't buy any more land yet, but have been studying what people with just a few acres or even an acre or less are doing and realize how wasteful I am on what little land I do have. Some of it is kinda inspiring. It's going to be a long road before I ever have a few hundred head like I'd like to have...heck, I may never have more land or cattle than I do now..... . So, I can't give advice on starting a ranch... Especially when everybody that posts they want to start one knows more than I do and is better set up already.... I have nothing to offer... I never went to any extra schooling or anything. I just do things. I bought a horse, then learned to saddle it. I bought that small square baler not working and knew nothing about them and just learned. Everything I've done so far has been like that. That's why I said maybe people should do the opposite??? ... .

I refuse to use the new photobucket.... ...or any other image hosting sites. I kill half a day or more messing with them and my computer. I like sites where you unload your pics right to your post and the site hosts them for you with no extra steps. I wish ranchers was like that.

I hope all is well up there! I never go any where, I just have been hiding in the bushes... . Silly for me not to get on here all the time with what I am wanting to have someday.... .

Good luck countryboy22! Your starting small will be probably be bigger than I will ever be and I imagine you know more than I.... .

See? That's why you've been missed!!!

 

[Soapweed]

RA, what sites are you posting pics on? I'm with you on the new photobucket for the time it takes.

Don't let the lack of photos keep you from posting. Your infectious, positive enthusiasm does as much or more for a lot of us than you may realize. :wink:

Best of luck with your projects and plans.

:agree:

We all really enjoy your posts, RA. Your cowboy spirit and "can do" attitude are very inspiring.

 

[LazyWP]

RA, what sites are you posting pics on? I'm with you on the new photobucket for the time it takes.

Don't let the lack of photos keep you from posting. Your infectious, positive enthusiasm does as much or more for a lot of us than you may realize. :wink:

Best of luck with your projects and plans.

I totally agree. Don't stay away from posting, but let me know where you are posting pictures also.
I am done trying to post pictures on here too. Its just WAY to much hassle, and time consuming.

 

[R A]

RA, what sites are you posting pics on? I'm with you on the new photobucket for the time it takes.

Don't let the lack of photos keep you from posting. Your infectious, positive enthusiasm does as much or more for a lot of us than you may realize. :wink:

Best of luck with your projects and plans.

Thanks! Please know I was thinking about ya after your mishap and was glad to hear the updates were good! I'm just posting pics on backyardchickens.com right now. It is super easy to post pics on there. I do wish they had it to where you could bulk upload though. I've posted over 2,000 pics on there in the last few months.... . This is the only cattle/ranching only site I have been on in quite awhile. I do lurk homesteading and specific critter sites and some of them have cattle sections too though.

 

[R A]

RA, what sites are you posting pics on? I'm with you on the new photobucket for the time it takes.

Don't let the lack of photos keep you from posting. Your infectious, positive enthusiasm does as much or more for a lot of us than you may realize. :wink:

Best of luck with your projects and plans.

:agree:

We all really enjoy your posts, RA. Your cowboy spirit and "can do" attitude are very inspiring.

Thanks! I still take in every photo you post and am glad you are still posting them!!!

 

[R A]

RA, what sites are you posting pics on? I'm with you on the new photobucket for the time it takes.

Don't let the lack of photos keep you from posting. Your infectious, positive enthusiasm does as much or more for a lot of us than you may realize. :wink:

Best of luck with your projects and plans.

I totally agree. Don't stay away from posting, but let me know where you are posting pictures also.
I am done trying to post pictures on here too. Its just WAY to much hassle, and time consuming.

Thanks! I'm just posting pics on backyardchickens.com right now. As soon as someone starts a thread on what is the best way to stack a motorcycle hauling trailer with small squares to bring the most in out of the hay fields, I'll jump all over that because that is what I'm doing now.... Tranny went out of my truck the first day of haying and I hadn't even baled a bale yet.... . I was hauling 10 bales in at a time using a gate on my big bale hauler until I was offered the motorcycle hauling trailer to barrow...

 

[Coon Creek Cattle Co.]

Now I am new here but I do have some practical experience in this department!

Staying on the the family operation was not an option. So we had to start from scratch. Learn from our mistakes This is more or less how it went down.

Go to ag school, get a degree, intern on an outfit that is in roughly the same geographic region you hope to start up in. Learn all you can! (we came from a farming/ranching background) I don't know your story but there is alot of knowledge that comes from practical experience that you just can't get in school.

Buy as much land as you can! But don't buy the first thing that looks good and cheap. Consider how much pasture/range its got. Is it native or improved pasture? (that will affect the stocking rate) Is it fenced or not? Does it have adequate water?. Our place had been neglected for years and had just had hay cut off of it, so we have had to fence the whole darn thing (a job that has taken years, fence aint cheap) Clear brush that had tried to take over, and attempt to improve the pastures.

Decide on a breed of cattle you want, set your heart on them, and then buy whatever you can actually afford. We have tried it both ways but the fact of the matter is if you can afford 25 high dollar cows of the breed of your choice, or 40 comm. cross cows, go with the most you can afford (providing they are good cattle) and then build your "dream herd" gradually. And NEVER (if you can avoid it) build a herd, get into a financial bind (or three) and have to sell your herd. TWICE! It is really hard to build back without deep pockets or a great banker!

Work with the FSA office and the NRCS, they have alot of programs available to help beginning farmer/ranchers. And generally are good to work with.

Expect to be broke alot! Buy the best equipment you can afford. But don't go into debt over new paint! Use that equipment to it's fullest potential. I needed a new hay roller this year, but couldn't justify the cost for myself. So I took on alot of custom hay this year to make the payment, and hopefully add to our income. I day work, and haul cattle whenever the jobs are available.

You got to be thrifty! We do not have Dish TV or whatever, we do not use A/C in the house, heat with wood. Make trips to town (1 hr away) only when we need to. We eat alot of game and kill a hog or two, and a beef. We don't look like we stepped out the new NRS catalog (no $75 dollar Cinch jeans here!) we don't drive brand new rigs. Don't have a fancy horse barn or indoor arena. Our round corral is made outta pine poles. My squeeze chute is older than Methusula.

Saying "money isn't important" sounds all romantic and crap but let me tell you IT IS!!! You have to be able to make some of it if you are gonna stay in the game long! Now you may not see much of it, as far as a salary is concerned. LOL. But the outfit needs to turn a profit every once in a while.

Never, ever, ever attempt to try and figure out your hourly wage!!! You will cry your eyes out when you realize you have got a boatload of money and time invested in all of this and the kid at McDonalds flippin burgers is making twice what you are and hour!

Don't lose track of your goals, be honest and fair. Treat others like you want to be treated. Trust in the big guy upstairs and do your best.

I figure at this point I have either worn out my welcome, scared the crap outta you, or hopefully gave you some points to ponder.

Best of luck!

Tom

 

[Soapweed]

Great advice, Tom. My hat is off to you. :tiphat: