About Me
Everyone has a story to tell. America’s Ranchers and Farmers have a great one. Whether it is our hard work, resilience, sense of community, or passion to keep improving upon our skills, someone is listening. These are the stories of Agriculturalists and the reasons why they are proud to be a part of Agriculture.
What is my story?
I am just an ordinary kid from Arkansas who grew up on a cattle ranch and wanted to get out of Dodge. My family operated a commercial Angus and stocker cattle operation where I had more than enough opportunity to soak in the ranch life. On Saturday mornings I pleaded to go to work with my dad and during calving season I begged to stay up late to check on the calving heifers. Over the years I learned first-hand the hard work it takes to work in the cattle business. I soaked in all I could about managing a cattle herd, cattle nutrition, and marketing in the industry. Late nights at the auction barn provide plenty of opportunity to learn what good cattle look like.
When time came to graduate high school and leave for college, my world turned upside down. I lost my mother to a cattle working accident. This experience gave me the drive and passion to succeed, do my best, and make the most of my time here on earth. I completed an Equine Science minor at the University of Arkansas, worked as a student manager in the horse program, and decided to take a more direct route to make it in the cattle industry.
I took off to Amarillo to work in the cattle feedyards for the summer and learned a great deal about life in a new part of the cattle industry. That Fall I moved to Stillwater to study Animal Science at Oklahoma State University, where I had always dreamed of learning more about the cattle industry. Here I learned more than I ever hoped about life, friends, and livestock production.
My next summer was spent in the mountains of Wyoming; another dream of mine that came to be fulfilled. Words cannot begin to explain the awe I felt the entire summer. Who knew that living 24 hours from home could fly by so fast. I left that August awestruck, still in a daze at the experience of ranching in the mountains of Wyoming, and hungry wanting to stay and never leave.
After finishing my Animal Science degree at OSU, I found myself in the driest, windiest, flattest place I have ever experienced. Dalhart, Texas is that and more, but most importantly it is in the middle of cattle feedyard country. I was part of the team at a 67,000 head feedyard, where we worked together daily to feed and care for every animal on the yard. Life in the remote Panhandle brings its challenges — weather, isolation, and as the locals describe it, Dalhart is BYOG (Bring Your Own Gal). The cool part is that Dalhart is only twenty minutes from New Mexico and only two hours from the mountains of Colorado.
The latest door to open in my journey takes me East across the mighty Mississippi, working on my Master’s degree with the folks at the University of Tennessee. Book learning is not everything, but I believe it is a big step to a better understanding of what I love to do most. I look forward to learning more about cattle production and working with farmers and ranchers in the state.
I am involved in blogging and social media because the cattle industry is my passion and I want to share my experiences with others. I want to hear what others have to ask, share my knowledge, and sometimes learn with them. I want consumers to become more educated about food production before they criticize our work, and hopefully gain an appreciation for the work those of us in agriculture do daily. I want to hear others share their stories so we can stand up with a strong voice and tell the world how we produce the food on every plate. This is my journey, and I welcome you to come along for the ride.
Read my other blog titled “Sitting in the Pasture“
Find my videos on YouTube at AgProud
Friend me on Facebook and join the I am Agriculture Proud fan page
Follow me on Twitter as AR_ranchhand and use the tag #AgProud with your posts
Feel free to send me an email with questions, comments, or suggestions (agricultureproud@hotmail.com).
I like his story of how he kept up with agriculture and never gave up on it. They mean alot to us and if people just gave up wwe would have nothing. Thanks for not giving up.
Hey, maybe this is a bit offf topic however in any case, I have been browsing about your blog and it seems actually neat. impassioned about your writing. I’m creating a new blog and exhausting-pressed to make it appear great, and supply excellent articles. I’ve discovered lots on your web site and I look forward to further updates and will likely be back.
Hello, I just wanted to take the time to make a comment and say I have really enjoyed reading your blog. Thanks for all your work!
I would like to know if you were an FFA member and if you would be interested in talking about why you advocate through social media and the impact you are having on your community through your writing at a summer conference in Little Rock for the National FFA Alumni Assocation? If so, send me a note and we can discuss some details!
Thanks, Lucy
Great blogs, twitter posts. I have your site listed on my one stop blog stop at http://www.farmerinc.net under the beef page. If you like the site, please add my blog site and share the word about this blog. I also have my own farm blog at http://www.idahofarmwife.net. Thanks. Keep up the great work.
Great writing, and awesome experiences. Continue believing in your dream! I grew up in SW Kansas, farming, cattle, country life so I know the areas that you talk about. I am now in Des Moines IA in the agfinance business but am working on the side on my dream as well. An agricultural social media startup called chatterbarn.com. Check our site out and pre-register if you want, we will keep you updated on our launch date. Keep up the good writing, and live the dream!
Tim
Thanks Tim. I appreciate it and am glad you like what I post. I’ll be sure to check out your site.
There’s no better place to live than AR. I live in Russellville. I enjoyed your story. Doylene
What a great site! Nothing like coming back home, especially when you’re in ag! Keep up the great work!
Great to hear about the other side of the world’s farming perspective. Over here in Australia, we call farming ‘being on the land’ and ranches are ‘properties’ (well, the big ones anyway). Your description of pan handle country to the mountains of Wyoming is very similar to the varied range of farming country in Australia – from the north west Warrumbungles to far western Queensland, tick country in the Northern Territory and right down into the Snowy Mountains, we too have immense diversity that all require different farming strategies. Saw you were a participant in the Landline program which led me to your great blog – looking forward to reading more! Cheers.
Thanks for stopping by from Australia. It’s always interesting to hear about agriculture from different parts of the world. If you have any specific questions, drop me an email or a message and I’ll see if I can’t share a lil insight.
I’m a newbie to the agricultural life, but I married a 3rd generation dairy farmer who left the farm for a while and came back after his father died. Like you, it never stopped being a part of him. I started a light-hearted blog about my transition as a city girl to the country life, but I really enjoy learning everything I can about agriculture in general and I really like your blog! Some of the pictures I’ve seen are gorgeous! We’re dying to go out to Wyoming and Montana!
Hey Ryan. Enjoyed reading your story. Agriculture is a passion that once in your blood you just want more. My family and I have chicken houses and a cattle and horse operation. There is nothing more fulfilling than working so close to God’s creation and knowing you help feed the world. This blog is just one great way to educate people on what agriculture is all about. I look forward to following you and your journey. I also teach high school math and I encourage my students to follow their dreams, set goals, and travel before they get married and have kids (:
Ryan just got your blog link through Daren. I am really enjoying the read. My husband and I own cows, we lived in Nebraska last year to start a feedlot. I don’t know what our next adventure is – but God is good! So, I am sure it will be awesome – with a few ups and downs. I just started blogging and enjoy it more than I thought. So glad I got a new blog to visit. Keep dreaming and following the dream. I say any place with cows is a good place to be.
Thanks Janice! Appreciate the visit and comment. And you’re right about that “any place with cows is a good place to be!”