When Family Comes Home

Stephanie had not been to the ranch for seven and a half years -- since her father’s, Steve’s, funeral.

We’ve stayed in touch with texts and Christmas presents.

One time, Steve’s and my daughter, Abby, and I visited Stephanie in Tennessee.

So when Stephanie asked to bring her boyfriend, Shane, to the ranch for a week, I thought about all the things that are still the same, along with some aspects that have changed drastically.

Stephanie said they wanted to help with ranch jobs so I made a list of tasks I would love to finish.

I will always have a list of jobs to do.

The compacted manure around a water trough has been blowing away for years, creating a pedestal. We stuck posts near the corners of the concrete pad and looped old tires over the posts. These will support and contain rocks that we still need to pile up.

When the sheep got out, we fixed some fence.

Every morning, we checked the heifers in the corral and took the sheep to pasture.

Every night, we brought the sheep back to the corral.

We looked at old pictures and reminisced about Stephanie’s visits as a young girl.

They rode horses and sweated and shivered in Montana’s classic spring weather.

Stephanie and Shane came to the ranch because Shane wants to own a cattle ranch in the worst way.

I recognize that passion.

I know how it feels to hear everyone around you say that it can’t be done -- the doubt and condescension.

The capital investment is too high.

Cattle don’t pay enough to make a living.

I disagree. A person can break into ranching, but he or she has to make deliberate sacrifices.

Who better to learn from than a person who makes new mistakes all the time?

My goal is to never make the same mistake twice.

I stay plenty busy making new ones.

Shane and Stephanie got to see some of them.

Fortunately, Shane has a well-paying job and opportunities to learn about ranching on his days off.

We talked about the differences between ranching in Missouri and Montana, and how some principles are universal no matter where a person raises livestock.

Shane can raise a cow-calf pair on two acres.

I need 50.

Shane can harvest hay three times, maybe four, during a growing season without irrigation.

I get one cutting.

Shane has a choice of eight auction markets within a 100-mile radius.

I choose among five auctions within a 300-mile radius.

But we both agree that no matter where, the land is the foundation of the ranch.

No matter where, each rancher gets to choose the best way to raise and market his or her livestock, depending on the advantages and limiting factors of the specific location.

Most importantly, no matter where, we get to make our own decisions.

No matter where, we work for the worst boss ever.

Stephanie and I had a chance to catch up, too.

In seven years, we both have evolved personally.

Stephanie married and divorced, moved to Kansas City, and found a man who is important to her.

I was honored to meet him.

I have an important partner and we are building a life together.

I was proud to introduce him.

The ranch is the foundation for everything I do, but I am branching out beyond only raising cattle and sheep with low-cost inputs.

Unexpectedly, I’m bridging the abyss between raising livestock and feeding people.

We discovered that we are not peas in a pod politically or religiously, but both of us deserve the respect that adulthood and independent thought bring.

After all, family is family.

That never changes.