Final Reflections
November 2024

I knew I had found the right place when I sat down for a second interview at Betsy and Roger Indreland’s dinner table. They cooked me a homegrown lunch, we talked about a variety of topics beyond just the apprenticeship, and then took a tour of their operation. I felt like I had been welcomed into a family. Choosing the Indrelands to be my mentors was an easy decision. This was the first of many experiences during this internship that drove home the most important lesson I learned during my time: relationships determine success.

Starting in May, I became responsible for managing just over 300 cows on a piece of newly leased land about an hour away from the home ranch. The owner knew Betsy and Roger from previous experience and wanted to employ regenerative principles on his land. While the grazing plan for our cows was important, we strove to create a strong relationship with not only the owner, but his other employees as well. We did this through transparent feedback, sensitivity to their goals and objectives, and respect for both property and people. The result was not only a summer of excellent grazing for our cattle and the beginnings of improvement on the land, but a relationship that has resulted in even more future opportunities through the advocacy of the land owner on our behalf and positive interaction with neighboring operations as well. 

My relationship with Betsy and Roger has provided a wealth of learning experiences. I came to this apprenticeship with no prior experience with cattle. Three months in I found myself taking care of over 100 June calving pairs and two other mobs. Any help I needed would be at least an hour away. Going through calving while conducting rapid moves with the other mobs was a challenging, and initially overwhelming, experience. Betsy and Roger maintained both their patience and their faith, understanding the risks associated with undertaking such a venture but never becoming frustrated while continuing to provide instruction and mentorship. The fact that I was able to make it through the first month provided a strong foundation for me to move forward with confidence for the rest of the season. I greatly appreciate that they gave me wide leeway, trusted my decisions, and encouraged independence.

Another important lesson I learned was that you can accomplish more than you think. As I stated before, once I moved to the new leased land any help was an hour away at the quickest. This forced me to figure out ways to resolve problems on my own. It forced me to take action, rather than wait for assistance. Once I understood that things wouldn’t get done unless I did it, the results were surprising. It turns out I can drive cattle over long distances by myself. My stockmanship improved through necessity as well as many trials and errors. I found creative ways to turn two man jobs into one man jobs through resourcefulness and drive. If I truly needed help, it would be because I had tried and either didn’t have the experience to find the solution or there was no getting around the extra manpower needed. But, I had given it a shot on my own first. I have no doubt this experience will stay with me and serve me well in the future regardless of the position or profession.

The cattle are good teachers as well. They have taught me that nature knows what’s going on and has instilled the instincts needed for them to be successful. During my first experience with calving, I would always get worried when a calf was calling for its mother or a cow calling for its calf and not immediately finding it. But given time, they always linked up, even across long distances. When initially getting my bearings on how long to graze a pasture, the cows helped me there too. Whether through their mood or actions they helped me identify key indicators to understand the status of a pasture. I developed a new respect for the cattle, seeing how smart they are in their own way.

For the future, I am excited to be staying on with the Indreland’s as a second year apprentice. I made this decision not only because of the hugely positive experience I had in my first year, but because I feel there is so much left to learn. My initial months caring for cattle on my own were mostly reactive, as every situation that came up was one I had never experienced before. I want to continue in the apprenticeship mindset, and hopefully be able to go through this same thing again but be able to utilize the skills and experiences I have gained to positively impact the operation through proactive management. I believe I can be more successful during calving, that I can be more aggressive with adaptive grazing to improve the land to an even greater degree. I can be more efficient with fencing and less stressful with stockmanship. I am excited to take on additional responsibilities and continue to grow my overall abilities as I continue to work toward my ultimate goal of becoming a ranch manager in the future.

The Quivira community has been a great provider of knowledge and relationships as well. The education calls have provided exciting new ideas and great resources. I hope to maintain contact with the other apprentices I have met through the program and have learned a lot from them by listening to their experiences. Overall, this program has exceeded my expectations and been one of the best decisions I have made in my life. 

How did you get interested in agriculture? And what are you hoping to gain from your apprenticeship?
May 2024

After leaving the military, I tried a number of different jobs but none gave me the sense of fulfillment I was looking for. I sat down and took a detailed look at what I valued, enjoyed, and required. I realized a career in ranching and agriculture checked all of the boxes I was looking for.

Most importantly, I wanted to continue to serve. This was the primary reason I joined the military, and was something that needed to continue to be present in my life in order to be happy. Working in agriculture allows one to serve their community, state and country by providing the food everyone needs to survive. You are part of a greater picture, rather than just focused on yourself. You are a contributor rather than someone who simply takes. You have the opportunity to shape the way forward for future generations. In addition, I believe it is important to assimilate into the community you choose to physically be a part of. There is a reason you moved from another place to here, and it is important to uphold the values, customs and trust of those who built the community before you arrived rather than trying to change it after you get there. I see agriculture as a pillar to any healthy area, and by working in it you are able to strengthen the foundation of your community by demonstrating your willingness to serve.

I love the outdoors and working with animals.  It was the wide open space, wildlife, scenery, and beauty that drew me to Montana. A career in agriculture allows me to spend the vast majority of my time in the elements, interacting with nature and animals each and every day. It is extremely rewarding to nurture and care for other life, whether it is grass or cattle, dogs or creating habitat to preserve native species.

I hope to gain a general knowledge of agriculture from my apprenticeship. I have had only one short experience in agriculture before this.  I realize I don’t know what I don’t know. I believe in order to be successful in any industry, you must start from the lowest rung and gain as much knowledge and experience as possible as you progress and pay your dues. I am happy to experience whatever I can as I start this new journey and hone in on what aspects of agriculture really resonate with me.

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