How did you get interested in agriculture? And what are you hoping to gain from your apprenticeship?
May 2025
I wanted to ride horses in pretty places. I looked into working as a wrangler, but I was concerned that leading a string of whining children behind me would take away from the experience. So ranch work it was. I managed to get a job on a small ranch in Central Oregon despite having no experience aside from working at horse barns. This path of course, brought its own set of challenges. It is far from the romanticized version that’s typically put on display. I moved endless handlines, fed in negative temperatures and pulled dead calves out of irrigation ditches. There were a lot of hard days. But what you learn with ranching, is that every bad moment is paralleled with one that is beautiful. This work allows you to observe the subtleties of nature that you would typically miss while just out on a daily walk. I have seen the surrounding mountains where I’ve worked illuminated in every shade of light, shrouded in fog or barely visible through an oncoming storm. I’ve worked closely alongside wildlife, witnessing bold displays of their natural behavior. In this work you are not merely just a spectator; you’re fulfilling your own role on the land. The animals seem to recognize that.Â
Perhaps though, the most fulfilling aspect of this work for me is the importance it holds. To people, the land, and the animal. I grew up dreaming of one day owning an animal rescue, and now I find myself working in the very industry I used to condemn. But I feel good about the work I do. I spend each day tending to happy livestock on land with flourishing ecosystems. I watch how they support one another, and in turn produce nourishing food for families. It is a privilege to hold a role within the system, and to be able to ensure that things are done in a way that allows me to feel proud of what I do.Â
As I continue with this work, I hope to find a place of true belonging. A place where my strengths can be applied to uphold the highest standard for the quality of life of the animal, while simultaneously caring for the land they are raised upon. Everyday since beginning this apprenticeship I have watched the balance struck between nature, human and animal. It is encouraging to see, and an even greater privilege to participate in.
Final Reflections
November 2025
Resilience is a word I’ve heard many times this past year. It’s used in a broad sense when talking about a farm or ranch needing to be resilient and how we can strive to make our operations sustainable through the good years as well as the not so good. Maybe we try to improve efficiencies to reduce labor or input costs. Could be a shift in business model to better suit a location. We talk about making the land more resilient by improving soil health to better withstand drought or other weather extremes. Our livestock and crops need to be resilient as well. Perhaps the most important factor to consider is our own resilience. It’s easy to plan for known possibilities, the real challenge comes when you’re faced with completely unexpected circumstances. I find myself in the wake of those unexpected circumstances, now a member of a club no one asks to join. I’m writing this final reflection in the familiar cool, rainy midwest amidst the backdrop of autumn leaves instead of my mentor site in the San Luis valley of Colorado surrounded by mountains. I’m going to find out, yet again, just how resilient I am.
My second year as a NAP apprentice felt like a huge step forward for me in terms of knowledge and skills. Since much of what takes place on a ranch only happens once a year, I still felt pretty green when I arrived at San Juan Ranch. The cattle work started immediately and the lessons and encouragement from my mentors came along with it. Cattle are the only focus here and that allowed me to concentrate on developing my stockmanship skills constantly. In addition to the cows, we spent a lot of time on the grazing planning and land management side of the operation which really helped me understand how everything is interconnected. There are many different elements to consider in southern Colorado versus northeastern Montana and having experienced both definitely highlighted the need to consider context when making decisions about most anything on an operation. There is no one size fits all solution in this business. In short, this year solidified my desire to continue this meaningful work of land stewardship and healthy food production. Aside from the nuts and bolts of ranching, building community is another important facet of this lifestyle. I was extremely fortunate to meet and spend time with really fascinating people in the local community, different parts of Colorado and New Mexico, as well as some past apprentices. This year’s apprentices and the NAP staff in the southwest have made in-person gatherings and zoom calls entertaining and informative. Most importantly, I spent the year with the best mentors anyone could ask for and now consider them family.Â
Even more so than last year at his time, my exact next steps are uncertain. Given the reality of my new circumstances, I may need to step away from production and find an adjacent path. In any case, I’ve been extremely fortunate to spend two years learning and growing as a person alongside other like minded people as part of the New Agrarian Program.  Â