How did you get interested in agriculture? And what are you hoping to gain from your apprenticeship?
May 2025
I’ve always been interested in agriculture, really. Ever since I was little and living in Wisconsin. My dad ran a dairy and I, of course, helped him often. My job was to wake up, milk the cows, go off to school, come home, milk again. It was difficult but incredibly fulfilling. But then my family decided to move to another state to be closer to family and we left that life behind.
Once I graduated high school I tried a lot of different career paths. I graduated from college in computer science, went into the medical field for a long time. But nothing really ever brought me the joy and fulfillment that agriculture did. So I really sat down and looked at my life. I knew I didn’t want to go back to a dairy. It wasn’t quite the lifestyle I would like. So I looked into ranching. And I’m very glad that I did.
From this apprenticeship, I’m hoping to find that spark again. To find the thing that brings my life purpose and the peace I’ve been searching for. The apprenticeship is a good mix of education and hands on experience. Learning the ropes of regenerative agriculture while also seeing the lifestyle behind it. I’m hoping to learn what it takes as well as the practices that go into things like rotational grazing so that hopefully, one day, I can own my own ranch and help provide the world with the food it needs to thrive. It also doesn’t hurt to be able to work around animals again, which is always something I’ve enjoyed immensely.
Final Reflection
November 2025
It’s difficult to know where to begin on reflecting on this past year. There are so many things I’ve learned and so many experiences I’ve had that have impacted not only my knowledge of regenerative agriculture, but also shaped me as a person. Both good and difficult.
I’ll start off with the knowledge I’ve gained and skills I’ve acquired. Coming into this, I had no idea what to really expect. I had a loose outline, but nothing could have fully prepared me. Working with my mentor taught me patience and how to communicate in a more effective way. Ranch work changes quickly and you can often find yourself in a situation that you have no idea how to handle. This apprenticeship has taught me how to adapt and think quick on my feet. Use what you have to achieve the best possible outcomes. It’s taught me how to work with the cattle and to practice patience. Herding, feeding, doctoring. It’s taught me not to overlook the small things. If a calf has it’s head down, one might just keep driving onwards to hurry onto the next thing. But the next day, that same calf could be a lot sicker, unable to even stand on its own feet. I’ve learned the importance to look closely and trust my gut. It’s taught me how to work with my hands and rely on myself. If the truck got a flat tire, I can change it. If the barbed wire fence is broken, I can splice it back together.
The apprenticeship has also helped me as a person. It’s taught me patience. The value of hard work. It’s helped my confidence grow in both my resilience and abilities. I often find myself and my loved ones saying ‘If you asked me a year ago, I never would have thought you’d be where you’re at.’ Going from living in a city, working a 9-5 to living on a ranch in the middle of nowhere where your work begins with the sunrise and ends with the sunset has fundamentally changed me for the better. I’ve learned to adapt to a fast pace while also taking things slow. To stop and enjoy the little things. To celebrate wins and assess losses to see how one can improve. Working with the land has helped me feel more connected to the earth that we’ve been given. It’s a gift and we need to cherish it. We need to take care of it like it takes care of us.
All in all, I had a very positive experience. Yes, there were hurdles to go through. Learning a new set of skills is always a little difficult. Leaving behind an entirely different life can be stressful. In the beginning, there were often times I asked myself ‘what am I doing here?’ I had a UTV accident where I broke my collarbone. There was a point where I stood there staring at a dirty water tank with exasperation. But with perseverance and trust in the process, I’ve come out incredibly grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given.