The Ranch

The Mentors

Roger & Betsy Indreland

 Roger Indreland   Roger grew up on the home ranch and started his herd of Registered Angus Cattle in 1977 as a sophomore in high school.  He attended Montana State University and graduated with a degree in Farm & Ranch Management. After that he and Betsy worked together in construction, traveling on the west coast of the US and Canada.  They returned to the ranch full time in the late 1990s. One of their most impactful educational experiences was attending the Ranching for Profit school in 2012 and again in 2017. They are involved with the RFP alumni program called Executive Link.

Betsy Indreland   Betsy grew up in the Big Timber area, but not on a ranch.  She attended University of Montana then Montana State University where she graduated with a degree in Business with a Marketing emphasis.  She joined the agricultural world when she and Roger were wed in 1986.

We have two daughters, Anne (31) and Kate (26).  Anne and her son, Brooks (10) currently live in Texas as she pursues her passion for cutting horses.  Kate and her husband, Davis, are First
Lieutenants in the Army and currently stationed at Fort Drum in upstate New York. Both daughters are engaged in the ranch and keep current on ranch happenings.

Lincoln Burggraff   Lincoln has been with Indreland Ranch going on two years and is an
integral part of managing the grazing on the cowherd, irrigation, equipment and pretty much
everything. Lincoln and his wife, Erin, live nearby on a property that we lease with their 3
children ages 1, 3 and 5. They are passionate about regenerative agriculture as well and have
a few enterprises of their own including gardening, chickens, milk cows and pigs.

Jeff Courchaine   Jeff did his first year Quivira apprenticeship with us and we are excited that
he will be staying on for a second year apprenticeship! He will also have opportunities to
mentor an apprentice, especially on the one remote property where he grazed our cattle last
year.

The Apprentice

What will an apprentice do?

Since our operation is forage based, our main priority is to manage pastures/grazing and to implement those plans.  This means fencing of all types (maintenance and new/temporary electric fence) and livestock handling and movement. Equipment maintenance occurs all year long as well.

In the spring, we prepare for the flood irrigation season.  Calving starts about May 1 and is done before the end of June.  Each calf needs a birthweight recorded, eartagged and a blood sample taken to verify parentage with DNA.  We calve out on the open range with limited facilities.Being a seedstock operation, there are many things that are required that would not be on a typical cow/calf operation.  

The long busy days of summer are mostly consumed with irrigating and managing grazing.  Water runs 24/7 and we need to keep up with it.  We do not do any haying.

Fall brings preparations for our bull sale as well as preg checking the cows.  We also are mindful of our forage inventory as we prepare for winter grazing.  Weaning time varies, this year we are planning to wean at the end of January.

What skills and traits are required in an apprentice?

• • Valid Driver’s License & clean driving record
  • Our apprentice should be able to hike several miles some days in steep, rugged country, sometimes carrying fence posts, wire or other loads some distances.  They must be strong enough to lift, carry and stack 50-pound bags of salt and mineral. Ranch work often entails repetitive lifting, stooping and bending. and sometimes running, ducking and dodging. This may not be a good fit if one has back or mobility issues.
  • Willing and able to perform moderate, and sometimes hard, physical labor, work long days when needed and work in sometimes difficult weather conditions – from hot and dry to wet and muddy, sometimes cold with snow.
  • An apprentice that can do well here will have the willingness to learn to properly drive with primarily manual transmissions (stick shift), ATVs and tractors.  This must be done with enough understanding and awareness of their surroundings and conditions to operate in the best interest of people, livestock, pets and the equipment.
  • Sense of Humor is a must
  • Enthusiasm and willingness to learn!

What skills and traits are desired in an apprentice?

There is no prerequisite to be from a farm or ranch background.  Everything one needs to learn can be taught here. However, the following characteristics are desirable in an apprentice.

• • Strong desire to understand and experience the good, the bad, and the ugly of operating a forage-based livestock operation.
  • Must have the “WT” – the “Want To.” This goes hand and hand with a positive attitude.
  • Compassionate and kind to animals and people
  • Being present when present
  • Engaged enough to ask questions, think on your feet, act from your observations and contribute to our operation.
  • If you are curious about hydrology as it relates to water flows, volumes, distribution and absorption plus its relationship to the landscape, this is the apprenticeship for you!  That is the basic knowledge you will acquire as you vigorously develop your shoveling skills during flood irrigation. Once you have learned those basic skills, you will have the knowledge and ability to manage many types of water systems.  If the agricultural use of water doesn’t interest you, at a minimum you will have the knowledge to read the water to help your fly-fishing skills!
  • A sense of humor – not every day is fun, and humor is an essential tool to get past the tough days
  • Enthusiasm for our Mission and Vision
  • Honesty and openness
  • Good observational skills
  • Attention to detail is very important in all areas:  equipment, vehicles, tools, livestock, etc.
  • Being a good communicator
  • Willingness to try new things and learn as part of being a lifelong learner 
• All of this with enthusiasm!

Nuts & Bolts

Indreland Ranch will be looking for 1 apprentice this year in addition to Jeff, our second year apprentice. Anyone who is looking for a second year apprenticeship is strongly encouraged to apply. The stipend will be increased for a second year apprentice.

Start Date: Start date of mid-March through mid-December (Our annual bull sale is in early December.  We would like the apprentice to stay through that week after the sale.)

Length of Apprenticeship: 10 months

Stipend: $1200 / month (Paid $600 every 2 weeks)  Note: there is potential at our ranch for advancement and/or full time employment after the apprenticeship

General work hours: 8am-5pm, six days a week (1 hour for lunch)  Weekly planning meetings are held first thing Monday morning.

Housing: A house at the ranch headquarters will be available for the apprentice.  There is the potential that the house may be shared with another seasonal employee. Each will have their own bedroom and bathroom with shared kitchen and living area. It is expected that the area will
be kept clean and organized and efforts made to conserve energy, minimize waste and recycle when possible. The house is furnished and has sheets and towels.  The apprentice is expected to maintain a clean and orderly home environment and to maintain a mowed/trimmed yard. One
needs to be willing and able to operate a push lawn mower and weed eater. Keeping the general appearance tidy around the farmstead is important.

Laundry: A washer and dryer in the basement of the house are available for your use. 

Internet availability: Internet is available at the house. 

Cell Phone Provider: Cell phone coverage on the ranch is generally good and we text and call each other as necessary. Verizon is the most reliable carrier in our area.

Time off: Some Saturdays and most Sundays off with the exception of tending to the necessary chores and irrigation.  We can be quite flexible with days off as Roger, Betsy or another employee can fill in for the required tasks for each day, however, expect no less than 48 hours per week.  The apprentice’s work schedule will accommodate attending NAP events and being on NAP calls.  Attendance at other educational events is encouraged as the season of work allows.  Most requests for time off for educational opportunities or personal things can be accommodated with proper prior planning.  Adjustments to compensation will be made if time off requested is excessive. We are not worried about a day here and there, but if more than that, adjustments may occur. (Not including NAP events, of course)

Visitors policy: Guests are generally welcome but must not be disruptive to the work schedule.

Food: Beef from the ranch will be provided. Gardening is encouraged.  There would be whole raw milk as long as you are willing to manage the milk cow! Also, eggs as available.

Pets: We have working dogs, barn cats and chickens that are an integral asset and we cannot risk temporary introduction of other pets.

Horses: Horses are used on a limited basis on our ranch. Do not expect that you will be included in that.  If you are looking for a horse experience, this is not your place.

Tobacco, alcohol & cannabis use: Ranch housing, vehicles and enclosed work spaces are all smoke free. Legal and appropriate alcohol use is OK … almost always outside scheduled work hours. We have a one and done DUI policy and being at work under the influence of any intoxicant is grounds for immediate termination. Possession of any illegal substance will also be grounds for immediate termination.  We cannot tolerate compromising the safety of others on the ranch.

Guns: Allowed but the apprentice must be skilled in firearm safety and use and guns must be secured when not in use. 

Health insurance:  The ranching lifestyle has inherent dangers. While personal health insurance is not required to participate in the apprenticeship program, it is strongly encouraged. The ranch carries Workman’s Compensation to cover injuries incurred on the job. But if the apprentice is injured on his or her day off, gets sick, or has or develops chronic conditions like allergies, these types of issues should be covered by personal health insurance.

Vehicles: We will train you to operate vehicles and equipment on the ranch including pickups, pulling trailers, operating 4 wheelers, tractors, loaders and stationary equipment. If you have experience, the training period will be short, if not, we will help you achieve our desired level of competence.  If it is apparent that you are not gaining proficiency on necessary equipment then instruction will cease and you will be expected to walk or do that work by hand.

Personal vehicle: While apprentices will not be asked to use a personal vehicle for work purposes, the apprentice will need the flexibility of his or her own vehicle on their days off to run personal errands such as purchasing groceries and for travel.

Additional items apprentice should bring: The apprentice should bring any personal items, bedding, towels and work gear. We are on the east slope of the Crazy Mountains in the Chinook Zone. Temperatures can change dramatically during the course of the day so layered clothing is a great idea so you can adjust for comfort as the day progresses. Sturdy footwear, muck boots, hats, sunscreen and gloves all see a lot of use. We provide irrigation boots and your first pair of fencing gloves. 

Living at Indreland Ranch:

The Indreland Ranch is located approximately 13 miles north of Big Timber, Montana, 75 miles from Bozeman and 100 miles from the largest city in the state, Billings. Big Timber has a mid-size grocery store, a natural food store, and a variety of small businesses including a few good restaurants and bars, clothing store with quality work gear, hardware store, auto parts store, and a brew pub.  Livingston is about 50 miles from the ranch and is a bigger small town with 2 large chain grocery stores. Bozeman is the fastest growing city in Montana and has a very trendy Main Street with a variety of restaurants, coffee shops, art galleries and theaters. There are frequent live music performances. Bozeman is also home to Montana State University.

We are close to Yellowstone National Park, the Beartooth Absaroka Wilderness, and abundant public lands for fishing, hunting, hiking, backpacking and camping. You can be at the Trailhead of Big Timber canyon in the Crazy Mountains in about ½ hour.  From there, it is a short walk to the falls. We are also members of the nearby Glasston Lake boat club and try to frequent the lake for water skiing and a BBQ occasionally on a hot summer afternoon. There are several small ponds and streams on the ranch that can be used for kayaking, canoeing, fishing and swimming.  Besides the occasional elk, black bear, mountain lion and bobcat, there is an abundance of wildlife living on the ranch including deer, antelope, coyotes, fox, badgers, snakes, skunks, racoons, gophers, rodents of all types, many bird species, pollinator insects, earthworms and the associated microscopic soil biology alive and well under our feet.  We strive to observe this system and learn from it!

We are fortunate to live in a community that has several like-minded ranchers!  A number of these ranches are hoping to have an apprentice, so there should be a group of apprentices in this general area.

Quivira Coalition Activities: This apprenticeship is offered through Quivira Coalition’s New Agrarian Program. The full cohort of apprentices on regenerative ranches and farms across the west will attend a late March or early April orientation, participate in supplemental education provided by Quivira Coalition, attend in-person land health workshops and attend the annual Quivira Conference, hosted with Holistic Management International and the American Grassfed Association, in November. Apprentices are also required to write several reports during their apprenticeship; these reports will go through the NAP Coordinator at Quivira, and be posted on the Quivira website.