The Ranch
Long Arroyo Land Company is located in the South Eastern corner of Ochiltree County, which is nestled in the NE corner of the Texas Panhandle, where the Llano Estacado rises up to meet the Southern Great Plains.
The ranch first began being purchased in 1951 by Gale Rogers, who was a young banker in Perryton at the time. He saw opportunity in land for sale in the county, and his mother offered him an interest-free personal loan to purchase his first acreage, under the stipulation that he go into business with his younger brother. The two brothers operated the first acreage purchased for several years, growing upon that by purchasing adjoining acreages when opportunities arose through the years. Years later, Gale’s daughter and son-in-law, Ann and Phil Burandt, returned to the ranch, while Gale and his brother dissolved their partnership and split the operation – Gale taking a larger portion of the range land, while his brother took a larger portion of the farm ground. Through the years of Gale’s era, the cattle operation consisted of a predominately commercial Black Angus mixture first purchased through sale barns and cattle buyers, which were then “graded up” through the use of registered Black Angus bulls, purchased with carcass traits as genetic priority. These cows weighed in 1300-1400 lb range with a frame score of 5 to 6. There was some dabbling in a small set of registered Angus cows for a few years, AI bred to registered bulls, in hopes of raising registered herd bull quality offspring. The grazing philosophy behind the operation at the time consisted of multiple small sets of cattle housed on section-large pastures, and rotated once or twice per year, allowing each pasture almost a year of rest, but also a year of overuse.
Phil took the reins and began to develop the land while providing the operation with vision and direction through a focus on range management and overall profitability. While Gale put the ranch together, Phil is responsible for keeping it together, developing it, and turning it into a more successful and sustainable business that is able to be passed down for generations. Phil changed the cattle genetics tremendously, focusing much more on maternal traits and a smaller frame size. Today, the typical cow looks more like a commercial red or black angus base, with a few remaining bald-faced cows, 3.5 to 4 frame height, and in a 1,000-1,100 lb package. The grazing philosophy behind the ranch has changed even more greatly, now resembling a higher stock density and shorter graze duration frequency. Now the cows are combined into one main herd, moved more frequently, and pasture sizes are divided into smaller and more concentrated acreages. A land base that was once 13 pastures in total, is now roughly 46 permanent pastures and further sub-divided into more temporary paddocks seasonally.
Laura returned to the ranch after having been to college and completed several other jobs and internships within the beef industry. She offers fresh energy, newer ideas, open-minded perspective, and inspiration behind the vision which she and Phil share for the direction of the ranch’s operational goals. She has become more of the spokeswoman for the ranch as its youngest generation represented.
Long Arroyo Land and Cattle Company’s motto is, “Stewardship from the soil up,” indicating our desire to manage all of the working parts of our business in a holistic manner, as all of these working parts ultimately affect one another while heading towards a common goal. More than a job, our efforts here are a commitment to taking care of the land God has created, stewarding ideals as old and true as the earth itself. Our commitment is derived from both the realization that we are a part of something much larger than ourselves, as well as the importance in feeding mankind a healthy protein product off of what this land produces. It is our desire to steward finances in a way that creates value and is the foundation of a successful and sustainable business model for generations to come. At the same time, it is our hope to utilize livestock as a range management tool in a way that is both productive and profitable, while taking special care to balance the health and genetics of a herd well-suited to this environment. Land, money, and livestock are the three components of a ranching operation, and it is our responsibility to balance all three in order to nurture the gifts we’ve been given, fulfill a higher calling, continue a family legacy, and make an influential difference big enough to reach beyond property lines.
The commercial Black and Red Angus cow-calf herd is our main bread and butter, but we will also branch out into additional enterprises to increase turnover and profit, when rainfall and forage availability allow. This will often look like running yearling cattle in a replacement heifer development program, or purchasing old bred trader cows to turn into pairs and run as a separate stocker herd.
We grow a small amount of wheat and milo for grain harvest, or sometimes for grazing as well. When rainfall allows, we no-till pasture crop wheat with some occasional added perennial forbs into grass pastures to be grazed by cattle.
Grain is sold through a local co-op. Steer calves are marketed by forward contract through video auctions, replacement quality heifers are marketed by private treaty in the country or in special female sales, occasionally bull calves are sold private treaty, cull steer and heifer calves are sold at a local sale barn, open yearling heifers are sold as grass finished beef, and open cows are either sold at the sale barn or marketed as beef.
Regenerative Practices
We try to mirror nature in the way that we graze, speeding up our rotations as the grass is growing, and slowing down our pasture moves as the grass is in dormancy. Though not always exact, we try to maintain predominately a single-herd system unless this jeopardizes animal well-being for certain ages of cattle. We move through approximately 46 permanent pastures throughout the year, with roughly 6 of those pastures becoming their own grazing cells and being divided further by poly wire during the growing season, rotated through more intensely.
The larger permanent pastures often see cattle in them for 2-3 weeks during the winer months, while the small temporary paddocks are moved through in 1 or 2 day moves with stock density being measured in the range of 12,000-22,000 lbs/acre. It is our desire to assess what the cattle and forage both need and balance the two of them optimally, rather than always seeking the highest production from one or the other. This requires us to operate off of a grazing plan in general terms, adjusting as necessary quite frequently. We hope to improve our soil health through these grazing strategies, thus improving range conditions and the subsequent plant community available for livestock forage, which cycles around to impact animal performance, health, gain, and the ability to feed more livestock on the same acreage.
We monitor range conditions through soil infiltration tests, soil sampling, forage inventory, transect lines, reference photos, and the monitoring of cattle condition and grazing behavior.
The Mentor
LAURA BURANDT
I was born and raised ranching here, and I’ve always had an interest in the business as well as a passion for the industry from a young age, but I did not think the ranch was large enough to come home to work at full time after college. I also had a deep interest in horses and was not sure what I needed to do for a job at the time, so I continued to focus on my passions through education. After finishing a degree in Agriculture Communication and Animal Science from West Texas A&M University, I went on to intern on the Four Sixes Ranch in the veterinary and equine division in Guthrie Texas. From there I interned on the Giles Ranch – beef company, farm, and grower yard in Ashland Kansas. After that, I returned to graduate school to obtain a Masters Certificate in Ranch Management from Texas Christian University. Following TCU, I worked 4 months in a research feedyard in Kansas before returning home to the family ranch. Through some growing pains which have included lots of hard work, sweat, and some tears, we made a way to allow for me to join in the operation. I now manage the cattle company portion of the business, which consists of a lot of outside physical labor in caring for everything related to the cattle, as well as time spent in the office working on everything from selling beef to buying bulls, from making phone calls to building cattle records, or time spent just dreaming and goal planning. Additionally, I spend a lot of effort helping others with their ranching questions, as I’m very active in grazing peer groups, extension classes, and have made many friends and acquaintances throughout the industry to keep in touch with. Though I haven’t necessarily sought them out, the opportunities to speak at conferences and on panel discussions, or participate in podcasts have seem to arise more and more often.
The Apprentice
What will an apprentice do?
- The most important duty for an apprentice will be building and moving poly wire fence and completing paddock moves with the cow herd
- Taking notes and being observant of the grass and cattle condition at the time of a paddock move, being prepared to report on these notes daily
- Opportunity to learn how to read cattle condition, hunger status, and grazing behavior before, during, and after a paddock move
- Opportunity to learn how to read forage quantity and quality, assess graze timing and the speed needed to match forage growth, and how much grass to “take,” or harvest, during a graze period
- Generally learn how to read cattle health, nutrition, and behavior
- Feeding cattle
- Monitor livestock water and report any problems
- Monitor the cattle “salt wagon,” and put out mineral, salt, and sodium bicarb when needed
- Assist with the penning, sorting, doctoring, or processing of cattle as-needed, but not directly responsible for these things
- Fixing or maintaining barbed fence around the ranch
- Opportunity to learn about horsemanship or horse training if desired
- Operating simple equipment, such as a pickup truck or lawn mower. Opportunity to learn how to pull a trailer, drive a standard transmission, operate a tractor, etc.
- Mowing around the barns and cattle corrals
- Weed eating around the barns and house
- Keeping the ranch shop and apprentice living quarters clean and tidy
What skills and traits are required in an apprentice?
- Speak, read, and write English
- Work ethic
- Communication skills
- Honest and ethical character
- Know how to drive a vehicle and have a valid license
- Know how to operate a lawn mower and weed eater, or be willing to learn
- Ability to walk at least one mile at a time
- Somewhat heat tolerant and/or the ability to dress and take care of yourself appropriately to stay protected and hydrated (the Texas heat can be brutal)
- Ability to lift, load, and pour 50lb sacks
Recognizing that everyone thinks differently and has varying personalities, we don’t expect perfection, but we do intend to work with someone who has a work ethic and strong communication skills. Many things can be worked through if those two things exist. We understand that nobody is born knowing how to do anything – so being willing to work at learning what is being asked of you, and having the communication skills to effectively state what you do/don’t understand is the key to success. Additionally, we will not accept dishonesty or malice in the workplace. You must have an honest, ethical character.
What skills and traits are desired in an apprentice?
- Observant nature
- Ability to communicate what you observe
- Self-starter
- Coachable
- Direction-follower
- Know how to read a map, or be willing to learn
- Can be trusted to do a task without constant supervision
- Some level of livestock handling skills, or the bravery to accept direction when learning how
- Consciousness in handling someone else’s tools and equipment
- Ability to use an app for taking notes on pasture rotations
Nuts & Bolts
Start Date: April or May. If you are a college student or have other commitments, we can wait until you have finished your spring semester in May to start
Length of Apprenticeship: April or May arrival – September/October departure (Dates of both can be flexible in working with the life schedule of the apprentice)
Stipend: $1,500/mo in a once per month payment + grass finished beef
General work hours: This will fluctuate a bit with the season, what tasks need done that day, and the weather, as well as unplanned situational things that arise. We all have to maintain as somewhat flexible. However, I anticipate general hours to look like 8am-5pm on typical planned days. In the worst heat of the summer, it is likely we will scale back those hours to begin earlier and cut them shorter to end earlier as well, or provide a big break in the heat of the afternoon. On days of working cattle, which are not as common, working hours will look more like 6:00am-finish (usually around lunch time to 3pm)
- Work 5 full days a week (generally Monday – Friday)
- 1 full day off (usually on the weekend, but this is flexible according to apprentice preference and ranch schedule)
- ½ day off on the weekend
*any emergency or needed time off from the apprentice can be requested on an as-needed basis, but there will be no built-in vacation time
Housing: 2012 Open Range Roamer Series RV bumper pull camper with a 2 bedroom bunkbed layout – parked next to the ranch shop with available wifi. A washer and dryer are available in a house on the property, shared with Laura, who lives there. Timing on the washer and dryer usage can be flexible and/or scheduled. A laundry mat is also available in Perryton if preferred.
Internet availability: Internet is available 24/7 on the living site, in the shop next to where the camper will be parked. Otherwise, phone service can be spotty throughout the ranch.
Visitors: The apprentice may decide who visits them and when. However, we don’t want any drunken or loud parties on the property, no destruction of property, no messes left by visitors on ranch property, etc. Please be respectful and responsible with your choice of visitors, but otherwise they are welcome.
Food: Grass finished beef will be provided to the apprentice on an as-needed basis.
Pets: Please no personal pets. One riding gelding is permitted if being used on the ranch *see below for more info
Horse Use: An apprentice is not required to ride horses here. I am willing to teach an apprentice how to ride if truly desired, but please do not come here expecting to ride frequently or be turned loose to do a job on a horse if you have no prior riding experience. Boarding can be arranged for an apprentice who knows how to ride and desires to bring their own horse – a safe, sane gelding is preferred. The opportunity will exist to participate in and/or observe and learn if interested, in some ground training on young horses.
All the fun stuff: Chewing tobacco or dip is permitted, but no smoking on the ranch. Cannabis is only permitted in non-smoking forms and during non-working hours in the privacy of the apprentice living quarters. We don’t want to see evidence of it left out in the open on ranch premises. Responsible drinking only permitted during non-working hours. Please pick up after yourself and be respectful with it. If drinking becomes a problem, this topic might be re-visited on an as-needed basis
Guns: Guns are perfectly acceptable and welcomed for a responsible gun owner to feel safe and protected.
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. We carry Workmen’s Compensation to cover injuries that occur while on the job, though we strongly encourage safe behavior at all times and hope such an incident will not occur.
Additional items an apprentice should bring: Please bring your own queen-sized bedding as well as your own towels. Cooking utensils, cookware, pots and pans, etc will be stocked in the camper already, but the apprentice is welcome to bring their own favorite pieces of cookware if so desired.
Living at the ranch:
The nearest towns to the ranch are Perryton or Canadian TX, both a 25-minute drive. Perryton’s local industries mostly consist of oil & gas and farming, while Canadian is more steeped in oil & gas and ranching. Perryton has a population of 8,000, while Canadian’s population is 3,000. Both towns offer limited shopping opportunities outside of groceries and basic amenities, but there are great restaurants, churches, and some social opportunities in both places including: gyms, coffee shops, museums, community centers, outdoor parks, movie theaters, bars with food and occasional live music, etc. The nearest Walmart or large department stores are located an hour away in either Pampa TX, Woodward OK, or Liberal KS.
In proximity to larger cities, the ranch is 110 miles (or a 2-hour drive) NE of Amarillo. 355 miles (or a 5 hr, 30 min drive) NW of Fort Worth. 430 miles (a 7-hour drive) SE of Denver. The nearest international airport is in Amarillo TX.
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 an April orientation, participate in supplemental education Zoom calls, complete skills checklists with their mentors, and attend the annual REGENERATE Conference in November. Apprentices are also required to write several reports during their apprenticeship that will be posted in the New Agrarian Voices blog on the Quivira website.