The Ranch
Sims Cattle Company is a family owned and operated business located in the Rock Creek Valley of southeast Wyoming. There have been 5 generations of Sims’ living on this land, with 4 still currently here. The ranch runs a closed herd of around 700 head of Angus/Simmental/Gelbvieh cross bred cows and 300 yearlings on 26,000 acres of mostly upland pasture.
We only have one crop to harvest, sunlight. All of our animals are simply a vehicle that allows us to market our crop by taking an unusable protein source to humans (forage grown with sunlight) and turning it into edible meat. Because sunlight transformed into forage is our only profit driver, the health of our resources are critical to the success of the operation. Much of our management is guided by Allan Savory’s decision making process, including high intensity-short duration grazing. We currently have over 140 pastures that cattle are rotated through from 1 to 14 days at a time. Our pastures are typically grazed once per growing season, with pastures receiving as much as 800 days of recovery between grazing events.
Cattle graze pasture for approximately 6 months of the year, feed on windrowed hay for 4 months, and are fed hay for only 2 months. At an elevation of 7,200 feet, our winters can be long and harsh. We have implemented the practice of feeding windrowed hay to not only give our cows an extended grazing season without the cost of feeding hay with a tractor, but to more efficiently spread the natural fertilizers cows offer. The hay that is stacked for feeding during our calving season, right before spring green-up, is put up in round bales. We have chosen to hire a contractor to make these bales for us so that we are not investing in machinery. This not only reduces our labor requirements, but it significantly reduces our fuel requirements.
We have been striving to operate holistically since 1989 when we were first exposed to HMI. Our family operates directly from our Holistic Goal and every decision made is tested against that goal. By thinking holistically, we are able to have animals adapted to our environment, a strong wildlife presence on the ranch, a family whose personal growth is top priority, and be very profitable. Profitability is what ensures that Sims Cattle Company will be able to be passed down to the next generation. We feel so strongly about this that when the opportunity presented for Shanon and Melinda to become Ranching For Profit instructors a few years after attending the school, they jumped at it! They currently teach 2-3 schools a year, host workshops, and are facilitators for the Executive Link program.
Regenerative Practices
Animals are moved to fresh pastures on average every 3 days. Our goal is to keep animals on a high plane of nutrition for optimal performance, whether that be the yearlings gaining weight and preparing for breeding season, cows growing a fetus, lactating cows with growing calves, or bulls preparing for breeding season. We try to combine as many animals in a herd as our water availability will allow, not only for ease of management, but to extend recovery periods for our grazing lands. Our goal is to always be banking soil health so that when we are in a drought situation we can draw on those reserves, graze a little more severely without hurting the health of the ecosystem, and capitalize on a herd that doesn’t need to be disbursed during a drought when most other producers are flooding the markets with breeding stock. Keeping our factory (the breeding herd) intact even through drought years has proven very profitable for us without depleting our resources.
The Mentors
The apprentice can expect to work with all of the family members involved with Sims Cattle Company (Scott -owner- and April, Shanon -owner- and Melinda, Shanon’s sister Kendra and husband Josh, and Shanon and Melinda’s adult children Kagan and Jentry), but will be under the direct supervision of Shanon and Melinda.
The different herds of cattle are typically overseen by one individual for the season. Shanon and Scott typically take lead on the cattle operation, with the rest of the family filling in where needed. All of the family members have irrigating, fencing, and haying responsibilities and all are available for large cattle moves and working days. Scott and April enjoy spending time with cattle and working on projects, but their main focus right now is caring for Scott’s dad, Don, who is 94 and still living on the ranch. Kendra has a chiropractic practice she attends to 3 days a week, and helps out on the ranch 3 days a week. Shanon primarily oversees the business in general, and Melinda is responsible for all bookkeeping and herd health. Kagan is currently a senior at the University of Wyoming studying Animal Science and Jentry is a freshman at the University of Wyoming studying Ag Communications.
The Apprentice
What will an apprentice do?
An apprentice can expect to learn all aspects of ranching in a cold desert. We use horses to move cattle when appropriate, but much of the work is done from an ATV or small pickup. An apprentice will be exposed to our system of calving, which is fairly intensive with tagging every calf and pairing individual pairs out from the herd. They can also expect to learn fencing, irrigating, daily cattle care, tractor operating, how to manage cattle with low stress, attend brandings, vaccinate, ship, and preg test cattle. The apprentice can also help with grazing planning, financial planning, and general business management.
What skills and traits are required in an apprentice?
- Observant
- Curious by nature and willing to ask questions and learn about our system
- Positive attitude when longer/later work days come up
- Good working in a team
- Physically comfortable walking/hiking, carrying heavy things, and moving throughout the day
- Helpful if comfortable with riding horses
- Willing to work Independently.
- Ability to process and resolve a situation on their own
- Natural direction…ability to not get lost
- Handle multiple task requests … i.e. do A, B, C & D…not just A and D
- A strong commitment to agriculture
Skills that An Apprentice would expect to acquire:
- Safe use of equipment on the ranch, including trucks, trailers, atv’s and tractors.
- The care and feeding of cattle and horses.
- Fencing basics on permanent fences and building temporary electric fences.
- How to assess the pasture for condition and quality to help determine when to move livestock.
- Exposure to flood irrigation on native grass hay meadows and pastures including infrastructure maintenance and operation.
- Rangeland monitoring
- How to handle and work cattle (cow/calf, yearlings and bulls), and horses. Our livestock are worked using the best means available at the time including being on foot, vehicle (pickup or ATV), or horseback.
- Experience and exposure with animal husbandry practices such as calving, branding, vaccinating, doctoring (in field and using facilities), etc.
- Exposure to Holistic Management
- Exposure to Ranching for Profit Principles
- The skill to observe, communicate and discuss what was observed.
Nuts & Bolts
Start Date: Ideal start date is mid-April after program orientation. The ideal end date is early November after the apprentice attends the Regenerate Conference. We have some flexibility around start and end dates and encourage individuals with alternate schedules to apply.
Length of Apprenticeship: 7 months
Stipend: The apprentice will be paid a wage of $14.81 per hour paid monthly. In addition to the cash salary, the apprentice will receive housing and utilities (electric, trash, water) paid by the ranch, and some ranch beef. The stipend may or may not cover monthly expenses for the apprentice based on their needs and lifestyle. This position does not allow time for a second job, including side work or paid hobbies, so the apprentice should consider his or her budgetary needs before applying to this position.
General work hours: Generally, apprentices can expect to work 5 and a half days per week. We will try to ensure that one day a week off is a business day so that banking and other business needs of the apprentice can be met. The daily schedule is heavily dictated by the season and specific projects, but generally apprentices work 8am-6pm with a one hour lunch.
Housing: Housing provided will be a small guest house next to the mentors’ house with a bedroom, kitchen, and bathroom. Laundry is available in the mentor housing next door.
Internet availability: Internet is available in apprentice housing using a cell phone hotspot.
Cell Service: Service is fairly good. Union and Verizon are the best providers for most of the ranch.
Time off: Days off will be determined through the apprentice’s needs – we will give you a day and a half off per week, making sure that some time off is during a weekday. Occasionally there will be tasks that can’t be put off for the next week, however we can try to make up that time off another day if the week allows. There will also be a few slower times where the apprentice could take an afternoon to explore or recharge. If you ever were to want a 3 day weekend for a trip away, we can definitely do our best to accommodate. Bottom line is that we are very flexible and adaptable and we expect the same from the apprentice.
Visitors: Apprentice will be allowed to have visitors. However, try to plan it with your mentor just in case there are important ranch jobs going on that are not conducive to hosting time. Visitors should not assume they can work on the ranch due to liability and the apprentice should discuss this with their mentor.
Food: The apprentice will be provided with limited ranch beef, but is responsible for their own meals and is expected to show up to work fed and prepared for the work day.
Pets: A pet dog would be allowed, but no working dogs allowed. The apprentice can bring their own horse if they wish, or a horse can be provided.
Horse Use: Horses are used often on the ranch to check, gather, move, and work our livestock. An apprentice should be a proficient rider, but extensive experience is not required.
All the fun stuff: Tobacco and alcohol use are permitted on site. However, smoking is not allowed in the house and is strongly discouraged while working. Alcohol is not permitted during working hours.
Guns: Firearms are welcome on the ranch if used and stored responsibly.
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. Sims Cattle Company carries insurance for workplace injuries incurred on the job. However, if the apprentice is injured on their day off, gets sick, or has or develops chronic conditions like allergies, these types of issues will not be covered by our insurance policy.
Ranch Vehicles: Apprentice will use ranch vehicles for work. Some vehicles are manuals. A valid driver’s license and clean driving record is required to operate road legal vehicles. Other transportation on the ranch will include ATVs and UTVs.
Personal Vehicle: A personal vehicle is required for apprentice independence on their time off. The ranch is fairly geographically isolated, so an apprentice will want their own vehicle to run errands and explore the community on off hours.
Additional items an apprentice should bring: The housing will be reasonably furnished. Apprentices shall bring their own bedding (sheets/blankets/etc) and linens (bath towels, hand towels, kitchen towels, etc). We strongly encourage you to bring your own kitchen utensils and supplies; however, the very basics can be provided.
Living in McFadden: The ranch is located 12 miles from Rock River, Wyoming, a town that has a gas station and post office. Laramie, Wyoming is 50 miles away, which provides all basic needs for groceries, dining, Walmart, movie theaters, etc.
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 provided in partnership with Holistic Management International, 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.