Story & Photos by Gloria Goni-Mcateer
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Ranching is often romanticized in movies, but in reality, it's incredibly challenging. Recently, I spent a day with Kirsten Jensen at the ranch where she works. Kirsten is a first-generation rancher in Montana. We did everything from baking sourdough bread, milking cows, tending to chickens, making homemade butter, working in the greenhouse, and corralling horses. There was never a dull moment! Kirsten has worked at various ranches over the years, and I thoroughly enjoyed learning about how she got into the industry and what motivates her to persevere, even when things get tough.
A Day In The Life
What inspired you to pursue a career in ranching, and how did you get started in this field?
I worked on a guest ranch right after college where I learned all about ranching, cattle, and large-scale agriculture. After spending five summers there and being totally immersed in ranch life, I just knew it was where I belonged. Even after I left the ranch and tried pursuing other career options, I was always pulled back into the ranching community somehow. I knew that it was where I was supposed to be so I did everything I could to find my way back. I took BQA courses, attended ranching seminars, and spent much of my free time expanding my knowledge of cattle, agriculture, and the business aspects of a working ranch. It just took a few unpleasant jobs to push me to apply for a ranching position, which would ultimately be the best way to learn the ropes - so I did! I was hired to manage a large cattle operation in Northern Alabama (courage and confidence go a long way!). This cattle operation was the first management position I had ever had, and I learned more than I could ever even explain. It truly set me up to be able to do all the things I do today. And for that, I am eternally grateful.
What are some challenges you faced when you first started ranching, and how did you overcome them?
Ranching isn't one of those "fake it 'til you make it" kinds of jobs. If you fake it, you usually fail and although failing leads to learning, no one needs to lose cattle or crops to learn a lesson. The main challenge for me personally was that I wasn't raised in ranching or agriculture. I grew up in rural Ohio, showing horses and enjoying a "country" lifestyle, but I wasn't brought up on a farm or taking part in agricultural activities regularly. Not knowing what I'm doing is something I don't enjoy. I like to be good at what I do - heck, I like to be great! The only way to grow is to be transparent about where you are currently--to be open to learning and expanding. There were lots of things I had to learn on the fly and sometimes things didn't go my way. That's a tough pill to swallow, but I can surely say that I have those skills now.
What do you enjoy most about your daily life as a rancher, and are there any specific tasks or moments that you particularly look forward to?
Honestly, I enjoy almost everything about ranching aside from the office work (ha!). I'm not much of a desk gal, but even ranchers need to pay their staff, and their taxes and track all the incoming expenses. I enjoy that I get to work outside most of the time and that I am regularly making a difference - whether it be in the realm of a single animal's health and livelihood, or the entire population that raising that animal affects, I am making an impact. And that's huge.
I don't know that I look forward to any one thing more than another. It's just the sense of accomplishment knowing that you're caring for both the land and animals, to ultimately care for the people consuming them. Ranching is a full circle moment and for me, that's enough to look forward to.
Are there any skills or knowledge areas you had to develop that you didn't expect when you started ranching?
One thing you don't ever envision yourself needing to learn is grit.
I've always been pretty tough but getting into ranching made me push the limit in that department. There are no days off. There's no time spent not worrying about your operation. You have to go from a sunny day in the saddle to a long night caring for a sick calf. Or a day spent in the tractor haying to come back to the barn to dead stock. Sometimes the chips don't fall as you'd like and sometimes, they do. As a rancher, I can say I've poured my heart and soul into many operations, and even with the utmost effort, things can still go awry. You have to have grit and I've learned that the hard way, time and time again.
Can you share your experiences with growing your food on the ranch? How important is sustainability and self-sufficiency to your operations?
In the past, I've mostly worked for and managed large-scale operations, meaning that I wasn't specifically raising crops or cattle for my personal use, but to sell as income for the ranch itself. However, in my current position, I have been able to expand on my self-sustainability in a very small-scale manner. We currently raise beef, chicken, and eggs (both chicken and quail), and produce dairy products with a family cow, Violet. I have also started making bread, which pairs quite nicely with Violet's homemade butter! Being self-sufficient gives me a sense of pride, knowing where my food comes from and being able to provide my growing family with something that's both nutrient-rich and free of any treatments that store-bought items tend to have. While it's not necessary for the ranch we manage, it does make our use of the land more valuable and our skillset more diverse. Both myself and my husband value being able to utilize the land that we maintain and evolve it into something even more productive.
What advice would you give to other women or young people who are considering a career in ranching?
Get out there and learn! Be vulnerable about what you know and certainly about what you don't. Find someone willing to teach you all the things you need to know and HOLD ON TIGHT. There are certainly "gatekeepers" in the ranching industry and until you find someone willing to open that gate for you, you'll never find your way in. So, find your person and put down your pride. The only way to get good at something is to start doing it and putting everything you have into it.
Remember, every big generational ranch started with one first-generation rancher who dared to TRY.
Follow along with Kirsten’s story at @hashtagranchlife
About
Gloria Goñi-Mcateer is a photographer, writer, and unbounded dreamer. Finding great satisfaction and joy in fishing, hunting, foraging, and harvesting her own food, Gloria incorporates these topics and many other curiosities into her creative work. Despite her Spanish roots and insatiable travel-bug, Gloria finally settled in Montana with her trusty Aussie-doodle, Berto. Together they fish, hunt and photograph their adventures one river or mountain at a time. Follow along with @lapescadora for more wild adventures.
