Debunking Myths About Ranching
The mission statement of the Working Ranch Cowboys Association is “To promote ranching on a national and international level and to preserve the lifestyle of the working ranch cowboy.”
Of course, this is accomplished at ranch rodeos across the West and the World Championship Ranch Rodeo in Amarillo each November. But as members of the WRCA and the ranching and agriculture world in general, it’s our duty to promote ranching every chance we get.
Near where I live is a teaching farm called the Colorado Ag Leadership Foundation (CALF). In the urban sprawl of Colorado’s Front Range, the folks at CALF are doing their best to expose ag to the encroaching city.
My family and I had the opportunity to host one of their interns for a day who wanted to learn about ranching. This young woman was considering a career as a vet or zoologist and was looking for as much exposure as she could get. She was raised until her teens by American parents in England, then attended high school in Connecticut.
She was smart as a whip and motivated to work with animals. However, she had been indoctrinated by an anti-ag message in an environmental studies class she took. She had so little understanding and so much misinformation.
She also had some English riding experience, so we put her on a gentle horse and took her to move a pasture of about 150 yearlings. We all had a great time. We were able to talk with her about many of the distorted messages about our industry and she was able to see what we do to care for the cattle. We had one with a case of foot rot, and she got to watch as we roped it, and then we let her administer the boluses.
I hope she learned first-hand the sincerity ranchers have for their work and the deep appreciation they have for their animals. Through that experience, I truly believe the eyes of at least one person were opened to the truths of the ranching industry.
Upon reflection, I realized that while we were willing to help our friends at CALF by hosting an intern for a day, those kinds of actions need to be more than a favor to a friend. As ranchers, we need to promote our lifestyle, be prepared to debunk myths, and actively advocate for our industry. It’s what the WRCA does every day.
This article most recently appeared in issue 75 of The Hungry Loop. Want to stay in the loop? Become a member at any level to receive the newsletter! Join up at wrca.org/membership.