Essay On Ranchers

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People who run ten cows or ten-thousand cows are classified as ranchers. Whether they spend ten minutes or ten hours in the pasture, they are considered ranchers. No matter the type of cattle, the main source of income, or the knowledge of the industry, people who own cows, are ranchers. However, there are some individuals who are more knowledgeable about cattle than others when it comes to breeding and raising livestock. Ranchers with ten cows who work in town and have oil wells on their land are what I like to call the “Hobby Ranchers”. Many of these types reside in the Oklahoma area. There are a few scattered from state to state; however, many reside in the Sooner State. For these ranchers, cows are nothing but a hobby. They do not care …show more content…

These ranchers are the ones who absolutely have to keep all the cows and calves alive. If one dies, more profit is lost. These “middle class” ranchers are the ones who struggle from year to year to make payments, but they love what they do and will not quit. Middle class ranchers are the ones who work day in and day out with little rest to continue to prosper. Feeding a family, continuing the tradition, and improving the cattle industry are just a few goals which these ranchers seem to strive for. Many people who live in town don’t understand the ranching industry. Shipping is when all the young calves are weaned and sent off to feedlots, where they will be fed out until they are old enough to butcher. Ranchers only get paid once a year, which is called shipping season. When income only comes in during September, October, or November, payments have to be set up for annually rather than monthly. For example, vehicle payments are made annually, usually set up to be made around November or December, as their calf check has come in and money is now available. The ranchers credit must also be outstanding as they are leaning on bank notes to get them through the year. Once shipping season rolls around, all the notes and payments can be made from the year. The Stimpson Brothers Ranch Incorporated, which is the family ranch which I live on, struggles from year to year, but doesn’t know any different lifestyle. Everyone grew up this way, are raising their kids the same way, and will die on the place, exactly how their parents did. They struggle to make ends meet and only have enough to get by, but they enjoy the life they live and are happy with what they accomplished. The countless hours of dedication and hard work only gave them more pride in the operation and industry itself. These hard working and determined ranchers are what the real ranching world is all

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