BUNKHOUSE
HARD WORK IS ALWAYS WORTH IT RANCHERS RANCHING FOR MORE THAN A PAYCHECK
by California Cattlemen's Association Executive Vice President Billy Gatlin
“If ranching were easy, everyone would do it.” How many times have you said or heard those words? I hear it frequently from ranchers throughout the state. I’ve always wondered how many other professionals say this about their work. Has a doctor ever said, “If surgery were easy, everyone would do it?” Or do teachers say, “If teaching were easy, everyone would do it?” I don’t recall ever hearing another professional say anything along those lines—other than maybe a farmer. There are a lot of professions out there that even if they were easy most people would not be drawn to them. Being a rancher isn’t easy. I don’t need to convince you of that. But what is it for you that makes ranching so appealing that you believe if it were easy everyone would want to do it? Is it the cows, the wildlife, the connection to the land? Is it the lifestyle? Continuing a family legacy? Despite the challenges there’s a lot to love about being a rancher. Consider firefighters, police officers, nurses, etc., they all choose to do something hard but don’t believe that if it were easy everyone would want to do it. In fact, given the choice many would probably choose to be ranchers. Ranchers are unique, not because they choose to do something that’s hard, but because they choose to do something that’s hard and they feel such a tremendous amount of passion for that they genuinely believe if it were easy everyone would want to do it. It’s your passion for the animals you care for, the land you steward and the beautiful sunrises and sunsets you experience with early mornings and late evenings. It’s the community you’re a part of and the lifestyle you get to raise your family in. I think it boils down to the fact that ranching is
10 California Cattleman December 2023
a lifestyle much more than it is a profession. It’s the lifestyle that’s so appealing and why we are so passionate that if it were easy, everyone would want to be a part of it. It’s that passion that motivates and keeps your CCA staff eager to fight with you to ensure that future generations have the opportunity to continue a ranching lifestyle and build their own legacy. Together, we’ve achieved many victories this year that help to ensure the legacy of ranching remains strong in California. Whether you were directly engaged or provided the resources through your membership dues you were critical to our success. Your engagement protected the water rights of every rancher in the state. You helped us defeat attacks from animal rights activists that would have made every rancher in the state a target for frivolous lawsuits. You helped protect your business, your lifestyle, and the legacy of ranching in California. If you know a rancher that’s not a CCA member I encourage you to nudge them off the sidelines and engage in the fight. The fights are not going away and they’re not going to get easier. While we’ve built a large coalition of allies and secured many victories over the years there’s more work to be done. Every rancher’s passion for the lifestyle they love must be matched with the passion to fight and defend it. It will not be easy but together in 2024 we can continue to build California’s ranching legacy.