Cover story: Blazing Trails: Idaho CattleWomen Share Perspective on Issues and Future of Ranching

Idaho CattleWomen have long been an

active, vocal part of our association’s membership. You’ll see these women in every role—whether it be on the ranch or taking a leadership position with our Idaho Cattle Association Board of Directors, they are making a mark. The problem solving and forward thinking initiative brought by this group of women is a large part of the success seen by the beef industry in Idaho.

We’re sharing some thoughts from Idaho CattleWomen from around the state in regards to sustainability, ranch life, and what they would share with those not involved in ranching.

Kim Brackett is the ICA President-Elect. She ranches with her husband, Ira, and their four children in Three Creek.

What does sustainability mean to you?

There are several definitions of sustainability that focus on the environmental aspect of the word. I look at it from a broader lens that encompasses not only the environment, but also economic sustainability and the sustainability of our small towns and rural areas. Environmentally, our goal is to make management decisions that improve or maintain the ecosystem on our ranch. We also work to be engaged in our community and do our part to strengthen the fabric of rural life in southern Idaho. Finally, we have to remain economically sustainable in order to accomplish the environmental and social goals of sustainability.

Idaho CattleWomen Share Perspective on Issues and Future of Ranching

BY TAY BRACKETT

Photo from ICA Archives

Kim Brackett

What lessons from ranch life do you feel are the most important?

Ranch life has taught me the interconnectedness of life. That may be the interdependence of species on the ranch or the necessity of maintaining successful working relationships with different agencies. It has taught me that our decisions have consequences, seen and unseen, for our cattle, the land and the people in our lives.

What do you hope ranching teaches the next generation on your ranch?

I hope that growing up on the ranch as has taught my children the value of hard work and that caring for the animals and land that has been entrusted to our family is paramount. Additionally, I hope they understand that volunteering and being community-minded will always have value in our society.

What would you like folks NOT involved with ranching to know about? That we care. We truly care about the animals on the ranch and the health of our rangelands. We care about beef consumers and want to address their concerns.

Tay Brackett was born and raised in the Magic Valley of Southern Idaho. She married a local rancher and they currently have a cow-calf operation and also custom feed yearlings. Tay is serving as the ICW representative on the ICA Board of Directors.

What does sustainability mean to you?

This word is the essence of ranching. We have always been sustainable as cows are the ultimate recycling machines. They utilize feeds converting that energy into tasty beef for all to enjoy.

What lessons from ranch life do you feel are the most important?

Feeding others feeds your soul.

What do you hope ranching teaches the next generation on your ranch? That working the land, feeding the world through hard work and dedication is worth every drop of sweat. Being able to work side by side with family and neighbors is a blessing from God. Work hard to preserve this way of life because it’s a freedom few ever feel.

Photo provided by Tay Brackett

Tay Brackett

What would you like folks NOT involved with ranching to know about?

That we LOVE animals that’s why we dedicate our lives to raising them. We try our best to raise every animal with kindness in a healthy environment that we ourselves would want to be in because we survive with them side by side.

Lori Ireland is from Prairie. She is married to a fourth generation rancher, Jake Ireland. They have been married for 12 years and have two sons. The Irelands raise Black Angus cattle along with a few horses. Lori’s favorite thing to do is rope, whether it be in an arena for competition or in the branding pen. Lori serves on the ICA Board of Directors for District 2.

What does sustainability mean to you?

Sustainability to me is taking care of the livestock and the land by

Photo from ICA archives

maintaining or improving it for the next generation.

What lessons from ranch life do

Lori Ireland

you feel are the most important?

I feel responsibility and work ethic are a huge part of any ranch. There is always something that needs to be done on a ranch so I feel both those things go hand in hand. Ranchers are responsible for their animals and often spend countless hours making sure those animals are well cared for by either building fences or moving them to better feed and water.

What do you hope ranching teaches the next generation on your ranch?

I hope it teaches them that hard work and dedication does pay off. Cattle prices may be low while fuel and hay may be high but you can’t lose if you’re doing what you love day in and day out.

What would you like folks NOT involved with ranching to know about?

Livestock grazing helps to reduce fuel loading for wildfires and helps

Meg Clancy

Photo provided by Tay Brackett

with the ecosystem. Ranchers spend many hours making sure their cattle are properly grazing not only for the well being of the cattle but also for the well being of the land. What do you hope ranching teaches the next generation on your ranch?

I hope ranching teaches the next generation on my ranch that hard work always pays off, even if it’s in a way we didn’t expect. Always work hard even when discouraged. You will never regret working hard.

What would you like folks NOT involved with ranching to know about?

I would like non-ranching folks to learn more about how agriculture is evolving and improving the future through its sustainable practices. I hope they become more involved in the future of agriculture.

Sharal Beyeler and her husband, Merrill, have their family ranch on the headwaters of the Lemhi River, south of Salmon at Leadore. Five generations now call Leadore home. They run Angus cattle on their cow-calf operation and calve in the fall. The Beyelers run on private, public and state lands.

What does sustainability mean to you?

To be sustainable it has to have the ability to move from one generation to the next. It has to be profitable. It, also, has to be able to support plant and wildlife diversity and health. It should maintain the values of open space.

Meg Clancy is from Nampa Idaho. She is a student studying animal science at the University of Idaho and hopes to go into ranch management one day.

What lessons from ranch life do you feel are the most important?

An appreciation for the land, water, and all the things they sustain and support.

What do you hope ranching teaches the next generation on your ranch?

What does sustainability mean to you?

Sustainability to me means using our current resources to meet needs and demands without compromising our future generations ability to accomplish their goals.

What lessons from ranch life do you feel are the most important?

An important ranch life lesson I have learned is that hard things will come and make you wonder why you are doing this, but they joys of this life outweigh the hard things. They joys make things so much sweeter and so worth it.

Sharal Beyeler

A good work ethic, integrity, an appreciation for the rural community, and a respect for our rangelands and what they provide.

What would you like folks NOT involved with ranching to know about?

If we lose the ranching community, open space, and all the values they provide from access to recreation to solitude and everything in between will be put at risk. Ranchers are literally the gatekeepers.