RANCH WIFE WISDOM ARTICLE AND PHOTOS BY KATE SANCHEZ
If you’ve ever been fortunate enough to spend a day with a ranch wife, you’ll understand what a rare breed they are. You see, when you marry a cowboy, you quickly come to terms with the fact that you no longer choose your profession. You’re now part of a group of women who live a life of humble blessings and marginal wages, and part of something that will impact your life in a way nothing else has, or ever will again. You’re a ranch wife, and as great as it sounds, make no mistake, there will be bumpy roads ahead (pun intended). But for every trying situation you’ll face; every first-calf heifer that leaves you with another mouth to feed, or bull who refuses to be penned when you have no help; there will be twice as many things that make you thankful for this job. It’s not easy, but it certainly is rewarding. For years, women have been considered equal counterparts on ranches. Never have cowboys made them feel any less important because they’re female. And because women on the ranch have historically been as important in day-to-day operations as the men, it’s those ladies who deserve the credit for much of the “behind the scenes” work. While I’m lacking in years of marriage compared to some ranch wives I know, there are numerous things I’ve learned from these west Texas women in a fairly short amount of time. There are also things that I’d want to share with any young lady thinking of choosing the same path in life. We’ll call it ranch-wife-wisdom, and it’s something the rest of the world could use a little more of! Danielle Peters and her husband, Zack now reside
on the legendary King Ranch in south Texas, but the couple has also worked on some of the biggest ranches in west Texas. Peters’ words of wisdom are simple: “always be willing to help”. From maintaining a plentiful pantry when you’re asked to cook for the crew, to making sure you have formula on hand for a new calf your husband might bring home, she says that offering help is one of the biggest ranch wife roles there is. “No, you most likely won’t get paid”, she shares, “but take pride in knowing you’re just as much of an asset in helping keep the ranch running smoothly…remember marriage is a partnership and you are your husband’s right-hand man.” Deana Washington is a ranch wife to husband Tim, lead camp man and horse manager at The Matador Ranch, in Matador, TX. In sitting down with her, Washington expresses her biggest advice to any women in this situation: keeping God at the center of your marriage and life. Like many ranch wives, Washington feels the need to keep God as the third part of her marriage, and adds that when in doubt, get on your knees and pray about it. Kassie Flake’s husband, Skyler, is a camp man on the Triangle Ranch in Crowell, TX. Her biggest piece of advice is to avoid coming into the ranch wife role with misguided ideas about the life and the occupation. Flake has learned through experience that being a ranch wife isn’t nearly as “romantic” as everyone thinks it sounds, as there is a certain ebb and flow that comes with living it. “You get to see beauty each and every day,
