B4
Wyoming Livestock Roundup
Working toward a dream Hard work, good breaks made ranching possible
Steve Garland of the Ring Tail R Cattle Company reflects that he had always to ranch, even as a young child. “Ranching was a dream of mine since childhood. I don’t know what it was
exactly that drew me to it, but it’s something I always wanted to do,” says Garland. Getting started Garland explains that his family began ranching in Wyoming approximately 30
years ago. “We started ranching in the early 1980s. I’m just the second generation,” says Garland. When his father retired from his position as a miner
Friends – Will and Jennie Whitlock (far left and center) assist Steve Garland (right) in running the Ring Tail R Ranch. Garland has known Will since the young man was in high school, and the families have become very close friends. Courtesy photo
SHERIDAN 29 N. Gould St. (307) 673-7777
in Green River, he purchased a farm in Pavillion to retire on. “He’d been raised on a farm and wanted to get back to that,” he explains. After Garland graduated from college in 1984, he began working hard to build the ranch he and his family currently operate in Western Natrona County. “It’s always been my dream to ranch, and we ultimately made it a reality,” says Garland. Operation Garland owns a cow/calf operation that runs approximately 1,500 head of Black Angus cattle. He notes that the ranch utilizes both artificial insemination (AI) and natural service. “We AI our first calf heifers and pasture breed the rest,” he explains. The cattle are bred to begin calving around the end of March and the beginning of April. The calves then go through a preconditioning program and are weaned prior to shipping. “We wean our calves for 60 days before we ship them. The only thing past that is we keep are our replacement
BUFFALO 141 S. Main (307) 684-2211
GILLETTE 200 S. Kendrick Ave. (307) 685-3375
“Looking to add more genetic power to your herd?” Come join us for the 8th Annual
heifers,” says Garland. Ring Tail R Cattle Company annually markets their calves through Northern Video out of Billings, Mont. In addition to the cattle, Ring Tail R Ranch produces hay to use for feed through the winter. “We raise all of our own hay. It is all straight grass hay. We winter on grass hay and cake,” he continues. Sage grouse management is an important part of range management for Ring Tail R Cattle Company, and Garland notes that the outcome of the sage grouse dramatically impacts the future of ranching. “I felt that it was important to get involved with the Sage Grouse Initiative and hopefully keep the bird from being listed, which would severely limit our ability to ranch,” explains Garland. Rewards and challenges According to Garland, freedom and connection to family are some of the greatest rewards of the ranching lifestyle. “Working for myself and working with our family is the most rewarding part about ranching for me,” he says. As his ranch operates on a combination of deeded, state and Bureau of Land Management (BLM) land, public land management regulations dramatically impact Ring Tail R Cattle Company. “Probably dealing with the government is the most challenging part we have. We have a lot of public land that we operate on,” continues Garland. Involvement Smooth operation of the ranch is possible because of the many family members, friends and neighbors who contribute to Ring Tail R Cattle Company, says Garland. “My parents are in their early 80s. They’re still involved in the ranch and help me out. My mother does all of the books for me, and my dad helps me work cattle and, of course, advises,” he explains. Garland’s daughters also help with ranching operations to varying degrees. “My daughter Amanda Jackson and her husband live on the ranch and work full time on the ranch,” Garland says. “My other daughter, Jessica Ortiz, is in her last semester of nursing school in Riverton
right now.” Moving forward As Garland looks toward the future, he notes that the operation is continually seeking to grow and expand. “We’re always looking to expand. If we’re not going forward, we’re backing up, is my motto. We’re hoping to grow in numbers and grow in land in the future,” says Garland. He hopes that the hard work put into developing the ranch will continue in the next generations of Garland’s family, both blood and close friends. “The goal always is to keep the ranch going and keep our legacy alive,” comments Garland. “I have six grandchildren right now. I also have a young man and his wife who are working for me that I consider to be family. I hope they’ll all be part of it in the future.” Advice Garland tells young producers getting started in the industry that owning their own operation is an achievable goal with hard work, dedication and knowledgeable resources. “I would tell young people who are looking to get started in ranching that it’s very possible to do. We have to work hard like any business and have some good breaks. We have to have some good mentors,” says Garland. Garland notes that he started his ranch from the ground up and did not inherit land or livestock to begin his operation. “I didn’t inherit anything. We paid for everything with a cow and became quite successful at it,” he continues. A well-rounded education that includes business knowledge is critical for success, he says. “It takes a lot of education other than just knowing about a cow. Ranchers have to be businessmen to succeed in this day and age,” notes Garland. Ultimately, young producers need to be willing to takes risks in order to build up their operation. “We also have to be willing to take some risks and take some chances. Nothing is guaranteed,” he concludes. Emilee Gibb is editor of Wyoming Livestock Roundup and can be reached at emilee@wylr.net.
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March 11, 2017 Sale Time: 1 p.m. Buffalo Livestock • Buffalo, WY
Selling Yearlings and Females
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