It is easy to connect the cowboy to the past; a bit more challenging to connect modern day producers to the future. The work is similar in both the bygone era and the livestock caretakers of today. The goal of the early day cowboy was to care for the animals and produce protein for a hungry nation. Current-day livestock producers have the same goal with some additional side boards. Today’s cattlemen and cattlewomen are striving to produce high-quality protein while stewarding the environment and animals in a responsible manner.
The drawings of the old masters, Russell and Remington, show the wide-open spaces of the frontier and the trials the cowboys endured to care for the livestock in their charge. Every winter there are depictions on social media, both hand-drawn, photographs and now artificial intelligence, of a cowboy carrying a snow-covered calf to shelter. The stewards of the landscapes and the custodians of the livestock care deeply about all living things.
As cowboys, or “cowboy girls,” we still work in some of the least-inhabited parts of our communities. The surroundings are often nature at its best. The sunsets and early mornings are the visions poets write about. The sighting of an elusive bobcat is the highlight of our week, when it happens. The quiet rustling of the quakie leaves, the whistle of the wind in the pines on a fall morning or the crunch of the snow while following a small herd horseback are all perks of the job. There is nothing more comforting than the smell of rain-blackened sage after a good storm that comes in the middle of a very dry summer. The work is often isolated and the hours are long, no matter the conditions or the weather. It is this part of the job description that beckons to the solitaries and the hermits. It is this connection to the natural world that makes it appear to be a romantic or wistful way of life. Make no mistake, I know and appreciate this part of the profession.
The reality of the rest of the work we do, is not for the faint at heart. Producers must be able to make marketing decisions. Understanding the science and the art of range management to ensure we are an integral part of the multiple use mandate from Congress is critical. Knowledge of judicious use of antibiotics and vaccines to ensure the health of an animal while still producing a safe and wholesome product for local families and those across America is a necessary skill. All of us must have a clear understanding of the legal ramifications of the liability of our work.
As present-day ranchers, we look to work collaboratively to solve problems. We function with environmental groups, universities and others to ensure best practices on the landscape. The producer-led trade associations work continuously to help resolve issues. These groups work in a professional manner on local, state and national issues.
A producer must be responsive to consumer expectations of the livestock industry to provide documentation of our sustainability. It is the same load any other business carries. We must be environmentally responsible. We do the “right thing” to answer our customers questions about animal care and treatment. The truth is we have to have a solid “bottom line” to be financially sustainable. The modern-day cowboy has to have a clear understanding of the three pillars of sustainability as defined by the consumer: environmental, social and economic.
The cowboy of the past has many connections to the cattlemen and women of the future. They are both resilient, they both work hard to care for the land and animals of the landscapes, they both do what needs done. The rancher and farmer of the future has to do all these things and more. We must have the heart for caring about people, the knowledge to understand our connectivity to the consumer and the willingness to share what we know to be true about our calling.
Janie Van Winkle is co-owner and co-manager of Van Winkle Ranch with her husband, Howard. She is the past president of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association and was selected as a fellow by the Economic Development Administration’s new Economic Recovery Corps to lead AgriWest. The Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual awards banquet last Friday at the Grand Junction Convention Center. Janie VanWinkle was awarded Citizen of the Year and her family business, VanWinkle Ranch, was awarded Small Business of the Year.
By JANIE VAN WINKLE
Originally published in the Grand Junction Sentinel. Submitted by Wiley Berthelson.
