b'Cowgirl With A PenA TO ZWHY I AM A RANCHER!By Naomi LoomisPlease follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @thecirclelranch. Visit our website at thecirclelranch.com and send any comments to Loomis489@yahoo.com. I would love hearing from you.A s I was thinking aboutE Entertainment/Experience/Education/ what my article shouldEthics/Environmentbe this month, I startedEntertainment: There is always some kind of making a list of why I am a rancher. I am going to shareentertainment on the ranch and being a rancher-mom this list with you all from A to Z! means that I have a front seat to a circus every day.Experience: You know when you fill out a resume for A Animals/Abilities/Animal Health a job and they want you to list your experiences? Well,K KidsAnimals: What would ranch life be without allwhere should we start? Manager, business partner,I am thankful that I can raise our kids on our ranch.the animals? I mean you can ever have too many ranchbanker, tax accountant, vet, range land specialist, animals! From frogs to chickens, to cows and horses,blogger, feed specialist, bookkeeper L Love/Lifeevery animal on the Circle L has its place. Education: Most days I get an education. Loving life as a rancher thats all I have to say about L!Abilities: Every rancher needs abilities fromEthics: Business ethics, animal treatment ethics, work multitasking to empathy. ethics. M Memories/Meadows Management/MomAnimal Health: This is very important! On the Circle L,Environment- Sunsets, sunrises, and long cattle drivesMemories: I love that ranching offers the it is our job to make sure each and every animal is caredare when I enjoy the environment. Protecting thisopportunity to make family memories.for day in and day out. environment through responsible grazing and farming isManaging Our Meadows: You have to do it or youre our responsibility.out of a job!B Buckaroo/Beef Food Safety/FFA/Future/Faith/Family Mom: Ranching mothers have to be creative at times. Buckaroo: I just like this word! Its another word F Food Safety: It is my responsibility to make sureIm thankful for the challenge and the mother it has for cowboy. made me!Beef: Raising beef is what I do. That is all. Are there that the beef product that I send to the feedlot is healthy any questions? and safe. N Neighbors/Natural ResourcesFFA: This organization taught me so many lessons, andNeighbors: Help from neighbors is essential on a C Cattle/Cowgirl/Community/Chores in my younger years prepared me to be a rancher. family-run ranch. Their help allows our and their ranch Cattle: They are what makes me a rancher; it is justFuture: Agriculture is in good hands. I want to makework to get done in the spring, summer, fall, or winter; part of the deal. sure that I am doing my part in making sure it continuesthey are always just a phone call away.Cowgirl: Being a cowgirl goes further than the clothes;in the right direction by teaching my children and otherNatural Resources: God given on our ranch for a it is a way of life. children. reason so we can be productive in raising beef.Community: This is an important part of being aFaith: Being a rancher takes faith and a lot of it.rancher. From community service to supporting theFamily: Its what makes a ranch a home and whatO Open Range/Opportunitieslocal school, library, etc., being a rancher is all aboutranching is all about.Open Range: A necessity for cattle. As long as we supporting those around you. have open range, I know that there will always be a job Chores. Chores. Chores: They are never-ending, G Ground/Grass/GMO/Generations for me.but a valuable piece of ranching. Ground/Grass: We own acres of grass for all our cattle.GMO: I am very aware of GMOs and all I have to say about them is quite simple; they have been around for over 30 years and I am glad. Confused about GMOs? Ask me, I will help you out.Generations: One of my goals as a rancher is to pass our ranch to the next generation. How am I going to do that? By taking care of what was passed down to me. From managing the ground and livestock to the finances, I am doing my best every day.H Horses/HayingHorses: My mom used to tell me that I was born on the back of a horse. Well, we know that isnt true, but its almost true! I mean I was raised in the horse barn. I love horses and horses happen to be part of ranching.Haying: The job that seems to never get finished. It is important to have hay for all the animals in the winter months so, we keep on keeping on.Dog/Dirt Roads/Death I InvestmentD Dog: Yep, you read that right. Being a rancherThis means acquiring assets. I can tell you from experience that investing in ranch land has been one of includes a few good dogs. the best choices I have made.Dirt Roads: As long as we have dirt roads, we willall be okay. J Job SecurityDeath: This is a touchy subject, but we all know itAs long as I am a rancher, I will have job security.happens and it is okay.14 July 2023'