Coming Back to the Ranch

Coming Back to the Ranch

With the strong cattle prices and great opportunity for expansion in the beef industry, now seems like a good time for young people to return to the ranch. There are many things to consider when making such a life decision.

Three months ago Idaho rancher Jessie Thompson made the decision to leave her job as Communications Director at the Idaho Cattle Association to return to her family's ranching operation. She shares

Thompson: "I'd actually been gone from the ranch since I was in high school so that would be six years from the ranch. It was one of those things after leaving — I lived on my own. I went back every now and then of course. I still have personal freedom but I'm going to be working with my parents every day for the rest of my life and I wouldn't change that for anything but I think that is one of the biggest things that people need to consider if they are ready to do that and if they are willing to sacrifice a few things to do that."

Thompson is the third generation in her family's commercial cattle operation. She is looking forward to the beginning of calving season shortly. Her advice to young people mulling over the decision to return to their families' business?

Thompson: "They say that the real work that'll you enjoy in life is stuff that you absolutely love and that you have a passion for and when you do it every day — it doesn't feel like work. So I think that is something that is really important to consider; are you going back to something that you absolutely love. If it is something that your heart isn't in, you can be successful at it but you won't be happy."

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