By Haley Robison
Being a ranch mama is one of the most challenging, yet rewarding things I’ve ever done. Raising babies in this lifestyle is truly a dream come true. My babies get to run outside and play all day long without a worry of ever seeing a car drive by us. They get to go on their first horseback ride before they can even crawl. My babies get to see new life come to this earth every spring. They get to learn the value of knowing that everything have a purpose in this life. Our purpose is to care for our livestock and give them the best life possible while they are on this earth, and the animal’s purpose is to nourish and feed not only our family but many others as well!
My babies will learn that the needs of our animals come before our own. It doesn’t matter if it’s Christmas or a birthday, the animals come first. They will learn responsibility along with the difficulties this industry brings to us, but they will also learn at a young age about how rewarding it is to be in the ranching business. They will learn that life and death is all part of the circle of life.
Some challenges of being a parent to a ranch kid mean you get to say “No”….a lot. It’s not just telling them no because they shouldn’t be eating a third snack or throwing food around. We tell them “No” and they have to learn that we mean “No” because in our daily life, some things can be extremely dangerous for a child. Like tagging a calf this morning, Max wanted to come and “help” me. I had to repeatedly tell him “No” because mama cows can be very dangerous and unpredictable. Max also loves the tractors, but he has to learn that he can’t just run up to one when his dad is driving around the yard. Some of these lessons are above the expectations for a 2 year old, but it is these life lessons that could save his life.
This way of life gives us so many blessings that far outweigh the challenges that come with it. I get to see the joy in my kid’s face when he sees baby calves or gets to feed his pony treats. I love seeing his excitement when he gets to help work cows. Nothing makes me happier than watching my son want to be a cowboy just like his daddy! I wouldn’t want to raise Max and his future siblings any other way! I can only hope our ranch will continue to bless our family for generations to come!
Haley Robison is the NDFB Southwest Field Representative and she and her husband, Max, operate Dry Creek Ranch and sell beef fresh from the farm.