Be More Than a Cowboy, Be a Ranch Hand

Jennifer Hill

Labor shortages have been the talk of business owners across every industry, every sector in the U.S. for almost two years. But to ranch owners the trouble with finding a stable labor source is nothing new, we’ve been sludging through the cowboy game for the last couple of decades. Last week I appeared on the Burnin’ Daylight Podcast to discuss the rancher/ranch hand relationship with hired man Zachary Sargent. It was a great conversation about the issues many ranches, especially in isolated, rugged, out-riding country have with finding quality ranch hands. If you didn’t catch the episode, it’s worth a listen. While there was lots of great discussion about what ranch owners can do to bring in cowboys, we didn’t spend much time on the other end, discussing what cowboys can do to make themselves more attractive to ranch owners. It may seem that in a world where labor is increasingly hard to come by a cowboy should be able to walk into pretty much any job, however, with the increasing competition of H2A workers from the south and automation, even in ranching, anyone trying to make a living cowboying should still be cognizant of what employers are looking for. So here are a few tips, from a ranch owner whose just about seen it all in hired cowboys, on how to get and retain a job cowboying.

Be a Ranch Hand

Yes, you want to be a cowboy. Every boy does at some point in his life and Toby Keith summed it up perfectly for you. But sometimes there’s just other things that need done. No matter what ranch you get hired on you will occasionally be asked to unsaddle and help with something else. It might be repairing fence, maintenance on your housing, feeding or equipment work. That’s reality on a ranch where needed work tends to cycle with the seasons, and it’s also the reality of being an adult. Every job comes with things we don’t love. A willingness to take on those tasks that aren’t your passion without complaint is a cornerstone of maturity. I can post looking for a cowboy and have dozens of hits almost instantly (you should see my phone since the podcast aired), but if you want decent money and to be a strong hire, be willing to be more than just a cowboy, be a ranch hand.

Be Honest About Your Abilities and Expectations & Demand the Same

Before getting hired on make sure you are very open and honest about what kind of work you are willing to do. If being in the saddle is a major priority for you don’t be afraid to very directly ask how much time you will be expected to work doing other things. There’s no point in wasting yours or the rancher owner’s time if you are each looking for different things. Pushing for clarity upfront can save everyone a lot of headache.

If you want to ride colts but don’t have much experience, be honest about that. Don’t offer to ride green horses if the first time you get tossed on your rear you immediately unsaddle and turn that horse loose. Unless you’re injured, you’d better hop back on. If you can’t do that then don’t present yourself as anything else.

Give the Rancher Job Feedback

Most family owned operations aren’t running a large number of employees and they are often figuring things out along with you. If there’s things in your job that need addressed, don’t sit on it until you get so frustrated you up and quit. Hiring new guys is a daunting task and any rancher would prefer to keep the one they have happy rather than go back through the hiring gauntlet.

Don’t Assume You Know Better

I cannot tell you how many times I have had to roll my eyes and bite my tongue while some cowboy tells me all about how we should be running our operation, all of the things we’re doing wrong and how much smarter he is than us. It’s completely obnoxious. One of the coolest things, in my non-day work mind, about being a hired cowboy is all of the operations you’ll see. That’s an amazing opportunity to pick up information about practices that work really well and those that don’t. As a ranch owner I acknowledge that you’ve seen some cool stuff and likely have some ideas to contribute, but there’s a way to do it without coming across like know-it-all. Take your time getting to know the operation before making declarations and listen to directions from the owner, trying it their way the first time before suggesting changes. Recognize the fact that we often have generations of knowledge informing our decisions and there just might be a good reason we do it that way.

Remember, This is a Business, Not Just a Lifestyle

I know you love this lifestyle, we do too. We certainly aren’t in it for the glamour and wealth. But at the end of the day it’s still a business that we must keep viable in order to maintain. That means we have to sell quality livestock for a profit, a task that’s getting trickier all the time. Keeping my livestock calm and quiet is paramount. There’s plenty of opportunity to rope, but if you are caught doing it erroneously don’t expect to keep that job for long. The same can be said for needlessly running cattle. Stressed cattle are a hard way to make a living.

Most ranchers are incredibly grateful for good help and will bend over backwards to keep a quality cowhand on staff. If both parties can be open, honest and communicate with each other everyone is likely to find a good fit.