I had the privilege of hearing Billy Cordasco talk about the legacy of the Babbitt Ranch in Arizona. He spoke of generations that have poured into the ranch and now, as a large family, they utilize a board of directors. But it didn’t start out that way.

Trevor and Cheryl Branvold raise registered Angus on a farm near Wawota, Saskatchewan, that’s been in Cheryl’s family since it was settled in 1888.

Grit and resilience describe Shawn and Molly Brown, a mother-daughter duo raising Scottish Highland beef cattle at Forage Girls Farm in Wisconsin. While running a cattle ranch has its challenges, the Browns share the rewards ranch life has to offer.

Lisa and Cameron Hodgins own and operate Hodgins Farm near Lenore, Manitoba, and direct market some of their beef, pork, chickens and honey. The cattle operation consists of a commercial cow-calf herd of approximately 125 largely Angus-influenced cows, as well as maintaining approximately 250 grazing yearlings as stockers.

As little kids growing up on the farm, we are always taught to stay busy. My dad used to tell us that if it was light outside, we should be outside doing something. Then, as we became adults working on the farm, we were told to have a plan. “Don’t get so caught up in the farm that you forget to focus on the farm,” they would say.

Young Rayburn Smith only had one goal for his life: to live the American dream. To him, that dream was to raise cattle along the Red River, “ranching Louisiana style.”

As I recognize myself and my hubby – and how we are wired – it’ll help me to understand him and others as we consider renovating a house.

When I was in grade five, my class buried a time capsule in the “backyard” of the school grounds. I don’t know if it was ever dug up by anyone, but wouldn’t that be grand if it was?