An internship on the Beaverhead Ranch in Southwest Montana

Abstract

The Beaverhead Ranch is located in Southwest Montana and operates a 7,000 head cow-calf operation on 257,000 acres. This ranch has been in operation under the management of Koch Beef since 195 1, a subsidiary of Koch Industries in Wichita, KS. My internship as a cowboy on the Beaverhead ranch, taught me many valuable skills and lessons that I will use throughout the remainder of my life. I gained valuable experience and learned the importance of responsibility, dedication, and team work. Throughout my internship, I was challenged to perform duties such as calving heifers, branding calves, trailing cows, and harvesting alfalfa hay. My internship also taught me about some of the differences of ranching in Montana versus ranching in Texas. Although some aspects of ranching in both states are similar, the severe cold, the snow fill, and ranching on public lands are some of the differences I experienced first hand. Working as a cowboy on a large ranch in Southwest Montana, exposed me to new and challenging experiences where learning was essential to everyday work.