KGPR Great Falls Public Radio

My neighbor rarely calls me so when his number appeared on my caller ID, I figured he would tell me I had cattle in his pasture. Instead, he was saving my grass. What would I do without my neighbors? My cousin and I surveyed the damage the next morning. It could have been so much worse. 

 

-Lisa

After venting all of our frustrations, words that had been a lifeline became resented interruptions when my friends and I rode in the mountains for the last time this season.

Ranchers build their resilience muscle by facing harder and harder challenges. Sometimes, they use their muscle to figure out rocket science-type solutions. Sometimes, resilience only means looking at a problem in a different way.

-Lisa

Inviting people to inspect the ranch when it looks so dry and crunchy is so humbling. This time, I learned a lot so it was well worth it. 

 

-Lisa

Andy, an aboriginal range manager in the Northern Territory of Australia, Andy was generous enough to teach nine of us about his culture, including how to make spears and digging sticks from gum trees. I could have talked to him all day. 

-Lisa

We all own the water in Montana so it is our responsibility to use it wisely. 

 

-Lisa

As much as I felt upside down while I was in Australia, it was comfortable. People were friendly and ranching was so similar. 

 

This Brahman steer allowed me to get closer than most of the cattle there. He was grazing in a nice pasture. The other cattle were in the brush where it was easy for them to dodge among trees, huge termite mounds and bushes.

 

-Lisa

My cat, Scooter the Puma-Princess, never could decide whether she was a fierce warrior or royalty. I guess a cat can be both. 

 

-Lisa

This pack trip recharged all of us. The grizzly and the loose horses boosted our adrenaline for a few minutes, but we took a lot of deep, relaxing breaths between those adventures. And Abby practiced tying good knots on the panniers, too!

 

-Lisa

I know other ranchers have experienced far more confrontations on state and federal lands. This story describes mine. The simple answer would be to offer respect and consideration, just like a good neighbor would. Instead, a few of my errant sheep would love to climb over my fence just as a new resident of Pondera County did.

 

-Lisa