A Rancher's Valentine

Ranching comes with a unique set of challenges, especially for a married couple. I may have been raised on a ranch, but becoming a wife and mother has given me a different perspective on the lifestyle.

As we get closer to Valentine's Day, I thought I'd share some things I've learned over the years that have kept my husband and I from getting to the point of "irreconcilable differences" 😉

1. Buy the industrial wash machine. It will hold up better when faced with manure, bolts, grease, and fencing staples.

2. Learn how to cook. I don't mean you have to become the Pioneer Woman, but you'll be glad to know how to make something hearty to eat, especially after working cows, or haying, or during calving season. And, it goes for both of you... Not just the Mrs...

3. Thick skin and a sense of humor are non-negotiable.

4. A "minute" in his vocabulary does not equal the same "minute" in yours.

5. Date nights may look like a six pack cooler on the front seat and bags of mineral in the back end of an ATV or pickup, and a drive to see cattle. Don't expect flowers.

6. Plans are made to be broken.

7. Always pack twine, rope, or an extra lead rope if you can't close gates. Leaving a gate open because you couldn't close it will not make you very popular.

8. Mistakes will be laughed at. You will be teased for not swathing in a straight line, for falling off your horse, and for getting covered in cattle manure. See #4.

9. Don't make faces behind each other's backs unless you are willing to accept the consequences when you get caught.

Love might look different when you love a rancher, but so long as you don't mind a little dirt, vacations that include bull sales and stockshows, and explaining why your kids know so much about reproduction, it is a pretty great life to share with your best friend.

❤️ Richelle