Last month, the Colorado and Montana New Agrarian Program apprentices participated in a multi-day stockmanship clinic. One important lesson we wanted them to learn was the importance of observation when handling cattle and other livestock. Our Colorado stockmanship instructor, Curt Pate, encouraged the apprentices to strive to understand what the cattle are feeling, seeing, and thinking in order to make the best decisions on how to handle them in a calm and low-stress way. Apprentices practiced observing their body language, watching which way they turned their heads to anticipate which direction they were about to move so that they could be ahead of them instead of being a few crucial steps behind them. They learned to observe the herd’s stress level, apply the appropriate pressure when working with them, and back off the pressure when they were doing what we asked.
In the New Agrarian Program, we encourage our mentors to discuss with their apprentices the importance of taking the time to observe the herd and what those observations can tell them about potential health issues and the animals' level of contentment. Observations during daily herd checks can include looking for any animals that are unusually off by themselves or hanging their heads and slumping. They can observe if the cattle are bunched up and on alert, potentially from a predator, or calm with their heads down and grazing. We want to encourage our apprentices to observe what is normal behavior within the herd so they can notice when something is off.
The skill of observation is deeply rooted in regenerative agriculture. As farmers, ranchers, and stewards of the land, we observe the soil’s ground cover, what plants our livestock are eating and when they are eating them, the effects large rain events and droughts have on the land and the forage. We can challenge ourselves by observing natural patterns and mimicking nature in our operations. These observations shape our understanding of the ecological systems surrounding us and help us make wise decisions in caring for the land, animals, and ourselves.
With many of us living busy, overloaded lives, we can all benefit by slowing down and observing what’s happening around us. Taking a walk and observing what we hear, see, and smell in the present moment can work wonders for calming our minds and resetting us for the rest of the day. Practicing observation in our daily lives promotes our critical thinking and helps us better understand our environment and the part we play within it.
“To acquire knowledge, one must study, but to acquire wisdom, one must observe.” (Marilyn vos Savant).
Thank you to our longtime Montana stockmanship instructor, Whit Hibbard, and Colorado instructor, Curt Pate, for sharing their knowledge and years of stockmanship experience with our apprentices. Also, thanks to the Mannix Ranch in Montana and Redwing Ranch in Colorado for hosting this year’s clinics.
Holly Napier
New Agrarian Program Southwest Manager
New Agrarian Program Announcements
Mentor Fellowship
The New Agrarian Program is excited to launch our inaugural Manager Fellowship!
Currently, this program is only open to graduates of the New Agrarian Program apprenticeship. Many beginning agrarians develop strong production skills through employment in their first few seasons, but continue to face hurdles when working to develop the business management and financial skills needed in order to launch an enterprise or successfully secure management-level employment. In response to this, we’ve put together a management-level training program that meets early career ranchers and graziers where they’re at, so that they can successfully move into management and entrepreneurship. More information can be found here.
Quivira is hiring!
Are you ready to support and mentor the next generation of food producers and land stewards in the West? Our New Agrarian Program is looking for our next Northern Plains Manager to support our mentors and new agrarians in central and western Montana, Idaho, and Wyoming.
We are also hiring for a Development Director to support our financial future and achieve our strategic goals.
Are you a rancher or farmer interested in training the next generation of land stewards? The New Agrarian Program is currently seeking new mentors to join our apprenticeship program next year in NM, CO, WY, or MT. Find general info and more details about requirements here.
New Regeneration Rising Episode!
We are joined by Diane Anastasio, program manager and shepherd at Shepherdess Land & Livestock Co. in Ojai, California. Diane describes how, although not growing up in agriculture, their Austrian and Italian family heritage is expressed through their practice of shepherding today, and
how other creative endeavors like weaving and dancing tie in as well. We also talk about Diane's early experiences in agriculture at shearing school and New Cowgirl Camp, balancing an agrarian's need for urban and rural community, and what it's like to be a contract sheep grazier for fire mitigation on the hot hillsides of California.
Are you a current or prospective land steward in New Mexico? Have you been interested in federal programs to help you get started or to support a project on your farm or ranch? Quivira is helping land stewards connect to resources, improve the health of their land, and meet their agricultural goals through community building, support accessing financial programs, and connection to USDA resources.
Join Chispas Farm and Friends for two days of Free Farmer to Farmer education, outreach, and networking. Connect with other growers in the Middle Rio Grande Valley around regenerative and organic farming best practices while building relationships with folks doing good work in our communities! All presentations will be interactive with plenty of discussion and questions encouraged. More info here.
Castanea Fellowship
The Castanea Fellowship (a project of the Earth Island Institute) is an 18-month awarded program for diverse leaders working to transform the food system in a wide range of areas, including health, environment, agriculture, regional economies, and community development. More information here.
Rancher Resilience Grant
This grant is designed to support cattle producers’ attendance at impactful educational events. It is made possible by a partnership between the National Cattlemen’s Foundation and Cargill Protein. More info here.
Western Sustainability Exchange - Expanding Markets Conference
September 23 - 25 Billings, MT
A conference to connect ranchers throughout the West to new and lucrative market opportunities. More info here.
Society of Range Management Scholarship for Native American Students
Deadline September 1
The Jessica Orozco Memorial Honorarium pays for an Undergraduate or Graduate student’s travel and lodging for the SRM conference with a maximum reimbursable amount of $1,500. The selected individual will be able to advance their career opportunities by networking with future colleagues, participating in professional development and natural resources workshops, and attending a job fair. More info here.
For years, we've connected employers and job seekers through a listing of job postings in our monthly New Agrarian Newsletter. We're excited to now have a Regenerative Ag Job Board, where employers can post their opportunities and job seekers can find their next step. Please help us get this resource up and running - post your next job or internship opportunity on the website via the form, and send any feedback you have about the new site to newagrarian@quiviracoalition.org.
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