Not all that long ago I was asked to give a short talk to the Young Cattlemen & Cattlewomen of California. It was there that I met Gabriella. Since then her and I have become friends and shared our stories. She is the perfect person to start this series. She is bright, talented, and above all else, driven. The fact that she made the time to do this interview only shows her dedication to this industry. It has been such a pleasure to get to know her and I hope you guys enjoy the interview!
1. Give us some background on your ranch. Family history, how many generations, location, and type of cattle you raise.
See my previous post here and check out the video that Gabriella put together. It explains a ton of her multi-generational ranching history.
2. What is your role on the ranch? Has this role changed as you’ve gotten older or had more experience? Does being female have anything to do with what your role is on the ranch?
From my experience, I have not seen any distinction between my role and that of the men due to gender. Simply because I am not there full-time is the main reason we differentiate. That has always been something I admire about my Gramp and his two brothers. If an individual has an interest, a personality that is good to be around, and is willing to learn, they will take the time to teach and show them genuine respect regardless if they are male or female.
3. What are you studying in school and where at? How does your degree apply to the ranch?
I am currently enrolled in my last semester at California State University, Chico studying Agricultural Business and Spanish. My Ag Business degree is comprised of a myriad of classes focusing on economics, business, animal science, public speaking and writing. Overall, the financial accounting class I took at Oregon State University with Dr. Amy Bourne was one of my favorite courses next to Dr. Dave Daley’s Advanced Beef Science class at Chico State. I am most interested in those two subjects. All the courses I have taken apply to the ranch and have provided me with a foundation of knowledge.
4. Do you plan to continue the business as your sole career or will you have a supplemental career as well?
Serving as the Oregon Beef Ambassador in 2013 solidified my passion for education and promotion. I would love to develop a program for inner-city youth to come to the ranch to learn more about rangeland science, animal science, the beef production cycle, cooking beef, nutrition, and more.
I am not someone that enjoys just doing one thing, 365 days a year, which is why the cow/calf sector is perfect for me. Also, it is why I want to build a life that consists of a blend between my passions for the beef community and education. I plan to be involved with California Beef Council, California Cattlemen’s Association, local Cattlemen and CattleWomen groups, American National CattleWomen, our local schools, and more. Although, when it all comes down to it, the ranch will be my top priority.
5. Have family dynamics played a role in the continuation of the ranch? What have you guys done to make the generational transitions seamless? Do you have any advice for other families trying to pass their ranch to the next generation?
Family dynamics are what can make our break a family business in my opinion. As time passes, dynamics change. Family members get married, kids graduate, babies are born, some family members earn their angel wings; we know that is just how life works. The only thing consistent is change, so I believe the families who are able to best adapt to these changes are the ones that find the most success in keeping a business going. When adding to the crew on the ranch I believe it is critical that everyone has a similar vision for the operation and is willing to work with each other. The fact that my grandfather and his two brothers have successfully worked together for the past forty years speaks to the level of respect that they have for on another. Moving forward, I plan to build the level of communication and continue holding a high level of respect for all who are involved.
6. As it relates to the ranch, tell me who in your family has had the biggest impact on your life and why.
My grandfather has had the biggest impact on my life. I consider our relationship to be very unique, and I treasure it everyday. Also, Philippe Hammerness. He is not related to me by blood, but the impact he has had on my life and the amount of quality time we have spent together I believe qualifies us as family. Each day that I work with Philippe and my Gramp I gain many insights and knowledge from their experience. Not only do we have conversations about the cattle business, but the life talks that we share on our longer rides in the summer have truly helped shape who I am today.
7. What are some life lessons you’ve learned on the ranch?
I feel like it is nearly impossible to narrow down the vast amount of lessons that I have learned on the ranch. The one that I am most frequently reminded of is you get with you give. In every sense of the phrase. If you do not manage you rangeland appropriately, your forages will deplete and your relationship with government agencies will be hindered. If you do not take the time to fix your fence on a regular basis, you will spend a lot more time building a lot more fence. If you do not invest in a strong animal health program, the amount of unhealthy animals will inhibit the overall success of your herd.
8. What kind of role do you think Social Media and the web have in telling the story of ranching? Do you actively participate in Social Media? If so, which platforms?
Nowadays I believe Social Media and the web, if used correctly, have the potential to best tell the story of ranching, second to actually visiting a ranch. I am active on Facebook and Instagram (@gabrielladalleva) and I am interested in participating in more outlets if the beef community feels that my participation could make a positive impact.
9. In 20 years, what are some things you hope to have improved on the ranch?
In 2035 I hope to have improved the overall organization of the ranch. Over the next 20 years, I would like to collect more data that will help us continually improve the utilization of our resources. For example, there are many new programs that would help us focus on specific aspects of the business such as our farming and herd genetics. Overall, I would like to see more on paper to help us achieve this goal.
10. Tell us about a favorite memory of yours growing up on the ranch.
When thinking of all the great memories I have had on the ranch, I recognize that there are heaps that I consider to be some of my favorites. The days that I would drive the retriever for Gramp and my feet could not even reach the pedals were among the best. He would set the choke so I would just have to steer. I would have to make S-turns throughout each field, which thankfully is not a high pressure situation anymore. After I completed all of the turns, I always looked forward to the moment he would get back in the cab and say “another outstanding job.” Although the silly comment always made us laugh, I definitely took the encouragement to heart. Memories like this serve as a great reminder of how much time, energy, and support my Gramp has invested in me for as long as I can remember. This has built a strong desire in me to return these investments into the ranch and contributes to my great passion for the lifestyle that I am so thankful to live.