It’s been a tough couple weeks for my family. On April 18th my Grandma was diagnosed with stage 4 abdominal cancer and a week later she had passed away. My Grandma was tough, never the one to admit pain or voice a need to go to the doctor. This news was shocking. And something we are still all processing and getting through.
My Grandma spent much of her adult life working for Bank of America and backing my Grandfather on the ranch with the skills she learned at the bank. She always took diligent care of the books. As our good friend Jim Estill put it during the service, “every CEO needs a great CFO”. And that she was.
As a kid I can remember her down at the scales helping check weigh or ship cattle. She was also the one that always fed the crew a good lunch after branding. And I don’t mean ‘good’ lightly. The food was always really GOOD.
She made birthdays special by gathering the family for a 5 course meal. We all were told to put in our dinner request and she would cook up a feast for the family to enjoy. My request was always fried chicken. My mouth waters just thinking about how yummy her fried chicken was.
Last Tuesday we spent the day honoring her life. Following the service we went back to the ranch for lunch. It was nice to hear stories and feel the love and support around us. The most common question I got that day was “so what’s going to happen to the ranch now?” Some people were just being nosey, some genuinely concerned. For my Brother, Mom and I, that answer was a no brainer. We will honor my grandparents by continuing the ranch just as they intended.
Cattle ranching isn’t just something we do for the money. Quite honestly, you don’t always make much. It’s something we do because we have a love for the cattle, for the land. Also because we get to run a business together as a family. Our ranch will continue to grow those fat Angus cattle that my grandparents spent their whole life building. They wouldn’t want it any other way. I feel strongly that my Mom deserves the opportunity to run the ranch how her parents taught her. The love and devotion she has towards this business proves that it’s her time to shine. And yes, a woman can run a cattle ranch. Trust me. She’s been doing it for my Grandma for the last 6 or 7 years. So for all the people that thought the ranch might be sold, leased, developed etc, I’ve got news. Our place will continue to be the ranch my Grandparents built it to be. The traditions will continue but also new innovative ways of producing beef will be implemented. I’m looking forward to seeing how this ranch grows and evolves with my Mom as cow boss.