WOMEN IN AG: CHARLEY PEARCE

SIXTH-GENERATION RANCHER, ‘PULL YOUR OWN WEIGHT. AND NEVER GIVE UP’

Written by: Katey Johnson

Across the nation women have long been the backbone of the cattle industry.

From wrangling kids and calves, cooking meals for the cow crew, sacrificing time on the ranch, to working a “town job” to help pay bills, feeding cattle and families, administering meds in the cow pens and at bedsides, or working outside on the ranch all day, women hold together farms and families in many various roles.

They don’t compete with men—they ride side by side. They know men and women each bring unique traits that are equally valued and vital. They know what tough is because they are. Some take a more handson role, while some work hard away from the cattle, managing the day to day of the household, family, bills and bookkeeping.

For Charley Pearce of Okeechobee, Florida, she prefers to be outside on a good horse, with a good cow dog and a good group of Florida cattle.

of the Florida Cattlemen’s Association in 1934 in Kissimmee. He also helped start the Okeechobee Cattlemen’s Association and served as its first president.

Her grandfather, J. O. Pearce Jr., served as an FCA president and played a key role in helping to eradicate the screw-worm epidemic in the late 1950s.

Pearce’s father, J. O. Pearce III, was also an FCA president and served on the national level, as well. Pearce’s cousin, Matt Pearce, is the most recent FCA past president.

Charley Pearce’s family as she grew up maintained a herd of registered Brahman cattle and were very involved in the industry. “I’m very partial to those ears and humps!” she says, echoing a sentiment of many Florida ranchers.

TAKE A LOT OF PRIDE IN LOOKING AFTER THE CATTLE,

A sixth-generation Florida rancher, Charley Pearce has ranching in her blood. “We grew up hunting, chasing cows and terrorizing the town,” she says laughing as she recalls growing up in south Florida with various cousins, her brother and other family. “It was God’s country to me, and we were just rippin’, runnin’ and ranchin’!”

Pearce’s ranching roots run deep in Florida. Her greatgrandfather, John Olan Pearce Sr., was a founding member

“I remember that all I wanted to do was go work cows with daddy and do whatever it was he was doing on the ranch,” Pearce recalls.

Like many young cowboys and cowgirls, she knew this life was her passion.

Pearce was heavily involved in 4-H, FFA and high school rodeo. Her first show animal was a brown Swiss heifer named Cocoa who went on to win state grand champion. She also showed horses, steers and Brahman cattle.

Pearce is also handy with a rope, going to state and national high school rodeo finals every year in the women’s breakaway roping event. She retired from competing in 2009 after winning her last saddle.

After high school, Pearce had a successful career in the dental industry as a dental assistant. During that time, she continued helping her family on the ranch. “I loved my career in the dental field, but my heart and passion were cattle and ranching,” she says.

She then worked in south Georgia for several years, pre-conditioning and growing cattle, helping different ranchers, marketing cattle and backgrounding yearlings and heifers.

Today, she is pursuing her passion as cattle foreman—forewoman—for the Wynne Ranch in St. Lucie County, one of the country’s largest and well-known Brangus breeders. There, Pearce applies all she has learned throughout her years in the cattle industry and to help create the best genetics possible while doing what she loves—and occasionally still gets to swing a rope. “I’ve always loved cattle and the beef industry,” Pearce says. “I take a lot of pride in looking after the cattle, horses, dogs and the land God put in my care.”

To female ranchers, this is Charley Pearce’s advice, “Have knowledge, talent and good work ethic. Pull your own weight. And never give up.” FCM