Planting the Seeds of Greatness

POST continued from page A1 breaking water in the winter and fixing fences as well as counting and sorting to load trucks.”

He notes there are several things he enjoys doing throughout the year, including seeing baby calves during calving season in the springtime and gathering cows off of the mountain to bring home in the fall.

“My favorite part is going to cow camp in the summer to help move cows around on the mountain and haul salt,” he says.

Ryden also enjoys running equipment on the ranch such as tractors, trucks and the skid steer.

A herd of his own

In addition to helping out on the ranch, Ryden is an active 4-H member and has been elected president of his local 4-H club for the past two years. He spends the summer taking care of, training and preparing a 4-H beef project to show at fair.

“I show steers in 4-H each year at fair,” he notes. “I also won grand champion with my gun scabbard leather project last year at fair. I really enjoy 4-H.”

Over the course of his 4-H career, Ryden has built up a cow herd of his own. In fact, he says his greatest accomplishment is owning four cows of his own, which he gets to keep the calves off of each year.

Ryden started this herd with his very first show heifer, which he showed nearly five years ago. He also proudly shares he gets to brand his cattle with his own personal RP brand.

Like many cattlemen, Ryden has had to overcome challenges that come with growing up on a ranch and being in charge of his own herd.

“Challenges have included pulling calves, getting equipment unstuck and spending long days sorting cows,” he shares. However, when the going gets tough, he says, “I remember not to give up and to always finish what I start.”

When he isn’t hard at work on the ranch, Ryden enjoys playing basketball, downhill skiing, snowmachining, creating leather work and riding his dirt bike.

Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.