The Florida Sheriffs Youth Ranches has been improving the lives of at-risk children
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/1546265
on the farm used in a real-world scenario! Once the calves were alone in the pen, it was time to rope them one by one and quickly complete a checklist of tasks. Riders secured one loop around the neck and led the calf towards a group of waiting Ranchers. "Learning to rope takes patience," Rancher Lindsey said. "I learn something new almost every time I practice." Once a calf was caught, the real fun began! Ranchers steeled their nerves and dove forward, flipping the calf on its side and dogpiling on top to keep it still. They wrapped another rope around the calf's back legs and tightened it above the hock so it wouldn't slip off. Another Rancher jumped in with a syringe containing medicine that prevents respiratory issues in the cattle. Lindsey knelt down in the sand and quickly clipped one of thirty-three prepared tags into the calf's ear. The process took seconds; as soon as the Ranchers were done, they released the rope around the calf's legs and leapt backwards so the calf could be let loose in the pasture with the mothers. For the rest of the afternoon, this routine continued. Riders roped a calf, Ranchers quickly wrestled it to the ground, and the animal was treated and tagged. It was hot, dirty, fast-paced work, but the Ranchers were up to the task. Despite the challenge, the riders and staff were hollering encouraging words across the pen. Any time someone executed a complicated maneuver or got the calf on the ground in one move or finished a task quickly, they were congratulated. "It was a fun experience, having people from the community working together to get a job done while having fun," Rancher Jed said. What a great opportunity for our youth! Experienced riders—people our Ranchers look up to—were showing the value of teamwork, encouragement, and learning by example. It felt like being part of something bigger, using all the skills and strong work ethic our Ranchers learned doing chores at the farm. These experiences are priceless to our youth. Thank you for helping them understand the value of teamwork! T H E R A N C H E R FA L L 2 0 2 6 11