Jobs - N/C

[Steer Boy 101]

No school understand what a experience it is to go to denver. Teachers wouldnte even give me my homework for the week i was at denver. My parents had to call the princable and chase his story about why i should be in school insted of "running around in denver". i coulda punched him in his teeth.  he doesnt understand how great of experience and how neat it is to see such a large show and all the history of the yards that come along with it. regaurdless of that i cant remember "running" around except making a gas station run for the genator. o well

 

[ROAD WARRIOR]

I used to have problems with our local high school. I finally explained to them in terms that the could understand (the discussion got a little heated!) that I was the legal guardian, the work that they would miss over the course of the week would probably be made up in a matter of hours, the real world experiences that they would be exposed to were much more valuable than anything that they would probably miss in that week and as a fairly large land owner in their school district, I paid their wages via the insane amount of property tax that they take each year. As a general rule, they hate to see me pull into the parking lot. RW

 

[Diamond]

School issues are always tough, (besides the one I had a teacher whop also showed) but I did use the ohio beef expos 'Genetic pathways' for my  collage bio class and the teacher even gave me extra credit for attending...granted she had no idea it had to do with cattle.

 

[jbh]

"If your not happy with what you are doing no amount of money is going to change that (it will help). So go into something you are going to enjoy."

These words were posted above and are exactly right from every angle.  My college years (Mizzou and Ia State) landed right smack in the middle of the 80's farm crisis, in which our family farm was in jeopardy.  I couldn't keep my head in school, I was getting A's in my ag courses and pretty much not going to the rest.  That's really not too good on a GPA!, and so I decided to set out a semester and not return for my Junior year.  Needless to say, I never went back.

I landed an insurance adjusters job in my home town for a whopping $14,000 a year.....and was tickled to death!  About three years later a major corporation out of Des Moines approached me to manage local agencies they were buying up.  The money was alot better and hence a new career in sales started........and ended a year later.......I HATED IT!  I went home to the family farm and started to farrow to finish 100 head of sows for cash flow and started the Pasture to Purple program.

The key about the pasture to purple program was I didn't have to come up with any money for land and cows.....I just helped other people maximize the potential in what they already had.  This generally worked for both of us and was very successful for years, until my body couldn't take the beating anymore, and some of the programs had developed a good enough reputation to go on their own.

My point in telling you this, is to make sure you walk through doors as they open for you in life.  Look around, and if you like it stay and build, if you don't then walk on.  As long as you stay true to your word and treat people right, those doors will open.  I guarantee it!

 

[simtal]

professional uh, graduate student  ruminant nutrition

never let school get in the way of your education- Mark Twain

 

[justintime]

I have always said that my education was interrupted at the age of 6 when my parents sent me to school.

 

[jbw]

Am I the only farmer/cowman on here? Everyone else was smart enough to go get a job! I used to be the boss on my farm, then I got married, had kids, and now I'm low dog on the totem-pole!

 

[DFSC]

I am a student and a full time Nurse. But I walk, talk, eat, sleep and breath cattle.... like most on here  

Jordan

 

[beefy]

i am a heavy equipment operator for a large construction company during the week, and ranch on the weekends    <cowboy>

 

[AAOK]

Zach,
The world's foremost authorities suggest you will have 10-12 careers in your lifetime; not job changes, but complete career changes.  If you graduate college at age 22 and retire at 60, you will spend 3.8 years perfecting each of your chosen professions.  Maybe 1 in a million High School graduates have a good idea of their future plans.  That is one reason only 2 in every 10 college Freshmen return for their Sophomore year.  

I work for the Manufacturing Extension Partnership, a Federal program under the National Institute of Standards and Technology.  Through 67 centers nation wide, we consult with U.S. manufacturers to help them become more profitable.  We do not work with the huge companies, only  those with less than 500 employees.  These are the companies which never make the news, and don't even show up on the radar in the larger cities.  Most of my clients in Oklahoma have fewer than 50 employees.  They make incredible products, utilizing the top technologies, and are constantly changing and improving.  Most of their employees do NOT have a college degree.  Most of these employees DO earn about double the average annual wage, plus great benefits and pension programs.  Layoffs DO NOT occur at these manufacturers.

My wife is a high school Guidance Counselor.  She is why I know about college and career statistics.

I spent 22 years as the owner/manager of a Western and Work clothing store;  a little more than a year selling livestock feed; 6 months selling yellow page advertising, and 3 years as the marketing manager for a local construction company.  I just completed my 9th year in my current profession.

I graduated college with a degree in Recreation Management.  Thirty-five years later, I have never come anywhere near working in my major field, but I would have been unable to attain any of these jobs without my degree.  I now contract PHDs, PEs, EDs and every other type of business specialist you might name to work with my manufacturing clients.  My work is unbelievably rewarding, as have been my previous endeavors.  I don't have a clue what's next, but when it's time to make a change, I'll just go with the flow, and it will be great.

Don't worry about what college you will attend, what major, or what field of work you'll do.  It's only going to last 3.8 years and then you wil decide to do something else.  Experience life!

In HIS grip,
Dan

 

[ROAD WARRIOR]

Am I the only farmer/cowman on here? Everyone else was smart enough to go get a job! I used to be the boss on my farm, then I got married, had kids, and now I'm low dog on the totem-pole!

I'm with you JBW - most everything I do is cow related- I have dabbled in the auctioneer/sale managment business, custom fitting business, run a purebred herd, break horses and day work for other cattle men when I have time. Pretty much every dime I get my hands on comes something cow related one way or another. RW

 

[yousesteers]

I raise hogs faroow a 122 sows every 3 weeks  on a contract farrowing and got a few cows it pays the bills dont get wrapped up in the money if it will provide for you and your family and be comfortable that is all that matters

 

[maine106]

I farm with my Dad.  While I am far from unique (it's just the two of us and I am female), it sometimes seems as if I am--a dealer stopped by when we were in the market for a new grain cart.  I asked him the necessary questions about bushels, tarp, scales, etc.  When I got to price he said "why don't you get your Dad for this part."  I smiled and said "Oh really?  X (their competitor) didn't need to talk to Dad."  Then I thanked him for his time and bought the grain cart from the other guy. 

I should qualify the farm with my Dad part a bit--we are partners on everything but he has not done chores in about 2 years.  He is not a big fan of the cattle but will help out if I get into a pinch while calving.  I am on the smaller side so picking up a 90 lb wet calf with a mad cow right behind me doesn't always go real well!

I also really wanted to go to vet school.  But I chose the family farm instead.  My closest friend is a large animal vet and I ride along with her frequently.  It is a tough life.  We are in desperate need of GOOD large animal vets. 

On the other side of this if anyone else farms with their Dad and/or Mom and wants to form a steer planet support group let me know! 

 

[Ohioteerchick]

zach, you probly want to lean towards a vet because like my dad said to me(im currentey going to take vet science) theres always gonna be sick animals and now due to a lack of vets your pretty much guarenteed a job but thats my opinion :]

 

[herfchic]

I go to High School, play two sports, run the calves, and somehow manage to keep straight A's.  I plan to major in animal science and go to Vet school (not sure where at though).  Most of my teachers were ok with me going to Denver, but some of them don't look very highly when I miss school because the vet is coming.  

 

[TJ]

I'm a professional jack of all trades & master of none.  ;D  I say that literally too.  Rules, regulations, laws, costs, availability, demand, etc., change so much that sometimes it's a good thing to be able to move on to something different.  My only 3 constants have been my cattle, my family, & Christ... everything else is expendable... and if things get too crazy (Obama, Peta, liberal left, USDA, EPA, etc.), the cattle might become expendable too (I drastically cut back on my time spent with cattle from 1998-2003, although I was still involved).  Christ is the only thing that is guaranteed completely firm, my family is in 2nd place, everything else totally depends upon the circumstances at the time & sometimes things change so drastically in such a short period of time, that you find yourself needing to change with the times.  There are some occupations that are pretty firm (health care, lawyers, etc.), but many are not.  Sometime being flexible is a good thing. Trust me, there is always something to do & opportunities available, if you are flexible enough & looking hard enough. Also, letting the Lord lead/guide/direct you is invaluable.  Opportunities will literally open up for you before your eyes, if you are trusting in Him to guide you.     


     

 

[showtime]

Work at UPS in the mornings and we just started a feed store so thats where i'm at all day and mess with cows all the time.

 

[red]

I was a feed salesmanager/marketing. Covered over 9 states. Blacking out prevented me from driving. Now on disability.

Red

 

[oakbar]

I work for an animal health company and travel all over the US calling on, of all things, turkey companies.   I have been doing this for 20 years and in that time I have seen tremendous consolidation of, not only the turkey industry, but the pharmaceutical industry as well.   Every company has either gotten much bigger or disappeared.   I do really like my job and many times when I'm talking to you folks I am doing so while waiting for a plane or sitting in a motel room.   It really helps pass the time talking to people who share my interest in cattle and its been great to meet many of you at the shows.   Its always interesting to me how people from so many diverse backgrounds can share a common interest in something!

As far as schools and the Denver stock show go, all I can say is you might need to market your experiences at the show a little  better to your administrators.   We had 24 kids with us on our bus this year from 5 different schools and all of them were considered to be excused absences because we sold the administrators on the educational value of the trip.   This is the second trip we've made like this-- all absences have been excused and the kids were allowed to make up their work in advance of the trip.   One tactic we use is that each of the kids is involved in making a power point presentation of the trip that they can give to community groups about their trip.  They also agree to put this presentation on at our local cattlemen's banquet.  Each kid has to get up in front of the banquet and at least say something during this presentation even if its only what they liked best about the trip.   We also tied in a stop at the Pfizer vaccine plant in Lincoln, NE this year that was very educational for everyone--adults and kids.  Doing these kinds of presentations serves a lot of purposes--it helps convince the schools that we are not just trying to play "hookie" for a few days and it also lets the community know that the kids are serious about learning and helps us raise a lot of money to help the kids pay for their trips.   This year we charged each of the kids $125 for their bus ride, room, 3 days gate charges at the show including the Rodeo and Wild West Show, buffet breakfasts on the way out and back, and dinner the last evening at the Machine Shed in Des Moines.   All of their other costs were covered by donations from businesses, etc.   We were gone 4 nights and  5 days and everyone really had a blast.   They even have enough money left over to schedule a couple more short trips this spring at no cost to the kids on the beef team.   We're thinking about a trip to TransOva or another ET type facility.  We've also been offered  tours of a regional feed plant and an ethanol plant who were both major sponsors of our trip.  Another thing we do is get the local newspapers involved in helping us promote our trip ahead of time and in giving it good coverage after the fact.  We provide them with pictures and interviews with our participants.   Local papers are always looking for these types of "human interest" stories.   This year our primary picture for the paper will probably be 24 youngsters dressed in white lab coats standing in front of the Pfizer plant in Lincoln.   Its pretty hard for anyone to argue that that is not an educational experience.

All I can say guys, is that I served for 12 years on our local school board and we were asked to approve absences for all types of functions from hog shows to opera.   The ones that were approved without question were the ones that demonstrated educational value along with the request for an absence.  Sell the value of your request to your school--don't assume they are against you if they don't understand what you're doing.   My girls have missed a lot of school for agricultural type events but we've always insisted that their work is made up in advance and that they have a way to show their school what they learned while they were gone.   This usually minimizes the animosity between the school and the kids and their parents.   Having had a little teaching experience I know that its extremely difficult to keep a entire class moving forward if there are kids missing each day.   Remember, you might want to be gone for two days, the English club may want to be gone the next two, and the Science club the next.   The school's responsibility is to assure that  all the kids are making educational progress.

This may set off a firestorm but as a side note-- I hope your requests to your schools have better spelling, punctuation, and grammar than many of the posts here on SP.   If they don't, I can understand why your teachers may think you need a little less travel time and a little more time in class. JMHO

Sorry this got so long, but I am passionate about kids getting  a good education and  experiences outside the classroom  are a huge part of that education if they're properly understood and valued by all parties involved.

 

[sawboss]

I have a "foofoo" dergree and two Master's Degrees in the field of education.  I now own a sawmill and work with illiterates on a daily basis.