What Makes a Rancher?

<a href="http://www.billingsgazette.com//index.php?id=1&display=rednews/2006/01/28/build/state/90-cattle.inc">Small, varied cattle herds becoming more popular</a><br />n<br />n<blockquote>Ranchers like Jonas, who spends about five days a month in Boca Raton, Fla., pursuing his legal work, are a relatively new and growing part of the Montana landscape.<br />n<br />nFor some, livestock is a hobby. For others, such as Jonas, the cattle hold some business potential. His investments so far have been significant. He put in a new corral and hay barn, and he feeds his cattle organic oats and flaxseed. He even traveled to Italy for a Piedmontese stock show. Yet with only 29 head, his earnings potential remains minuscule. </blockquote><br />n<br />nThis just shows the growing trend in Montana land and cattle business. Part time landowners that run cattle as a hobby more than a business. I wish I had a job that I could spend 5 days a month at and then play with my little ranch as a sideline.<br />n<br />nFrom Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary:<br />nRancher- one who owns or works on a ranch.<br />nRanch- 1 : a large farm for raising horses, beef cattle, or sheep 2 : a farm or area devoted to a particular specialty<br />n<br />nWhile the idea that this guy is a rancher by what I am used to defining it by is funny, by these definitions, he does qualify as a rancher.<br />n<br />nDon't get me wrong, if this is what the man wants to do and how he wants to spend his money, more power to him. As hard as it might seem for Montanans to understand, the large majority of cattle produced in the US come from "ranches" that are smaller than 50 head. I don't have the exact figures in front of me but something like over 70% of the cattle produced in the US come from premises that run less than 50 head total.<br />n<br />nSO, what he is doing isn't that unusual but he sure is a different kind of rancher that's for sure. Kind of makes me laugh and cry. Montana's traditional rancher is going by the wayside for types like this. Passing of an era I guess.<br />n<br />n<b>Freedom from the desire for an answer is essential to the understanding of a problem. Jiddu Krishnamurti </b>