Ranch – The Circle L Ranch

Role Model by Choice

A couple of weeks ago, a couple of our neighbors asked Cade to be on their rodeo team. Cade who is 15, had never competed on a team, said “Sure, I will be on a team!”

The days before the ranch rodeo Cody and Cade could be found in our arena practicing. Practicing roping. Learning the rules. Spending father-son alone time. It was a great opportunity for both of them.

The day of the ranch rodeo, I was nervous and excited for Cade. I mean, really how can he be old enough to be in a ranch rodeo! But I was also excited because I know that he had been working so hard.

Something else happened that day that made my eyes water too. I witnessed a group of older cowboys treat my son like their own. I didn’t have to worry about a thing, all I had to do was sit, watch and be thankful for folks that step up to be role models to our kids.

This is what I saw:

Confidence and Leadership. I saw a group of Cowboys that where positive, calm and confident in not only themselves, but also for those around them.

Uniqueness. I witnessed grown men that choose to be proud of their lives. They all have different stories, but choose to be confident in their ways. They are not fake.

Communication. A vital piece of being successful in a ranch rodeo is communication. Good communication means listening as well as talking. I witnessed great communication between these cowboys and Cade, they all helped him understand the rules.

Respect and Gratitude. Showing respect and gratitude speaks volumes about how other people see you.

Great Teachers. I saw more than just “teachers”! These cowboys are learners themselves. They challenge themselves and surround themselves with great people. Cade saw his team members being role models, teaching him to stretch himself in order to be successful.

Willingness. I saw grown cowboys that were willing to make a difference in a kid’s life. Willingness to help those around you is a great trait to have.

What I saw was true role models. Raising kids isn’t easy by any means, but it makes it easier when you have friends and family members that help you. Today I was grateful for these friends of ours that are true role models for my kids. They possess the qualities that we all should have, and will make us all better people. I saw Cade become more confident. I saw him want to become better.

We often don’t recognize true role models until we have noticed our own personal growth and progress. That really implies that it takes one to know one. Thus, if you are asking the question, that may mean you are well along the road to being that role model already. Don’t stop now.

Thank you Lost Creek Ranch Cowboys for all you did, all you do and for being great role models.

Let’s recognize your role models today.
Tag them in a comment section so that we all can say “Thank You.”

Happy Earth Day from the Circle L!

Earth Day 2016, Earth Day, Circle L Ranch

“Trees for the Earth” is this year’s Earth Day Theme.
Trees are very important to us at the Circle L Ranch. They
provide shade/protection for our cattle, help control erosion and
help provide us with clean air.

When your main office is the great outdoors and your commute is on horseback, preserving and protecting the Earth is part of the job description. This Earth Day 2016, America’s cattle farmers and ranchers are recognized as having one of the greenest jobs.

“Every day is Earth Day on the Circle L Ranch –
it’s the right thing to do and our ability to keep
feeding Americans depends on it.”

“My Cowboy and I work every day to teach our four children what it means to be truly passionate about the land and the animals. It is our job to preserve our natural resources, it is how we make our living and how we secure our family business for our children and grandchildren.”

Everyday is Earth Day at the Circle L! Each and every day, our goal is to leave our land better than it was yesterday. Here is a list of ways that we help in preserving our planet.

We utilize innovative practices to raise more beef with fewer natural resources.

We partner with state, local and national environmental agencies to monitor land, water and wildlife and make improvements to the environment.

Allow livestock to graze and consume natural and organic forages that convert to healthy, nutritious beef.

Utilize rotational grazing in which livestock are moved to different pastures to prevent overgrazing.

We protect open spaces from development through programs like conservation easements.

We recycle materials such as feed bags, pop cans, feed sacks and plastic containers (mineral tubs), batteries, used motor oil, tires, and scrap metal.

We save Energy. We use Windmills to pump water for wildlife and our animals. We turn things off like lights and unused electronics.

We maintain open space as cattle grazing pastures, allowing land to remain natural, free of trash, debris and invasive weeds and trees.

We maintain and introduce habitats as homes for numerous endangered species.

Hold up water on ranch lands for extended periods of time in order to replenish underground aquifers and filter out nutrients and particulate matter.

We plant trees for windbreaks, which provide protection for livestock, wildlife and soil.

We optimize delivery of feed allowing for fewer trips to the farms.

We reduce fuel consumption by using ATVs that use less fuel than other farm/ranch vehicles.

We utilize solar-powered electric fence chargers.

We use recycled products to build fences and to fix machinery.

We provide habitat for ground nesting birds.

Control weeds and prevent residue build-up on pasture land so it doesn’t turn into hot and dangerous fires.

We grow a garden.

We open our windows in the morning and close them in the afternoon.

We have chickens and pigs that eat our food waste!

We wash our clothes in cold water and hang them to dry on the clothesline.

We use reusable bags like Thirty-One bags to carry our groceries and supplies home.

These are just a few ways that we care for our earth. Like our neighbors and our friends, ranchers and farmers are a valuable asset to our earth. So on the Earth Day, I would like to say “Thank You” for all do.

I am thankful each day that God is letting us take care of his land.

I wanted to share with you some photos from the ranch.

Earth Day 2016, Circle L Ranch, Wildlife, Wild Turkeys

Circle L Ranch provides habit for wild animals to live and thrive.

Ranch Kids, Ranch Life, Nebraska, Earth Day

“As short-term stewards of this land,
it’s our job to ensure it’s left in better shape for the next generation.”

Earth Day 2016, Earth Day, Trees, Circle L Ranch

Circle L Ranch~Murphy Place

Happy Earth Day from the Circle L!

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