Run run run, a-run run

Run run run, a-run run

Run run, run run, run

 

When you find yourself in a mess of trouble

Trapped amongst the trash and rubble

Prayin' for relief but gettin' none

You wanna start your life anew

You just don't know exactly how to

Find your opportunity and run

 

Well, you heard Dolly: run, run, run on over to sign up for the Fall Confluence—it might just be the inspiration you need. On Nov. 8th (pm), 9th, and 10th, we will be taking a deep dive into entrepreneurship on and off the pasture and hearing stories from speakers who are building and sustaining businesses, the challenges they’ve faced, and how to navigate through them. 

 

Our broad theme for the fall Confluence is 

One of our core values at Women in Ranching is to Engage Bravely with Difference. The theme “Beyond Fencelines” reflects this value. We hope that each Confluence event encourages speakers and participants to engage with curiosity and with interest in diverse perspectives and experiences related to ranching and agriculture.

More creative surprises and guest speakers to come! Register for the Confluence by October 20th to receive 20% off your ticket! DISCOUNT CODE: EARLYBIRD

Looking for our scholarship page? Find it here: 

Women in Ranching honors the hard work, dedication, and sacrifice of our service members. In gratitude, we offer 40% off our programming to current and former military, military spouses and dependents, first responders (Law enforcement, Fire, and EMS), and teachers K-12.

 

Indigenous Peoples’ Day was once known to some as Columbus Day, and many still only know it as that.

 

The movement to change the name comes from the purposeful intent of Indigenous people themselves. Advocating for this change is courageous, and the bravery stems from the love Indigenous people have for their own and is an outcome of our people standing in their strength, pushing the world to understand the harsh truth associated with commemorating Christopher Columbus while omitting the lived realities of Indigenous people across the land. 

 

Dismissal of these truths encourages the thought that Indigenous people are not equals or high-value contributors to this world. Commemorating Indigenous Peoples’ Day as a formal holiday helps spread awareness throughout the Americas, and there is a collective need to understand and acknowledge righting a false narration of historical events. Columbus’s accidental landing and inflated discovery started the calculated eradication and assimilation of Indigenous people. 

 

Since then, my ancestors have suffered tremendous loss and tragedy, creating an emptiness in many hearts and holes that could not be filled with love due to the inability to live what we know and understand as truth and closeness with the creator. Our collective identity was nearly wiped clean, and our purpose diminished.

 

There is a quote by the great Lakota leader, Sitting Bull, in which he says, “The earth has received the embrace of the sun, and we shall see the results of that love.” Indigenous People’s Day reflects the resiliency and brilliance that has always been present. A holiday that once celebrated a harmful history has become a symbol of love. How brilliant of Indigenous People to turn something negative into something of beauty and strength. Over time, this day may morph into something else, but declaring this day as our own is a step toward beginning to fill the holes in our hearts. Like the earth embracing the sun, our people are embracing their purpose and standing in their light once again. 

 

Our Lakota people are intentionally healing from our past, and taking back this day is a means to recovery. We have a lot of work to accomplish, but our ancestors are guiding us to our victories. So, on this day, we recognize the beauty of the first nations and celebrate our continued path as the creator intended: a path of love.

 

Mitakuyaye Oyasin (All My Relations).

Sarah Comeau was born into a cattle ranching family where she was raised on the Standing Rock Reservation in the Dakotas. Her Lakota name is Wanbli Wiyaka Waste Mani Win (Walks With a Pretty Eagle Feather Woman) given to her in ceremony by Sundance leader, Felix Kidder. Sarah is a mother of three and currently works as a nurse and healthcare consultant while residing in Livingston, MT. Instead of following in her family's footsteps of competing in rodeos, she went a different route of learning how to start colts. Sarah uses traditional Lakota teachings when working with horses and hopes to someday help girls and young women learn how to start colts as well.

As part of our ongoing work with the Flower Hill Institute, we’ve put together a toolkit to help you navigate through the programs offered by the FSA/USDA that may be applicable to you as a rancher/farmer. 

Women in Ranching board member, manager of Caney Creek Ranch, and owner of Farm to Freezer Meat LLC was recently featured as an industry leader in an article discussing the positive role that cattle ranching can play in a healthy and thriving ecosystem.

November 4th, This is an in-person event created for the Navajo women in the agriculture/ranching community who are interested in connecting with other women ranchers and are open to learning more about managing their ranches as sustainable businesses if they so choose. Full agenda and sign up below!