The best way for young people to get experience in their field is through internships. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the IX Ranch of Big Sandy, Montana, are partnering with Art of the Cowgirl to provide three internships on the ranch. Available for the summer and fall seasons, the internships are provided exclusively to NCBA members or their children as a member benefit, and open to students who are interested in learning about operating a cow-calf ranch.
Operating on over 120,000 acres in and around the Bear Paw Mountain range in North Central Montana, the ranch was founded in 1955 and is home to over 3,500 head of mother cows. It runs solely on the income generated by the cattle, using technology and support from universities and industry partners to stay profitable even under volatile livestock conditions.
The three paid internships, with the selection between the summer or fall seasons, will focus on providing insight into what it takes to operate a successful cow-calf operation in the 21st Century. The summer session will be held June through August and focus on forage preparation and harvest. The fall session will take place from September to November, focusing on preparation for calf weaning, shipping and pregnancy testing. Interns will have the opportunity to receive college credit. Housing will be provided along with the stipend. Qualified applicants of all race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, or the presence of a non-job related medical condition or handicap will be considered.
John Robinson, NCBA vice president of membership and communications, is excited to provide this opportunity to NCBA members and their families. “NCBA is committed to persevering the way of life our cattlemen and cattlewomen live and love,” he said. “This partnership allows us to expand efforts to maintain this lifestyle for the next generation.”
To learn more about applying, contact Sophie Davis at sophie@artofthecowgirl.com or Tammy Pate at tammypate6@gmail.com.
