Being a rancher 's child can be both a blessing and a curse. It 's a blessing because it creates hard work, ethic, integrity, and good strong values. It 's a curse because you only socialize with animals. We can 't call in sick to work or take a vacation. It is 24/7 for life, we have to keep on working no matter the circumstances because we don 't desert our job. My parents weren 't scared to give me responsibility, they knew I was capable of doing work. Dirt under your fingernails was no big deal and a pair of boots were your best friend. We understood how to have dignity and respect. We find peace by going out in the middle of a pasture and watching the sunset while counting cattle. Ranching teaches us what life is all about. We understand that there will be bumps in the road and that life can get hard, but we see past that at the reward of taking care of something besides ourselves. While being a rancher 's child can be both a blessing and a curse, it 's a wonderful upbringing that I would wish anyone to have. You learn to appreciate things more in life and to be happy with what you have. You don 't complain because things could be worse and you learn that animals always come first before fun.
Both of my parents were raised in agriculture. My mother was born in Syracuse, Kansas. At the age of 3 her family permanently moved to Eureka so her father could help take care of her grandparent 's livestock as their health was declining. She was given responsibilities on the