How to find a mentor?

[MATADOR]

Hello everyone I hope 2016 treats you better than 2015.

I have a few questions.....

1-I am currently a beginner and lack knowledge in the cattle business and need help finding a mentor or someone who I can go to with questions. In your opinion where can I find a mentor?

2- Am I as stupid as I've been told? I had a job lined up making a guaranteed 90 thousand out of college. But I decided I wanted to change my major to Animal Science, focusing on Animal Production where I will likely not make half of that out of college. I also have no inheritance of land or anything to get started but my own savings( not much). I want to raise cattle, and I know making money in the cattle business is hard for someone in my position. But my goal is not to make money per say, but to be able to live and provide for a family. I know I will probably have to get a full time job and run cattle on the side, but am I plum stupid for wanting to do this?

 

[kenny thomas]

Go back to the 90 thousand a year job and play with the cattle as a hobby. If the hobby does good u can always quit the job later.

 

[Workinonit Farm]

Go back to the 90 thousand a year job and play with the cattle as a hobby. If the hobby does good u can always quit the job later.

This would be a good idea. That way you can still start & learn about the cattle "business", get and have a few to start with, and have the $$$ that you will need to live on. It will also be helpful having that job, because you will be in a better position to afford to start with the cows.

 

[MATADOR]

Thanks for input, but the problem with that job it is requires 70 hour work weeks and I would never have time to play with the cattle. Also the previous job is something ive interned for and something I did not want to do with the next 30 years of my life.

 

[M-5]

Location??

 

[MATADOR]

Location??

I'm in Texas. Currently in Lubbock, Panhandle/South Plains area where there are tons of feedlots. However, once I graduate in a year I will try to find a job in the central/ north Texas area.

 

[M-5]

You should have no problem finding a job on a farm or ranch. That's where I would start, if making alot of money is not what you want to do then you headed in right direction. As with anything it requires hard work and starting on the bottom. Follow you heart and be content with your decision good or bad.

 

[TCRanch]

Welcome, Matador! There was a study that started around 25 years ago, tracked the participants & recently revealed the results: children (appx 5 - 8 years old) were asked if they wanted 1 marshmallow right away or they could have 5 in 30 minutes. Fast-forward 25 years and of the children that wanted the 1 marshmallow (immediate gratification), very few went to college, some didn't have jobs. The children that opted for delayed gratification were tracked as college graduates (some went to Harvard) and were well on their way or already in successful careers. Just something to ponder but I agree that the job should come first; even if it's 70 hour work weeks (which is not uncommon anymore), you can start building your capital, a business plan and spend quality time doing research. I would also suggest you spend quality time at your nearest Sale Barn talking to seasoned ranchers because they have a lifetime of advise. Best of luck!

 

[HDRider]

Hello everyone I hope 2016 treats you better than 2015.

I have a few questions.....

1-I am currently a beginner and lack knowledge in the cattle business and need help finding a mentor or someone who I can go to with questions. In your opinion where can I find a mentor?

2- Am I as stupid as I've been told? I had a job lined up making a guaranteed 90 thousand out of college. But I decided I wanted to change my major to Animal Science, focusing on Animal Production where I will likely not make half of that out of college. I also have no inheritance of land or anything to get started but my own savings( not much). I want to raise cattle, and I know making money in the cattle business is hard for someone in my position. But my goal is not to make money per say, but to be able to live and provide for a family. I know I will probably have to get a full time job and run cattle on the side, but am I plum stupid for wanting to do this?

You are not stupid, but you will live with this decision, maybe for your whole life. Just remember, earning potential enables a lot of choices. Odds are nothing any of us say here will steer you where you don't want to go.

To find a mentor you have to establish a relationship with someone that does what you want to do. They have to see something in you that reminds them of themselves. Be where a potential mentor will be.

 

[MATADOR]

Thanks! I understand that when asking for advice its just a bunch of other people opinions and that everyone’s different. I very well may actually regret not making the money, but for me, there is more to life than money. Id rather spend a hundred years working my ass off doing something I enjoy than work one year doing something I hate to do. Thanks everyone for their thoughts so far, Sorry I did not quote everyone.

Also HD, Thanks for the idea about finding a mentor, I have a few people in mind, but I will have to talk to them to see if they would be willing to help me out. I think I want to start out in the stocker/backgrounding area then move into a cow calf operation once I have enough land to make it worth while.

 

[MATADOR]

Also, I know y'all get stupid questions like this every week and I am trying to look it up before I ask a question to avoid irritating people. Thanks again

 

[JMJ Farms]

Thanks! I understand that when asking for advice its just a bunch of other people opinions and that everyone’s different. I very well may actually regret not making the money, but for me, there is more to life than money. Id rather spend a hundred years working my be nice off doing something I enjoy than work one year doing something I hate to do. Thanks everyone for their thoughts so far, Sorry I did not quote everyone.

Also HD, Thanks for the idea about finding a mentor, I have a few people in mind, but I will have to talk to them to see if they would be willing to help me out. I think I want to start out in the stocker/backgrounding area then move into a cow calf operation once I have enough land to make it worth while.

I agree that money wont make you happy. But it will go along ways towards happiness. Take the job. Rathole as much as you possibly can for 5 years. Pretend you're broke (this will help prepare you for the cattle business). Then after 5 years if you still want to get into the business, go for it.

 

[Tim/South]

Also, I know y'all get stupid questions like this every week and I am trying to look it up before I ask a question to avoid irritating people. Thanks again

Your questions and dreams are not irritating. It is that raising cattle or anything in Ag. looks easy from the road.
Everyone on this board wanted to work with cattle and found a way to make it happen. Most had, or have, another source of income.
You are going to find a dead calf, you are going to walk out in the pasture and find a dead cow if you stay in the business long. It hurts to have one years profit from a cow gone with the loss of the calf. It hurts to lose that good momma cow.
There are a lot more costs in raising cattle than the public considers. People drive by and see cows eating grass and think it is 100% profit.
My wife once thought the checks I brought home from the sale barn were profit. Now she does not even ask how much something cost, how much I had to spend on something to keep the ball rolling.
The longer a person stays in cattle, the bigger the checks they write.
I sold a group of calves in December that would bring $80 per head more today. I had an idea prices would go up, just needed the income on this years taxes rather than next year.
Owning enough cattle to make a living and raise a family is also owning enough cattle to spend 7 years trying to get your credit back when the bottom falls out of the market.
It still looks easy from the road.

 

[Kingfisher]

Take the 90k job live on 20k for a few years buy something SE of central Texas and buy a farm. What degree plan?

 

[Cross-7]

There aren't many cattle in the Lubbock area.
Lubbock feedyard is about it (Terry Crowfoot)
A couple years ago the cow sale( Tony Mann) talked like they may shut down due to low numbers
It's all cotton country and not many cattle, few stockers on wheat but not many.
Up north around Amarillo area there plenty of feedyards if that's what you want to do.
Off the cap down in Dickens, Kent, King, Cottle counties there are some cattle ( course everybody knows the 6's, pitchfork and etc but some smaller guys too)

If you wanting to lease land it's tough in that area, dang tough
If your wanting to buy. Off the cap it's mostly around a 1000 an acre,might luck into a place for 800.
It takes bout 20-25 acres for a cow and some won't do that. Expired crp if it's good grass will run a cow to around 15 acres or so, but most don't have fence and those that do the fences are old and sorry.
A nice place with good grass, water and fence will cost you
It'll cost you average 20000 for enough land for 1 cow or 2 million to run a 100 cows

Point being you can go in the cattle business a lot cheaper in other places ( I've owned several off the cap and a couple up on the cap southwest of Lubbock. (just because I couldn't doesnt mean it can't be done so take that with a grain of salt)

My 2 cents
I'll tell you to take the job and sock away some money, build up your retirement fund, Run some cows on the side or buy a place where is doesnt cost so much to buy in and lease it out till when you can afford to go in the cattle business

If you're staying in the area look a Johnny Streets website ( street real estate in plainview)
He has some nice crp places listed. There is good water in the area and your getting closer to wheat and cattle country. The prices are a tad lower up there. Good sale barn at Tulia

 

[JMJ Farms]

There aren't many cattle in the Lubbock area.
Lubbock feedyard is about it (Terry Crowfoot)
A couple years ago the cow sale( Tony Mann) talked like they may shut down due to low numbers
It's all cotton country and not many cattle, few stockers on wheat but not many.
Up north around Amarillo area there plenty of feedyards if that's what you want to do.
Off the cap down in Dickens, Kent, King, Cottle counties there are some cattle ( course everybody knows the 6's, pitchfork and etc but some smaller guys too)

If you wanting to lease land it's tough in that area, dang tough
If your wanting to buy. Off the cap it's mostly around a 1000 an acre,might luck into a place for 800.
It takes bout 20-25 acres for a cow and some won't do that. Expired crp if it's good grass will run a cow to around 15 acres or so, but most don't have fence and those that do the fences are old and sorry.
A nice place with good grass, water and fence will cost you
It'll cost you average 20000 for enough land for 1 cow or 2 million to run a 100 cows

Point being you can go in the cattle business a lot cheaper in other places ( I've owned several off the cap and a couple up on the cap southwest of Lubbock. (just because I couldn't doesnt mean it can't be done so take that with a grain of salt)

My 2 cents
I'll tell you to take the job and sock away some money, build up your retirement fund, Run some cows on the side or buy a place where is doesnt cost so much to buy in and lease it out till when you can afford to go in the cattle business

If you're staying in the area look a Johnny Streets website ( street real estate in plainview)
He has some nice crp places listed. There is good water in the area and your getting closer to wheat and cattle country. The prices are a tad lower up there. Good sale barn at Tulia

Ok, so we all know it's not even close to possible, for this to be profitable. So my question is.... What local use makes this land worth this much? (Residential development, etc) Cause it ain't farming or cows.

 

[True Grit Farms]

Ok, so we all know it's not even close to possible, for this to be profitable. So my question is.... What local use makes this land worth this much? (Residential development, etc) Cause it ain't farming or cows.[/quote]

Recreation and investment same as what happened here in middle Georgia. I bought land in Bacon Co. for $75.00 an acre in 1981. But nobody wanted hunting or recreation land back then.

 

[JMJ Farms]

Recreation and investment same as what happened here in middle Georgia. I bought land in Bacon Co. for $75.00 an acre in 1981. But nobody wanted hunting or recreation land back then.

Wish you'd have bought some for me! Dang that's cheap. Had an old neighbor of mine (he's dead now) that told me one time he and his dad traded a milk cow for 100 acres back in the 30s. So hard for me to believe. But back in those days land was more of a liability than an asset.

As far as your answer to my question, that's a clear indicator that if you want to ranch or farm you need to make your money elsewhere so you can afford to farm or ranch. People spend a lot of money on recreation and investments. I have investments but there's not much left over for recreation :lol:

 

[Cross-7]

There aren't many cattle in the Lubbock area.
Lubbock feedyard is about it (Terry Crowfoot)
A couple years ago the cow sale( Tony Mann) talked like they may shut down due to low numbers
It's all cotton country and not many cattle, few stockers on wheat but not many.
Up north around Amarillo area there plenty of feedyards if that's what you want to do.
Off the cap down in Dickens, Kent, King, Cottle counties there are some cattle ( course everybody knows the 6's, pitchfork and etc but some smaller guys too)

If you wanting to lease land it's tough in that area, dang tough
If your wanting to buy. Off the cap it's mostly around a 1000 an acre,might luck into a place for 800.
It takes bout 20-25 acres for a cow and some won't do that. Expired crp if it's good grass will run a cow to around 15 acres or so, but most don't have fence and those that do the fences are old and sorry.
A nice place with good grass, water and fence will cost you
It'll cost you average 20000 for enough land for 1 cow or 2 million to run a 100 cows

Point being you can go in the cattle business a lot cheaper in other places ( I've owned several off the cap and a couple up on the cap southwest of Lubbock. (just because I couldn't doesnt mean it can't be done so take that with a grain of salt)

My 2 cents
I'll tell you to take the job and sock away some money, build up your retirement fund, Run some cows on the side or buy a place where is doesnt cost so much to buy in and lease it out till when you can afford to go in the cattle business

If you're staying in the area look a Johnny Streets website ( street real estate in plainview)
He has some nice crp places listed. There is good water in the area and your getting closer to wheat and cattle country. The prices are a tad lower up there. Good sale barn at Tulia

Ok, so we all know it's not even close to possible, for this to be profitable. So my question is.... What local use makes this land worth this much? (Residential development, etc) Cause it ain't farming or cows.

Mostly hunters. Dallas metroplex hunters come out west and a 1000 an acre is cheap in comparison to the land values there.
Not many years ago you could buy all you wanted for 300 an acre. Then city hunters started buying and the price just kept going up.
Some people in the Lubbock area want a getaway place to run a few cows, ride horses, hunt and etc.
Most counties up on the cap don't have a deer season or only a short season. Down off the cap the is the closest place to counties with a deer season.
It's the going price and people are paying it. Just recreational and funded out of pocket

 

[Nesikep]

Cross_7
Prices up here are double to run 1 cow... Here a place with 50 acres (arable) land is 1 million, but it's 2 acres to a cow, and can probably be squeezed to 1.5 acres /cow if you work it really hard.

Matador
Here's my little story... We moved on the farm when i was 12, then I went to university for short while, worked some dead end jobs, then landed a good job. The job was stressful, but interesting and rewarding, my last year there I made $70K (10 years ago). I ended up quitting on relatively short notice and coming back to the farm... The stress is different, but it's still there.. The long and the short of it is I couldn't live away from the farm and cows, but be darned some days I can't stand it here either! Unlike a job though, there ain't no leaving a farm.