WyoTech offers new program
WyoTech recently announced they will offer a year-long ranch training program on their campus in Laramie for anyone 18 years old and over who are interested in agriculture and the great outdoors, regardless of how much ranch or farm experience they have.
“Working on a ranch builds a lot of character,” says Jim Mathis, president and chief executive officer of WyoTech in an AccessWire article published May 4.
“There are days that are truly glamorous – we’ve got the sunrise, the sunset and beautiful weather. But not every day is fun. In fact, a lot of days are plain hard work. However, at the end of the day, when individuals see the fence they built, the corrals they created or the calf they pulled, they’ll think ‘Wow. I did that,’” he adds.
The Ranch Operations Program
According to WyoTech, the Ranch Operations Program will offer enrollment twice a year – July 3 and Jan. 2, 2024 – and will be broken down into eight six-week phases, beginning with summer operations involving irrigation, rotational grazing, equipment operation, haying, marketing calves, fencing and land capabilities.
Dormitories on WyoTech’s campus will be offered as living quarters for participants, although the opportunity to voluntarily stay on various operations across the state may occur on certain occasions.
The 12-month program will focus on teaching participants about ranching while also cultivating qualities needed to be a rancher, such as grit, tenacity, integrity and an appreciation for nature and agriculture.
Students can earn multiple agriculture related certifications through classroom theory and direct experience working in a ranch environment, including operating equipment, managing livestock, fencing, carpentry, range management, water management, community relations and much more.
“WyoTech’s hands-on ranching program has students eating, breathing and sleeping the ranch life,” their website reads. “This will be an experience like none other, where students will be responsible for all aspects of the ranch.”
WyoTech continues, “This will not be a typical agriculture program, where theory leads with very little hands-on experience. This will be hands-on, with the theory being explained as students drive to and from the ranch, or after feeding, or it’s too cold to be out fixing fences, or at night while they are paying bills for the ranch.”
“The thing that excites me the most about the new ranch program is the fact it is skills-based,” said Che Balcom, Wyoming Ranch Training instructor. “We have been taught to sit down and be quiet in the classroom, and this is going to be a very different style.”
Involvement and funding
The Ranch Operations Program costs $25,000, which does not include the cost of housing, food or living expenses. Although the program is not federally accredited to receive financial aid, WyoTech notes agriculture, trade and other scholarships can be used to assist with funding.
Individuals interested in the program can find more information at ranching.wyotech.edu. To view housing available at WyoTech, visit wyotech.edu/housing.
Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
