Page 207 - The Welfare of Cattle

184 the WeLfare of CattLe

emerges in real time and is very difficult to predict. Weather events such as blizzards, temperature
fluctuations that impact the growth of warm and cool season grasses, and market disruptions due to
trade wars and the like are part of the “unknowns” to which managers must adapt. Chaotic condi-
tions are not unique to agriculture and the importance of adaptive decision-making is clarified by
H. L Hau (2004).
“We’ve discovered that those companies are great not because they were focused on cost or
flexibility or speed but because they have the ability to manage transitions—changing market con-
ditions, evolving technology, different requirements as the product moves through its life cycle. The
companies that can adapt are the ones that will be here for the long term.”
And so it is for ranching, learn then adapt then learn some more.

CONNeCtING heaD aND heart

Daniel Pink (2012), in his examination of human behavior, suggests that motivation is the result
of people’s deep desire for purpose, mastery, and autonomy. His model is applicable to ranching on
many levels—the most successful ranch managers are deeply tied to a sense of purpose—a belief
that their lives and work have deep personal meaning and provide them an opportunity to practice
their most cherished beliefs—work ethic, stewardship, dedication, and loyalty. Purpose drives the
practitioners of extensive ranching to see beyond hardships and challenges and to invest their talent,
creativity and sweat into the work of forging both enterprises and a way of life from the landscape.
The pursuit of mastery is at the forefront of successful ranches. Active, ongoing learning is
essential and developing mastery drives a sense of continuous improvement coupled with a desire
to attain craftsman level skills and abilities. The challenge and excitement of ranching is the oppor-
tunity to develop mastery in specific skill sets as well as in the realm of making strategic choices
in the context of complicated systems. Developing exceptional skill in horsemanship, grassland
management, cattle handling, equipment operation, and fence construction are examples of arenas
requiring exceptional skill sets.
People who invest their lives in ranching embrace autonomy with the realization that living
and working in remote areas demand a strong sense of self-reliance, accountability and problem-
solving. The desire for autonomy is sufficiently strong that it drives the selection of a lifestyle where
convenience is a secondary consideration, responsibility for performance is clearly assigned, and
getting the job done is a cultural expectation. Ultimately, the outcome of embracing the power of
purpose, the joy of mastery, and the freedom of autonomy is the creation of a ranch where human
beings have proactively connected head and heart in search of meaning.

raNCh CULtUre

Considerable attention is typically focused on the “how” and “what” of ranching and certainly
developing effective processes and tactics is central to the sustainability of the business. However,
defining and living the “why” of ranching yields benefits that extend across all activities of the ranch
team and ultimately provides a framework for balancing the diverse and competing components of
extensive management systems.
At the heart of any sustainable business, ranching or otherwise, is a deeply seated set of core
values—a small group of principles that guide decision-making in the organization and more
importantly define the character of the enterprise. A clear set of values allow organizations to
attract like-minded people and to provide a set of standards upon which to determine hiring, firing,
performance reviews and rewards. These core values, although few in number, may be the most