/out/ - Outdoors » Thread #344445

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Anonymous Mon 07 Jul 2014 02:28:47 No.344445 View View Reply Original Report

Quoted By: >>345230

So /out/ I'm looking at volunteering with the forest service. I want to be a rancher/packer in the future in so I am looking at opportunities along those lines. This will hopefully last a few months, and maybe more.

Do any of you have experience volunteering or working with the forest service or similar agencies?

Do any of you have experience/work as packers, guides, ranching, or similar work?

Any comments, suggestions, or questions are welcome.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 08 Jul 2014 01:44:47 No.345186 Report

Quoted By:

Bump for advice

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 08 Jul 2014 02:38:51 No.345230 Report

Quoted By: >>345247

>>344445
Do it. Some of what you have to do will be governmental red tape crap, but some of it will be pretty interesting.

Also, you want to be a rancher? Do you have any previous experience working with livestock? I spent summers in college cowboying, and it sure as hell ain't for everyone.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 08 Jul 2014 02:58:19 No.345247 Report

Quoted By: >>345259

>>345230
Op here.
>Also, you want to be a rancher?
Yes maybe eventually my own operation but starting out on others.
>Do you have any previous experience working with livestock?
Yeah. More experience with horses and small livestock than cattle. I also have a decent amount of experience fencing and similar work.
>I spent summers in college cowboying,
Did you work on a working ranch or more of a dude ranch? Also where and how did you make the contacts?
>and it sure as hell ain't for everyone.
Yeah I know. It's hard work that doesn't pay squat. As long as I can get on with a decent ranch and am not micro-managed I think I can do it.

Anything you think I might want to know about your past experience would be greatly appreciated.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 08 Jul 2014 03:08:16 No.345257 Report

Quoted By: >>345289

I talked to a trail walker with the forest service a couple years ago and asked him about employment. Long story short, the Forest Service is an extremely small organization, and you have to put your name out constantly for at least 6 months before any positions open up, volunteering in any position you can; because for any position you get you will have to be personally recommended.

In that regard, it's very old-fashioned, but if you want it badly enough you'll get it.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 08 Jul 2014 03:11:09 No.345259 Report

Quoted By: >>345288

>>345247
Well, cool. Sounds like you're partway there already. Knowing horses and fencing are pretty damn important.

I was on a working ranch. The where and how of the contacts were through family (rural Texas), so I don't think I can help you there.

Ranching is an odd business these days. Because of the worldwide glut in the meat market most places in the US lose money unless they have something else going for them, like hunting leases or some random craft or some form of community interaction. It's starting to become higher tech too, although that's going to be very slow to change because of the basic mindset of most folks involved with it.

The tricky part is finding a decent ranch with good management. If you're set on this I'd suggest looking up places that have gotten attention for land stewardship. There's no guarantee that the people will be good to work with, but at least you'll know they've got a good philosophy for running the place.

And like everything, ask lots of questions and work your butt off if they do hire you on. Take notes if you have to. I always made a point of carrying a little notepad in a back pocket and a couple of pencils in my shirt because I'm pretty forgetful, and no one wants to be the guy that forgets which pasture the bull is in and leaves the gate open.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 08 Jul 2014 03:46:00 No.345288 Report

Quoted By: >>345443

>>345259
>The where and how of the contacts were through family (rural Texas)
I get that, I have work on my Grandfather's farm whenever I want it. I just really don't want to be micromanaged(especially by him) and so I can't work for him.

What part of Texas? I'm in Fort Worth but am hoping I can find work in the southwest.

>most places in the US lose money unless they have something else going for them
This is what I'm trying to figure for my own operation, what will be my niche. I'm thinking low production costs and organic or something similar the yuppies like(even goats or buffalo).
>got a good philosophy for running the place.
That's what I'm going after, and why I want to build varied but topical experience. I figure the more valuable I am to a place the more likely I'll get a good one to work for.
>a point of carrying a little notepad in a back pocket and a couple of pencils in my shirt
I think I may just start doing that. I'm only 18 but it seems I've misplaced my memory over the last year.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 08 Jul 2014 03:48:18 No.345289 Report

Quoted By: >>345443

>>345257
>volunteering in any position you can
I can't quite justify it for any position but I get your point.
>it's very old-fashioned
My preferences for work are generally a little more old fashioned. That's why I've got to build good experience, a college degree won't get me what I'm really looking for.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 08 Jul 2014 12:46:21 No.345443 Report

Quoted By: >>345900

>>345288
>>345289
If you're in Texas look up past winners of the Lone Star Land Steward award and see if you can get in touch with ranch management. Tell them what you've told us, but written out with more detail. Some of them won't ever get back to you, others will say no, but there might be one out there that's willing to let you come on, even if it's as an unpaid intern.

A great combination is college + experience. If you were just interested in the cowboy side of things then college wouldn't be necessary, but if you're looking at running a ranch, then college is a good idea. You may want some combination of agricultural, environmental science, and business courses. There's nothing there you couldn't learn from just experience, but it'll give you a jump start on being able to tell good ideas from all the bullshit misinformation that big businesses try to feed the small-time ranchers and farmers these days.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 09 Jul 2014 02:21:00 No.345899 Report

Quoted By:

Op here.

I got called today and offered a volunteer position as a "front" country recreation technician/ranger because the position I applied for was filled. The guy left a message with a number and I didn't get it until now so may call tomorrow.

I also got an email stating I got a week long position rebuilding a back country bridge. I'll hold off on responding for a few days to see if a more a permanent position comes available.

All in all if I was able to confirm I would either have a few months as a "recreation technician/ranger" or a week as a bridge builder innawoods within two days of applying. On that basis I'd suggest if you guys are interested you apply too. Getting to stay in a national forest free with meals paid and maybe even a stipend for a little bit of work(maybe a lot, depends) is a great deal if you can shoulder it(i.e. no job/mortgage/family).

volunteer.gov is where you can find the opportunities.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 09 Jul 2014 02:22:19 No.345900 Report

Quoted By:

>>345443
I'll check it out.

My plan b is sorta to go to college and/or into the military. Both are open to me for at least the next couple of years so no need to rush into them.

Anonymous

Anonymous Mon 18 Aug 2014 11:09:42 No.345900,1 Report Delete

Quoted By:

this is bad archive

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