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Zapata Ranch Horse Sale begins October 11th. Learn more.

Apprenticeships

The Next Generation of Ranching Leaders

There are currently very few pathways into large-scale ranching unless you come from a ranching family. Without a background in ranching, young people with an interest in land management but no prior experience have a hard time finding jobs or learning opportunities, even as entry-level ranch employees. In 2000, Ranchlands launched its apprenticeship program, which has trained hundreds of interns and over 20 apprentices in agricultural management. Our program provide apprentices the opportunity to learn and train with Ranchlands and other values-aligned ranchers.

Current Apprentices

Brandon Sickel

Dylan Taylor

Mike Giordano

Anja Stokes

Lynae Risinger

Oliver Tautkus

Ruby Dunbar

Nick Hanna

I hope that my story inspires people to try for something that they're really passionate about. It can be easy to write yourself off if you don't have experience, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't try.

Lynae Risinger Ranch Apprentice

My journey on the Chico began when I was 12 years old, exploring these 87,000 acres on horseback with my best friend. If you had told me I would find myself here 13 years later, learning everything that one needs to know in order to take care of a piece of land as a ranch management apprentice, there's not a chance I would have believed you.

Anja Stokes Ranch Apprentice

When I first started as an intern at the Chico, I didn't know how to ride, and I learned by being thrown into the fire, carried all across the prairie, often all day, by experienced horses who taught me how to ride, how to sit in the saddle, how to sort cattle.

Brandon Sickel Ranch Apprentice

Meet an Apprentice

Mike Giordano

Sponsor an Apprentice

Our apprentices are supported by the Ranchlands Collective, a 501(c)(3) providing educational services to members of the ranching industry, aspiring and future ranchers, and the public at-large throughout the United States. Our mission is to unleash the power of ranchers to build community, restore ecosystems, grow food, and bring people back to nature.

Support the Apprenticeship

Become an Apprentice

Our apprenticeships are intended for those who aspire become leaders in ranch management. Applicants should possess experience working with their hands outdoors and demonstrate a strong interest in working with the land and animals. Apprentices learn by having significant areas of responsibility and by being intimately involved in day-to-day operations. Upon successful completion of the two-to-six year program, apprenticeship graduates are eligible for full-time placement at a Ranchlands-managed ranch or on other ranches.

This arrangement provides career advancement opportunities to alumni while also ensuring that Ranchlands has a strong corps of experienced ranch professionals who are intimately familiar with the Ranchlands program.

learn how to apply

Apprenticeship Alumni

Jeff Gossage

2000

Jeremy Gingerich

2000

Duke Phillips IV

2009

Cooper Hibbard

2009

Amy Wright

2012

Nick Baefsky

2013

Tom Shandley

2014

Jake Meldon

2014

Samantha Bradford

2015

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Benefits include:
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