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You are here: Home / #Agchat / The Human Spirit

The Human Spirit

March 1, 2017 by ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~ 2 Comments

,,,This article was originally written for and published in “Ag Week”. 

__________________________________________

As I sit on an airplane this morning, staring down the wing of a Boeing 757, I’m struck by the thought that someone, at some point had the idea that we could fly.  The Wright brothers, as we all know did it successfully. And I’m thankful they did. 

Their try and ingenuity gives me hope for the human spirit. I think humans as a rule, when left to freely explore their options and imagination are resilient.  And, when left to our own devices we typically do good things, not just for ourselves, but for mankind in general, as evidenced by airplanes, for one.

Ranching and farming are also good examples of ingenuity, and the human spirit at work. Yesterday, we set up an automatic feeder for an older horse who can no longer get his nutrients from hay.  The company provided some parts for set up, but they didn’t work with our facility, so the first words out of my cowboy’s mouth were, “this is getting ranch rigged from the start, dear.”  Frankly, I expected nothing less.  An automatic feeder. Let me repeat, it’s automatic: this thing has a timer and weighs the feed it tosses out at the intervals we set! Ingenuity at its’ finest.  And the business?  It’s run by a woman.

the human spirit, sunset, cowgirl spirit, women can do anything they want

In ag, at least in so far as ranching is concerned, I’m fairly certain that women don’t feel like second class citizens. In fact, before I ever got to the ranch, I didn’t feel like a second class citizen. I never have.  I figured I could do anything I wanted in life.  If anything, ranching has proved that idea to me and has further encouraged me to become even more resilient and use my ingenuity from time to time. Am I thankful to the women that came before me that worked to get us the rights to become citizens, voting privileges, and the right to own land, to name a few? Absolutely.  Am I grateful for their sacrifices and fights so that we, as women, can do whatever we choose? Absolutely.

Maybe that is why I have a hard time relating to the women we saw marching the day after we inaugurated our 45th President.  Women who ranch or farm are in what most would consider a man’s world, but we don’t feel like that.  We feel free to make our own choices, make our own path, be who we want, and pursue careers outside of ag if we choose.  

I can’t speak for the rest of the women reading this, but I don’t appreciate being put down by other women because I don’t agree with their ideals – or, more specifically, couldn’t get on board for the march. I’m still not exactly sure what they were marching for, but I’m grateful they’re free to do it!  We don’t have to agree to be friends, or even to get along.  Frankly, if we’d all take the time to be nice to one another instead of tear down and hurl insults at those who disagree with us, especially women to other women, the world would be a better place. 

Free, strong, independent women, the human spirit, cowgirl silhouette

We, the free, strong, independent, and resourceful men and women of America, could use our imagination and ingenuity to find common ground, to work on projects to better the lives of those around us, and work together like we do on ranches and farms across America.  We might just come up with something even better than flight.

 

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Filed Under: #Agchat, News From The Cowgirl, politics, Popular Culture, Published Articles Tagged With: a day in the life, life, Western Lifestyle

About ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~

Jenn Zeller is the creative mind and boss lady behind The South Dakota Cowgirl. She is an aspiring horsewoman, photographer, brilliant social media strategist and lover of all things western.

After a brief career in the investment world to support her horse habit (and satisfy her mother, who told her she had to have a “real” job after graduating college), she finally took the leap and stepped away from a regular income; trading the business suit once and for all for cowgirl boots, a hat, and jeans. She has not looked back.

When Jenn first moved to The DX Ranch on the South Dakota plains, she never imagined she’d find herself behind a camera lens capturing an authentic perspective of ranching, and sharing it with others. Jenn has always been called to artistry, and uses music, writing, images, home improvement, and her first true love of horses to express her ranching passion.

Horses are the constant thread and much of her work centers around using her unique style of writing to share her horsemanship journey with others in publications such as CavvySavvy, the AQHA Ranching Blog, the West River Eagle, the family ranch website, and her own website.

Using photography to illustrate her stories has created other opportunities -- Jenn’s brand “The South Dakota Cowgirl” has grown to the level of social media “Influencer”. This notoriety has led to work with Duluth Trading Company, Budweiser, Wyoming Tourism, Vice, Circle Z Ranch and Art of the Cowgirl, to name a few. She also serves as a brand ambassador for Woodchuck USA, Arenus Equine Health, Triple Crown Feed and Just Strong fitness apparel. Her photography has been featured by Instagram, Apple, TIME Magazine, The Huffington Post, and Oprah Magazine. Jenn’s work has been published internationally, has been seen in several books and has graced the covers of several magazines.

Jenn became a social media influencer by accident when she started to explore Instagram as a way to share her life on the ranch with folks that don’t get to experience it. It’s grown into an incredible platform that she uses to empower women, create an environment for self improvement and share life on the ranch.

When she’s not working, she loves to drink coffee, play with her naughty border collie named Copper, start ranch colts, and run about the country chasing cans. Her mother still thinks she doesn’t have a “real” job.

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Comments

  1. TK says

    March 1, 2017 at 11:27 am

    “In fact, before I ever got to the ranch, I didn’t feel like a second class citizen. I never have.” Finally another woman who feels the way I do!! I’m in a women’s lunch group and I feel like I’m the only one who feels this way– I’ve never used being female as an excuse. I use it as a driving momentum– I’ll show them!! 🙂

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    • ~The South Dakota Cowgirl~ says

      March 1, 2017 at 11:42 am

      Yay! Thanks for reading! Us like minded gals gotta stick together!

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