I am an un-employed, experienced ranch-hand (and an Honorably-discharged (homeless) Military-Veteran) looking to get back on my feet A.S.A.P. with as FULL-time/LONG-term an 'ALL-ROUND' ranch-job as I can grab a hold-of (and commit-to) on another Cow/Calf-operation somewhere here in NW-Wyoming (or EXTREME south/central-Montana) offering ON-SITE housing AS PART of monthly-wage$.
If you are a sizeable, well-established Wyoming (or EXTREME South-Central/Montana-based) Cow/Calf-operation, the following is what I CAN do for you:
THE GOOD: I feel confident-enough to jump right-in and help with any/all winter-feeding duties (hay and cake) keeping waters-open, maintain salt and mineral, lick-tubs and protein-blocks, A.L.L. the way into calving-season (where I am expecting to be FULLY-involved in assisting first-calf heiffers AND older cows whenever/wherever-needed) tagging, weighing, records-keeping, riding (sorting-heavies, doctoring, pairing-out) branding, spring-turnout, rotating-pastures, etc, etc, ETC...
...and if thing$ look promising afterwards (for EVERYONE-involved) I would be only TOO-happy to stay-on and help with any/all spring/summertime-duties, up-to-and-including: LIGHT fence-repair, dragging fields, (flood) irrigation, haying/stacking (I have L.I.M.I.T.E.D. experience operating a small-handful of various makes/models of tractors, round-baler/round-bale feeders and Dew-eze hydraulic/pickup feed-beds) I am experienced with rudimentary-methods of weed/predator/pest and prairie-dog control, daily-monitoring of water-tanks (windmills, solar-wells and gas-powered pump-jacks) hauling water (wherever/whenever-needed) keeping water-tanks from clogging-up and overflowing/wasting-water, avoiding making an un-necessary muddy/pucky-mess (or an 'ice-rink'?) everywhere, etc, etc, ETC...
...and when/if the time comes, I am completely-capable of assisting-with ANY and ALL-facets of fall-works, up-to-and-including: gathering, trailing/trailering, weaning, sorting, processing, shipping, preg/trich-testing, etc, etc, ETC...
...along with WHATEVER-ELSE I am capable of picking-up, and learning along the way.
THE BAD: I DO NOT have a CDL, I am NOT (currently) BQA-certified, nor have I ever worked in a feedlot, or drawn-wage$ as a full-time ('dedicated') shop-mechanic, welder, farmer, farrier...or as a horse-breaker/trainer.
I am willing and able to help with WHATEVER is needed (whenever/wherever-needed) but my PRIMARY-focus is (and will ALWAYS-BE) on: LOOKING-AFTER and TENDING-TO CATTLE.
That said, this is probably a very important point to mention: Unless everything 'just happens' to be already camped-out and sitting RIGHT-by a particular gate where they ALL need to be let-through, I completely and totally D.E.S.P.I.S.E. gathering, trailing and/or ESPECIALLY 'doctoring' cattle from the seat of a 4-wheeler, side-by-side, pickup-truck or tractor...
Yes...I KNOW that it CAN be done; God-only-KNOWS how much 'cowboying' I've been forced-into doing from the seat of a damned 4-wheeler...
...but unless it's a 'life or death' situation facing the ENTIRE-outfit, I think it's safe to say that I am (officially) D.O.N.E. with doing things the quick and dirty 'farmer-F**K' way...my REAL 'Cowboy-Skills' have taken a HUGE step-backwards as direct-result of all that sloppy-A** B.S., and that's really just all there is TO it.
To that-end, I have my own wood and other tack (MINUS any shoeing-gear) required to sit a WELL-broke horse properly and perform my duties in a competant, 'drama/stress-free' (ie: 'PROFESSIONAL') manner, and that is exactly what I intend to do whenever/wherever such opportunities should present-themselves, whether on your operation...
...or elsewhere?
I am middle-aged, single/alone and completely on my own with no spouse or children (I have NEVER been married-to (or 'partnered-with') anyone) nor any furniture, appliances, horses or dogs in-tow behind me.
I do not smoke or chew, I have NEVER been-known to 'drink to excess', nor have I ever done any drugs; and I believe-myself to be in 'reasonable' physical-condition for my age; which would-be MY way of saying: I can STILL do (most) everything the 'younger-bucks' can do...
...I just do it a (little-bit) slower, but with FAR-greater emphasis-on 'attention-to-detail' compared-to most anyone-else I have ever-encountered in my travels within this particular-region (and chosen-occupation) over the past (nearly) 33 yrs that I have been here, since stepping-down from active-duty military-service (returning from Iraq) in December 1992.
I am NO 'slouch' by ANY definition of the word; but if 'speed, hustle and unbridled-enthusiasm' are of FAR more-importance (or of 'greater-value'?) to you (in a hired-hand) than 'un-swerving loyalty and dedication', then I would respectfully-suggest that it is highly-unlikely we would 'get-along' very well, together.
After having run my ass off (as if it were LITERALLY 'on fire', 25-8/366) for over 4+ (Four) decades-straight (ALSO counting my years on active-duty Military-service) it is now N.E.C.E.S.S.A.R.Y. for me to 'PACE-myself' (to get-through the AVERAGE-day) especially if I am expected to grab an extra-gear and pull-my-weight whenever 'S.H.T.F./F.U.B.A.R' situations might-arise. (ie: late-night/early-morning range-fires, 'freak' snow-storms (during calving), idiot/illiterate-truckers pulling-in 'sooner OR later than expected' (during weaning/shipping-season) or fixing/rebuilding illegally-cut fence during hunting-season, etc, etc...
...BELIEVE-me, when I say I HAVE 'been-there, experienced-that'...and I FULLY-understand what all is expected of a hired-hand when I am required to 'step-up' and GET IN FRONT of the storm, when it happens to hit us at the WORST possible-time and place.
A few 'Fun-Facts' worth noting:
1) As mentioned-above, I absolutely D.E.S.P.I.S.E. gathering/trailing and 'doctoring' from the seat of a four-wheeler, side-by-side, pickup and/or tractor.
2) I have ZERO-interest in 'farming'.
3) As I am financially U.N.A.B.L.E. to get my own house, apartment or RV to live in anywhere (and as my 30+ yr old vehicle is FAR-too worn-out, inefficient and unreliable (to use as a 'daily-driver' needed to 'commute' to and from (OR for 'use on') the job-site) ON-SITE housing (offered AS-PART of monthly-wage$) is absolutely required.
If I am 'expected' to go even-DEEPER into financial-debt (than I already am) in order to find (and secure for myself) my OWN off-site housing/RV, or my-own horses, tools, trailer, etc, etc (AND a newer, more-powerful, more fuel-efficient and reliable-enough vehicle needed to haul ALL of that behind-me (and/or use to 'commute' back and forth from the job-site) in order to be employed by you, then you are TOO-EXPEN$IVE for me to work for.
I simply DO NOT have the money (or 'credit-rating') necessary to accomplish ANY of that, and that's really all there is to it.
This is NON-negotiable.
That said, my UNQUESTIONED Allegiance and Loyalty goes to WHOM. EVER. care's-enough to offer me an HONEST 'leg-up', and/or is ALSO willing AND able to treat-ME with the EXACT. SAME. God-Fearing 'Fellowship & Respect', as He/She-wishes to be treated-with.
SHORT-VERSION: I am NO. BODIES. 'bitch', 'sin-eater', or 'whipping-boy'.
'Ignore' that, at YOUR-own risk.
Assuming she starts and holds-up (ie: continues to run?) my old rig (a H.I.L.A.R.I.O.U.S.L.Y. worn-out, 30+ yr old pickup with W.E.L.L. over 600 k on the odometer) is already stacked and packed/tightly-loaded with everything I own, and waiting on a direction to point-her in.
If you are a Wyoming (or EXTREME south-central Montana) based COW/CALF-operation, you are encouraged to reach-out with the following-info:
1. WHO you are, and WHERE your cow/calf-operation is located.
2. EXACTLY what kind of help you ARE needing.
3. EXACTLY what kind of help you are NOT needing.
If you cannot (or are 'unwilling' to?) provide those 3 (three) most-basic key-details, then you're not 'for-real'.
After everything I have been-through (lately) I have NO further-interest in anybody's 'personal-opinions' and/or ANY un-warranted/un-asked-for 'arm-chair' (and/or 'psychological'?) career-counseling/advice and/or A.N.Y. 'critiques/criticisms' as to the subject of my UNWAVERING-focus (and STEAD-FAST dedication) to MY chosen-occupation, and/or how I have chosen to earn MY wage$ (and 'pay MY own-way'?) through this life.
If ANY of that describes you (and/or whatever 'feelings' you might be having towards-me, while reading this) then MY best-advice (to you) is this: You do YOU...I do ME...and 'NEVER the twain shall-meet'.
ALL I am doing-here is seeking an IMMEDIATE-RETURN to earning an honest (ie: Humble) living, by doing what I MOST-NEED to be doing: Looking-after, and Tending-to someone-else's cattle/livestock.
IMPORTANT: There is NO INTERNET-ACCESS (or electrical-hookup) within 45+/- miles of the remote RV-camp/trail-head where I have been living-out of; and although I DO have a mobile-phone, it is a (nearly) 30yr old (pre-paid/Tracfone) 'old-school' Nokia, which (even when/if I AM 'blessed' with adequate cell-signal) most-obviously means it is NOT CAPABLE of receiving (and/or allowing me to respond-to) any incoming text-messages, email or private Facebook-messages...
...which (also) means it will VERY-LIKELY be several-days (or more?) before I am able to hitch a ride to town (to visit the local food-banks which is generally once every-other Friday?) and get on a desktop-PC (at local-library or Wyo Workforce-Center?) to review (and respond-to) any messages waiting for me.
NO '3RD-PARTY' JOB-REFERRALS ! ! !
I am weary of forever chasing-down 'dead-end' job-leads for which I am neither 'qualified', and/or are located-in environments/locations where I am either UNABLE to relocate, or are UNINTERESTED in relocating-TO.
SHORT VERSION: If YOU are N.O.T. an actual Wyoming (or EXTREME south-central Montana) based Ranch-Owner, Manager OR Cowboss (ie: the A.C.T.U.A.L. 'Hiring-Authority' ?) then I DO N.O.T. actually 'need' to be hearing from you.
I can arrange to have my few-remaining work-references sent (to whomever requests them) but ONLY A.F.T.E.R. I have been offered ample-opportunity to carefully-consider EXACTLY what kind of employment (AND housing) situation I am (potentially) looking-at committing-myself to, because I have NO interest in allowing said-references to be 'un-necessarily irritated' by vaquely-interested 'tire-kickers', who are'nt actually (at MINIMUM) 70/30 % COMMITTED to the reality of hiring full-time help.
I am TIRED of playing 'head-games'.
I need a RANCH-JOB...
I need it to be a Cow/Calf-operation based HERE in Wyoming (or EXTREME South-Central Montana?)...
I need it to offer ON. SITE. HOUSING (as PART of Monthly-Wages)...
...and I need it YESTERDAY...if (for no-other reasons?) that I might have 'ample-opportunity' to get to know ('Imprint-Myself' upon ?) your older-cows and first-calf heiffers...so that I have a decent-idea of 'what to expect' once they start pacing the fence and packing thier tails, this coming calving-season.
As I am NOT in the habit of 'leaving messes' (behind-myself) this posting will be (promptly) deleted the moment I have secured (what I, MYSELF) believe to be: 'suitable' FULL-time, Long-term ranch-employment...
...so if you are reading-this, then it means I am STILL-unemployed, STILL-homeless, and STILL seeking the means to get a 'proper' roof over my head.
HELP-Me, Help-YOU...and I give you my WORD that you WILL NOT be disappointed.
(PS: Any and ALL-responses (to this posting) offering ANYTHING-OTHER than the E.X.A.C.T. type of employment in the E.X.A.C.T. location I am seeking to live and work in, WILL BE DELETED without hesitation.)
Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this poster.