Trish is a born and bred Idahoan, growing up in the mountain town of Salmon. Trish’s dad was the Ag Extension agent there for more than 30 years, while her mom served as the school librarian. Trish graduated from the University of Idaho with a Bachelor’s of Science in Agriculture Economics in 1990. Trish and her husband Stan have been married since 1991, and have two daughters, Dani (23) and Loni (22).

How are you involved in agriculture today? Stan and I have owned and operated the Dowton 3X Ranch, a commercial cow operation in Pahsimeroi Valley, since 1992. I love the cows and spend a lot of time caring for them during calving season, riding on summer ranges, and doing almost all cow work, in general. I also irrigate, run hay equipment, pay the bills and keep up the financial records.

How has your life been shaped by agriculture? Agriculture is my life. I’ve always loved animals, and being able to take care of them and live where we do means everything. I am also very glad that we were able to raise our girls in this lifestyle.

Who inspires you or serves as a mentor? My dad, Bob Loucks. He always has a positive outlook and tries to see the best in everyone.

How do you provide encouragement to others? I try to be positive and get them to believe in themselves. I’ve also tried to encourage people to take advantage of what is available to them, and to appreciate the little things in life, like beautiful sunsets and good horses.

If given the chance, what message about agriculture or the beef industry would you share with a large group of people? Well, we often preach to the choir, but if we were talking to city people I would say that we try to take the best possible care of all our animals, and we really do try to raise a great beef product that is healthy and sustainable.

What are you most thankful for? My family and this lifestyle.

What is you favorite meal to cook yourself or for others? Beef Tri-Tip on the grill, with twice baked potatoes and a salad.

What are your guilty pleasures in life? Horses and chocolate.

What are some of your favorite pastimes and/or hobbies? Horses, team roping and reading.

Favorite place to visit? Places in the mountains where there aren’t many people.

What are three little known facts about you? I earned an “A” in calculus during high school, I was a member of a successful meat judging team in college, and I used to show reined cow horses—I loved going down the fence!

 

Brooke was raised ranching and farming with her family in Billings, Mont., where they own a cow-calf operation and a custom grain-harvesting business. She attended the University of Idaho, and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Rangeland Ecology and Management Degree in May 2014 (Go Vandals!!). While going to school in Moscow, Brooke was an intern for the UI Rangeland Center. She claims to have fallen in love with Idaho’s places and people, easily making the decision to call the Gem State “home.” She has worked for the Idaho State Department of Agriculture (ISDA) since the summer of 2014.

How are you involved in agriculture today? I’m a Range Management Specialist with  ISDA, based out of Boise. I have the privilege of working together with livestock producers, land and natural resource management staff, and extension personnel to help ensure the sustainability of Idaho’s working landscapes. I review federal and state resource management documents, and provide technical support to a number of advisory boards and task forces. Another role I serve at ISDA is partnering with grazing permittees, BLM staff, and extension educators around the state on a cooperative rangeland photo monitoring program. I enjoy getting to work with producers and managers who are passionate about the health of the land and who use domestic grazing as a tool to manage plants, wildlife, and the host of other resources that rangelands provide. I also serve as treasurer for the Idaho Section of the Society for Range Management. I take every opportunity I can to visit with friends on their farms and ranches here in Idaho or take trips to visit my family to help with harvesting and ranching.

How has your life been shaped by agriculture? I was raised working alongside my parents and three siblings on my family’s cow-calf operation and custom grain-harvesting business. My grandparents on both sides farmed in North Dakota, and my parents started their own business from the ground up. Just some of the things that my up-bringing taught me and that agriculture continues to instill in me are the value of community, ingenuity, hard work, integrity and communication. Ranching in South Dakota and then Montana, and working with ag producers from Texas to the Canadian border while on the grain harvest taught me there is always something to be learned from someone else’s experience or perspective, whether it be in agriculture, business or in personal life!

Who inspires you or serves as a mentor? I will always be inspired by my parents. My mother’s hard work and endless encouragement while cooking meals for the harvest and ranch crew, running to town to get parts, substitute teaching, all while raising four kids also inspired me! I’ve been gifted with many great mentors and peers that continually support and teach me in my rangeland career. One of these is my college advisor Karen Launchbaugh. Another is John Biar, my predecessor at the Department of Agriculture. John is a great mentor not only for the wealth of experience and knowledge he generously shares, but also in encouraging me to always keep my relationship with Jesus Christ as my first priority, family second, and work next.

How do you provide encouragement to others? We each have unique strengths and ideas to contribute, and I try to practice and use my abilities while creating opportunities for others to exercise theirs. I also like to encourage others through authenticity and shared laughter!

If given the chance, what message about agriculture or the beef industry would you share with a large group of people? I would encourage those who have questions about agriculture and food production to go straight to the source for information. It’s easy to get bogged down in false information and misconceptions, but it’s much more productive to ask farmers and ranchers about what they do for a living and why they do it. The families and businesses that provide the U.S. and the world with food and fiber have the same concerns as the consumer; they want to provide their children healthy food and a future. The agriculture community has made great strides in telling their story, but there is always room for more of these conversations. Just as food production technology is needed to feed a growing world population, producers’ communication needs to increase and improve to reach a growing urban population and meet the challenges and opportunities provided by social and mass media.

What are you most thankful for? I’m first and foremost thankful for my family and their love and support as I pursue my passion in rangeland management. I’m grateful for the opportunities provided to me by my job to work in agriculture and natural resources, and I’ve been overwhelmed by the hospitality and warmness of Idahoans.

What is your favorite meal to cook yourself or for others? “Cowboy beans” is a family favorite. Just brown ground beef and add canned BBQ beans, and then fix an easy side-dish, fried potatoes or whatever else is available around the house or cow-camp. It’s a quick meal that can get everyone sitting at the table for a few minutes in the middle of a busy day.

What is your favorite childhood memory? Most of my best memories involve working with my family. Branding and the beginning of the harvest season were two of my favorite annual events. Branding brought neighbors together for a day of work and fun, and there’s nothing like traveling hundreds of miles across the plains and driving the combine into the first field of the summer’s wheat harvest.

Favorite store to shop in? I’m a sucker for antique stores, especially in small towns. They can give you a window into the area’s history, plus there’s the treasure-hunt factor when you make a great find!

Favorite place to visit? The Black Hills area in western South Dakota is one of my favorite destinations. My family ranched and farmed for 10 years there, and I really enjoy the landscapes, agriculture and history in the region. I don’t make that trip as often as I used to, but it’s always a treat to catch up with friends there.

Be sure to follow Brooke on both Facebook, and Instagram!

Dawn, and her husband James, are partners in a registered Hereford and Red Angus purebred cow-calf operation, started by her parents. The ranch has an annual production sale, the 2^nd Monday of March. Dawn and her husband have been married for 28 years, and have two children, Bryan and Jae.

How are you involved in agriculture and/or beef industry today? I am currently on the Idaho Cattle Association Board of Directors. I provide support services for the Idaho Junior Hereford Association (IJHA) as well as the Idaho Hereford Breeders. We do a little bit of showing with our Herefords. With a little help from the kids, I break the cattle and get them ready to head to the show. I work outside the home, but use evenings, weekends and other days off to register cattle, work cattle, run parts, and do whatever else needs done.

How has your life been shaped by agriculture and/or beef industry? I was raised on the ranch we live on and have spent my entire life around cattle and farming. My dad always said that cattle raise good kids. I was very fortunate to be raised in this environment and have been blessed to be able to continue to live this lifestyle as well as raise our children with the same opportunities.

Who inspires you or serves as a mentor? My parents, John and Bev Bryan, have always been my inspiration. My husband James was not directly raised in the Ag/Beef industry, but had a true passion for it from the beginning and this allowed me to stay involved. Together, our inspiration is making it possible for our children to continue to be involved in the industry and continue on a family tradition.

How do you provide encouragement to others? I was involved in 4-H and the IJHA while growing up. I don’t believe I ever left either program. I help with our county 4-H market animal sale, and help with IJHA shows and events. I look for opportunities to encourage youth to stay involved in agriculture and the beef industry.

If given the chance, what message about agriculture or the beef industry would you share with a large group of people? The ag & beef industries are the lifeblood of our nation and our world. We care about our natural resources; therefore we are invested stewards of our land. We recognize that life sustainability depends on us feeding the world with safe, wholesome food.

What are you most thankful for? My family; past, current and future. I know it would have been very difficult to have had the experiences I had growing up had my grandparents and parents not had the tenacity to stick with this industry during the difficult years. I was lucky to find a man who was willing to work hard so that we could stay in this industry, and I am thankful that we have been able to introduce our children to this industry.

What is your favorite meal to cook yourself or for others? My favorite meal to cook includes steak. It might be because it is an easy fix and easy cleanup, but it is soooo good.

What is your favorite childhood memory? My brother Shawn had Reserve Champion Steer at the Gooding County Fair. He had the opportunity to show him in the Open to the World Steer Show at the Twin Falls County Fair two weeks later, but he wanted to be done with taking care of the steer. We made a deal that I would feed and continue to care for the steer through the show, and I would get whatever premium money he received from that show. He ended up winning the carcass contest with premiums of $300. That was quite a bit of money at that time. Shawn quietly handed over the money.

What are your guilty pleasures in life? Red Wine and Beer. Not necessarily in that order.

What are some of your favorite pastimes and/or hobbies?  I love to run. Call me crazy – well, you could if I didn’t get the chance to run and work off some stress. I run 3-5 times a week 3.5 – 8 miles each time. I occasionally participate in 10K and 5K running events. I’m not fast, but I can finish. That’s all that matters. I also like to golf.

Make sure to follow Dawn and JBB/AL Herefords on Facebook!

Idaho is home to two Camas Prairies, and we’re lucky enough to be able to feature a cowgirl from each one! Yesterday you read a profile on Diana Graning, and today you can read one on Christie Prescott. Christie was born and raised on a ranch outside of Fairfield, Idaho. Her husband, Wyatt, serves as the Executive Vice President of the Idaho Cattle Association. She and Wyatt have a son, Gus, and are expecting a little girl at the end of this month!

How are you involved in agriculture and/or the beef industry today? My involvement in Agriculture really starts at my day job as outreach coordinator for the Idaho Grain Producers Association. When I’m not in the office my husband and I are building our own beef cattle operation. Currently, we primarily grow calves and place them as feeder cattle in a custom feedlot. We also do whatever the market presents as an opportunity when it does, like feeding feeder cows and growing our cow-calf numbers.

How has your life been shaped by agriculture? I grew in agriculture. I still have dreams that I’m back on the ranch I grew up on. I hope that my children will be as fortunate as I was and get to grow up the same way. I look forward to instilling the passion for cattle in our children. Being surrounded by the beautiful Idaho landscape, working the land and learning to be responsible through agriculture is the best way to grow up.

Who inspires you or serves as a mentor? My grandpa, Al Bauscher, has always been an inspiration to me. He was a WWII veteran that came home to Fairfield and kept up the family cattle business. He inspired me because he was tough as nails and always on time. I keep a picture of the two of us together, at my desk as a constant reminder.

How do you provide encouragement to others? I provide encouragement to others by providing valid feedback and being supportive. I’m a realist that likes to get things done. I think a fresh perspective is always good and try to support the best way to do any given thing.

If given the chance, what message about agriculture or the beef industry would you share with a large group of people? I’d like to let people know that if they like to eat they should be supportive of agriculture and agricultural practices. I think there is a major gap in people knowing where their food comes from. Many don’t understand what goes into food production. I’d like them to understand that farmers and ranchers are where what on their plate starts and that these people care the most about their animals and land.

What are you most thankful for? I’m most thankful for my family and our health. I’ve come to realize through losing my parents that it’s the most important thing.

What is your favorite meal to cook yourself or for others? Bolognese sauce and spaghetti are always a go-to favorite.

 

What is the first thing you do when you walk into a grocery store? I try and shop the perimeter of a grocery store. I load up on fresh produce followed by meats, cheeses and dairy. I try and avoid highly processed aisle foods.

What are some of your favorite pastimes and/or hobbies? Trail running and boot camp work outs, reading, watching football, canning and cooking.

What are three little known facts about you? 1) I was a BLM firefighter for six fire seasons. 2) I am a Lord of the Rings nerd. 3) I’m actually shy and have to work hard at being outgoing.

Be sure to keep up with Christie on Instagram and Facebook!

Day 5: Women in Ag: Diana Graning
Day 4: Women in Ag: Julie Kerner
Day 3: Women in Ag: Megan Satterwhite
Day 2: Women in Ag: Celia Gould
Day 1: Women in Ag: Robin Lufkin

With the season of Thanksgiving approaching quickly, the Idaho CattleWomen are taking this opportunity to show our appreciation to our fellow women in the beef industry.

Come put a face and name to Idaho agriculture! Stay tuned for our 30-day Idaho Women in Ag Blog Series. Every day in November, we’ll feature a different women every day.

Come here daily to learn more. Or better yet—sign up to receive our blog posts directly to your email so you never miss a post! Fill in your email in the Subscribe box in the righthand column.