Haileigh Moutray
Bow & Arrow Ranch
Haileigh is from the small town of Stromsburg, Nebraska, and is spending her summer as an intern at Bow & Arrow Ranch near Valentine. Haileigh is a first-generation college student from a large family with a diverse background. She is currently a student at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln studying animal science, focusing on pre-veterinary medicine. She plans to apply to the Professional Program of Veterinary Medicine.
Haileigh chose to pursue a Sandhills Ranch Internship to gain insight into the cattle industry within Nebraska and become a more well-rounded individual. She felt this program looked like an excellent opportunity for exposure to ranch management. After speaking with the ranch mentor, Tom Davis, he expressed values she strongly agreed with and knew she wanted to complete her internship at Bow & Arrow Ranch. Not growing up with an agricultural background, Haileigh appreciated the chance to acclimate to understanding ranch management. “I strongly believe this opportunity will give me insight into how ranches run and operate and how producers like to do things. For me, wanting to become a vet is not just working with the animals but with the clients, and understanding their wants and goals is crucial to a successful outcome.” Haileigh said.
Haileigh’s interest in agriculture developed from her High School FFA program, where the students were responsible for caring for a small Red Angus Cattle herd. Her focus on large animal care flourished after working at a vet clinic and gaining exposure to many environments providing cattle care. She is excited about the experience and stepping out of her comfort zone.
After completing her internship, Haileigh will return to school in Lincoln for the fall semester and begin working as a veterinary assistant. She enjoys staying busy with student life on campus while continuing to gain exposure to the industry. She will then apply to the PPVM program to continue her education in veterinary medicine.
Updates
What has been most rewarding?
It's rewarding to hear good things from Tom and the guys about what I've been doing good. It's reassuring and nice to get good feedback. To be able to do a good job and have a good outcome. I'm becoming more well-rounded, not just in ranching but other skills to have in my back pocket.
What have you grown to appreciate about the Sandhills?
I've grown to love the community in the Sandhills. The people are very open and welcoming. As soon as we arrived, they made us feel like we were one of their own and already a part of the group. The scenery out here is nice—just gorgeous.
Have you had any struggles?
I feel like I'm behind because I didn't grow up around any of this. I'm just learning, getting used to it, and having it click but trying not to hold them back from what they need to get done. They've been great at explaining and showing us how things work. It's made things much easier. When it came to haying, I had no idea what we were doing. Being out here and away from family and friends hasn't been an issue, but it's because of the people here.
Future plans:
Haileigh will return to UNL this fall to continue her undergrad in animal science and apply for vet school next year. This internship confirmed her desire to focus on large animals and work in the central and western parts of Nebraska.
