Morgan Townshend
Bow & Arrow Ranch
Morgan, a native of Plymouth, Minnesota, brings a unique perspective to her internship at the Bow & Arrow Ranch near Valentine. Her family, a tight-knit group, holds a special place in her heart, and she values the time spent with them. With a rich background in horses, Morgan is eager to broaden her horizons and enhance her skills in all aspects of the industry. She has gained valuable experience in dairy & feeder operations and agronomy. Morgan is a dedicated student at South Dakota State University, pursuing a degree in Agriculture Science.
Morgan's decision to pursue a Sandhills Ranch Internship was influenced by a friend who ranches in the Sandhills. Intrigued by the beauty of the Nebraska sandhills and eager to gain hands-on experience, she saw this as a perfect opportunity to further her understanding of ranching. She is enthusiastic about acquiring the skills necessary to become a successful rancher in the future. “In college, I'm learning how to manage a ranch and now I can see these concepts in practice. I’m really excited to see if ranching is the right fit for me and excited to build connections that will last me a lifetime,” Morgan shared.
“I enjoy working with livestock and would love to have a career centered around that, specifically animal husbandry. Working with livestock has taught me a lot of skills. I have immense respect for livestock producers and appreciate all they do for our country,” Morgan expressed. Her aspiration is to follow in their footsteps, working diligently to enhance the industry and foster a stronger connection between people and agriculture.
With the Sandhills Ranch Internship, Morgan is excited about the prospect of moving cattle on horseback and further honing her horsemanship and cattle handling skills. After the internship, she plans to return to college, where she is on track to graduate a year early. Upon graduation, she envisions herself working on a ranch, gaining more hands-on experience, and continuing to develop her leather tooling business.
Updates
What has been most rewarding?
I’ve really loved all of the internship, just how much I’ve grown in all of my skills and stepped into my calling. I didn’t come from an ag background, but I knew I wanted to ranch and to actually get this experience, it's been so awesome. I go to bed with a smile on my face every night. I’m absolutely loving it here.
What have you grown to appreciate about the Sandhills?
When I first came here, and I drove into the Sandhills, it just took my breath away, and I thought I could live here. It’s just a great place to be, it's so beautiful and peaceful. I really do love getting up, hearing the birds singing, and seeing the sunrises and sunsets. I enjoy taking it in and just appreciate how nice it is. People are really friendly and genuinely nice too. I go into Valentine and get waved to or smiled at, and people are very friendly. So, I appreciate that.
I’ve really come to love Nebraska and the Sandhills. I didn’t think I would like Nebraska, every time I’ve driven through was on the east side. But I really love it here and could see myself living in the sandhills.
Future plans:
The internship has reinforced her vision for her future. This is definitely the type of work I want to do full-time. What direction I want to go with that, I’m not sure yet. I'd like to just work on a ranch or manage a ranch.
Morgan will return to South Dakota State University this fall to continue her studies in Agriculture Science.
