TIM VINTON RANCH
Whitman, NE
About The Ranch
Vinton Ranch is a family-run Black Angus cow/calf operation located 26 miles south of Whitman, in Grant and Arthur counties. The ranch consists of prairie sandhills and sub-irrigated meadows.
Tim Vinton and his family, with a long history and deep roots in the Sandhills, hold family and heritage as their top values. They operate to be efficient with the land while maintaining good stewardship; they strive to keep traditions alive while still being progressive and forward-leaning.
Vinton Ranch aims to be a top producer and develop a high-quality product. Given the innovation and new technologies in the cow/calf industry, Tim believes it's an exciting time to be a rancher. With the end product in mind, Vinton Ranch, DNA tests almost every animal, and by utilizing a new software system, they can analyze and correlate data, including carcass data received from each animal slaughtered. This data is linked back to the cows and allows the Vintons to better cull the bottom 10% and develop the strongest genetics for their herd. Participating in NHTC and Angus Verified programs, the Vinton Ranch strives to stay at the forefront of the industry.
Vinton Ranch begins calving heifers in early February, with 90% done within two weeks. Cows will calve in March, and branding is in May. Vinton Ranch begins AI'ing in May and moving cattle out to grass in June. The Ranch is heavy on hay ground, which is put up in July. The Vintons start preconditioning on August 1st. Tim prioritizes staying up to date on vaccination health protocols. The calf's health, life, and bottom line depend on it.
Tim believes that if you're not excited about what you're doing, you shouldn't be doing it because you won't do a very good job. He's an old-school rancher but is embracing the new, and he looks forward to sharing his experience with an intern and any skills needed for the ranch operation the intern would like to learn.
The Mentors
Tim & Lori Vinton
Tim is a fifth-generation rancher who was born and raised in the Sandhills. One of eleven children and a twin, Tim and his family had to learn to work together at a young age. Tim's father passed away a few months before he was born, and his mother forged on to keep the ranch going. Tim was sent to boarding school; Saint Thomas Moore Prep in Hays, Kansas, and then attended the University of Nebraska Lincoln.
Lori was born and raised on a farm near Grand Island. She also attended the University of Nebraska Lincoln, where she met Tim. She is a teacher at Mullen High School and plans to retire soon.
Tim and Lori have three daughters. Emily and twins, Lydia and Addy. Lydia and her husband, John, work on the ranch. Emily lives in Victoria Springs with her husband, and Addy lives near Paxton with her husband and two children. Both Emily and Addy are involved in the ranch operations and return to the ranch when they can.
Lydia & John O'Brien
Tim and Lori's daughter, Lydia, is actively involved in the daily ranch operations. She attended the University of Nebraska Lincoln and taught Ag Science and FFA at Ogallala High School. She recently returned to the ranch and continues writing curricula for Skills USA and other organizations. Lydia is actively involved in the management and day-to-day ranch operations. Her broad knowledge and skills greatly benefit the operation and production goals. She leads the way with new technologies and manages the livestock record systems.
Along with handling the breeding protocol and AI'ing heifers on the ranch, Lydia will custom AI and trade help with the neighbors. She enjoys teaching and is looking forward to mentoring and training an intern.
John was born and raised on a farming operation near Newman Grove, Nebraska. He attended Northeast Community College and the University of Nebraska Lincoln, where he earned an ag business degree. John has brought a new skill set to the ranch, improving productivity and operations.
The Intern
Duties
An intern will work closely with Tim, Lydia, and John on a variety of ranching tasks as their capabilities allow, including, but not limited to, livestock breeding assistance, haying, pasture and water monitoring, putting out salt/mineral, cattle health monitoring, cattle care, branding, assisting with semen testing and pulling bulls, and preconditioning.
An intern will have the opportunity to learn about the livestock data collected and the record-keeping program. The Vintons are willing to teach an intern any aspect of the ranch operation that interests them. The ranch utilizes horses; an intern can learn to work with horses and ride if desired. ATVs and side-by-sides are also used.
Additional responsibilities as needed and as per request.
Desired Skills
Valid Driver's License
Honesty
A sense of Humor is a must
Work Ethic and an interest in learning
The Details
Length of Internship:Â 3 months
Stipend: Vinton Ranch will pay a monthly stipend estimated at $2,100.00/month.
General work hours: The typical work week is 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Hours may vary depending on the season and activities. Sunday is the regular day off.
Housing: A fully furnished ranch house with a kitchen and laundry is provided at the home place.
Cell Phone Service: Viaero/Verizon cell phone service is limited. The ranch house has Internet and a landline.
Vehicles: The intern will have a ranch vehicle available during work hours. While an intern will not be asked to use a personal vehicle for work purposes, a personal vehicle is recommended for days off and personal errands.
Additional items the intern should bring: Bring any personal items you need, including gear for all—weather, sun, and rain protection. Work boots, riding boots, and leather gloves are recommended.
Living at the Vinton Ranch:Â Hyannis and Mullen both have all the basic amenities, including places to eat and drink, a grocery store, gas stations, and a health clinic.
Educational Activities: During the internship, the intern will have the opportunity to attend select workshops and ranch tours. Â
