My grandfather, Roger Urricelqui, says it best, “A dog is one of God’s greatest gifts to mankind.” As a young girl, I remember whenever I got to my grandparents’ house, there were always happy puppies there to greet me. This was the best part of any day, having a slobber-faced puppy lick me all over, play tug-a-war, and chase me around on the lawn. That was my childhood. Little did I know that these dogs were used for more on my family cattle ranch than just to give my siblings and I licks and kisses. They were born and raised to contribute to the ranching lifestyle — and, most importantly, to work.
Centuries ago, my ancestors used dogs to heard sheep in the Piranesi mountains of Spain. There, the dogs ran hundreds of miles to round up sheep in rough, high-mountain terrain and herd them home. From heading to heeling their roots run deep in the excitement and exhilaration of driving livestock. This is still a tradition today, as owners of livestock from around the world use a variety of breeds to herd and drive livestock home.
The cattleman has evolved from using lots of horses and men on long day and night cattle drives to understanding the use of a cattle dog and how they can help drive livestock in a quicker and more efficient amount of time.
“One guy with one good dog can do the amount of work of three or four cowboys,” my grandfather says…
Amid all the things to look forward to in a new year, one of the biggest for FFA students is the start of speaking competitions.
“The meeting room will come to order. We are now holding a meeting of the Shasta FFA Section. Mr./Mdm. Vice President, are all officers at their stations?”
From Parli Pro, to Job Interview, Prepared and Creed, the moment we’ve been waiting has arrived.
Many of us couldn’t be more excited about taking on another year of speaking competitions. Others, whether a newbie FFA member or a freshman FFA student, we may be new to the speaking world and not quite ready to jump in just yet.
From my own FFA experience, I regret not being involved in the Creed speaking competition. I was too intimidated to jump into Creed speaking because I was a young little freshman with a lack of self-confidence. “Jump in” should really be the motto of the FFA. If you think about it, you have such little time. It may not feel like it initially, but four years goes by a heck of a lot faster than you think it could.
As a freshman in high school the Creed is one of the best competitions to get involved in. Most of our ag teachers make it a part of the class coursework, and it is a requirement to memorize anyhow, so why not go on to compete for it? Don’t let those nerves get to you: Jump in and try it out. It may be nerve-wracking, but trust me, not one person in the room is laughing or judging your speaking ability. It is all in your head.
Growing up I was the average child, had a good family, friends, and even braces. But couldn’t wait to grow up. I was very shy, awkward, and unconfident as a teenager. Boys scared me and, well, if it had anything to do with speaking in front of a room of more than two, you could catch me hiding in the bathroom.
Today, I am a strong, confident 22-year-old public speaking woman, where walking into a room and sharing my passions with others is my favorite part of any day.
Wait, but how did I get here? It’s a question that I have been asked often over the past five years. Rewind to my freshman year of high school … still that shy, unconfident girl hiding behind her baggy sweatshirts hoping no one would see her. I walked into my Ag Biology class. Here I found the FFA.
Holy Cow its been a minute…more like a few minutes but sorry everyone I’ve been crazy busy with this thing we like to call LIFE. It’s pretty neat isn’t it? Well just let me catch ya’ll up on whats happening in MY life as of right now.
To make a long story short (hahah my stories are never short!), I finished my internship up at National Cattleman’s Beef Association. I had a great experience as the Ag Relations Council Intern, working for NCBA and learned things that I am going to be able to use in my future endeavors. Getting to work with the culinary team as well as the media relations team was a great experience, I mean I didn’t even burn down the kitchen.
GO me!
After the last day of my internship ended, the road trip began! We made the drive home stopping in Grand Junction along the way to see some amazing long lost family that I hope to see again sooner than later. Also adding a stop to the list, Arches National Park in Utah.
The pictures don’t even do this place justice, it is just so magnificent to look at.
The day I returned home from Denver, I was then driving to Tahoe for a week long trip with my grandmother for her 75th birthday. She does this really special thing where every five years she takes all six of her grandkids and ONLY the grandkids, this means…no parents, no significant others, just grama and the grandkids on a trip for her birthday. We had an AMAZING time and that is even an understatement. It was a very fun relaxing week spent on the beautiful lake Tahoe doing well, what else do you do when you’re on vacation?
After an amazingly fun time in a tahoe and a sunburnt glow… I had to get ready to TEACH. Just three days after my trip I was getting thrown into a highschool 9th-12th grade classroom to teach. That’s right folks TEACH, while also working on getting my teaching credential I accepted a short-term substitute teaching position as an Agriculture Teacher at the high school that I graduated from FOUR years ago. Holy cow where has the time gone. Anyways, I couldn’t be more excited to get in the classroom and teach about the industry that I love and cherish. I hope to grow a passion for agriculture deep in the lives of my students.
Stay tuned for my next blog…I promise you’ll hear from me…eventually!
Talk Soon!
❥ Western Cow Belle…That’ll be Ms.Urricelqui to you 😉
If you were paying any type of attention in my last blog I briefly talked about graduating from California State University, Chico with a Bachelors in Agriculture Science and Education…that’s right folks I received a College degree four weeks ago.
HOLY COW
I received my degree alongside my older brother. It was a bitter sweet moment to get the opportunity to spend the last four years of college with him, they have been a wild roller coaster and there’s no better guy I’d rather have by my side. Getting to graduate together was a moment I will never take for granted. He’s someone I look up to greatly for strength, support and wise words. It’s crazy to think how fast time has flown these last four years. It’s crazy to think that for the last 21 years we’ve lived so close and now we are so far apart. I am so proud of him and the man he has become and all the things he has accomplished.
Thanks for always letting me hang with the life of the party.
Shoutout to little sis for graduating high school as well!
When I was young I remember all of my older sibling friends that I looked up to greatly, telling me “Life flys by”, “enjoy your youth, it goes fast”, and things like “have fun in College, four years goes in a blink of an eye”. I would just brush off these WISE WORDS and think, oh no I got lots of time left.
Then, just like that, in a blink of an eye, its all over. Done. Graduated.
Gosh were my elders right or what…TIME FLYS!
So, during me still trying to wrap my head around the fact that I was done with college FOREVER. I needed to pack my things and move four states East, all within less than a 24-hour period. The day after graduation the parents and I hit the road on our 18-hour trek to get me to Colorado in time for my first day of work.
Of course only stoping for gas, and making sure I take that opportunity to use the restroom, cause lord knows dad is NOT stopping to let you pee.
Oh but we HAD to stop at the University of Wyoming for a picture 🙂
You bet we ran into every type of weather possible while crossing four different state lines. We didn’t let this cramp our style as we pursued onward.
So I bet you’re wondering why I moved to Colorado?
Well if you didn’t know already, I received a summer Internship through the Ag. Relations Council hosted by National Cattleman’s Beef Association (NCBA) in Denver, Colorado. My internship deals with Issues Management and Media Relations.
If you would have asked me a year ago what I would be doing with my life after college, never in my right mind would I have thought that I was going to get the most amazing opportunity to be chosen as an intern at the National Cattleman’s Beef Association office in Denver, Colorado.
I am absolutely loving it! I get the opportunity to work with every team within NCBA to fill my brain with as much knowledge as possible.
On the weekends I am getting out and exploring as much as I can, my coworkers gave me a list of all the “must see” things. I can tell you living in such a beautiful place it’s a long one! Stay tuned for updates as to what I am up to during my time in Colorado!
I sure am glad there are mountains here, it helps it feel so much like home. The goodbye was hard, I miss you momma and daddy like crazy. Thank you for supporting me in my dreams and pushing me to reach for the stars and the moon. I love you both so much.
So sorry I am finally coming around to writing this blog, as you all know LIFE can be crazy… in the meantime, I’ve passed my finals, graduated college, and not only moved out of my appartment, but moved 1,227 miles away from all that I’ve ever known…
Oh yeah I moved to Denver, Colorado on an internship incase y’all didn’t know but that is the cliffhanger you can look foward too in my next blog 🙂
I guess I have a Bachelors Degree or something now at least I think that is what all the cool kids are calling it nowadays.
The moment you all have been waiting for… about a month ago I got the opportunity to travel to Pawhuska, Oklahoma with some really amazing women. Here I got the opportunity to meet ladies in ranching from all across the country.
For the time I was there, I got the opportunity to attend the American National Cattlewomen Region IV meeting and WIRED event. Our meetings were held at a meeting room in Pawhuska at the Pioneer Woman’s Mercantile. Now if you know what and where I am talking about you should have gotten some butterflys, because I can sure tell you that when I found out where I was going for the weekend I almost dropped dead, okay so maybe not that extreme but I was full of excitement. For my dreams were coming true I was finally going to get the chance to meet the woman that I grew up watching on TV with my grandmother the one and only Pioneer Woman, Ree Drummond.
Now this I found as a once in a lifetime opportunity so I told my professors, “Hey, I know I’m like a ghost in these halls, but I’ve got another trip planned and I’ve got an oppotunity to meet…
THE
PIONEER
WOMAN
PLEASE DON’T TELL ME NO
…I HAVE TO GO”.
As I hopped on that 6 am flight that next week, I was full of excitement to get the chance to meet other women apart of such a great organization, the American National Cattlewomen.
Are you a women in the ranching, cattle or agriculture industry?
Would you like a voice in the industry that you love so dearly?
Would you like to attend trips to meet women in ranching from all across the country?
Are you apart of the American National Cattlewomen’s Organization?
Easy peasy! You’re welcome ANCW, there is your free advertising 🙂
Okay, now where was I, oh yeah shout out to Reba and Evelyn for grabbing me from the Tulsa airport, although my luggage wasn’t on my flight… story for another time. LOL These two women are some very amazing women that were kind enough to welcome me into their friend circle for the weekend. I could not have been more blessed with the women that I got the opportunity to hangout with during this trip. Thursday and Friday consisted of the Region IV meeting where I got the opportunity to meet and network with cattlewomen from all over the country. Friday morning was filled with meetings and presentations at The Pioneer Woman’s Mercantile. In the afternoon we went out to the Drummond Ranch and actually got the opportunity to meet with Ree Drummond’s husband, Ladd. My dreams were coming true! I got the opportunity to chat with him for some time about the beef industry as well as getting some insight of the chances of being able to get the National Collegiate Beef Advocates on The Pioneer Woman’s cooking show. After finding out the chance of me getting to cook with Ree really was a long shot, that didn’t stop me from telling my story and handing over my business card to Ladd Drummond, thats right ladies and gettlemen Mr.Drummond now has Valley Urricelqui’s phone number.
Ask me if they’ve called?
…
Me in Pioneer Woman’s kitchen, pretend cooking.
The WIRED event was full of networking and learning, we got the opportunity to listen to some really amazing speakers as well as wander through the trade show. In the morning we learned about how to handle cattle in a calm and proper way. In the afternoon, we broke into three different groups, one group was the calf table group where we got the opportunity to work some calves, giving vaccinations, implants, ear notching, and castration. The second group was the heifer group, where we got the opportunity to learn about implants and practice inserting them into ears. In this group we also got to de-worm the heifers and give vaccinations. In the third rotation Kayln Grockett, a past National Beef Ambassador, gave us a workshop on beef advocacy and what we can do to help bridge that gap between consumers and producers. Sunday morning, we received a beautiful worship from Ms. Joni Nash.
Tip: always dress in your best clothes while working catte, I promise you will not get dirty. If you look closley in the above pictures I got blood all over my face 🙂
Now when I came home with only a picture of me with The Pioneer Woman’s husband Mr. Ladd Drummond, my teachers were slightly disapointed. That is until they saw how happy I was and how handsome he is. 😉 (wink wink)
Mr. Ladd Drummond and I!
Neertheless, getting the opportunity to attend the ANCW WIRED and Region IV meeting in Pawhuska, Oklahoma was amazing. I had unforgettable experiences with these women and made relationships I will cherish forever.
Four years ago, as a senior in high school, I got the opportunity to travel to Washington D.C. with California Cattlemen for the Legislative Conference and I had an amazing time learning about current issues needing to be addresseed in the beef and agriculture industry. This year, I was fortunate enough to get the opportunity to travel as a National Collegiate Beef Advocate. Where I am able to grasp a better understading of the issues and can speak to congress on the many issues our beef community is facing today.
The legislative conference is where cattlemen and women from all across the United States come together to push the current pressing issues upon the agriculture industry today in Washington D.C. Doing so, we get the opportunity to speak with Senators, Repesentatives, and thier staff. I got the opportunty to spend the day on Wednesday with California Cattlemen, where we traveled around Capitol Hill discussing current issues with Congress. While discussing with Congress and their staff we often found it dificult to connect with them. Some of the offices we left feeling as if our voice was not being heard, while in other offices, like Doug LaMalfa’s office, we felt very at home and welcomed.
While spending my time in Washington D.C., I also got the opportunity to do some sight seeing, and eat at some really neat resturaunts. It was a great trip, I strongly urge any of you that may be interested in legislature regarding our agriculture industry to attend in the future.
It’s a long ways from California, but I can guarantee you, it is worth the red-eye flight!
“And on the 8th day God looked down on his planned paradise and said, “I need a caretakers.” So, God made a farmer.
My grandfather, Roger Urricelqui
Did you know that we are in the middle of National Agriculture Week?
Agriculture is the single most important thing that every person who walks this planet depends on the most. As humans…we like to eat, wear clothing, and participate in activities that all involve some use of an agricultural commodity.
Have you thought about the future of agriculture lately? Well I have. There is always this worry that agriculturalists are going extinct and that there will be no future for younger generations of farmers and ranchers. Lately I have been able to see a brighter light at the end of this long, dark, exhausting tunnel. Young people are becoming very active in wanting to learn more about where their food comes along with sticking to a healthy diet. As well as experiencing it through their local 4-H, camps, Future Farmers of America (FFA), Farm Bureau, Cattlewomen, and Cattlemen programs. These organizations are an amazing way for the youth to get the opportunty to be involved in the future of our livelihood.
Consumers, have you thanked a farmer today?
Some of us as consumers, take for granted the short drive to the grocery store or the pick up window to “grab dinner” for the night. We forget to think about all of the hard working hands that “dinner” passed through to get on our plates.
Farmers, have you thanked a consumer today?
Sometimes as a producer we overlook the importance of the consumer. We should be thankful for each and every one of them and the work that they put in each and everyday to keep the life of our livestock and farming operations alive. Once our product leaves the hands of our family farms, we should be thanking every consumer that touches that product after. We forget to remember that we need them keep our operations afloat.
What a beautiful world we live in, let’s not take this land for granted. We shall preserve and protect these lands for the future of Agriculture so that we can do our part to help feed the world. Without agriculture we are naked and hungry.
The risk is heavy but the reward is greater. Now lets tell the Agriculture Story.
“Agriculture is now, as it’s always been, the basis of civilization” – Teddy Roosevelt
To some folks, wins are everything, but what about those losses?
Calving during a storm is any cattle ranchers worst nightmare.
It doesn’t happen too often, however, sometimes Mother Nature has something to teach us.
This is a calf that was calved out of a first-calf heifer. She was born during one of the worst storms of the year. Shivering cold and almost frozen, we found her curled up by a feed bunk the following morning with barely any life left in her. As most beef producers know, first-calf heifers coupled with a storm are no ideal match. This calf laid down to find warmth and unfortunately, momma couldn’t find her amidst the bitter storm. My father and I attempted everything, from trying to bring her body temperature back up to normal to even getting some nutrients flushed in her. As soon as we found this calve, we started a warm bath in the house and put her in it. After this attempt to warm her body temperature up, we set up a warm bed and a heat lamp. We tried, unremittingly, to save this heifer calf’s life.
As it turned out, this heifer calf proved to be a miracle and survived this harrowing nightmare. We put her on a bottle for the next couple of days until we saw fit that she would be able to return back to the rest of the herd and her mother.
But sometimes you just can’t win no matter how much you risk or try. Unfortunately, once returned back to the herd, this first-calf heifer would not claim her calf. After successfully saving the life of this calf, it began to feel like one defeat after another.
We tried and tried and tried.
We spent countless hours trying to get this first-calf heifer to claim her calf again. Nothing worked; she wasn’t going to take her calf back.
It felt like such a defeat hauling this heifer to “town”, (aka the cattle sale yard), the following week.
This first-calf heifer is an example of a loss.
Loss of good breeding stock.
Loss of a good line of genetics for future years to follow.
And most importantly, loss of a baby calf’s mother.
Let’s talk about these losses. Because I can tell you right now, there is a lesson in every. single. one.
Us agriculturalists deal with wins and losses every single day. Some we can control and some we just cannot control no matter how hard we try. No matter what mother nature throws at us: rain, wind, snow, or below freezing temperatures, there is no storm that us ranchers are too afraid to face. The job must get done. The best thing we can do is learn and heal from these losses. After these kinds of situations transpire, I often ask myself, “What could I have done differently?” While my father often says, “I should have gotten there sooner.”
“No” I say, as I have comforted my father through some of these terrible losses. It is so disheartening to do everything to the best of your ability, to accept that challenge and fight till the end, but still get knocked down. Not only is my father a man that I look up to for wise words of wisdom and support, but is a prime example of a producer who cares deeply for the well-being of his livestock and family.
Our setbacks didn’t stop there. This is Hannah. Hannah is a twin. Not only is Hannah a twin, but she is also the twin that was disowned. Sometimes, when cattle calve twins, they have a motherly instinct to only claim one. But Hannah is a fighter. She was ready to face the challenge and was ready to fight for life. We got her on a bottle, and within the next couple of days, she was sucking like a champ!
Our next step with Hannah was to see if her mom would claim her, so we brought this cow into the corrals and finally after a long day of fighting, we got this calf sucking on her mom. Since then, Hannah has been put out back with the heard with a full bill of health! She is sucking happily alongside her twin sister.
This was a win. Hannah was a win.
I’m sure many of you are asking yourselves, “Val, what is the point of these stories?”
Truth is, what’s meant to happen is what’s meant to happen.
Truth is, our problems don’t happen TO us, they happen FOR us.
Truth is, you are doing the best you can possibly do even if your best doesn’t feel good enough.
Just remember, we aren’t perfect. No one is perfect. Every single person that you may run into or walk past, is fighting a battle of their own. Some of us may win those battles and some of us may lose them. Just remember, every loss is worth fighting and every loss is worth counting, remembering and growing from. But this is real life and proof that even though we may lose some, we also win some.
Sorry for to the slightly deeper talk folks. But hey, sometimes it’s just life.
Well, folks that is a wrap for the 2019 National Cattleman’s Beef Convention and Trade Show in New Orleans, Louisiana. I had such an incredible time learning more about this amazing industry as well as meeting friends that I will have forever. I got the opportunity to travel across the country with one of my best friends to experience great food and even better down-home Southern hospitality. This was an experience I will truly cherish forever.
One of my besties Hailey Pritchard and I at NCBA
Not only did I get the opportunity to travel to a new state, I also got the opportunity taking on a new title…
Words can’t even begin to describe the overwhelming excitement and gratitude I have right now. It is such an honor not only to be chosen to represent the Beef Community at the State level, but to now be chosen to represent the industry I am deeply passionate about at a National level. I cannot wait to travel as a National Collegiate Beef Advocate and learn more about the Beef industry while educating others about the importance of our industry. Traveling country-wide with my team is going to be the experience of a lifetime and I can’t wait to see what this year has in store for me. Saying I am honored to represent the Beef community at a National level is nothing less than an understatement. I am so deeply moved. Thank you to the American National Cattlewomen for this amazing opportunity🐮
Congratulations to the 2019 Collegiate Beef Advocates for the American National Cattlewomen. They were awarded today at the Best of Beef Breakfast in New Orleans. (Pictured Left to Right) Sierra Jepsen – Chair of program, Tyler Schuster- Stephenville TX, Valley Urricelqui- Oak Run CA, Ryan Beany – Ft. Pierce FL and Evelyn Greene President Elect of the American National Cattlewomen.
I am truly excited to see what this year has in store for the 2019 ANCW National Collegiate Beef Advocate Team!
Western Cow Belle 