Author: Alyssa Rolen

Ranching legacies don’t endure by chance. They’re forged by grit, determination, innovation, and resilience. These operations survive because their caretakers look beyond the present, toward generations they may never meet. And although no crystal ball can predict what lies ahead, ranching families carry forward the hard-earned wisdom of those who came before them while finding the courage to forge new paths of their own.

At just 14 years old, Veronica Miller Bowen has already discovered her passion for livestock and the land. Through her 4-H projects, raising sheep, goats, and steers, she has found a deeper appreciation for California’s working lands. Now, she’s using her entrepreneurial spirit to give back and help protect the lands she appreciates.

I’m Emily Ehrke, and I recently graduated from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo where I majored in Agricultural Science and double minored in Agricultural Business and Water Policy. I grew up in Arbuckle, CA around the ranching industry. Naturally during my four years at Cal Poly, I spent a lot of time immersing myself in the beef program, which included serving as both the SLO Young Cattlemen’s Association President and the Cal Poly Bull Test and Sale Event Planning Coordinator. These experiences inspired me to continue to explore more career paths within the cattle industry post-graduation, which ultimately landed me here at the California Rangeland Trust for a six-month general internship.