WEBVTT 00:01.833 --> 00:04.600 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% (wind whistling) 00:19.800 --> 00:21.733 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% (gentle music) (water trickling) 00:21.733 --> 00:24.200 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% - Be as rough and tough as you want to be, 00:24.200 --> 00:26.266 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% but never mean nor small. 00:35.133 --> 00:37.866 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% The Robinson Ranch is located in Southwest Montana, 00:37.866 --> 00:42.033 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% in the Madison Valley just out of McAllister. 00:43.733 --> 00:46.400 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% Right now I'm running 150 head of mother cows, 00:46.400 --> 00:48.866 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5% (cows mooing) 00:52.033 --> 00:54.333 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% and we have a section of ground 00:54.333 --> 00:58.800 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% that is basically 80% irrigated ground. 01:00.300 --> 01:05.133 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% And we summer them at the opposite end of the valley 01:06.566 --> 01:08.133 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% on the Idaho border on the Hidden Lake Bench Allotment. 01:16.333 --> 01:19.666 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% It's my heart and soul, ranching is. 01:19.666 --> 01:21.066 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% I couldn't do anything else. 01:22.733 --> 01:24.300 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% I feel pretty good about the fact 01:24.300 --> 01:28.800 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% that I raise food and fiber, 01:32.700 --> 01:37.100 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% but I've never had any really deep desire to do it. 01:37.100 --> 01:38.766 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% I was just bred into it. 01:40.300 --> 01:43.266 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% (voices chattering) 01:49.233 --> 01:51.333 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% Montana's so huge and vast, 01:51.333 --> 01:54.966 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% and you don't really appreciate the sky here 01:54.966 --> 01:56.433 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% until you go somewhere else, 01:56.433 --> 01:59.133 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% and then you see why it's nicknamed the "Big sky country." 02:06.900 --> 02:09.166 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% I'm not poetic enough to describe mountains. 02:10.666 --> 02:14.466 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% You gotta see 'em for yourself to do 'em any justice. 02:15.533 --> 02:19.066 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% The sunsets, the sunrises in the winter, 02:19.066 --> 02:24.066 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% especially with the white, the contrast, it's amazing. 02:33.900 --> 02:35.733 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% In the spring when it's green, 02:35.733 --> 02:39.600 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% the valley floor is amazing also. 02:41.033 --> 02:42.766 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% And the grass that grows here, that's what we make. 02:42.766 --> 02:44.633 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% That's what we convert into beef. 02:51.566 --> 02:53.633 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% I know Grandpa Armstrong had a story 02:53.633 --> 02:56.200 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% about the first time he came over the Norris Hill 02:56.200 --> 02:59.700 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% on the wagon and looked out and he right then knew. 02:59.700 --> 03:00.866 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% He said, "This is home." 03:05.300 --> 03:07.533 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% When you're born, bred and raised in one spot, 03:07.533 --> 03:11.166 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% it becomes a part of you. 03:32.233 --> 03:34.966 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% (wind whooshing) 03:39.400 --> 03:42.300 align:left position:27.5% line:89% size:62.5% (tractor whirring) 04:05.233 --> 04:07.733 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5% (cows mooing) 04:44.766 --> 04:47.166 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% Well, what got me started was my father, 04:48.933 --> 04:52.233 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% and I was the youngest one of six children. 04:53.433 --> 04:55.766 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% Everybody else had the sense to take off, 04:55.766 --> 04:57.533 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% and I was the last one here. 05:00.000 --> 05:01.500 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% That's why I'm still here. 05:02.966 --> 05:05.700 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% I stayed at the ranch because all my siblings were gone. 05:05.700 --> 05:08.033 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% There was no one else to help run it. 05:08.033 --> 05:09.700 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% I wasn't inclined to go to college. 05:09.700 --> 05:14.700 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% I didn't see the use in it for myself and there again, 05:17.933 --> 05:18.866 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5% born into it. 05:18.866 --> 05:20.900 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% It's what I'd always done, 05:20.900 --> 05:25.266 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% and what I'm still doing is ranching. 05:29.233 --> 05:30.833 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% What life held out there for me. 05:39.666 --> 05:44.666 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% (voices chattering) (cows mooing) 06:05.100 --> 06:07.133 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% Ranching is a very good way of life. 06:07.133 --> 06:11.933 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% I mean, it's spiritually fulfilling. 06:11.933 --> 06:13.066 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% It makes you feel good. 06:13.066 --> 06:14.633 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% You're producing something. 06:38.600 --> 06:41.700 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% One of my favorite feelings, 06:41.700 --> 06:43.800 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% having the cows up on the bench up there, 06:43.800 --> 06:45.800 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% and having a good year. 06:45.800 --> 06:48.233 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% The grass is just beautiful. 06:48.233 --> 06:49.933 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% Get on our ridge, above the cows, 06:49.933 --> 06:53.266 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% and see 'em all spread out, grazed and happy, 06:53.266 --> 06:54.800 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% in that beautiful setting, 06:56.266 --> 07:00.500 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% and yeah, honest to God, can it get any better than that? 07:00.500 --> 07:02.866 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% Having that experience could well 07:02.866 --> 07:04.366 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% make the whole thing worth it. 07:17.966 --> 07:22.533 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% You aren't skating along on euphoria very often. 07:22.533 --> 07:27.533 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% (cows mooing) (hooves thundering) 07:38.266 --> 07:40.866 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% (voices chattering) 07:40.866 --> 07:42.400 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% It isn't long before you turn your horse around, 07:42.400 --> 07:45.300 align:left position:10% line:83% size:80% start worrying about how you're gonna get the hay put up, 07:45.300 --> 07:46.800 align:left position:30% line:83% size:60% if there's gonna be enough water. 07:46.800 --> 07:51.800 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% And the idealization of being a cowboy, 07:53.900 --> 07:58.433 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% and the real thing of being a cowboy are polar. 08:00.200 --> 08:02.333 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% But that's not to say that you don't get a lot 08:02.333 --> 08:07.333 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% of inner satisfaction working with the cows, 08:08.500 --> 08:10.466 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% working with the land, working with the horses. 08:10.466 --> 08:12.400 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% It's all very rewarding. 08:25.200 --> 08:28.700 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% Calving is probably the most stressful, 08:28.700 --> 08:30.300 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% busiest time of the year. 08:43.066 --> 08:46.800 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% Depending on the weather, obviously inclement weather, 08:46.800 --> 08:49.233 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% then it's a lot of work. 08:49.233 --> 08:51.800 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% Nice weather, it's not so much. 08:55.200 --> 09:00.266 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% Then one out here that I tubed and covered with straw. 09:01.433 --> 09:02.800 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% So we're gonna go check it first, 09:04.500 --> 09:06.033 align:left position:27.5% line:89% size:62.5% and the other one, 09:06.033 --> 09:07.500 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% as we get done with that, 09:07.500 --> 09:11.466 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% I'm gonna go back in and get that one off the hot box 09:11.466 --> 09:13.500 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% and take him back out to his mom. 09:38.466 --> 09:41.533 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% Most of the time, a calf like this, I wouldn't, 09:41.533 --> 09:46.100 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% especially if she were standing there. 09:47.100 --> 09:49.300 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% 'Cause now that she's not there, 09:49.300 --> 09:52.866 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% it's like, what the hell, I'll go throw him on the heater, 09:54.233 --> 09:57.400 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% 45 minutes, an hour, 45 minutes. 09:58.766 --> 10:03.733 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% And take him back out, put him on that straw. 10:25.466 --> 10:26.300 align:left position:37.5% line:89% size:52.5% Oh, wow. 10:27.600 --> 10:29.566 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% You wanna see the hot box? 10:29.566 --> 10:30.400 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% - [Speaker] Yeah. 10:30.400 --> 10:34.966 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% - Come on in. (groans) 10:34.966 --> 10:37.333 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% This one isn't near as heavy. 11:02.000 --> 11:04.733 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% (heater roaring) 11:49.400 --> 11:51.666 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65% I'm glad I got up... 11:51.666 --> 11:54.666 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% (calf moos) 11:54.666 --> 11:56.300 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% extra early this morning. 11:57.833 --> 11:59.466 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% Well, I got to bed early. 12:00.533 --> 12:01.333 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% That helps. 12:02.766 --> 12:04.633 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% But if he had been out there another hour, 12:04.633 --> 12:05.900 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% hour and a half, he... 12:10.833 --> 12:12.166 align:left position:20% line:89% size:70% would've been in danger. 12:15.600 --> 12:16.400 align:left position:35% line:89% size:55% Oh, yeah. 12:19.966 --> 12:20.866 align:left position:27.5% line:89% size:62.5% Get him warmed up. 12:22.166 --> 12:24.633 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% That tubing is a lifesaving magic. 12:31.800 --> 12:33.800 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% He's gonna go up to his mama, 12:33.800 --> 12:37.433 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% and hopefully it won't take long before he's nursing. 12:38.666 --> 12:40.333 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% It was just that cold. 12:40.333 --> 12:44.400 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% I think the wind chill was 17 below this morning. 12:48.100 --> 12:48.900 align:left position:35% line:89% size:55% Pretty cold. 12:53.066 --> 12:53.866 align:left position:35% line:89% size:55% Pretty cold. 12:59.766 --> 13:02.300 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5% (gentle music) 13:12.266 --> 13:16.866 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% Hopefully your mama's standing out there where she was. 13:35.700 --> 13:37.800 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% That's the one down in the hole, 13:37.800 --> 13:39.600 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% the one covered up with straw. 13:39.600 --> 13:41.100 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% That's its mother right there. 13:43.766 --> 13:46.000 align:left position:37.5% line:89% size:52.5% (cow moos) 13:47.466 --> 13:49.900 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% - [Speaker] We've gotta release baby. 13:49.900 --> 13:51.400 align:left position:27.5% line:89% size:62.5% There we go. Okay. 14:03.266 --> 14:04.433 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5% A baby heifer. 14:09.466 --> 14:11.633 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% - [Speaker] Here it comes. 14:28.000 --> 14:30.833 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% - There are still people out here that will steal. 14:32.133 --> 14:33.400 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% And when you have something sitting out there, 14:33.400 --> 14:37.033 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% that's worth eight, $900,000 a unit. 14:38.100 --> 14:40.000 align:left position:17.5% line:89% size:72.5% You want your brand on it. 14:40.000 --> 14:42.600 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% Well, if we didn't have to brand 'em, we wouldn't. 14:42.600 --> 14:44.600 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% 'Cause it's an extra, why do it? 14:49.400 --> 14:52.666 align:left position:17.5% line:83% size:72.5% A lot of people just think we do do it for show, 14:52.666 --> 14:54.266 align:left position:15% line:89% size:75% just keeping up a tradition, 14:54.266 --> 14:56.100 align:left position:25% line:89% size:65% but it's not a show. 14:57.500 --> 14:59.600 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% You brand 'em so you know who they are. 15:01.966 --> 15:04.466 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5% (cows mooing) 15:09.566 --> 15:14.566 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% (cow mooing) (voices chattering) 15:20.466 --> 15:21.633 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% Also when we brand, 15:21.633 --> 15:23.966 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% they get their spring vaccinations, 15:23.966 --> 15:28.966 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% that mostly are protecting against respiratory diseases, 15:31.166 --> 15:34.800 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% which is huge, something you have to do anyway. 15:41.833 --> 15:44.000 align:left position:30% line:89% size:60% In the 60s, 70s, 15:44.000 --> 15:49.000 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% there were a lot more family ranches in the valley. 15:50.166 --> 15:55.000 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% But as market value increases on the land, 15:55.000 --> 15:59.566 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% more have sold out or pared back. 15:59.566 --> 16:03.333 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% The fact that I don't have anyone to leave the ranch to, 16:03.333 --> 16:05.200 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% that's here helping me now, 16:05.200 --> 16:08.566 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% that wants to carry on with it, 16:08.566 --> 16:12.466 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% gives me very little incentive to keep working at it 16:14.833 --> 16:16.566 align:left position:22.5% line:89% size:67.5% on into my older age. 16:18.066 --> 16:22.966 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% There's really no legacy or there's no incentive 16:22.966 --> 16:26.433 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5% to keep going. 16:26.433 --> 16:31.133 align:left position:25% line:83% size:65% With the land values what they are now 16:31.133 --> 16:33.333 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% in this beautiful mountain valley, 16:34.866 --> 16:39.866 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% it becomes more and more, just easier to decide to quit. 16:51.766 --> 16:55.533 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% But I have no plans in the immediate future 16:55.533 --> 17:00.566 align:left position:10% line:89% size:80% to stop ranching, to give it up. 17:02.000 --> 17:05.700 align:left position:12.5% line:83% size:77.5% But it's nice to know that the value of the land is there. 17:08.000 --> 17:13.000 align:left position:27.5% line:83% size:62.5% That's huge in the back of your mind, 17:13.866 --> 17:18.266 align:left position:12.5% line:89% size:77.5% just knowing that it's there, 17:19.700 --> 17:23.833 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% and not having any help or anyone to leave it to, 17:24.933 --> 17:27.133 align:left position:27.5% line:89% size:62.5% it's a no brainer. 17:31.200 --> 17:33.900 align:left position:15% line:83% size:75% What's it gonna look like in the next 50 years? 17:36.900 --> 17:40.466 align:left position:20% line:83% size:70% As long as people wanna eat quality beef, 17:40.466 --> 17:45.000 align:left position:22.5% line:83% size:67.5% we'll be here in some form or another. 17:45.000 --> 17:47.500 align:left position:32.5% line:89% size:57.5% (cows mooing)