Through 4-H, Post starts his own herd

Ryden Post, a Boulder resident, has spent his 14 years on Earth enjoying the Western way of life on his family’s cattle ranch in Sublette County. Although ranching comes with some tough challenges and an overwhelming workload at times, Ryden believes it’s well worth it.

“It’s hard work. Ranchers have to be committed,” he says. “It can be long days and long nights, but it also very rewarding. Ranching is a lot of responsibility, and we have to be okay with doing a lot of different things.” 

Family cattle operation

Today, the Post family runs nearly 200 head of cow/calf pairs in addition to taking in another 250 head of outside cattle. They also raise 20-plus head of butcher beef each year. 

Ryden has become an important asset on the ranch and has taken over numerous responsibilities. 

“My responsibilities include sorting and moving cows on my horse Pal,” he explains. “I help with feeding, supplements, breaking water in the winter and fixing fences as well as counting and sorting to load trucks.” 

He notes there are several things he enjoys doing throughout the year, including seeing baby calves during calving season in the springtime and gathering cows off of the mountain to bring home in the fall.

“My favorite part is going to cow camp in the summer to help move cows around on the mountain and haul salt,” he says. 

Ryden also enjoys running equipment on the ranch such as tractors, trucks and the skid steer.

A herd of his own

In addition to helping out on the ranch, Ryden is an active 4-H member and has been elected president of his local 4-H club for the past two years. He spends the summer taking care of, training and preparing a 4-H beef project to show at fair. 

“I show steers in 4-H each year at fair,” he notes. “I also won grand champion with my gun scabbard leather project last year at fair. I really enjoy 4-H.” 

Over the course of his 4-H career, Ryden has built up a cow herd of his own. In fact, he says his greatest accomplishment is owning four cows of his own, which he gets to keep the calves off of each year. 

Ryden started this herd with his very first show heifer, which he showed nearly five years ago. He also proudly shares he gets to brand his cattle with his own personal RP brand.

Like many cattlemen, Ryden has had to overcome challenges that come with growing up on a ranch and being in charge of his own herd.

“Challenges have included pulling calves, getting equipment unstuck and spending long days sorting cows,” he shares. However, when the going gets tough, he says, “I remember not to give up and to always finish what I start.” 

When he isn’t hard at work on the ranch, Ryden enjoys playing basketball, downhill skiing, snowmachining, creating leather work and riding his dirt bike.

Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.