Women in Ag: Langley leads by example
Wyoming CattleWomen (WCW) President Becky Langley is passionate about bridging the gap between producers and the public while educating the next generation of agricultural leaders.
As a rancher, mother and agricultural advocate, she has built upon her experiences and education to blaze trails in the beef industry while redefining what it means to be a woman in ag.
Passion for ag
Langley grew up in a small town in northeastern Nebraska, experiencing “both sides of the coin” of food production while seeking out involvement with ag wherever possible.
“My grandparents had a family farm where they raised cattle and hogs, and my dad’s parents ran the local grocery store,” Langley notes. “I come from both sides of the coin – both the producer side and the getting food to the consumer side.”
She got involved with showing horses with the help of a neighbor and grew to love all aspects of caring for animals.
Even the monotonous work like mucking stalls and feeding provided an opportunity for learning and growth.
Langley credits her Aunt Angie as another important role model, recalling her ability to balance all aspects of ranch life from family care to fencing and make it look easy.
“My aunt got me interested in cattle in general,” Langley says. “She was always right beside her husband helping on the ranch, while also keeping people fed and doing the laundry, in addition to running a gymnastics business to help support the ranch.”
“She made everything look so easy, even though I know she was probably worn to the bone,” Langley continues.
Langley knew she wanted to build a career in agriculture, so after high school she headed for the University of Wyoming (UW) to pursue a bachelor’s degree in animal science, business and production.
At UW, she continued to seek out learning and involvement opportunities and even served as the Wyoming Beef Ambassador in 2009 and the National Beef Ambassador in 2010.
“While I was at UW, I did meats judging and took advantage of every opportunity I could,” Langley recalls. “I didn’t know exactly what the future held for me, but I knew I wanted to be in ag so I did everything I could to better myself and learn about the industry.”
This spirit of curiosity has continued to drive Langley throughout her career. After earning a master’s degree in cattle reproductive physiology from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Langley returned to Wyoming where she now ranches with her husband Daniel and their two sons, as well as her mother-in-law, Denise.
Additionally, Langley helps facilitate learning opportunities for the next generation of producers through her role with WCW.
Education and advocacy
WCW has developed immensely in the 85 years since its inception, evolving from a social group for ranch wives to an educational organization aimed at bridging the gap between producers and the public while fostering community.
The organization was the first state cattlewomen’s group ever established and continues to support several affiliate groups throughout the state.
Langley was appointed president in June of 2025 and will serve in the role until 2027.
One of her main goals as president is to increase the organization’s role in educating the public about beef production.
She has hit the ground running, prioritizing community involvement with attendance at events like the Wyoming Women in Agr Symposium and Wyoming State Fair, and pouring into the Beef Ambassador program.
This program helps create opportunities for young producers to develop public speaking skills and networking opportunities in hopes of preparing the next generation to be effective advocates for agriculture.
“As cattlewomen, we want to be out there educating but we don’t necessarily always have time between all of the things we are juggling,” Langley says. “The Beef Ambassador program is a way for us to grow advocates for the beef industry and help our organization at the same time.”
When it comes to advice for young producers, Langley says getting involved is the first step. She also emphasizes keeping an open mind, starting conversations and learning from other people’s perspectives are some of the most valuable ways to plant roots in the industry.
“I think it’s important to get involved because you learn something different from everyone and you find role models,” Langley states.
She also notes taking the initiative to join ag groups and voice opinions can create opportunities for networking and decision-making, even if it feels uncomfortable at first.
“If you want to help make important decisions, you need to get involved,” Langley emphasizes. “Taking risks is just a part of being in ag – it’s a high-risk business, but it’s also high-reward.”
Doing the work
In addition to her role with WCW, Langley takes immense pride in her work as a rancher.
Ranching is the culmination of a dream planted years ago – the result of years of perseverance and dedication.
“I used to think of a cattlewoman as the lady who supported the family in the kitchen and made sure everything was ready to go, but now I feel like it’s changed,” Langley says. “We’re right alongside the men doing the work too.”
Langley notes much of the day-to-day ranch work is managed by herself and her mother-in-law, and even if their methods are unconventional at times, they always find a way to get things done.
“There’s really nothing a woman can’t do if she puts her mind to it,” Langley concludes.
Grace Skavdahl is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
