Women in Ag: McStay blazes trails in Wyoming ag
As the summer sun settles over northwest Wyoming’s high country where fat red cows graze contently, Maggie McStay feels right where she belongs.
“It sounds cheesy, but there’s really no better view than when you’re up on the mountain seeing your cows grazing, knowing all of the work it takes to get there. It’s really rewarding, and I’m very blessed and grateful for it,” she says.
At just 22 years old, this view represents the grit, determination and heart McStay has poured into her journey blazing a trail as a young, first-generation rancher in the Cowboy State and a steadfast advocate of the nation’s agriculture industry.
Building from the ground up
For McStay, agriculture is not something she was born into. It is a passion she has built from the ground up.
Originally from Dubois, she notes she grew up with horses, hunting and enjoying the great outdoors, but livestock was a whole new frontier.
“When I was eight years old, I really wanted to do 4-H, so we went to Idaho and found some pigs. Let me tell you, that first year was a disaster if I’m being honest,” she laughs. “My family and I got through it though, and after that, I was hooked.”
From then on, McStay remained active in 4-H and FFA throughout high school, finding a natural talent for livestock judging, which she pursued at the collegiate level. While competing in shows across the nation, she developed an eye for quality livestock and a deep respect for the people who raise them.
She also credits her judging experiences for teaching her more than just livestock evaluation, noting she gained confidence, experience and a network of people who share her unwavering passion for agriculture.
“Livestock judging took so much time and energy, and I was very passionate about it,” McStay shares. “Being able to get an education was awesome, but it was more rewarding to travel the country with my team, learning and seeing different operations.”
“It really instilled the importance of focusing on your own thing because everybody has different goals,” she adds. “It doesn’t matter if a person has 30 head, 300 head or 3,000 head – one can find success from different viewpoints. Just being able to grasp this was by far my favorite milestone.”
Today, McStay is the assistant livestock judging coach at Northwest College in Powell, where she helps students foster their own skills and passion for the industry.
She also continues to travel around the country judging livestock at jackpots and county fairs.
“This past summer, I went from Oregon to Indiana and so many states in between,” she says. “It’s super fun, especially to see the kids, because that’s ultimately why we do it.”
In addition to her judging career, McStay manages her own Red Angus herd, a venture she started after receiving two heifers as a birthday gift.
Although her operation is in its small, beginning stages, she is working to expand, utilizing artificial insemination and quality herd sires, as well as her background in livestock judging to make sound breeding decisions.
Each summer, her cattle graze atop the mountain ranges of northwest Wyoming, something she says is a highlight of her year.
“There’s nothing more nostalgic than seeing your own cows run on the mountain in the Wyoming summer,” she states.
Championing the ag community
Outside of coaching and running her own cattle, McStay has made a name for herself as a dedicated advocate to the agriculture industry in Wyoming and beyond.
She is an active member of multiple organizations including Wyoming CattleWomen, American National Cattlewomen (ANCW) and the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA).
Earlier this year, she received an NCBA scholarship to attend the national Cattle Industry Convention in Texas, where she was able to connect with producers from across the U.S.
She also helped organize and participate in the Women in Ranching, Education and Development (W.I.R.E.D.) event in Laramie, a hands-on workshop hosted by ANCW and the Noble Research Institute where women learn about everything from grazing and fencing to equipment handling and animal health.
Additionally, she interned with the Wyoming Wool Growers Association this summer during its annual Wyoming Sheep and Wool Festival in Buffalo.
“I don’t have a background with sheep, nor do I raise sheep currently, but lamb and wool are such important commodities in Wyoming. It was so fun to meet with producers and learn more about the industry,” she shares.
Learning, growing, thriving
As a first-generation rancher, McStay notes her journey in the industry has come with its fair share of challenges, including finding pasture and making sure her cows get bred.
“Those are just a few of the things that weigh on me,” she admits. “I’m usually the overthinking type so I probably put too much thought into it, but I’m so small scale, those little decisions really effect me.”
Despite still having a lot to learn, McStay remains optimistic and resilient and is quick to credit her success to a strong support system of mentors, peers and family members.
“I’ve been really blessed with great mentors and supportive parents,” she says. “My family never ran cattle, but they’ve been such a great support system.”
When it comes to giving advice to other young, female ranchers, McStay says, “Keep learning. Keep pushing. Keep improving. No matter what, you can always do better. It’s not always easy, but it does get easier. It’s so rewarding to look back and reflect on the growth you’ve made.”
In the meantime, McStay says she hopes to continue building her herd, sharing her passion for livestock judging with the next generation and soaking up every second of the journey.
Hannah Bugas is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
