Ranching in the West: Engler Director Dr. Tom Field kicks off UW annual seminar series
The University of Wyoming (UW) Ranching in the West Seminar Series kicked off on Feb. 12 with a presentation by Dr. Tom Field, director of the Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.
Titled “Cattle Drives and Quests – Lessons for Entrepreneurs,” Field’s presentation translated principles learned from ranching and rural life to strategies for young agriculturists looking to get started in entrepreneurial endeavors.
About Engler
The Engler Agribusiness Entrepreneurship Program provides experiential, community-based learning opportunities for college students built on core principles which encourage participants to dive into learning and business opportunities head first and hands on.
As the program director, Field works with students to develop their potential as community leaders and business owners.
He is passionate about free enterprise and cultivating opportunities for young people in agriculture and rural communities and has earned international recognition as an innovative educator who excels in connecting the dots between people, industries and ideas.
Gratitude and goals
Throughout his presentation, Field shared several principles of entrepreneurship which coincides with lessons learned from ranching and rural life.
His first recommendation to young entrepreneurs was to lead with gratitude when thinking about goals. To frame this concept, he shared an analogy of starting young horses.
“If you try to start out on a broncy horse with a bad attitude, neither one of you is going to have a good day,” Field stated. “When we start from a place of gratitude, we tend to do better.”
Field emphasized cultivating an attitude of gratitude can help make the hard days easier in the midst of tough conditions, in ranching as well as other industries.
Shaping perspective
Next, Field turned his comments to the importance of perspective. He emphasized the principles of business management and entrepreneurship comes down to understanding one’s personal worldview and approaching problems from new perspectives.
“Seeking to understand should be your first goal,” Field stated, adding accomplishing true understanding comes down to navigating two core principles – context and perspective.
According to Field, context sets the stage and defines the boundaries for approaching a problem, while perspective shapes the problem-solving process.
“Perspective is subjective,” Field emphasized. “We all have different expectations, and if we depend only on our own perspective, we are probably not going to find the truth.”
He encouraged attendees to take a holistic approach to problem solving, encouraging them to welcome opinions and perspectives of others while working towards a solution.
Mindset and motivation
Field also emphasized the importance of self-motivation and accountability in achieving goals.
He encouraged attendees to live by the exclamation point rather than the question mark, cultivating an attitude of action instead of endless theorizing.
He also encouraged attendees to set goals to aid in self-development and to allow flexibility along their career paths or “quests.”
“Those who complete a quest do not merely find something, they become something,” Field said. “The question driving us should be who we are becoming, not what. What we do matters, but it’s not who we are.”
Field also shared advice on overcoming obstacles, including “slaying the dragons” of doubt, economic hardship and comparison through a willingness to learn from mistakes and persevere.
“Sooner or later, everybody runs into something bigger than they are,” Field stated. “We have to be able to adjust and learn from every wreck and try to minimize the next one.”
Team effort
Finally, Field emphasized the importance of building relationships with other people – in business and in life.
Relationships are crucial in providing moral support and accountability, Field stressed, which are both important aspects of building a business and achieving a full life.
He noted in cowboy culture, there is often a romanticized version of independence and solitude which can become dangerous when taken to extremes.
He reminded the audience there comes a time when bull riders depend on bull fighters, and bronc riders need the help of a pickup man.
“Every second spent developing relationships in real time will be important to your lives,” Field concluded. “Don’t go at it alone.”
Ranching in the West
The 2026 Ranching in the West Seminar Series is a four-part series organized under UW’s College of Agriculture, Life Sciences and Natural Resources Ranch Management and Leadership (RMAL) program.
The series invites college students and members of the public to explore topics including agricultural entrepreneurship, innovation and land stewardship through three evening seminars and a daylong conference.
The seminars last two hours and are available both in person and online, while the culminating conference will be held in person.
Remaining seminar speakers include Ben Hostetler and Ike Eastman, who will share their respective experiences working in wool processing and wildlife media during presentations scheduled for Feb. 26 and March 26.
The series will conclude on April 15 with the Rocky Mountain Land and Resource Management Conference, featuring presentations and a panel discussion on land use and resource management in the West, as well as a keynote address from Gov. Mark Gordon.
Grace Skavdahl is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.
