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What makes a great ranch employee, and how do you actually find and hire them?
Cracking the Code to the Ideal Ranch Employee
Finding and hiring the right people can be one of the most frustrating, and most rewarding, parts of ranch management.
In this episode of the Ranch Workforce Project, host Haylie Shipp of the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance and co-host Rachel Frost of the Dan Scott Ranch Management Program at Montana State University are joined by Dr. Trey Patterson, CEO of Padlock Ranch.
Together they discuss what it takes to recruit, interview, and hire great employees in today’s ranch workforce.
Dr. Patterson shares how Padlock Ranch approaches hiring, from writing clear job descriptions to conducting structured interviews that reveal more than what appears on a resume. Frost adds perspective from working with students preparing to enter the industry and explains why attitude, humility, and a willingness to learn often matter as much as technical skills.
The conversation also tackles an important question for ranch managers today. Are we creating the kinds of jobs people actually want, or are we simply frustrated that fewer people want the jobs we have always offered?
Topics discussed in this episode include:
• Why ranch labor challenges are not only about the work, but also about changing workforce expectations
• The importance of attitude, humility, and motivation when evaluating candidates
• How structured interviews can help reveal character and problem solving ability
• Why honesty about remote locations and job realities helps prevent hiring mismatches
• How intentional recruiting can help ranches build a stronger applicant pool
Resources and Links
Dan Scott Ranch Management Program
https://animalrange.montana.edu/danscott/
Padlock Ranch
https://padlockranch.com/
Dr. Trey Patterson on the Ranching Returns Podcast
https://podcasts.apple.com/ca/podcast/176-dr-trey-patterson-padlock-ranch/id1555361402?i=1000658419243
The Ranchers Stewardship Alliance (RSA) is a rancher-led, grassroots organization, dedicated to improving the quality of life for rural communities throughout the Northern Great Plains. Through collaborative conservation projects, rancher education events, and local community outreach, RSA works to strengthen our rural community, economy, and culture for generations to come.
For more on the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance, head to www.RanchStewards.org and follow us on Facebook and Instagram. Your feedback is always welcome. Email info@ranchstewards.org. Want to support our mission? Visit www.ranchstewards.org/support.
