Couple showcases ranch-raised kids through series of publications It all started in 2016 at the Arizona Cowpunchers Reunion Association Rodeo in Williams, Ariz. After traveling the world together, photographing and writing about exciting places, couple Seth Joel and Charlie Holland of Seth Joel Photography found themselves somewhat “out of place” but also inspired and welcomed by the Southwest ranching community. The response when they got home to Los Angeles and shared their travels was, “Wow, I didn’t know people still did that.” So, Joel and Holland set out on their newest adventure – a project dedicated to informing people “who are not from around here” about how cattle are raised and who does the work in this day and age. “We were invited to watch some kids compete and were amazed to find they had 200 friends, all as polite, talented and fun as they were. They were dressed like 19th century cowboys, but they had cell phones in their pockets,” reminisced Holland. “They lived 35 miles off the road but were well-educated. We wanted to know more about them and tell the story of contemporary ranching through their eyes – as they see themselves.” Joel and Holland’s work began in Arizona, moved to California, and now they have a third installment – New Mexico – with a set of coffee table books with photographs, quotes and stories of youth as diverse as the landscapes they’re raised on. “Our goal is to capture, in pictures and words, the work and lifestyle of families who raise cattle. Telling their stories through the eyes and words of their kids is our way of showing our respect and faith in the future of ranching in America,” explained Holland. Publications The first book, “Arizona Ranch Raised Kids,” was published in 2018 with the support of the Arizona Cattle Growers’ Association and the Arizona Cattle Industry Foundation. From photographs to the shared stories and words, straight from the mouths of ranch-raised kids, the couple said they were struck by the resourcefulness of the ranchers and animals in Arizona. “We understood cattle ranching in Arizona uses land which is not suitable for any other agricultural use. This makes for some tough cowboying,” note Joel and Holland. The second book, “California Ranch Raised Kids,” was published in 2020 in partnership with the California Cattlemen’s Foundation and the California CattleWomen. “In California we were
struck by how much ranchland was being lost to development and how ranchers were being squeezed by urban sprawl,” said Joel and Holland. “Very few ranches have contiguous pastures. They haul a lot.” New Mexico is the most recent stop in Joel and Holland’s “Ranch Raised Kids” journey. In partnership with the Cattlegrowers’ Foundation, they have photographed and interviewed kids on 25 ranches in areas of New Mexico. The newest book, “New Mexico Ranch Raised Kids,” will be published in fall of 2023. “In New Mexico, we understood how vulnerable the ranching business is to the uncontrollable weather. Kind-hearted caretaker – “People think we are cruel to our animals, but we are not. We try our hardest to take care of them and give them Extremes of heat, drought, a good life,” says Kyle Fowie, pictured, a 12-year-old and fifth generation rancher on the KK Bar Ranches in Etena, Calif. Seth Joel photo cold and wind affect the outcome of the cattle business in clear, hard ways. Large, vast parcels of land are still intact, the remains or the reforming of old Spanish land grants,” wrote Joel and Holland. Ranch-raised kids are special When asked how ranchraised kids might be different, Holland answered, “Instead of saying how they differ from ‘urban kids,’ let’s just talk about the things that Inspiring rancher – “I never thought about anything else. From the Little horsemen – “I will ride or walk as far as I need to – to fish,” day someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I said make them special.” A few of the reasons Joel ‘rancher,’” says 18-year-old Ryan Klump, pictured, of Dos Cabezas says Tommy Fogarty, 10, pictured with his sister Rissa at the Anchor Ranch in Lone Pine, Calif. Seth Joel photo Cattle Company in Cowie, Ariz. Seth Joel photo and Holland believe ranchquite finished. raised kids. raised kids are so special are mature because they learn nity to earn trust. “We will continue to Heidi Crnkovic is They do things other to intuit how large, speechas follows. kids are not allowed to do tell the story of ranching, the associate editor for They are not afraid to less animals will act. They are given respon- because they need to be through the unique and AGDAILY. She is a New get dirty. Kids who live far out of sibility, so they take able to pull their weight in shared experiences of kids Mexico native with deepan emergency, they do dan- being brought up in this seated roots in the Southtown are not lonely – they responsibility. west and a passion for all They are mature beyond gerous work and they don’t life,” Holland said. are happy for the peace. The couple has their things agriculture. This quit until the work is done. They do not consider their years. sights set on Florida – a article was originally pubFuture work They are comfortable being polite a burden. They According to Joel state steeped in history and lished in AGDAILY on would rather be polite than working with adults. They are trusted because and Holland, the work of cattle, with its own unique Dec. 19, 2022 and can be right. P They OW E R are F U L emotionally B U L L S W I T they H E are L E Ggiven A N T the F EopportuM A L E S - “Ranch Raised Kids” isn’t topography and ranch- found at agdaily.com.
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