Life as a rancher is always an adventure, and every day seems to add another chapter to the saga. But nothing quite compares to the day my aunt Shelli and I loaded up our Wensleydale sheep, Lil’ Bet and Tilly, for a trip to Ranger, Texas, to get them artificially inseminated. If you’re picturing two young women in rubber boots wrangling livestock and a trailer while juggling family commitments, well, you’re on the right track.
The day started early—too early—because ranch life doesn’t wait for anyone. Our niece, Raelea, had basketball practice at 6 a.m., and since we only had one working truck on the ranch (thanks to a deer and a tee post, but we’ll save that story for another time), it was all hands on deck. We were at the pens by 5 a.m. sharp to load up the sheep, aiming to be off in time for the drop-off at practice.
But of course, Tilly decided to test our patience and our cardio. As we tried to guide her into the makeshift trailer chute, she slipped through a crack in the boards. There we were, in the pre-dawn darkness, sprinting after a rogue ewe in our rubber boots. Let me tell you, there’s no wake-up call quite like chasing a sheep in circles before sunrise.
After finally wrangling Tilly and getting her secured, we sped off to basketball practice, pulling into the gym parking lot with just two minutes to spare. Raelea hopped out, probably rolling her eyes at her frazzled chauffeurs, while Shelli and I exchanged a look that said, “Well, that was something.”
With our first mission accomplished, we started the trek to Ranger—a 4.5-hour drive that, when pulling a trailer, stretches closer to five. Naturally, we stopped at the Pilot for breakfast because no true rancher’s day begins without a gas station buffet of sausage patties and powdered eggs. Gourmet? No. Necessary? Absolutely.
The drive itself was surprisingly smooth. Lil’ Bet and Tilly must’ve been enjoying the ride because, for once, they were quiet. Shelli and I had a good laugh about how we’d come to this moment: two ranch newbies hauling sheep halfway across Texas for a procedure that sounded more scientific than agricultural. We were either very dedicated or slightly unhinged—or maybe a bit of both.
We rolled into Ranger ready for action, but the real entertainment began when I had to back the trailer into the facility’s working pens. You’d think I would be a trailer-backing pro after years of living on a ranch, but nope. Shelli and I took turns directing, waving our arms like airline ground crew. After what felt like 300 attempts, we finally got it right, and thankfully, there wasn’t much of an audience. Picture to show proof that I did in fact succesfully back the trailer into the working pens!
The AI process itself was quick and professional, leaving us hopeful for some lambs in a few months. With the sheep loaded back up and a successful visit under our belts, we could’ve called it a day. But no trip to the “big city” is complete without running some errands.
Our next stop was Home Depot, because what rancher doesn’t need a few supplies while they’re out and about? That’s when Lil’ Bet and Tilly decided to make their presence known, baa-ing loud enough to turn heads in the parking lot. People stopped to stare, some laughing, some bewildered, as we dashed in and out of the store, trying to act like two women hauling sheep in a trailer was the most normal thing in the world.
By the time we made it back to the ranch, we were exhausted but triumphant. The trip was a success, and Shelli and I agreed that we’d officially earned our rancher badges that day. Between the early morning chaos, the trailer gymnastics, and the sheep serenade at Home Depot, it was a day to remember—and something we will laugh about for years to come.
Lil’ Bet and Tilly are back in their pen now, hopefully gearing up to become proud mamas. As for Shelli and me? Well, we’re already bracing for the next adventure, because on the ranch, there’s never a dull moment.
