A Perfect Herd, A Fantasy Ranch
NORTH DAKOTA - Cattle ranching is a demanding, expensive, messy and time-consuming industry. It takes a rancher many years to achieve the perfect herd. However, many NDSU students’ passions lie within the ranching field. A new virtual ranch sponsored by Collegiate FFA is allowing students to try their hand at achieving their perfect herd – all online.
17 October 2007
2 minute read
“This is a great way to learn something about the industry, hone your skills in a specific area, or just have some fun, all the while competing for the chance to win money,”
Lesley Kirschten
“Fantasy Ranch” started yesterday, but the club is extending signups until Friday, Oct. 19 at 5 p.m. The program runs through December 3. To sign up, contact Lesley Kirschten at [email protected]. Half of the $10 entrance fee will go towards prizes for the top ranchers.
After signing up, ranchers will start with $10,000, four heifers and one bull. From there the rancher will have the freedom to participate in auctions and cattle shows, sell their cattle at a feed lot and participate in embryo transfer and artificial insemination. Because the program is online, participants will only have to wait for a one-week gestation period – instead of a cumbersome nine months as in real life. With 12 different breeds available and endless crossbreeding options, “Fantasy Ranch” will allow participants to build their own brand of cattle.
No special software or background knowledge in the industry is necessary to participate in the program. Kirschten said professors who use the site to teach will have guidelines to help inexperienced students out.
“This is a great way to learn something about the industry, hone your skills in a specific area, or just have some fun, all the while competing for the chance to win money,” Kirschten said. Ranchers will earn show points for various activities throughout the competition. At the end, standings in several different categories will determine the winners of the prizes.
This is the first year the program has been offered at NDSU, however showcattle.com has been using this program for the past few years. What started out just for fun has turned into a real tool that teachers use in the classroom to help students gain experience in the industry.
“It is very educational because you get to look at several aspects of the industry: EPD’s, genetics, feeding, showing, etc., all from your computer,” Kirschten said.
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