You never know what you might find in the middle of 32,000 acres and in this case, it was a mom, two sons, a daughter and a ranch foreman who make the Thomas Pinon Ranch turn on its proverbial axis. Nancy Thomas has lived on the sprawling ranch with her children, Daniel 18, Elsie, 14 and Micah, 11, since August 2007, when her doctor husband, John Thomas, purchased the operation from another local rancher. John Thomas resides in Van Horn, Texas, where he practices medicine. "I find a great deal of satisfaction in my personal accomplishments for both myself and my children," said Nancy. "I don't fear being alone." That's a good thing, because in the days between the doctor's bi-weekly weekend visits, Nancy, her kids and foreman Bob York keep the operation running smoothly on land that's interlaced with the Lincoln National Forest. All but 1,500 acres of the ranch is leased from the Forest Service, said Nancy. "I really enjoy my lifestyle because, at heart, I think I was born a pioneer woman," she said. "The challenges to me are invigorating and I have a deep sense of satisfaction at the end of every day." Thomas Pinon Ranch is home to about 260 head, mostly Brangus and F-1s, a cross of two separate breeds. The gathering and cattle works is a family affair and a favorite time on the ranch. Micah said he enjoys gathering cows and Elsie agreed, although she said she has participated in nearly every activity, including castrating, vaccinating and getting the ear tags ready. Nearly every animal on the ranch has a purpose, from the lipless llama to the cat. Nancy buys 50 fryer chickens every spring to be butchered eight weeks later. The process of butchering usually takes about four days and no one is exempt from helping...Silver City Sun-News
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