'New Cowgirl Camps' expanding to keep up with demand

Another successful season of "New Cowgirl Camps" recently concluded, and more sessions are being planned. "It turns out there are a whole bunch of women out there who are curious about ranching," said Beth Robinette, the Cheney, Wash., rancher who, with retired veterinarian Sandy Matheson, puts on the event. The camp provides an introduction to ranching for women. Topics include holistic management, low-stress livestock handling, animal husbandry, fencing and facilities, and business and financial planning. Robinette and Matheson held two workshops this year, in June and August. They typically draw 11 to 15 people for each session. This was the camp's third year. This year, they added a demonstration on sheepdog herding and cattle roping. Their inclusion in a New York Times article about the growing number of female ranchers also increased attention. Robinette and Matheson offered the second camp to accommodate the increased interest. Participants this year ranged from a fifth-generation rancher taking over her family operation to a retired airline pilot looking for a second career...MORE