Ranching School Focuses On Profit

Ranching School Focuses On Profit SPECIALTY/SERVICES Understandable language and focus on profit are key components in weeklong Ranching for Profit courses put on by Dave and Kathy Pratt and their team The goal: help ranchers and farmers be profitable nurture healthier soil and livestock and - as a result - be happier “The focus is business ” Dave Pratt says “One thing about us is the comprehensive nature of what we do We have to talk about finance and we also talk about people In ranching the grass business is about capturing solar energy So we need to get into grazing nutrition and soil health And we are never far away from the economic and financial part ” The weeklong Ranching for Profit school allows time for participants to learn in depth – about cow profitability and cow depreciation the benefits of cell grazing and matching the calving season to the forage cycle; and the concept of having a disposable herd for example “The heart and soul of our students are multigenerational ranch owners with between 200 and 2 000 cows ” Pratt says But the school also attracts feedlot and large ranch owners and producers of other livestock such as bison and sheep The school is offered about 5 times a year in various cities in December and January and costs $2 750 for the first person and $2 000 for the second person students are often married couples The worksheets they fill out ahead of time and interaction with the other 40 to 50 students in the class also provide valuable information “One thing that makes us unique is the follow-up we do ” Pratt says With its Executive Link chapters he organizes Ranching For Profit School alumni into boards Board members review each other’s operations offer recommendations to increase profitability and hold one another accountable to take action Pratt estimates he has visited more than 400 ranches in the past 10 years as part of the Executive Link program He says he also posts online information through Profit Tips a free subscription to anyone who signs up through the website For samplings of what the school provides the Pratts are available for association and business sponsored half-day or full-day workshops that focus on specific issues Pratt welcomes inquiries from groups that need speakers to fill out an event He has owned Ranch Management Consultants since 2001 and taught for the previous owner since 1992 More than 200 school sessions have been held since the company was founded in 1980 Many students return to attend the school a second and third time Pratt says as a refresher and to meet changing needs of their operation Check out the website for school sessions and to contact Pratt about workshop options Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Dave and Kathy Pratt Ranch Management Consultants Inc and the Ranching For Profit School 953 Linden Ave Fairfield Calif 94533 ph 707 429-2292; www ranchmanagement com; pratt@ranchmanagement com

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