Meet this unique mom with an incredible story.

Anne Burkholder is a wife, mother of 3 young children, and cattle feedyard owner and operator with 3,000 cattle. Talk about multitasking! Before she met her husband at Dartmouth, she had no idea this would be her life.

Momlogic wrangled some time out of Anne to ask her a few questions about life as a cowboy mom.

ML: What did you study at Dartmouth, and are you applying any of it to your current job?

Anne: I studied psychology at Dartmouth College, and the theories and concepts have been incredibly useful to me as a cattle rancher and owner and manager of Will Feed Inc., a feedyard business. My studies at Dartmouth taught me how to think and to problem-solve, and I use those skills every day. My family and I are in the business of caring for animals. My education has allowed me to be a more competent caregiver to my animals and to be the best possible manager and leader of my employees.

ML: How did you meet your husband?

Anne: Matt and I met at Dartmouth. He played football and studied engineering (he was finishing his master's degree in the spring of 1997 when I finished my undergraduate degree). I competed on Dartmouth's swim team, so we shared a love for sports and a love for the outdoors. When we decided to get married, we also decided we wanted to live in rural America and work in agriculture. I had always loved being around animals, and I fell in love with farm life in Nebraska. It is wonderful to work in a profession where you can seal a deal on a man's word and handshake. My husband and I knew we wanted to raise our children in a place where they would learn personal responsibility, which is a required component of caring for animals. In addition, our family takes great pride in the knowledge that our hard work enables families all across the United States and the world to have safe and wholesome beef to eat.

ML: Describe your average day.

Anne: Mother Nature has a way of making sure I don't have an average day! My day begins caring for my horses at the house before heading 3 miles down the road to our cattle feedyard. We "read bunks" at 7 AM, which involves checking the cattle to make sure they are safe and healthy and have clean water; and determining how much feed to give each group of animals. Most beef cattle spend four to six months in a feedyard like mine just prior to harvest. My three daughters (Ashley Grace, 9, Megan, 7, and Karyn, 5) get up early with me and begin their day at the feedyard before heading to school. At 8 AM, we start feeding the cattle a balanced, grain-based feed ration. Throughout the day, I work with cattle buyers and sellers, keep up on paperwork, and exercise and vaccinate cattle that have just arrived at the feedyard. My job also involves working with outside experts like nutritionists, veterinarians, and environmentalists, as well as the people on my crew, to ensure the health and well-being of all our cattle. The cattle receive their second meal at 2 PM before I pick up my daughters from school. Evenings are filled with homework, dinner, and farm chores. Cattle farming isn't a 9 to 5 job; it's not glamorous. But it's a lifestyle that I love because I get to care for my animals and the environment while providing food for my family and other families all across the world.

ML: What was your first day on the farm like without any prior farmhand experience? We're guessing it was full of surprises!

Anne: Like many people who start something new, my day was filled with nerves! I had no idea about how cattle farming worked, but I began with an open mind and a determination to learn; and I spent a lot of time working "hands on" with the animals. To be honest, the care that our animals are given greatly exceeded my expectations. I got involved with the beef industry's Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program right after I started at Will Feed Inc. in 1997. This program outlines essential elements for cattle care and provides beef ranchers like me with the tools and training necessary to assure animal health and well-being. I love to learn (continuing education is very important to me!), and BQA gives me the tools to keep learning about animal care and to be a good decision-maker.

ML: You are a true advocate for animal welfare and the environment. Tell us about your charity work and group associations.

Anne: Living in rural Nebraska has turned me into an advocate! Our land is beautiful, and our beef farmers have both great integrity and compassion for animals and the environment. I didn't grow up in agriculture, so I can see how things get misconstrued and misrepresented to consumers. I not only have a personal responsibility to provide quality care to my animals, but also to stand up and set the record straight when I see or hear misinformation about agriculture. I do not believe that raising cattle is my "job" -- I believe it is my "calling." I focus on good cattle care in order to ensure the beef my cattle produce is safe, nutritious, and delicious. It is a heady, yet sobering feeling to know that every decision I make will not only affect my animals, but also the quality of the beef that I feed my children (and you feed your children). I take that responsibility very seriously. One of the things I tell people is if you want the truth about American beef production, please visit my feedyard in Nebraska or find a cattle farm or ranch in your state. You won't find a "factory farm" as the media likes to depict us, but you will find a family. And families are the real story behind American agriculture.

I am highly involved in the beef industry's Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) program, both in Nebraska and at the national level. This year, I had the distinct honor of receiving the very first National BQA Award. This award rewards leaders in the industry who exemplify BQA principles and share their outstanding individual practices with the broader industry. I spend a lot of time working to promote good quality animal care practices throughout Nebraska and across the United States. I also work within my community to educate young people: hosting "farm days" for our local school, coaching soccer and T-ball, and teaching Sunday school. I believe in our youth, and I want to make a difference -- both within the field of agriculture and in my community.

ML: What kind of lessons does living on the farm teach your children?

Anne: My favorite expression is "Take the time it takes to do it right." As much as my children groan when they hear me say it, living on a farm allows them to understand why the expression is so important. We care for live animals (both at our house and at the cattle feedyard), and that requires working all 365 days of the year. The work ethic and personal pride that my children learn caring for animals teaches them life lessons that will make them successful no matter what they choose to do when they grow up. Every day they continue to develop a tremendous respect for the earth and the animals that inhabit it. Seeing first-hand mother nature and the challenges she brings teaches the girls patience, respect, and responsibility. Additionally, they realize in a very practical sense "where their food comes from." The best thing about what I do every day is that I can share it with my children. We are a family agricultural operation, and we are all involved and work together. It is very rewarding for the girls to realize how important their contributions to our "family team" are: whether it is feeding the dogs, cats, and horses at home or helping to exercise calves or riding in the feed truck at the cattle feedyard.

ML: Being a mom is a big job on its own, so how do you balance your time between work and family?

Anne: Some days it is all one big blur! Living on a farm is a very unique lifestyle and one that lends itself to family. My girls spend a lot of time with me while I work, and I think that makes our family stronger. They also spend quite a bit of time with their daddy, which is very special. The girls learn different things from each of us, and their time with Matt is very important (whether that is at home while I am at work or riding along with him while he works at his alfalfa farming operation). We also are blessed to have Matt's parents close, and they help with the girls quite a bit. As the girls get older, it is easier -- but our lives are very busy.

The biggest challenge for me is finding some time for myself. I love to work with horses and find that having time alone with my horses allows me to be more emotionally centered. That, in turn, helps me to both be a better mom and to more effectively manage my business. It is important to find time for yourself, and I try to make that a priority.

ML: What advice can you give to moms out there?

Anne: I am an American; I am a wife; I am a mother; I am a cattle farmer. I wear many hats, and I wear them all with pride. I may not live near you, and my days may not be spent doing exactly the same things as you, but we face many of the same challenges, and we all share a great love for our children.

Have faith and trust in me and the rest of the families that make up the American beef industry. We care about our animals, we care about the environment, and we focus on good management practices to ensure that the beef we produce is safe and healthy. Remember, we are feeding our children the same food you feed yours!