and pay the mortgage off on the land. “And our land is debt-free today. It was an enormous thing to be able to do and the cattle did it. I have to give credit to my husband. He really worked hard on the marketing of the cattle and the financial end of things to make it happen.” The only thing Wilson has on her bucket list is raising and show- ing Southdown sheep. She has a big heart for sheep and routinely shows at the Nebraska State Fair. For 11 years, Wilson has attended the Nebraska State Fair and has nine reserve champion rosettes for her efforts. The champion title remains elusive for Wilson, but she says they have “done pretty well for what our little, tiny flock is.” Richard and Patti started out ranch- ing from scratch, which is a thing everyone advises against, Patti says, and she wishes they wouldn’t. “We did not inherit anything. We did this all on our own and it was tough. Our place here is what we built together, and it took our whole lives,” Wilson says.“We have repeatedly heard that you can’t do this unless you inherit or work with your folks. And that is just not true. It is hard, and it might require a job on the side, and it may take your whole life, but just be patient. It can be done.”
Patti Wilson ranches with her husband, Richard, in central Nebraska. The couple is shown here along with grandson Miles Burch. Photo courtesy Patti Wilson
And that is a story worth writing.
This article first appeared in The Cattle Business Weekly. Reprinted with permission.
Patti showed the Reserve Champion Angus Heifer at Ak-Sar-Ben in 1973. Photo courtesy Patti Wilson
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