Ranch Management Minor

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Program Coordinator/Contact

Cody Wright, Professor
Department of Animal Sciences
Animal Science Complex 212
605-688-5448

Nicole Klein, Associate Director
Ness School of Management and Economics
Harding Hall
605-688-4141

Alexander (Sandy) Smart, Assistant Department Head and Professor
Department of Natural Resource Management
Animal Science Complex, Room 219
605-688-6121

Program Information

A minor in Ranch Management will provide students with a broad, cross-disciplinary training that integrates financial management, grassland management, and livestock management. Each of these components is critical to the success of ranching enterprises. The minor will provide students with a breadth of knowledge critical for success as a ranch manager.

Student Learning Outcomes

Students completing a Ranch Management minor will be able to:

develop a complete ranch management plan including a vision statement, key assumptions, marketing plan, operational plan, and financial plan.
describe and implement best management practices for financial data collection, reports and analysis.
describe and implement best management practices for grassland ecosystems.
describe and implement best management practices for animal husbandry practices for their species of choice.

Course Delivery Format

The Ranch Management minor provides hands-on experiences in the classroom, laboratories, and field trips.

Requirements for Ranch Management Minor: 18 Credits

AGEC 271 - Farm and Ranch Management Credits: 3
or AGEC 471-571 - Advanced Farm & Ranch Management Credits: 3
AS / RANG 215 - Introduction to Integrated Ranch Management Credits: 3
RANG 205 - Introduction to Range Management [SGR #6] Credits: 3

Select from the following

Select 3 courses from the following, at least one must be prefixed AGEC, and at least one must be prefixed AS. Credits: 9-10

AGEC 271 - Farm and Ranch Management Credits: 3 (if not used above)
AGEC 354 - Agricultural Marketing and Prices Credits: 3
AGEC 471-571 - Advanced Farm & Ranch Management Credits: 3 (if not used above)
AS 264 - Ruminant Livestock Production Credits: 3
AS 474-474L - Cow/Calf Management and Lab Credits: 3
AS 476-476L - Horse Production and Lab Credits: 3
AS 477-477L - Sheep and Wool Production and Lab Credits: 3
RANG 321 - Wildland Ecosystems Credits: 3
RANG 374-374L - Habitat Conservation and Management and Lab Credits: 4
RANG 421-521 - Grassland Fire Ecology Credits: 3