Entry #2: Documentary on Cattle Drive

In rural communities, the cattle industry is quite prevalent. Over the last two classes, we watched a documentary on a particular cattle drive in America. Some of the families in the documentary had been ranching for generations, and it's very hard work. There are many cows to keep track of, and it takes a long time to transport the cattle from one place to another--for one family, the trip lasts thirteen days.

The cattle industry has become quite unstable over time. After a particularly harsh winter in the late 19th century, many cows died, resulting in widespread bankruptcy. Then, in the 20th century, federal agencies began taking control of the open land used for grazing. These are just a few examples of events that have heavily impacted the cattle industry. Ranches within the Green River Valley were particularly affected; at one point, there were twenty to thirty ranches in the Green River. Since then, because of increased gas prices and other economic pressures, the number of ranches in the Green River Valley has decreased significantly. 

In general, I don't know much about rural America, but it's interesting to know there's a whole industry in all that barren land. I wonder, if the industry stays on the decline, what will happen to independent ranches like the ones in the documentary? If they disappear, what will replace them, if anything does?

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