From the suburbs of Madison, N.J., to the rugged terrains of Idaho, Ian Skinner’s journey to becoming a cowboy was as unexpected as it was inspiring. Growing up, he was captivated by Westerns and family stories of his great-grandfather’s adventures in Wyoming, sparking a dream that seemed far from his suburban reality.
In the summer of 2025, Skinner’s dream took shape at Alderspring Ranch in Idaho, where he interned from late June to late August. This wasn’t just any ranch; Alderspring is renowned for its focus on sustainability and regenerative grazing, where cattle not only rely on pasture but also enhance the land’s condition.
With over 500 candidates vying for the internship, Skinner’s background at Binghamton University was a decisive factor. His experience in sustainable agriculture, gained through an independent study with Assistant Professor Amy Churchill, set him apart.
The previous summer, Skinner participated in a program in New Hampshire’s White Mountains with the World Trails Network, which fosters international collaboration to protect hiking trails. Living outdoors for an extended period was a crucial experience for his future role at Alderspring.
“I don’t think I would have been selected without those two, and both of those happened because I go to Binghamton,” Skinner stated.
However, Skinner faced a challenge: learning to ride a horse, which was not a skill he could acquire on campus. Determined, he promised Alderspring he would gain the necessary experience. He volunteered at a local barn, exchanging stall cleaning for horseback riding lessons.
“It allowed me not to die, and there were definitely some points where I could have,” Skinner remarked about his horseback skills. “I could do everything I needed to do without supervision.”
Life on a Sustainable Ranch
At Alderspring, sustainable grazing demanded intensive labor, moving cattle to protect ecological areas. The ranch also engages in traditional farming, growing hay to feed cattle in winter. Interestingly, cows wrap their tongues around grass to eat, leaving 40% behind to regrow, which aids soil regeneration.
“That also means that regenerative grazing operations sequester more carbon into the soil than what they output; instead of carbon neutral, they’re net negative,” Skinner explained.
Interns split their time between ranch tasks, like bottle-feeding calves, and working in the Sawtooth Range, where cattle graze. The routine involved early mornings and late nights, moving cattle in a wheel-and-spoke pattern to maintain sustainability.
“You ride out, you get the cows from the night pen, and you move them out, which is like trying to herd cats; it’s so difficult,” Skinner recounted. With cowboy hats being essential for sun protection, Skinner admits, “I do still have the hat and, yes, I wear it sometimes.”
What a Bad Day Can Teach You
Ensuring cows stay out of streams is vital for the environment. On one sweltering day, Skinner battled to keep the cows away from a creek, his radio dead and his horse exhausted. After alerting his team for help, he faced another challenge: sixty more cows headed for the stream.
“It was like something out of a movie; I was roping cows with a lasso,” Skinner recalled. His horse later returned to camp, leaving Skinner to walk back on foot. Despite the tough day, he now laughs about the experience, which taught him resilience.
As Skinner ponders his future beyond graduation, he reflects on the grit and independence he gained at Alderspring. Whether it’s playing hockey in Germany, attending law school, or another adventure on the range, the open skies mirror his open possibilities. “It forced me to develop an insane level of maturity and grit and independence,” he said. “I realized that I had no idea how comfortable someone could be by themselves until I did this internship — and the maturity of rolling with the punches.”
Original Story at www.binghamton.edu