The term “ranch wife” could be used to describe Connie Weishaar, but there is much more to this South Dakotan.

Growing up on the Evangelical Lutheran Church Ranch in Belfield, North Dakota, Connie Weishaar learned to ride, rope, brand and make her own way in life. She instilled the same drive in her children, Jodi and Seth. Today, she continues to be true to her heritage on the ranch she works with her husband, livestock auctioneer Lynn, in Reva, South Dakota.

As though calving more than 200 head of cattle each year was not a large enough task, Weishaar was the first woman to be elected to the regional Grand Electric Co-Op Board, where she served for 12 years. Still an all-around hand, this 70-year-old horsewoman is anything but stereotypical.

WOW Weishaar 1016
Photo by Darrell Dodds

GRANDDAD WAS BORN in 1860 in Illinois, ran away to Texas, and came up as wagon boss for the Sword and Dagger Ranch. He was 60 years old when my mom was born and died the year after I was born.

MY GRANDFATHER BOUGHT a couple of quarters near Belfield [North Dakota], and the ranch next to it was called the Evangelical Lutheran Church Ranch. Dad worked for them for 20 years. When the church ranch decided to sell out, Dad bought it.

I’VE GOT TWO younger brothers, Larry and Rocky. There wasn’t anyone else around, so we played together a lot. We were horseback all day, and the only rules we had were to be home by 6 and tell mom which pastures we were headed to. What a way to grow up, you know?

IT WAS JUST US KIDS working with Dad. We spent a lot of time with him; he was real laid back and encouraging.

MOM WAS REALLY AHEAD of her time. After she’d passed away, women would come up to me and say what a feminist and strong person she was. She did so much for me. Mom just didn’t do what other women did. If she felt like going out in the hay field, she went. If she felt like dressing up, she did.

WE RAISED AND BROKE HORSES. I had a little mare I’d ridden the summer before. I needed to go to the neighbors’ a couple of miles away, so I brought her up. I rode her in the pen a bit and headed out. I got through the first gate, and she bucked me off and took off running. She broke my leg. I knew nobody was home except my brother, and he was sleeping. So, I crawled back to the house where I was close enough he could hear me yell. My knees were just full of cactus after crawling that mile.

I MET LYNN in college at North Dakota State. After school, Lynn was ranching on a leased place in Bison [South Dakota]; we were there 13 years. I was teaching a lot then, home economics and basic needs. I tried to teach [students] there is more to the world than the limited view they have of high school. There is so much more out there to appreciate.

I STARTED BEING AT HOME to run the ranch when Lynn started traveling [to sales and auctions] so much. I was never able to go because I had the kids or calving or something was going on. The solitude has never bothered me much. I guess being raised on a ranch helped me out.

WE’RE A TIGHT COMMUNITY. I think the kids growing up thought they had a lot of mothers, and if they did something wrong, well, everyone would know. By the same token, if something was wrong everybody tried to help. It’s a nice feeling to have that kind of support.

MEN TEND TO HAVE A PLAN to do something—Plan A. I think women have Plan A, B, C, and something will work. You are a little more creative in how you get things done.

JODI WAS BORN in October, and that spring I packed her in front of me on the horse to check calves and such. When she was 3, we had a little pony I led her on. Then, by 4, she could ride a big horse all by herself, and Seth was 2, so he was riding by himself, too. You didn’t think that you were raising your kids different doing this kind of thing. I just had a lot to do and figured out how to get it done.

YOU KNOW, MULES have always fascinated me. I had Festus and he was phenomenal. One time, I was up trying to bring in this old Hereford who was just running through the rocks. He took out after her and I came back with blood running down my arms and neck— he was not letting her get away! He was cowy and fun to ride. It’s part of the fun to get a little grief riding my mules.

RANCHING IS A CREATIVE CAREER. I really always loved the ranch and always wanted to ranch. It gives you a really good base for life. It makes you able to meet a lot of people and do a lot of different things that not everybody can do.

2 Comments

  1. Blanche Schumacher Reply

    Way to go Connie….love your story…..Blanche Weishaar Schumacher

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