The Idaho Rancher's Wife

The Ranch From the Wife's Perspective

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Recipes

Sharing our family favorite recipe’s where BEEF is the star of the show!

French Dip Sandwiches

Here is a collection of our family's tried and truly loved beef recipes!

Hello! I'm Allison, The Rancher's Wife! There's nothing I love more than being out on the ranch with my husband and kids. Join me for a look at what goes on here at the ranch and the life being a rancher's wife!

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Reservations and Runaway Cows

Ranch romance doesn’t always … [Read More...]

More Than One Right Way

Lessons in humility, … [Read More...]

The Price of Learning on a Ranch

How a broken swather, a … [Read More...]

How to Declutter a Rancher (Yes, It’s Possible)

A practical, good-humored … [Read More...]

Small Changes That Make a Big Difference on the Ranch

Why steady, thoughtful … [Read More...]

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About Me

Hello! I'm Allison, The Rancher's Wife! There's nothing I love more than being out on the ranch with my husband and kids. Join me for a look at what goes on here at the ranch and the life being a rancher's wife!

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theidahorancherswife

Idaho ranch wife + mama 🐮🤠
Living on cattle, cocoa & kids running wild.
Daily ranch life, western style all with a side of dirt.

Romance doesn’t always come by candlelight. We ha

Romance doesn’t always come by candlelight.

We had dinner reservations that night.
The cows had other ideas.

And somewhere between the dust, the frustration, and the manure on my fancy clothes, I was reminded of something.

Love out here isn’t separate from the work.
It’s built inside of it.

It’s built when you both run toward the problem.
When you adjust the plan.
When you show up anyway.

Two hands.
One direction.

There’s a longer version of this story on the blog — but this might be my favorite part of it.

#lifeonacattleranch
#marriedtoarancher
#ranchlife
#westernmarriage
#builtinthework

Roses are red, Violets are blue, We had Valentine’

Roses are red,
Violets are blue,
We had Valentine’s plans…
But the cows broke through!

Boots polished, hair in place,
Dressed up for our night,
Reservations waiting
Under the city lights.

But then we saw them—
Or maybe we didn’t,
A herd of wild backsides
Slipping out of sight.

Nothing says romance
Like a runaway cow chase,
Down the winding highway,
Our hearts already start to race.

Flying out of the pickup
Before it came to a stop,
I’m fairly certain
The Rancher thought I was hot.

Finally to dinner,
Out in the town,
With a hint of manure
Dusting my cowgirl gown.

Maybe this is romance,
Rough, wild, and true—
A night just for us,
Until the cows break through.

Happy Valentines from The Idaho Ranchers Wife!

#marriedtoarancher
#lifeonacattleranch
#ranchlifehumor
#valentineranchstyle
#loveandlivestock

Every handle has a purpose. Every hand knows the w

Every handle has a purpose. Every hand knows the work

#marriedtoarancher
#lifeonacattleranch
#HandsOnTheLand
#RanchLifeBW
#BehindTheBrand

Confidence comes early. Experience takes longer.

Confidence comes early. Experience takes longer.

Some days, I watch our little rancher ride along and marvel at how certain he is about everything. Which pivot should be on or off, which cows should have moved yesterday… the commentary never stops. And yet, he’s learning something quietly bigger than any instruction: that there isn’t one right way to do this work.

Ranching, like parenting, like life, has room for mistakes, experimentation, and figuring out your right way.

There’s more than one right way — and the best one is the one that works for you.

To read more, find the link in my bio.

#lifeonacattleranch
#marriedtoarancher
#confidenceplusexperience
#therightway
#ranchlife

I used to think standing out was the goal—not to b

I used to think standing out was the goal—not to be better, just to feel unique.

Now I’m realizing how freeing it is to be who you are without separating yourself from everyone else.

Ordinary isn’t small.
It’s grounded.
And you can still stand out—
even when you’re part of the herd.

#MarriedToARancher
#LifeOnACattleRanch
#Belonging
#QuietConfidence
#EnoughAsYouAre

On a ranch, learning is rarely free. Sometimes the

On a ranch, learning is rarely free.
Sometimes the cost is time. Sometimes pride. Occasionally, far more than we expected.

I learned that the hard way years ago, running an old red swather I was sure I had mastered — until confidence outran attention and the lesson arrived all at once.

Now, I watch my kids learn in their own ways. A six-year-old eager for his turn on the tractor. A teenager discovering that even good runs don’t last forever. Different moments, same truth: experience doesn’t spare us from mistakes — it simply gives them more context.

This week’s story sits with those lessons. With paying attention. With letting people learn. And with why the lessons that cost us something are often the ones that stay.

• #lifeonacattleranch
• #marriedtoarancher
• #raisingcowboys
• #learningthehardway
• #ranchraised

Every morning is a quiet invitation to start again

Every morning is a quiet invitation to start again.
To notice more. To assume less.
To pay attention to what’s working and what needs adjusting.

It’s a reminder that experience doesn’t mean we’re finished learning — only that we’re willing to keep showing up.

#lifeonacattleranch
#marriedtoarancher
#freshstart
#ontheopenrange
#learnsomethingnew

Saying we went out to “check water” never is just

Saying we went out to “check water” never is just about checking water when we are out on the range.

It doesn’t say anything about bumping across the range, guessing which road to take when I’m in the drivers seat(and making a U-turn when I guess wrong), or helping a wayward sheep find its own herd.

We never know what our weekly water checks bring, but I can only hope I get the nap next time.

• #lifeonacattleranch
• #marriedtoarancher
• #RanchWork
• #RangeLife
• #WorkingRanch

Ranch life isn’t all wide-open spaces and sunsets.

Ranch life isn’t all wide-open spaces and sunsets.

Sometimes it’s a very close inspection from someone who clearly doesn’t believe in personal space.

Like Connie. She doesn’t believe in personal space. And we love her anyway.

#ranchlife #lifeontherange #everydayranching #lifeonacattleranch #marriedtoarancher

Wide open or up close and personal— we choose this life both ways.

Some days look like work. Some look like play. Mos

Some days look like work.
Some look like play.
Most are both.

#RanchLife
#LearningByDoing
#RaisedOutside
#LifeOnaCattleRanch
#MarriedToaRancher

Everyone has a story to tell, and I’ve learned tha

Everyone has a story to tell, and I’ve learned that I love sharing mine. From funny moments with my kids to my own personal struggles, every chapter matters to me.

Stories like…

…how I always wanted to marry a cowboy—and I did. It looks much different than I imagined—less trees and more desert, for sure—but somehow it’s even better than I ever dreamed.

…how feeding cows every. single. day. might look like our own version of Groundhog Day, yet I look forward to the consistency, the daily check-ins, and the simple reason to head out with the herd.

…how I never learned to rope before meeting my husband, and how determined I’ve been to learn. Some days I was terrified to set my loop up, afraid of messing up or making a scene—but the satisfaction of actually doing it always outweighs the fear.

…how, even as a little girl, my soul yearned to be out working with my dad on the ranch. It was nothing for me to abandon playtime in the yard for work time in the fields.

…how my life is built on choices. I don’t have to be on the ranch—I choose it, because I love the work and being part of something bigger than myself.

These aren’t milestones or a timeline. They’re glimpses of life as I live it.
A story I can’t wait to share more of.

Winter slows things down enough to notice what usu

Winter slows things down enough to notice what usually gets overlooked.

On the ranch, progress is rarely dramatic. It’s built quietly, one small decision at a time.

Read more about tradition, stewardship, and the small changes that shape an operation over time. You can find the link in my bio.

#ranchlife #AgLife #stewardship #lifeonacattleranch #marriedtoarancher

There’s something grounding about a year that begi

There’s something grounding about a year that begins and ends on the range.

Early mornings, dust on boots, cattle moving with the seasons—this is ranch life, one month at a time.

The 2026 Cowboy Calendar is here, featuring western photography straight from our everyday work and wide-open spaces. Hang it in your kitchen, office, tack room, or gift it to someone who loves the West as much as you do.

🧡 Limited quantities available
📅 12 months of real ranch life
🤠 Link in bio to order

One of our favorite traditions when we do Thanksgi

One of our favorite traditions when we do Thanksgiving in Montana- Christmas tree hunting at Norma’s.

At 96 years old, Norma still lives on her small ranch alone up in the beautiful Ovando mountains. There is no one who hugs so tightly, gives so kindly, loves so deeply, or lives so fully. At the same time she has so much grit, toughness, determination and endurance.

For decades she has invited us to find trees for Christmas, a centerpiece of our celebration. We never know when it might be our last always be sure to make the most of it.

#ochristmastree #christmas #christmastree #christmastreefarm #ranchlife #ranching #agriculture #lifeonacattleranch #marriedtoarancher

🍂 A SEASON OF GRATITUDE ON THE RANCH 🍂 Thanksgivi

🍂 A SEASON OF GRATITUDE ON THE RANCH 🍂

Thanksgiving isn’t just a meal or a day on the calendar — it’s a pause. A chance to recognize the blessings tucked into the hard, messy, beautiful work of ranch life.

This season, I’m thankful for:
🤎 The buddy seat in our big green tractor where conversations and memories are made
🐎 Old, steady horses carrying my most precious cargo
💧 Water checks that turn into quiet lunch dates
🌾 A western heritage that connects us to those who came before
🏡 Work just outside our back door
🥩 An industry that feeds the world — body and soul
🔧 A dirty, buzzing shop full of projects and possibility
💡 Bright lights that help us finish the job, even when it’s late
🐄 The miracle of new life and the sacredness of loss
🍁 The steady rhythm of the seasons

Ranching teaches gratitude in a way few things can — through drought and abundance, exhaustion and hope, grief and new beginnings.

Before Christmas rushes in and the world speeds up, I’m choosing to slow down and give thanks.

What are you grateful for this season? 🤍

#SeasonOfGratitude #RanchLife #Thankful #WesternRoots #FarmLife #RanchWife #CountYourBlessings #Agriculture #thanksgivingreflections #lifeonacattleranch #marriedtoarancher

After taking a year off, The Idaho Rancher’s Wife:

After taking a year off, The Idaho Rancher’s Wife: Cowboy Calendar is back on!

Head to the Etsy shop to snag your 2026 calendar featuring views of Idaho ranching at its finest.
-Full color photos 📸
-REAL ranching, no staging ➰
-Saddle stitch binding📅
-Easy to read + Space to write ✍🏼
-Major US holidays recognized 🎉

https://www.etsy.com/listing/4412052400/?ref=share_ios_native_control

#2026calendar #wallcalendar #westernphotography #westernlifestyle #cattle #horses #cowboys #countryliving #ranching #ranchlife #lifeonacattleranch #marriedtoarancher

Our family is in a different phase of life that is

Our family is in a different phase of life that is so fast and so fun! We chase all sorts of experiences and opportunities that we hope help us learn, grow and love life. Sometimes it’s takes us away from the ranch and sometimes it brings us together. But every chance we get, we hold on to days and views like this.
#ranchlife #ranching #cattledrive #sunrisephotography #ranchlifephotography #cows #cowsonthemove #familyranching #lifeonacattleranch #marriedtoarancher

I was dosed with my fair share of anxiety when I c

I was dosed with my fair share of anxiety when I came into this world, enough that if I let it, would keep me from trying anything new.

But I refuse to live small and let those fears win.

So every day I choose to step outside my comfort zone and do something scary. It has been the most empowering and liberating thing I have ever done.

Most recently I took on feeding the cows solo. Not a big deal for some but for me it was an experience outside my comfort zone that I needed to conquer, so I did.

It wasn’t as fast as what The Rancher can do, nor was it as pretty, but the cows got fed, the tractor is still running, and no babies were ran over in the process.

What’s something scary you can do today?

#facefearsdaily #overcome #ranching #ranchlife #feedingcows #tractorlife #rancherswife #lifeonacattleranch #marriedtoarancher

Sometimes the days with the least amount of work t

Sometimes the days with the least amount of work to do can have the biggest impact. I love the weeks of moving cows, branding, or working cattle through the squeeze cute but these quieter make me live this life a whole other way.

#cattle #ranching #ranchlife #lifeonacattleranch #marriedtoarancher

I love cows, especially when the chubby ones come

I love cows, especially when the chubby ones come sprinting for cake. What can I say, come running for cake too! 😝 #cakeforcows #cowsonthemove #cattle #ranching #ranchlife #lifeonacattleranch #marriedtoarancher

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Reservations and Runaway Cows
More Than One Right Way
The Price of Learning on a Ranch
How to Declutter a Rancher (Yes, It’s Possible)

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