Bathtubs, Baby Calves, and the Cowgirl Story

Leah and Mary welcome Nebraska rancher and writer Megan Messersmith, creator of This Cowgirl Story. The conversation begins with a funny and heartfelt look at warming chilled calves in bathtubs and the realities of winter calving on working ranches. Megan shares the story of building a ranching operation with her husband from the ground up in southwest Nebraska while raising four daughters. She talks about what it means to involve kids in agriculture, the value of letting them choose their own paths, and the importance of strong family partnerships on the ranch. The discussion also explores Megan’s unexpected journey into writing and poetry, which began as a way to process change and became a powerful outlet for storytelling and healing. Together they talk about women in agriculture, renting land to build a ranching future, the mental challenges of agricultural life, and the faith and resilience it takes to keep going when things get hard. This episode is a thoughtful look at stewardship, family, creativity, and the grit and grace required to live and work on the land.