Home-Grown Ingenuity: Interview with Erica Mannix

Sometimes raw talent is something that isn't discovered until we step out of our comfort zone and try something new! In today's podcast, Cheyenne interviews Erica Mannix, to discuss her time on the ranch and how she fills her time outside of ranchwork.

Erica Mannix is one of 5 members of the 5th generation currently working on the Mannix Ranch in Helmville, MT. The ranch is currently managed by members of both the 4th and 5th generation and is currently working through the process of succession. It is largely a cow-calf and stocker operation in addition to growing a direct-to-consumer meat brand called Mannix Family Grass-Finished Beef. Erica moved back to the ranch two and a half years ago after years of attending undergrad and graduate school, working as an elementary teacher, training horses, and working as a Holistic Ranch Management intern. She now works about ¾ time for the family ranch, works part-time for the Quivira Coalition’s New Agrarian Program doing workshop and education coordination, and fills her remaining hours with custom leatherwork.  

Who is Cheyenne Wilson?

Cheyenne was fortunate to grow up on her family's working cattle ranch in southeastern Montana. This is where her intense love of horses and cattle began. She also learned to love and respect the land from a very young age. She runs black Angus cattle and raises half-draft horses with her husband and son. Their place is known as the Lazy Six Nine Ranch. Cheyenne is also an enrolled member of the Oglala Lakota Sioux tribe. She and her family reside and ranch on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in South Dakota. They also spend time in Montana in the Beartooth Mountains.

Cheyenne strives daily to spread positivity and awareness of modern-day ranching. One of her passions is empowering women involved in agriculture to live life at a higher level. She strives to perpetuate the ever-evolving role of women in agriculture through her blog (The Native Cowgirl), public speaking, photography, and social media outlets.

She loves helping rural entrepreneurs level up in what they are passionate about. This includes updating company branding, amplifying social media platforms, increasing website traffic, one-on-one coaching for business/personal growth, etc.

She has been able to build her business from the ground up earning 7-figures in only three years -- in the middle of nowhere.

She always says, "If I can do this, you can too!"

Learn more about Cheyenne & sign up for her newsletter: https://www.thenativecowgirl.com/