How to Become a Real Cowboy

Cowboys are more than just dudes in Stetson hats-they're hardworking men and women who run ranches, raise animals and some even work the professional rodeo circuit. Some cowboys work only on a ranch, while other cowboys compete in rodeos-and some will take up both tasks. How do you become a real cowboy? Here are a few tips to becoming a bona fide cowboy.

Work out and get in excellent shape

It takes muscles and cardio endurance to work on a ranch, ride a bull and rope cattle. Make sure your body's up to the challenge of the day-to-day tasks-this isn't a desk job.

Learn the ranching business inside and out

You'll need to get experience raising, breeding and roping cattle and caring for them when they get sick. You'll also need to learn how to grow and care for crops and horses, as well as learning how the grain markets work. Also be aware that you'll need how to learn farm equipment operation and maintenance. The best way to learn this trade is to get an apprenticeship on a successful ranch to get hands-on training, especially when going to college. When you think you know the business well enough, branch out on your own and open your own ranch.

Go to college for business or agriculture

While a college degree isn't required to become a cowboy, a business or agricultural degree will help a hopeful cowboy succeed in running their own ranching business.

Learn how to ride in the rodeo

In addition to learning the ranching business, you'll need to learn how to ride bulls and work the rodeo circuit to be a true cowboy. Rodeos typically happen Thursdays through Sundays, so most cowboys have time to tend to the ranch on the other half of the week. Because making a livable wage in the rodeo circuit is quite difficult - only the top placed athletes make money in each competition - most cowboys work on the ranch and do the rodeo. Cowboys who work their way up to the top of the circuit typically only do the rodeo. Each rodeo contest has an entry fee, so always take that into consideration in your budget.

Putting on cowboy boots, jeans, an obnoxious belt buckle and a hat only makes you a cowboy on Halloween; real cowboys and cowgirls are hard working individuals who spend their days on ranches, riding eight seconds on a bucking bronco-or both!