Across big skies and open pastures, a shared devotion to their herds unites Andrea Boden, Ginger Barber and Robin Bickel Hanssen. From Nebraska’s rolling plains to Montana’s rugged ridges and South Dakota’s prairie hills, these women are living proof that women in the Red Angus breed are redefining what it means to “do it all.”
These women wear many hats—ranchers, mothers, daughters, community leaders, professionals—but each carries the same calling: to nurture their families, care for their livestock and carry on a legacy.
Strength in structure
For Andrea Boden, structure guides how she balances career and ranching.
By day, she serves as a project manager for the University of Nebraska’s Center for Research on Children, Youth, Families and Schools, leading statewide education initiatives focused on evidence-based practices in literacy and learning. But by night, and often early mornings, she’s tending cattle on her family’s ranch in Cedar Rapids, NE.
What began as a family tradition raising Herefords has evolved into a Red Angus cow-calf operation Boden runs with her sister, Dawn.
“We started with 43 Red Angus heifers in 2018 and now we’re running about 93 cows,” Boden said. “We were drawn to Red Angus because of their docility, longevity and just how easy they are to handle. They’re calm, great mothers and we’ve had incredible breed-back rates.”
Her ranch runs on a tight schedule, mirroring the structure she applies in her professional work.
“Everything has to happen on time because I’m balancing a lot,” Boden said. “We pull the bulls the same weekend every year, put them in the same weekend and preg check the same weekend. Anything that happens during the year really shouldn’t be a surprise.”
From setting the calendar to feeding cattle and recordkeeping, Boden handles nearly every task while maintaining her full-time career.
“It’s all about having a plan, sticking to it and constantly evaluating what works and what doesn’t,” she said.
For Boden, success goes far beyond herd performance; it’s about heritage and purpose.
“My mom started working in the fields when she was 8 years old and did a ton of farm work. She was our inspiration. She was out with us with the cattle up until she passed away,” Boden said. “The women before me, like my mother and grandmother, worked harder and sacrificed more than I ever will. The least I can do is make sure their work continues.”
Friends and family play a big role in that continuation. During branding and calving, close friends and cousins will drive from nearby towns or fly in from across the country to lend a hand.
“When we work cattle, it’s like Christmas,” Boden said. “Friends and family come together. We cook, laugh and make it fun. There’s not a lot of small farm life left like this, so giving people the chance to be part of it means a lot.”
Ranching doesn’t come without its challenges, though.
“Ranching is hard work, but it’s rewarding,” Boden said. “Even when prices aren’t great, I still enjoy working with our cattle. That passion doesn’t come from profit; it comes from purpose. If I won the lottery, this is still what I’d do. That’s how rewarding it is.”
Carrying the herd forward
In Edgar, MT, Ginger Barber’s story begins with a wedding gift from her father.
“My dad gave me and my husband 25 Red Angus heifers as a wedding present,” Barber said. “That’s what started it all, and I’ve always loved the Red Angus.”
From that small beginning, Canyon Ranch has grown into a 200-head cow-calf operation that sprawls across 4,000 acres.
“My dream was to have a solid red herd, and that’s what I did,” Barber said. “Red Angus are calmer, have good feet and can travel a long way to water. I really like that about them.”
Over the years, Barber built that dream alongside her husband. But when he passed away more than a decade ago, she faced a choice: step away or step up.
“When my husband passed away, the choice to keep ranching was easy,” Barber said. “I just went out and did it because that’s what I know.”
For the past 12 years, Barber and her daughter, Keshia, have run the ranch together. From calving in subzero temperatures to hauling hay, the two women manage every aspect of the ranch themselves, earning the respect from neighbors and cattlemen across the region.
“People respect me because I’ve done this all these years without hired help,” Barber said. “Two women, running everything on our own. I don’t know of many mother-daughter ranching duos like ours.”
Their hard work and determination have paid off. Today, Canyon Ranch is recognized as one of the premier Red Angus operations in the area, with cattle featured at the Super Big Horn Classic, where Barber’s consignments have become a highlight of the sale.
“We’ve built a beautiful herd,” Barber said. “It took several years to convince my husband and his father that we had to go solid red, but we did it together. I feel really good about how far we’ve come.”
Even through the harsh Montana winters, Barber embraces the work.
“You’ve got to love this lifestyle,” Barber said. “You’re out there when it’s 20 below, pulling a calf. Not too many people want to do that anymore.”
While Ginger is beginning to consider the next chapter of their herd, her pride in what they’ve built remains steadfast.
“I’m proud of what we’ve done and the cattle we’ve raised,” Barber said. “It’s been hard, but it’s been a good life.”
Rooted in legacy
Robin Bickel Hanssen is carrying on a century-old legacy in Firesteel, SD, one built by her great-grandparents in 1910.
“This ranch has been in our family for over 100 years,” Hanssen said. “I’m the fourth generation to run cattle on this land, and in my opinion, it’s so much more than a job or just a lifestyle. I truly feel like it’s part of my heartbeat and who I am.”
That connection drives everything she does.
“I think of my great-grandparents walking across the same land, caring for their animals with such heart,” Hanssen said. “I feel so fortunate to continue what they started and hopefully pass it on to another generation.”
Her father bought his first Red Angus bull in the late 1970s, laying the foundation for the herd that defines their operation today.
“Seeing his passion and the reputation he built for our cattle made me fall in love with the breed too,” Hanssen said.
Now, she ranches alongside her husband, father and uncle, balancing family, work and community involvement.
Hanssen takes pride in the genetics of their herd and knows each animal like a neighbor.
“I’m so proud of our cattle herd and proud to have Red Angus cattle,” Hanssen said. “I feel like they’re a part of my identity. I tear up every time the calves go down the road or through the sale barn ring. I just hope they do the best for whoever buys them next.”
Like many women in the industry, Hanssen admits the toughest expectations sometimes come from within.
“Sometimes I feel like I have to prove to myself that I can do this,” Hanssen said. “Nobody’s making me feel that way, but I want to know I can do the same amount of work as the men, even if I have to do it differently.”
Her approach of being calm and intentional reflects the heart women bring to ranching.
“As women, we bring something unique to this industry,” Hanssen said. “We might talk calmer to a cow in the chute or have a different kind of patience. That heart and mentality are huge assets in agriculture.”
She sees that perspective as a strength, not a weakness, and encourages other women to recognize their worth.
“I think sometimes [women], we sell ourselves short before anyone else ever does,” Hanssen said. “We have a voice and a place in this industry and it’s time we own that.”
For Hanssen, ranching is also about being adaptable and knowing when to pivot, when to push and when to let go.
“Agriculture is a constant gamble,” Hanssen said. “You have to be adaptable to change because if you aren’t, you’re going to sink.”
Her greatest joy comes from seeing the next generation fall in love with the same way of life that shaped her own.
“Some of my favorite memories are during calving season and watching my nieces and nephews spot the first new calf or help feed a bottle baby,” Hanssen said. “Sharing that love for the cattle with them means everything.”
Across the country, women like Boden, Barber and Hanssen are shaping the Red Angus breed. Their stories are marked not by flash or attention but by dedication and resilience.
They balance family, work and cattle with grit and grace, guided by the belief that what they’re building is bigger than themselves.
These women demonstrate an unwavering commitment to their land, their cattle and their families. Their approach reflects a deep understanding that ranching is more than a job, but a responsibility and a legacy to pass on.
They are proof that the spirit of Red Angus isn’t just found in pedigrees or performance data, but it’s found in the people who rise before dawn, face the elements and keep going when others might not.
Women of Red Angus lead with quiet strength. They don’t seek the spotlight, yet embody everything the breed represents—calm, dependable and quietly powerful.
Together, these three women are carrying the torch of legacy forward, ensuring that the next generation of ranchers inherit not only strong herds but strong values.
Because in the end, as these women know best, ranching isn’t just about raising cattle—it’s about raising a legacy. — Shelby Shank for Red Angus Magazine
