In this episode of Dirt and Bull, the team sits down with Cassidy Johnston, a first generation rancher who built her career from scratch across some of the toughest country in the West. With experience in Colorado, Montana, and New Mexico, Cassidy brings a clear, grounded perspective on what ranching actually takes — and why the industry often struggles to blend tradition with modern business practices.

Cassidy breaks down the realities of running large acreage operations, from high altitude challenges to PAP testing to the labor shortages facing ranches nationwide. She explains why so many operations get stuck in outdated habits, how poor management erodes profitability, and why ranches must start treating themselves as businesses rather than nostalgic legacies. Her consulting work focuses on helping producers understand their numbers, improve their herd management, and build systems that actually work at scale.

The conversation also dives into the rise of ag tech and the difference between tools that truly move the needle and tools that are more hype than help. Cassidy shares what technologies she trusts, what she is still evaluating, and why adopting tech successfully requires strong communication, good people, and a willingness to rethink old processes. At the core, her message is steady: ranching needs both grit and strategy if it wants to thrive in the next generation.

Whether you are running cattle, advising landowners, or simply trying to understand where the beef industry is heading, Cassidy delivers one of the most honest and practical discussions of the season. Her experience shows that the future of ranching will not be defined by how long an operation has existed — but by how willing it is to adapt.