Generations of tradition meet modern ranching on Tequesquite Ranch, the 1896-established spread run by RanchHER Lynda Mitchell Ray, her husband, and their daughter, Sherrie Ray. Their expansive cattle operation and legacy horse program in Albert, New Mexico, is a testament to Sherrie’s passion and Lyn’s leadership. The two also work together to mentor the next generation of leaders in agriculture within their community.
Tequesquite Ranch
“Good boy. Come on, move your behind.”
That’s how my day started with Lynn Ray and her horse, Turbo, out on the family ranch in Albert, New Mexico. The crew had already nicknamed me Turbo, too—but trust me, this horse was far calmer than his name suggested. Before we rode off, I had one big distraction to address—the chickens.
“No matter the farm horse shoot, the chickens find me,” I laughed. “I’m afraid they’re going to hear me and come get me.” Sure enough, they were there, as always.
From there, it was time to get to work. Lynn, her daughter Sherry, and I headed out to check replacement heifers and move them to fresh pasture. The Rays rotationally graze their cattle to keep the land healthy, balancing tradition with conservation. “We had sold down to 650 mama cows, but have increased that up to a thousand,” Lynn explained. “It’s tough because right now everyone says sell because the market’s high.”
It was bitterly cold. “I can’t even talk. I can’t feel my tongue. My mouth. I can’t feel my fingers. My fingers are cold. I’m pretty sure my face is frozen. Our fingers are frozen,” I admitted as we moved cattle. But cold or not, the work continued.
This herd was special: the replacement heifers. After a 30-day weaning and preconditioning program, the Rays carefully select which calves to keep and which to sell. “We breed our mature cow herd to Hereford and Angus bulls, and our first-calf heifers to longhorn bulls for ease of calving,” Lynn shared. “This set here is all sired by either Angus or Hereford bulls. They were born last spring, so they’re yearling cattle, weighing around 625 to 650 pounds. They’ll be bred this spring and have their first calves next year.”
Raising A Family, With Your Family
Lynn says it’s about more than raising cattle—it’s about raising family. “Not very many people get to work alongside their parents, doing what they love and seeing the fruits of their labor,” she said. “From land management to raising cattle, it’s important to keep it alive for future generations.”
Her daughter Sherry added, “Being back here gave me the opportunity to be on the ranch, and this is what I love. It’s such a special way to grow up, and I’m lucky to have this relationship with my parents and family—not just as family, but as colleagues, too.”
Lynn nodded. “It’s great to have Sherry out here, learning about the ranch. I hope my nieces, nephews, grandkids, and great-nieces will always have a place here to learn about agriculture and respect the land and animals. It’s important to pass that on.”
For Lynn, agriculture is more than a lifestyle; it’s a responsibility.
“Agriculture is the backbone of the United States. We take care of the land and cattle. We’re glorified grass farmers, using cattle as our tools. I want people to see how important it is to preserve this lifestyle—the good, the bad, and the ugly. It’s incredibly challenging at times, but also incredibly beautiful and unique.”
And her husband, Billy? He keeps the humor alive. “Give me a kiss,” he teased during chores.
“The Land Has Roots”
Their story runs deep—six generations deep. The Rays’ ranch dates back to the late 1800s, and their family cemetery sits on the land they still care for today. The legacy hasn’t come without heartbreak—Lynn lost her father in a plane crash and her mother to breast cancer—but the family held strong, bound by the land, the cattle, and each other.
As the day wrapped up, tanks were busted, horses were fed, and cows were watered. My fingers were frozen, but my heart was warm. Lynn and Sherry aren’t just running cattle—they’re preserving a legacy and passing down grit, grace, and deep respect for the land.
“The land has roots,” Lynn reflected. “Our family has roots here, and they run deep. To do something hands-on, to learn work ethic—it’s not something you can just teach. You live it. You take care of things. That’s what I hope to pass on: knowledge, responsibility, and respect.”
Ways to Watch
Watch this all-new episode of FarmHER + RanchHER featuring Lyn & Sherrie Ray of Tequesquite Ranch, when it premieres on Thursday, September 11, at 8:30 pm ET only on RFD-TV and RFD-TV Now!
You can also catch encore airings of the episode on Fridays at 9:30 pm ET and Saturdays at 11:30 am ET, or stream any episode of FarmHER + RanchHER any time with your RFD-TV Now subscription. To subscribe, visit www.watchrfdtv.com/Account/SignUp.