To exercise American capitalism, my family on my father’s side owns a ranch in Woodward, Oklahoma, called the Ferguson Ranch, for the purposes of work and education of economics for the juveniles of the family, such as myself. It’s a site where cattle are raised and farming takes place, both for money and for the cattle. When I first learned about this ranch, it was from my father – he was dragging me on tours of the ranch with my sister and cousin until I was older and understood how a ranch works more thoroughly. The most intriguing part about this ranch is its age and legacy. It was first bought and started by my great-great-great grandfather (my grandfather’s grandfather’s father) in 1908, and since then, it has worked much like the Roman Empire did. Each child of the Ferguson family (even if their last name changes) has the power, once they reach adulthood, to either expand the land with a purchase, much like Julius Caesar did with war against the Gauls, or strengthen the land from within by farming methods, including working and hiring, like Hadrian did with his wall across Britain. Every time I am taken to my grandparents’ house, although it’s now vacant due to both of their deaths, I cannot help thinking about the ranch, how the cattle are coping with nature, and how the cattle workers are coping with the cattle. This ranch is my family’s legacy.

– Mikey Ferguson

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more