Life Lessons From A Karoo Cowgirl

Julie Hobson shares some of the wisdom that life in the Karoo with her husband, three dogs, 15 horses and 350 head of cattle has taught her

- Marike Watson

Eight years ago, Julie Hobson, 36, downscaled her finance-training business in Port Elizabeth to renovate and rebuild Elandskloof, her great-grandfather’s sheep farm, into an epic cattle ranch. Today, she lives in a farmhouse high in the mountains near Graaff- Reinet with her husband Sean, 39, a bladesmith and farmer. She also has a fantastic team of farmhands who help run the ranch.

Apart from trading and selling cattle, Julie runs a guest house on the ranch, takes visitors on horseback outrides, and hosts a few cattle drives throughout the year. In recent years, her ranch has become a popular filming location, too. Independent film-makers and local TV channels like kykNET have shot footage on the property.

Here’s what Julie has learnt from her extraordinary life in the Karoo.

YOUR YESTERDAY SHAPES WHO YOU ARE TODAY

I grew up with a rooster’s call greeting the new day each morning. My parents were farmers, so the glistening of fresh dew over a vast landscape and the hum of cattle walking in the distance became familiar, comforting sights and sounds. As a child, I shadowed my dad, growing up with the notion that farming was my calling, too. Yet, when the time came to choose a career, my farming dream didn’t match the general belief that only men became farmers. As a safer option, I studied accounting instead, then worked in investment banking before starting a financial training business. As time passed, I realised finance wasn’t a good fit for me – I loathed making spreadsheets. I have moments when I rue what seems like years I wasted there, but I’ve learnt it’s shaped who I am now – all the roads we travel lead to where we are today.

LISTEN TO YOUR HEART