Chris Burns

Downing Ranch

Chris Burns, from Scott Township, Pennsylvania, will be interning at the Downing Ranch near Dunning as part of the Sandhills Ranch Internship Program.

Chris attended the University of Northwestern Ohio, where he studied Truck and Agricultural Diesel Technology. Growing up, he had a passion for animals and heavy equipment. His interest in agriculture deepened through his involvement in Future Farmers of America (FFA) and his experiences working on local dairy and hog farms, in addition to raising his own show calves. He later had the opportunity to take roping lessons and assist with team roping jackpots, which ignited his strong interest in horsemanship and roping.

He applied for a ranch internship in hopes of gaining hands-on experience working with livestock, including sorting, branding, feeding, doctoring, and tagging cattle. Chris is eager to understand ranch operations, how financial decisions are made, and how the land is managed. He also aims to develop his skills in horsemanship.

Looking ahead, Chris aspires to continue working in the ranching industry and ultimately hopes to own and operate his own ranch one day.