Hannah Stephenson

Shadbolt Home Ranch

Hannah Stephenson, hailing from Mississippi, is eager to bring her passion for horses, cattle, and the outdoors to the Shadbolt Home Ranch this summer. She is a recent graduate of Mississippi State University, where she earned a degree in Animal and Dairy Science with a minor in Agribusiness. Although she does not come from a traditional agricultural background, Hannah grew up enjoying the outdoors through activities such as horse riding, hunting, and fishing, and she is grateful for her family's unwavering support of her interests.

Hannah’s background is deeply rooted in the show-horse world. She competed in Reined Cow Horse events with the Mississippi High School Rodeo Association and worked for a cutting horse trainer throughout college. Wanting to gain more cattle experience, she spent a summer working at a guest ranch in Wyoming and completed a ranch internship this spring in Montana. With her sights set on continued learning, Hannah is excited for the next chapter in Nebraska.

What drew her to the Sandhills Ranch Internship Program was its welcoming, educational focus. “I could see how this group truly wanted to help interns gain experience and were so willing to teach,” she shared. 

This summer, she’s looking forward to experiencing Nebraska for the first time, seeing new country, and meeting new people. She’s eager to grow her skills, especially operating heavy equipment and improving her roping, and hopes to become more confident with the everyday responsibilities of ranch work.

After her internship, Hannah plans to continue working on cattle ranches to deepen her knowledge and refine her skills. Long term, she’s building toward a life and career in agriculture.

Some fun facts about Hannah: she’s a triplet, loves starting her day with coffee, and if she could master any ranch skill instantly, it would be horseshoeing. She’s always on the lookout for unique wildlife and hopes to spot a porcupine on the ranch!