"mAKING A DIFFERENCE IN INDIAN COUNTRY. ONE NATIVE YOUTH AT A TIME"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dean Thomas resides on the Duck Valley Indian Reservation in Owyhee, Nevada.  He applied for a youth loan to purchase Black Angus Cattle and a few goats.

Dean was so happy to be featured on our website, he chose to write his own biography!

My name is Dean Thomas.  I live on the Duck Valley Indian Reservation in Owyhee, Nevada.  I applied for a youth loan to purchase Black Angus Cattle and a few goats.

I am interested in raising goats to improve the environment around us.  Goats like to eat milky weeds that cattle and horses do not eat.  I have purchased 6 registered goats.  I have 4 (four) Nubian females and 1 Nubian Buck and 1 (one) Alpine.  Naming the herd was fun, their names are Ali, Beatrice, Charlotte, Ace, Gracie, and Porter, he is the Buck.  Hopefully, I will be able to put together enough goats to clean up the Reservation of weeds, or at least control them.

My family raises Black Angus cattle.  I am the fourth generation to raise Black Angus Cattle.  I enjoy that type of cattle.  The myth that Black Angus Cattle is very tender and tasty meat, all I can say is, “Try it you’ll like it”.  I started with purchasing 5 pregnant cows with calves by their side.  My goal is to improve the genetics in my herd.  I like the small birth weight calves that grow fast.

I like sports, football, basketball but boxing is one of my favorites, and I have also tried Rodeo, but I’d rather be playing.  I am a sophomore at Owyhee High School.  I am on the Football team.  I feel that I am a competitive player.  I work hard to keep my grades up to continue playing sports.  I attended summer school this summer in Moscow, Idaho for the Upward Bound program.  This is a great opportunity for youth to get in touch with other Natives from all walks of life.  It helps individuals work on their credits needed to graduate.  I met wonderful people there and will have a lifetime of wealth in friends made at Upward Bound.
The FSA Youth Loan program is a great opportunity to set goals and achieve them.  Set your goals high don’t be afraid to achieve your dreams as dreams come true.  Many thanks to the FSA advisors and others who have helped me to achieve my goals.