Member Spotlight
Rachel Schowalter
Rocking U7 Ranch
Collbran, Colorado
When talking about her family’s cattle ranch, Rachel Schowalter speaks with love and admiration in her voice for the family’s history, especially the Rocking U7 brand. The brand, registered in Colorado in the early 1900s, has been passed down the female lineage for five generations and signifies the hard work and perseverance of Rachel’s ancestors.
Rocking U7 Ranch in Collbran, Colorado, is owned by Delbert and Lynne Sherrod, Rachel’s uncle and aunt. Lynne is the fifth generation to ranch in Colorado. Although Lynne’s family has ranched in different parts of Colorado over the generations, she and Delbert settled into Collbran in 2004. Rachel moved to Collbran in 2009. There, she met her husband David and they were married in 2013. In 2015, she began working more extensively on the ranch and following in the footsteps of her aunt and uncle.
Today, Rachel leads the marketing strategies of Rocking U7’s cattle and beef sales, working closely with Delbert to make the best genetic decisions, herd health protocols, calving schedule and other management decisions.
“Rachel has been a huge asset to expanding and broadening the ranch. When she expressed interest in the ranch, it inspired Delbert and I to continuing growing and improving things,” Lynne said. “He and Rachel work seamlessly together. Rachel’s invested herself and sought every single opportunity she could to learn about the industry, land and conservation.”
A former social sciences teacher, Rachel is a natural student and claims she will never stop seeking new ways to make the ranch, and the cattle industry, better. She is an active advocate for cattle producers, no matter what type of cattle they raise, how they market them, or the size of the operation. She simply encourages consumers to trust beef is a healthy, safe product and advocates for less regulation and increased opportunities for cattlemen and women.
Rachel participated in NCBA’s Young Cattlemen’s Conference (YCC) in 2024, traveling across the country with other young producers to better understand the cattle supply chain in its entirety. She takes after Lynne and other family members, many of whom have dedicated years of service to organizations like the Colorado Cattlewomen, Colorado Cattlemen's Association and Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust. Growing up in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Rachel saw development and urbanization reduce available grazing land and create challenges for cattle producers. That is why she takes a strong interest in policy matters and especially enjoyed the visit to NCBA’s Washington, D.C., office on the YCC tour.
Since committing her time to the ranching business and raising her two young boys, Rachel has connected with many local consumers and found new ways to promote Rocking U7’s beef. She built Rocking U7’s website in 2020 and helped Delbert develop an F1 replacement heifer program.
Rachel’s curiosity and devotion keep her excited to collaborate with her aunt and uncle, continuing the family’s ranching legacy for her sons. Along the way, she is determined to build positive relationships within the community, promote cattle grazing as an important benefit to the environment, and remind consumers of the health benefits of beef.
Rocking U7 Ranch in Collbran, Colorado, is owned by Delbert and Lynne Sherrod, Rachel’s uncle and aunt. Lynne is the fifth generation to ranch in Colorado. Although Lynne’s family has ranched in different parts of Colorado over the generations, she and Delbert settled into Collbran in 2004. Rachel moved to Collbran in 2009. There, she met her husband David and they were married in 2013. In 2015, she began working more extensively on the ranch and following in the footsteps of her aunt and uncle.
Today, Rachel leads the marketing strategies of Rocking U7’s cattle and beef sales, working closely with Delbert to make the best genetic decisions, herd health protocols, calving schedule and other management decisions.
“Rachel has been a huge asset to expanding and broadening the ranch. When she expressed interest in the ranch, it inspired Delbert and I to continuing growing and improving things,” Lynne said. “He and Rachel work seamlessly together. Rachel’s invested herself and sought every single opportunity she could to learn about the industry, land and conservation.”
A former social sciences teacher, Rachel is a natural student and claims she will never stop seeking new ways to make the ranch, and the cattle industry, better. She is an active advocate for cattle producers, no matter what type of cattle they raise, how they market them, or the size of the operation. She simply encourages consumers to trust beef is a healthy, safe product and advocates for less regulation and increased opportunities for cattlemen and women.
Rachel participated in NCBA’s Young Cattlemen’s Conference (YCC) in 2024, traveling across the country with other young producers to better understand the cattle supply chain in its entirety. She takes after Lynne and other family members, many of whom have dedicated years of service to organizations like the Colorado Cattlewomen, Colorado Cattlemen's Association and Colorado Cattlemen’s Agricultural Land Trust. Growing up in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, Rachel saw development and urbanization reduce available grazing land and create challenges for cattle producers. That is why she takes a strong interest in policy matters and especially enjoyed the visit to NCBA’s Washington, D.C., office on the YCC tour.
Since committing her time to the ranching business and raising her two young boys, Rachel has connected with many local consumers and found new ways to promote Rocking U7’s beef. She built Rocking U7’s website in 2020 and helped Delbert develop an F1 replacement heifer program.
Rachel’s curiosity and devotion keep her excited to collaborate with her aunt and uncle, continuing the family’s ranching legacy for her sons. Along the way, she is determined to build positive relationships within the community, promote cattle grazing as an important benefit to the environment, and remind consumers of the health benefits of beef.