A group of 3rd graders from Maxwell Elementary School recently experienced a one-of-a-kind field trip…a day at Lady Bug Ranch in Maxwell. Although they didn’t see any ladybugs, they met a Lady Bug that’s larger than life. Her name is Lady Bug Doherty and every year she welcomes students to her 800-acre cattle ranch in Colusa County.

The day began with a lesson about what it takes to keep hardworking horses on their feet. After watching a horse get a new pair of shoes, the students learned all about the different breeds of cattle. Next, they hopped aboard Lady Bug’s cattle trailer for a trip to her solar-powered water well. Last but not least, the students took a hike through the rolling green hills to see where the cattle graze. Throughout this adventurous field trip, Lady Bug shared stories about what life is like on a cattle ranch. She has lived on this particular ranch for 23 years, but her love of agriculture actually dates back to the 1930’s. Over the years, she’s done everything from brand inspecting to a few wild rides at the rodeo! Lady Bug explains, "We used to ride constantly and we’d take the saddle off the horse and see who could ride the longest. One thing lead to another and it was just a lot of fun."

Lady Bug was raised on a ranch in the Sutter Buttes and has been dedicated to agriculture ever since. Today, she’s not only a devoted mother and grandmother, she’s also the President of the California Cattlewomen Association. In addition, the Colusa County Farm Bureau recently honored her with the Distinguished Service to Agriculture award.