Feb 17, 2026
By Sedgwick County Harvest Hub
Ashton and her Gate-Getter
By Steph Eckroat
Opening a gate on a farm or ranch is an important task often assigned to whomever is riding in the passenger seat of the truck; this role is known as a “gate-getter.” This could be perceived as an entry-level position since it would seem to require little skill, but if you’ve been a “gate-getter,” you understand it’s an important role. The boss is counting on you to open the gate, let them through, then close the gate securely. The gate mistakenly left open is disastrous because cows and horses seem to smell the opportunity to bolt and run amuck through the escape route.
Ashton Schneider grew up on a farm near Clearwater and remembers when she was a child and became a “gate-getter” for her dad and how important it made her feel to be trusted. Now, she has her own “gate-getter”, her 5-year-old daughter, Greta.
“I’m the fifth generation on our family farm, and I am raising the sixth; my daughter, Greta,” Ashton says. “Growing up with my two other sisters and working with our parents on the farm was such a wonderful life and I am happy I can help Greta experience it, too. It’s important to give kids something to do, but farm safety is always our No. 1 priority,” Ashton continues. “Gate-getting is an easy thing, but for a lot of our tasks, she sits in a safe spot and observes. She will sit in a chair by the chute when we’re working cattle and even at her young age, she has learned enough to ask me if something’s wrong with a cow or a calf if it’s moving slower.”
Ashton grew up on her family’s farm, Pelz Farm that originated near Clonmel, and is still actively engaged in the farm as well as owning her own outfit, Schneider Ranch. In addition to these commitments, as if she wasn’t busy enough, she also manages Garden Plain Feedstore.
“I went to Hutchinson Community College and became a veterinarian technician,” she says. “I enjoyed that occupation for four years then decided to return to the family farm and work full time with my dad. I knew the importance for farmers to be transparent about what we do, so I decided to share my story on social media. I shared the three pillars to support my mission and profile. It was a pretty simple decision for me to come up with those. I settled on the most important things in my life: faith, family and farming.”
Along the way, an opportunity came up to manage the Garden Plain Feedstore, with Kanza Coop. Ashton jumped at the chance and hasn’t looked back.
“I love my role at the feedstore,” Ashton says. “I can use all my farming and gardening experience to help folks. I am deeply committed to the success of other producers, whether big or small. At home, Greta and I have a large garden, so it’s the best of both worlds for me.”
Like most farmers who diversify farm income with other revenue streams, Ashton sells beef from her ranch. There are typically two basic ways farmers and ranchers do this; one is by wholesale, in quarter, half or a whole beef shares. The farmer delivers the livestock to the butcher shop, which are also referred to as meat lockers, and the consumer decides via a cut card how the butcher processes the meat. The other is selling individual cuts of meat, which is resale, but that meat must be processed at a state- or federally inspected locker. Ashton, like many farmers and ranchers, chooses the wholesale model, also known as custom slaughtering and beef shares. Buying beef shares costs more up front, but often the cost per pound of beef is less for premium cuts because it is spread out over several different cuts.
“I work with all of my customers by using cut cards,” she says. “They are simple models to help people determine how thick they want their steaks cut, how many roasts, what percentage of fat to meat ratio they want in their ground beef and other cuts in between.”
Ashton always includes Greta in the lessons she’s learning in her involvement on the farm. It’s like the Trace Adkins song about the joy of fishing with his young daughter “Just Fishin’.”
She ain't even thinkin' 'bout
What's really goin' on right now
But I guarantee this memory's a big'in
And she thinks we're just fishin'
And Greta thinks she’s just getting gates.
Note: Ashton is part of our series celebrating the International Farm and Ranch Woman of the Year, 2026.