Carrying Agriculture Ambitions Forward
- dlb8743
- Oct 31
- 5 min read
Dylane Carlisle, a Navajo Nation citizen from the state of New Mexico grew up ranching and has been a member of 4-H and FFA for years. She has placed in the Champion spaces for her bred livestock entries for several years. Currently she is pursuing an Ag Econ Business degree at NMSU - New Mexico State University. Dylane was encouraged to apply for a loan with Akiptan to complement her livestock show work. Dylane and her loan officer - Whitney O’Rourke worked together to get Dylane secured with the capital to make her dreams a reality. Whitney was pleased to work alongside Dylane to help her prepare and establish her business documents and financials in order to successfully navigate the loan process. Through this she could amplify the intentions she had to meet her business plan goals.
“Working with Dylane during the lending process was a success and seeing her goals become a reality makes me happy. To see her accomplishments growing from year to year makes the entire team at Akiptan proud to be a part of her story.” - Whitney O’Rourke - Loan Officer
Dylane has a strong foundation of family support in her life and she is working toward new goals and aspirations in her ranching life, she is also the first place winner of Akiptan’s 2025 Native Youth Maȟkhíčhaŋyaŋpi Business Plan Contest. Dylane is eager to carry her agriculture goals to the next level and continue a legacy that began in her family five generations ago.
Tell me about your history in agriculture?
I was raised in a barn, the youngest of five children born and raised around livestock, the agriculture lifestyle. I am a product of a 5th generation New Mexico ranching family that raised polled Hereford cattle, until the untimely death of my paternal grandfather. Due to additional factors like drought and overgrazing we decided to sell the remaining cattle we owned. Although we sold our large herd, my siblings and I continued to purchase livestock to be shown through the 4-H and FFA programs to keep ourselves involved in agriculture. My siblings and I showed all species of livestock ranging from market swine, goats, cattle, sheep and eventually merging into breeding goats, swine and my favorite breeding heifers. In 2024 I joined the Kirtland High School FFA program. This was a great decision because FFA became my second family, and the door of opportunities grew especially with a supportive FFA Chapter and advisor Zane Webster. Opportunities like competing in State Competitions such as Livestock Judging, Vet Science, attending State/National FFA Conventions; as well as participating in the Agri-Science Fair which allowed me further development as a young agricultural professional. I’ve outlined my professional achievements and successes here.
When did you apply for an Akiptan loan and what was it for?
In the Spring of 2024, I applied for the youth loan, with the goal to begin my own herd of registered cattle. It was sad when we decided to sell our cattle herd in 2016, and it was definitely the driving force for me to re-establish our herd, but I needed some help to get started, Akiptan was the boost I needed.
What made you come to Akiptan?
After an attempt to apply for loans through federal funded programs, I had run into several roadblocks being told that because we don’t own Trust land we would most likely not be provided funding. We heard about Akiptan and the role they have had in lending to tribal producers, thinking this may be the best route, so I applied.
How was the application process?
Although lengthy, my loan officer did her diligence to understand my unique vision for the requested funding. As I was applying for funding to aid in the starting of my own registered cattle herd bred specifically for Show Cattle genetics. Whitney made it a point to have several conversations with me to discuss my operational goals, intentions, budget and financial timeframe that best fit my needs. She came to me with plenty of questions and together we were able to come up with a well-thought-out plan, answers to her questions and better understanding for me as a first-time borrower. There was an immense amount of support from Whitney and the Akiptan Team to make this possible for me to be funded. Following the application process and after being awarded, Whitney played a pivotal role in quarterly check-ins providing any additional support that I needed which I appreciated.
What sort of impact was made on your operation with this financing?
Holy Cow! The Akiptan Youth loan’s impact cannot be measured in one area but in several. This October was my last year to be involved in showing livestock as I have aged out of the youth programs 4-H and FFA, definitely a year of reflection on the many trips down the road to fairs, success and failures. I can honestly say that when I look out into my pasture and see six head of registered heifers - my foundation females - a goal was reached because my vision was understood and supported by Akiptan. Which not only represents my hard work but the cultural values and traditions of owning livestock as a young Native woman forging her way in cattle production.
Where do you see yourself and your operation in 5 years?
In five years, I would like to have completed my education in Agriculture Economics and Business from New Mexico State University, Go Aggies! Starting my career as a Tribal Agriculture Financial Advisor and continuing my work as the Founder of Carlisle Livestock. An operation that optimizes networking with various breeders across the county, assisting tribal producers in strengthening their own cow/calf operations with an emphasis on the use of modern-day breeding protocols such as artificial insemination, estrous syncing protocols and bull leasing to maximize genetic potential with a return on investment to tribal livestock producers.
I’d like to invest my time and efforts into tribal youth through providing my show cattle genetics and consulting services so that they also find success in their 4-H and FFA projects and keep them rooted in their agriculture heritage as indigenous peoples strengthening the agriculture community in Indian country. In closing, change doesn’t happen overnight; it has taken a community to make this vision a reality; I have a heart of gratitude to those who had to crawl so that I may run. The race is won at a slow and steady pace. What a HAUL my JR Livestock Career has been, and I’ve been blessed on all accounts, but it is time for me to pass on my show harness & show stick to the up-and-coming Indigenous showmen/show women that have yet to shine. I have found great pleasure and passion in mentoring Indigenous youth with plans to continue to support them because we all need someone in our corner.
I tip my hat off to those who have helped me, especially breeders: Matt & Alyssa Copeland of “Copeland Show Cattle” & Tommy & Cash Spindle of “Spindle Show Cattle”, My Mentors, Extension Agents, FFA Advisor, Loan Officers, 4-H/FFA Families, Tribal Communities and Akiptan that have shown me support.
Is there anything you’d like to say to fellow ranchers / farmers in the agriculture industry?
No matter how intimidating it may seem to you, please, apply for an Akiptan loan and reach out to loan staff. It is our responsibility to keep tribal agriculture going. In addition, I would like to encourage our tribal producers to seek out opportunities such as 4-H/FFA youth programs, Intertribal Agriculture Council and Akiptan which have lots of resources that are beneficial to tribal producers. Dream Big! Put in the work & trust the process, there is always a greener pasture. 😊
To learn more about the successes of our producers, please visit our blog at www.akiptan.org/akiptanblog.
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