Meet Us – Part 4 – Pam

Pam grew up moving around while her parents built what would become one of the premier registered Hereford ranches in the world. The family finally settled down in Connell in 1963. Pam began showing cattle at age 10. For her 16th birthday, she asked for a car, and instead received the yearling AQHA mare Copper Shieba. Shieba later became the cornerstone broodmare for KT Ranch. Pam took classes in business in CA during her college years. She came back to WA to help her brother take a show string of cattle on a Canadian show circuit in 1972. She stayed at the ranch to help out, including milking her favorite milk cow Goldie. Pam’s sister set her up on a blind date with Don in 1973. Pam and Don were married by a justice of the peace 3 months later. Pam and Don stayed on the ranch with the family, raising dogs, cattle, horses, and any other animal Don would bring home, including a baby badger that they raised on a bottle until it was old enough to fend for itself. Eventually they had their two girls, 14 months apart. Although their courtship was brief, the Pierson and Bennett families are both from the Palouse. Don’s father and Pam’s grandfather attended the same country school at the same time. Don’s father bought bulls from Pam’s grandfather. Don remembers how tame the shorthorn bull was and that they could ride it. The Pierson and Bennett families have been involved in agriculture for generations.

Pam has been a seamstress for years and has segued that love into her embroidering. Anyone that comes to KT Ranch has seen the wonderful hats that Pam has designed. Pam’s skills extend to jewelry making, but she will say she is not crafty.

Great Grandpa Bennett at the Pacific International Stockshow at Portland with Hillsdale Caesar, a polled shorthorn bull that was Grand Champion bull in 1962. This bull was never defeated as a yearling or a two year old while being shown.