When great grandpa homesteaded our farm in 1910 he had nothing.  Got a job herding sheep and working on huge ranch about 2 miles north of us that ran thousands of sheep over thousands of acres free range.  They were one of those outfits that had their own threshing rig and one of the first gas tractors in the county.  Great grandpa worked for them for 7 years until he was far enough on his own farm to make it on his own.  Funny part is we own part that ranch now.