Nicole (Lapaseotes) Dean of Bridgeport didn’t mind growing up helping her parents on their ranches and feedlots, but after she graduated from college, she had no desire to pursue a career in ag. However, when she couldn’t find a full-time position working in human resources, she accepted her mom’s offer to work for her full-time at Coulter Ranch & Feedlot. Eventually, Dean grew to love working in ag so much that she stayed with it, and she and her husband, Jacob Dean, took over the ranch and feedlot in 2014 when Nicole’s mom passed away in a vehicle accident. Nicole said she’s glad she ended up coming back to the ranch and feedlot because she’s grown to appreciate and love being part of ag more than she ever imagined she would.
JEFF FIELDER Editor
BRIDGEPORT – Throughout her years growing up in Bridgeport, Nicole Dean would often help her parents, Pete Lapaseotes and Robin (Coulter) Lapaseotes, with all the tasks that needed done on their ranches and feedlots.
Nicole enjoyed pitching in, and she didn’t dislike the work. But deep down in her heart, she knew working in ag wasn’t something she wanted to do for the rest of her life.
“I wasn’t big on the physical labor, and I’m kind of a fair weather person, so when you have to be out there 365 days a year taking care of livestock, whether it’s really cold or really hot, that can be tough. I didn’t love that,” said Nicole, who’s 34 now. “I didn’t mind helping out – that’s just what we did – but it wasn’t something that really sparked my interest. When I went to college, I had no intention of getting into agriculture.”
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