EMMETT, Idaho — Brad Little has a lot invested in the Gem State.
The governor's family tree goes back to the late 1800s. As a matter of fact, his grandfather was once known as the Idaho sheep king.
"He had a lot of sheep, a lot of sheep," says Little.
In the early 1960s, the family started to transition from sheep to cattle.
"I was raised a cowboy basically."
And that's probably a good thing for the sheep that had to be sheared.
"I was pretty slow. In fact, I was bad enough that they preferred I sheared the dead sheep because I didn't hurt them very badly."
You get the impression Brad Little feels comfortable walking around his working ranch in the foothills between Star and Emmett.
Since his family's beginnings, a lot has changed in the cattle industry.
"When I was first in the business in the winter, I'd drive up this road every day with a pickup with hay on it and went out and fed the cows every day. Now we have an automated hay feeder sitting right over there so there's a lot more equipment, sophistication, a lot better genetics, a lot better science."
As for whether he'll be spending more time on the ranch after his first term as governor, we'll have to wait and see.
Coming up all day Tuesday, Governor Little continues his conversation with Don Nelson, speaking out on everything from Lt. Governor Janice McGeachin to cybersecurity to wolf populations.
