NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
Tucumcari, NM, May 29, 2026: An Indian American rancher is drawing widespread support on social media after sharing a video challenging stereotypes about Indian Americans and speaking out about the racist comments he has received for pursuing a career in ranching.
Tesh Jennings, an Indian American cattle rancher and social media creator, recently posted a video showing himself working on his ranch, handling cattle, riding horses, target shooting, and performing other ranch duties while wearing cowboy boots and Western attire.
The video carried a simple message: “Not all Indians code. Some of us wear boots, work cattle, and grow your food.”
The post quickly gained traction online, attracting thousands of reactions and comments. While some users posted racist remarks, many others came to Jennings’ defense.
One of the most-liked comments read, “If this isn’t integration, I don’t know what would be,” drawing more than 4,000 likes. Another commenter, identifying herself as the wife of a cattle rancher, praised Jennings and wrote, “We need more people like this,” adding that critics were likely people unwilling to do the hard physical work required in agriculture.
In a follow-up Instagram post, Jennings addressed the criticism directly.
“Folks have thrown a lot of hate my way for being an Indian American cowboy and rancher,” he wrote. “Truth is, I never set out to fit anyone’s idea of what a cowboy should look like — I just went to work, raised cattle, and chased a dream.”
Jennings said the negative comments have only strengthened his resolve.
“Hate won’t build fences, feed cows, or stop me from putting in the miles,” he wrote. “If anything, it’s made me work harder.”
The rancher said his long-term goal is to purchase land, expand his ranching operation, and raise more cattle.
“My dream has always been bigger than the hate,” he wrote. “I want to buy this piece of land, expand my ranch, raise more cattle, and keep building something that stands for hard work, grit, and determination.”
Jennings has also launched an online fundraiser to help finance the expansion of his ranch.
The response to his posts highlighted both the persistence of racial stereotypes online and the willingness of many Americans to reject them. Supporters praised Jennings not only for his work ethic but also for challenging assumptions about what an Indian American — or a cowboy — is supposed to look like.
For many viewers, the image of an Indian American rancher working cattle and living a traditional ranching lifestyle served as a reminder that Indian Americans are represented across a wide range of professions and communities, from technology and medicine to agriculture and ranching.
Cover photo courtesy: Tesh Jennings/IG.
