From green valleys of home to the sticks

Perhaps it was because of her checked shirt, stoned-washed jeans, neatly tied scarf or American drawl, but when Californian-born Meja Aldrich arrived at a remote cattle station in the Pilbara everyone called her Texas.

The red dirt and ruggedness of WA's Pilbara provide a stark contrast to the green valleys of Salinas, California, where lettuce, strawberries and artichokes are grown in the suburbs of Ms Aldrich's home town.

Last month the 21-year-old arrived at the 404,685ha Yarrie Station to muster cattle on horseback. It was an easy decision for Ms Aldrich when she was offered a job as a jillaroo on one of the State's oldest pastoral stations, 200km east of Port Hedland.

"You don't turn down something like that if you want it. You do it and I always wanted to do it," she said.

Ms Aldrich started riding horses regularly from the age of 10 and has worked in her home country training horses and breaking in colts.

"California is very populated so now I'm in remote outback Australia and it's great," she said.

"I'm really enjoying it. We have a good team and everyone works together really well. It's a nice community.

"I don't know what I expected. I just came out here and I have an open mind."

With just two months until she returns to Salinas to study agricultural business at California State University Fresno, Ms Aldrich is soaking up every moment of the opportunity to work in WA's stunning outback.

Meja Aldrich, 21, from California working in Pilbara cattle country on Yarrie Station. Pic: Nic Ellis.