I check water.... a lot!

I check water.  A lot.  It may seem like a pretty unimportant job to drive into a pasture every day and look down at your reflection in the water tank.  But I do it anyway.  And you get to know the grazing and drinking habits of your herd pretty quickly.  Did you know cows are creatures of habit just like you and I?  I can generally find this group at the tank for a drink around 5:30 every night.  Tonight, instead of my usual reflection, I saw a nearly empty tank.  The pump was running constantly but no water was coming out.  Dang.  We called the well repair man and he said he would come out tomorrow.  

In the meantime, the cows have no other source of water in this pasture so the kids and I went home and pulled out the portable water tank and started filling it up. [It would've been good entertainment value to watch the three of us trying to carry that big bulky tank.  We may or may not have dropped it on Nate...but no child was hurt in the process.]  It only took about an hour to put in 350 gallons of water.  The slow part came in draining it back out and into the stock tank at the pasture.  It runs by gravity flow so it took a couple of hours to empty it back out but in the end the water tank was nice and full again and I knew it would hold the cows for the night until the well guy could come fix the problem.  Besides, we went for a walk, played some catch with a football, and caught up on some e-mails on my phone.  Always, always, be prepared to entertain.

Turns out it was an easy fix for him and we are up and running again.  Just another example of the hard working people who contribute to agriculture.  And a good reminder of why I am supposed to check the water.  Every.Single.Day.

  

A wire winder what??

Ally is getting a workout pulling out fence posts!

Don't you think machines make all chores more fun?  Automated vacuum robots, power tools, 4-wheelers, etc...  I love all these too but I'm pretty sure this is magnified 20 times if you're a boy.  A ten year boy.  Or an 80 year old boy for that matter.  They LOVE their automated machines.  I can appreciate them but I don't need to know how they work or why they work.  I just want them to make my life easier.

Enter the wire winder.  Remember my posts earlier about how we built electric fence after corn harvest?  You can read about it here and here.  Well, as they say....what goes up, must come down.  The same is true for temporary fence.  Sometimes the ground is frozen and you can't get the posts back out until the spring thaw.  Fortunately this year, we had unseasonably warm temps and we were able to pull the posts easily.  The only problem is rolling up the miles of wire that you put out.  Luckily we were able to borrow the farmer's handy dandy wire winder that has a small engine and rolls up the wire for you.

Check out this short video clip of my son watching over the process.  It's important to make sure the wire fills the spool evenly.  If done correctly, you can easily unroll it next year and use it again!  This little invention saves us hours of time and frustration getting fence picked up so quickly and easily.  I highly recommend it!!

Choppy Water?!?!

You might have thought you were going to read about a boat outing on the lake with the title of this post but when we "chop water" around here, we usually mean ice.  It's great that we can keep the cows out on stalks or dry pasture for a few months of winter grazing but along with colder temperatures comes water supply issues.  Most of these areas don't have electricity to keep a tank heater going so we are generally left with one option.... Chopping lots of ice!! 

It's a great workout and we check tanks at least once or twice a day to make sure the cattle can get plenty of fresh water.  Often times they break it themselves but if it is too thick, we have to use an axe.  They are very patient to wait their turn at the tank once we open it up for them!  Just another "life on the farm" that gets us some quality time with our kids!  And there may or may not be some snowball fights involved if time allows!

Have you seen the Gingerbread Man??

Do you remember your favorite book as a kid?  Or maybe a favorite that your own kids loved?  That you read from cover to cover every.single.night??  Well, for our family it was the story of the Gingerbread man that ran away to the farm.  So imagine my excitement when I got word from my bestie in South Dakota that her little girl's class has lost their Gingerbread man.  Apparently he escaped when the kids were out at recess one day and word had it he might be headed in our direction.

I watched for days and sure enough.... one day I caught a glimpse of the little guy.  I tried my best to catch him but he was way too fast.  So this is pretty much how it went down...

Run, Run… as fast as you can!
Can't catch me, I'm the HOWARD ELEMENTARY GINGERBREAD MAN!!

I ran from Ann and I ran from her friends,
So if you think you can catch me, just think again!
I'm happy to say, it's much warmer here,
Perhaps tell those kids I’m full of good cheer.

I didn’t know Nebraska had so much SUN,
It sure makes winter a lot more FUN!

I love all your cows and all the horses too!
But if you add anymore it will look like a zoo.
I've met the chickens, the dogs and the cats,
So far I’m lucky I haven’t seen any rats!

My favorite was Lexi the Golden Retriever.
She was so nice, I could hardly believe her!
She shared her bed and gave me a snack,
And told me to always watch my back.

The other dog Trapper gave me a ride,
And said they have lots of coyotes nearby.
So I took his advice and avoided the trees,
Knowing it was so much safer for me!

They have two kids named Ally and Nate.
Lucky for me they left open a gate.
So I chased all the cows and had lots of fun,
And away that I went, off on a run!
 

So please tell Mrs. B and especially Ann,
Nebraska is great for a Gingerbread man!
I will be home soon, you can count on me,
But for now Southwest Nebraska is where I will be!


So there you have it... the day I ALMOST caught the Gingerbread Man.  Keep an eye out... I hear he might be headed in your direction!! 

Riding for a Cause...

St. Judes Children's hospital and AQHA trail riding.... what a great combination!!  Yesterday we had the opportunity to participate in a local trail benefit ride for a great cause.  The scenery wasn't near as pretty as it usually is due to the extreme drought we are in but it was still beautiful and lots of fun.  We caught up with old friends and made some new ones along the way!!

Sonny, Dobie, and Moon were gracious enough to take us along so we had a great afternoon of fun with them.  In return, they got a bath and a bucket of grain so everybody was happy!

Nathan and Dobie are ready to go!!

The first steep hill and creek bottom crossing! Thanks to the drought there was no water to cross!

Our leader, Terry, bringing us to the end of the ride!

Heading to the finish!

Quality family time with NO electronic devices!! Mom is happy!!

Horses of every size, shape and color but they were all beautiful!!

After 2 1/2 hours, horses and riders were all pretty tired but everybody made it to the finish safely.  It was a great way to raise money for a great cause and we will definitely do it again next year!  Maybe you can join us!!  We can always round up an extra horse or two!!

Weekend Entertainment... ranching style

Some people might go to the movies or the mall on a Saturday afternoon, but we had much BIGGER plans... we headed out to the middle of nowhere to check cows.  I have to admit I was a little impressed with all the different activities we came up with in our little road trip.  Here's just a sampling of our afternoon

One of the calves thought a dip in the pool (aka stock tank) might feel good but  the kids coaxed her back out.

We searched high and low to make sure all the cows and calves were accounted for.  (Think scavenger hunt in a few hundred acres).

Ally got to practice her photography skills and try to capture some shots for  her 4-H project.

We actually checked cows while we were there...

A little father - son time.  Wonder what they are talking about?!

Bath time for one of the babies!

Canyon jumping... it should be a new olympic sport.

Watch out below...................

Not to be out-done by her brother....  Ally takes the plunge!

We found a wild blackberry tree on our way out and picked a few for the long ride home!

 So if you ever find yourself bored some weekend, give us a call and we'll see if we can't entertain you for a little while!

A girl and a horse

There are few things in life that can match the bond between a little girl and her horse.  They can share secrets, a good cry, a hug, or a long talk.  I've seen Ally and Paige do just about all of this since the horse has come to live with us and I sometimes wish I'd have had that same opportunity as a kid.  I have no regrets though because it makes me appreciate these moments all the more.  I can see the life lessons we're all learning and wouldn't trade it for the  world.

Here are just a few things we've learned lately...

If you stray from the path, it's ok to let go of the reins.  Your best friends will always lead you back home!

Your attitude flows directly to those around you.  If you want others to cooperate, you'd better show them your're a team player! 

It's ok to spend $70 for a new pair of shoes every 6 weeks...

Never run when you can jog. Never jog when you can walk. And never walk when you can stand still.

Love those who love you back, especially if they give wet, slobbery kisses!

No matter what... always have fun.  The friends you make along the way are worth more than any ribbons or trophies you'll ever receive.

What have you learned from your horse lately?!

Time for a hair cut...

4-H fair time is fast approaching and it will soon be time to give the show calves a hair cut!  We recently had the chance to attend a Kirk Stierwalt clipping and fitting clinic.  It was a pretty intense 3-day educational seminar covering everything from hair care, clipping, equipment, feeds and nutrition, showmanship, daily training and routines, and much more.   

It was a great hands-on clinic for the kids and their families.  Ally got to try her hand at clipping one of her heifers.  Luckily, Nila stood real still and didn't seem to mind the 6 hour hair cut!  Pretty sure I couldn't get any of the kids to sit still for that long!

There were about 18 families that came from 3 states to learn from the Stierwalt family.  It was yet another opportunity to make friends all over the country!  The best part was watching the kids learn about livestock and how to market their project.  It's not so much about the clipping and fitting, but about teaching them about what goes into raising beef.   

These kids know how to have fun and how to get the job done!

Ranching 101

A few weeks ago, I had an incredible opportunity to participate in an educational seminar.  Certified Angus Beef has developed a program called 'Masters of Brand Advocacy' which gathers food service distributors from all across the United States.  Their goal is to expose these individuals to beef production systems from ranch to rail so they are informed about the products they sell.  They met with a seedstock producer to learn about genetic selection and they also shadow ranchers in small groups to learn all about the day to day activities it takes to produce the beef they are eventually selling to the retailers.  One of these small groups came to a local rancher who happens to be a customer where I work.  My boss and I were invited to share lunch with them and visit about how heifer development and artificial insemination fits into their ranch management plan.  

With all of the negative press about our industry, it is more important than ever to be able to effectively communicate about our business and how our ultimate goal is to produce the most safe, nutritious, cost effective product possible for the consumer.  That being said, it is intimidating to step in front of a group of executive chefs and wonder what they are going to ask you to explain.  I was amazed at how appreciative and open they all were to our industry.  Our group represented chefs and food service execs from places like Las Vegas, St. Louis, New York, New Orleans, Denver, Chicago, and San Diego just to name a few.  As one of the CAB folks said, "These guys are the last link in our beef production chain before the product hits the retail level.  It is critical that they can effectively tell our story and sell our product."

Program participants went out with local ranchers to check cattle on grass and learn about daily chores on the farm.

Some of the topics we discussed included the use of antibiotics in livestock, products used for synchronization in breeding cattle, how EPD's can be used to improve herd genetics and product quality, and how farms and ranches are managed with conservation practices for future generations of the family.  You can read more about the day's program here and here.  All in all, it was a great day and a great opportunity.  I walked away knowing most people just want to know our side of the story and we have to be willing to step up and tell it when they ask!

Cattle... a family affair

Things have been a little hectic around the Rippe Ranch but I couldn't resist posting some of the pictures I took a few months ago.  Every year before the cows and new calves go to grass for the summer, they have to be worked.  They all get vaccinations to prevent diseases and keep them healthy, just like kids do.  We also give them a pour on product to help with fly control during the summer.

There has been a lot of discussion in the news and social media the last few months due to the legislation that would eliminate kids being able to work or help out on the farm.  I'm the first one to promote safety and, believe me, we are watching them like a hawk when they are out with us.  However, I couldn't help but think about all the things I had read by supporters of the bill as we worked our cow herd.

It's not so much the "labor" they provide at this age, but more about the quality family time we are having together and the work ethic that we are instilling.  The kids LOVE to be involved and feel like they are helping contribute to the task at hand.  Besides that, we are teaching our kids where food comes from, all about beef production, and how to appreciate what farmers and ranchers all across America do for us on a daily basis.

Even the family dogs get involved in action!!!

We always find age-appropriate tasks for the kids.  For example, Nate was in charge of handing syringes and equipment to his dad, and Ally recorded all of the tag information for every critter that came thru the chute.  After Gail and I sorted all the calves off the cows, Ally and Nate were in charge of getting them up to the barn.   Pushing calves is a great way for them to learn cattle handling skills in a safe manner and they are a big help to us!

This also gives them a chance to check out all the calves and decide which ones would make the best 4-H calves to take to the fair too!!

It was a big day but we had a great time working together and the kids were a HUGE help.  Sure, we could have done it without them, but it wouldn't have been near as much fun!