Ally's Angles... 2012

If you were around here about a year ago, you might recall a little post called Ally's Angles.  It's all about the unique viewpoint my 9 almost 10 going on 16 year old daughter has thru a camera lens.  When I was that age it was all about taking pictures of cats.  Cats sitting... cats standing... cats playing... cats sleeping... you get the idea.  Nothing too exciting.  But this little girl seems to have an eye for the old, the abandoned, the unique, and the antique.  I spend a lot of time telling her to straighten up the camera and just when I think she's lost her mind, she comes up with some pretty cool stuff.  The hardest thing is deciding which one to exhibit when it comes time for the fair.  Below are some of the favorites from this summer...

If you can't read the print, this is an old antique seeding machine made in Richmond, IN.   Considering we found it in the middle of Nebraska, it makes me smile and think of my Hoosier roots!!

Leave a comment and let us know your favorite!!  She ended up picking the shot of the railroad tracks for her 4-H exhibit and won Grand Champion in her division!!  We were sooooo excited about it!  I have to admit my favorite part is just taking an afternoon to road trip with my daughter and seeing where the dirt roads take us.  We can't wait to do it all again next year!  

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! 

When you get the call...

When my kids get off the bus in the afternoon, I either meet them at the house or they are supposed to call me to tell me they are home and I head that way.  Since we are only 5 minutes away, it works pretty well.  The other day, however, Gail got the call instead of me.  I happened to be standing near by and I could hear one of the kids yelling "THE 4-H CALVES ARE OUT!! COME HOME QUICK!!!".  So like any good dad would do, he replied, "Your mom is on her way!"

I was laughing the whole way home thinking about the conversation and when I got there, this is what I found:  1) Ally took charge and sent Nate to get the calves out of the garage while she notified the police a parent. 2) They sent the 4-H calves back in the general direction they came from, only to find that about 30 cows had also gotten out in the process.  3) Knowing the police and/or parents were on their way home, they did what any good farm kid would do... they got their afterschool snacks and stood guard while the cows had free range of our winter hay supply.  4) When I arrived, Nate was eating a sack of popcorn, Ally was shelling and eating peanuts, and the cows were eating hay and taunting us. 5) When I finished laughing, my helpers and I chased the whole bunch back into the pen and texted the boss to tell him the damage. 

Life on the farm... you just never know what to expect!!

Good Morning Nebraska

Angels making cake - Part I

When you have a few of these....

You are sure to have too many of these....

So you need one of these to do this.....

And one of these to do this.... 

And a few people to do A LOT of this.... 

 To come up with this....

Which turns into this...

And that is how you use your angels to make angel cake!