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Cowboy Vacation (a.k.a. Bull Sale)

We went on a cowboy vacation recently, also known as an overnight trip to a bull sale. Ranchers have varying opinions about bulls. In my opinion they are an important investment, a way to improve our cattle herd with better genetics. We have a budget, but try to buy the best bulls we can afford.Continue reading “Cowboy Vacation (a.k.a. Bull Sale)”

Bulls…and more bulls

Males, particularly males of the bovine species, can be very irritating and time consuming. Bulls seem to be uncontrollable starting in late March and ending in November. You never know where or when they have gone gallivanting off. You think they are in your pasture, especially made for bulls, but when you look there isContinue reading “Bulls…and more bulls”

Fertilizer

There are different ways to fertilize the ground you grow your crops on. Our crop is hay. We grow it in the summer so we have something to feed the cattle in the winter. When the cows come home from their summer pasture in the fall they are left to roam and graze in theContinue reading “Fertilizer”

Never Stop Learning: Local ranch women make Annie’s Project successful

Sixteen Niobrara County agriculture women have dedicated six weeks to increase their knowledge and skill base to better understand and manage risk in their families ranching business. These women will receive 18 hours of education in the areas of production, legal, financial, marketing and human risk, all dedicated to helping improve their families agriculture basedContinue reading “Never Stop Learning: Local ranch women make Annie’s Project successful”

Winter Water

Our water system is all based on about 30 miles of underground, PVC pipeline, that transports water from multiple water wells to more than 20 water tanks, most of which are recycled tractor tires, like the one below. We also use a couple windmills to pump water, and have a solar well on our placeContinue reading “Winter Water”

Reflections of a Cow Man’s Daughter

Jennifer Faulkner, a University of Wyoming graduate student, received the Larsh Bristol photojournalism stipend in May 2011. This funding supports her current project, which aims to represent the ranching community. Her goal is to capture images of every day ranch life, with an emphasis on the diversity and challenges of this lifestyle. Jennifer wrote inContinue reading “Reflections of a Cow Man’s Daughter”

Bessey’s Equality

The saga of Bessey Stacy Badger, my great-grandmother’s mother, who homesteaded with her husband, Leland, is a story of equality. They homesteaded in eastern Wyoming in the late eighteen hundred’s. Wyoming was known as the “equality state,” a fortunate state for Bessey and Leland to choose to homestead. This is not a story about Leland. Continue reading “Bessey’s Equality”

Snaring Coyotes

Coyotes are predators to other wildlife such as deer. They are also predators to our new born calves. Last spring the coyotes were after our registered calves and just about killed one. Luckily my Grandma went up there and caught the coyotes, killing one, while the other ran off. If they kill our calves thatContinue reading “Snaring Coyotes”

Hellyer’s Fall Drive

By Colin Beal Colin spent time in Wyoming this year working on ranches. He helped the Hellyer family for a short time before heading off to new adventures. This is his account of his experience gathering cattle. At 6 a.m., the National Anthem played over the radio at the breakfast table. Like the beginning ofContinue reading “Hellyer’s Fall Drive”

The Contraption

con·trap·tion [kuh n-trap-shuhn] a mechanical contrivance; gadget; device. Have you ever built something that turned out not quite as intended? Well, from time to time I have built some things which cost a lot of time, do actually work, but really need improvement. For example, consider my recent stab at a “portable fence corner.” DependingContinue reading “The Contraption”