Bob and Jean Harshbarger live outside of Newcastle, Wyo. on Jean’s family ranch. There is no electricity on the vast prairies of their ranch, so they use solar panels to pump water for their cattle. Through the years Bob and Jean have tried other methods to pump water but none have worked as well asContinue reading “Solar Panels at the Harshbarger Ranch”
Category Archives: Real Ranching
Dry Season
The days unfold–one warm dry sunny day after the next. The neighbors gather and talk of only one subject–when will it snow? We all have tales to tell. Only two years ago, we were lamenting because we had to start feeding hay two weeks before Thanksgiving. This year, some of us still have some roughContinue reading “Dry Season”
Why Cows Wear Earrings
Even if you weren’t raised around livestock, you’ve probably noticed something hanging from those cows’ ears. Those aren’t fashion accessories, they are a part of ag-business management and our food-safety system in the US. Just like with humans, cattle are identified by gender. The guys are either bulls (uncastrated males) or steers (castrated males). TheContinue reading “Why Cows Wear Earrings”
Going to the Doctor
As humans, there are times it seems you inevitably pick the busiest day of the year to go to the doctor. From doctors running late to crying youngsters in the waiting room, a trip to the doctor can be exhausting and time consuming. Check out this post to see how one bunch of cows canContinue reading “Going to the Doctor”
Sage Grouse on the Sun Ranch
Working with other stakeholders is the norm for the Sun Ranch west of Casper, Wyo. Like any ranching operation, it is multi-faceted and complex at times. A series of cause and effects reflect on the landscape showing change regularly, some good and some bad. It is important for Dennis Sun, owner of the Sun RanchContinue reading “Sage Grouse on the Sun Ranch”
Writing, Photography and Ranching
Highlighting Three Wyoming Bloggers Over the past two years of blogging on RealRanchers.com, we’ve also discovered some fantastic Wyoming rural blogs we like to follow as well. We want to introduce you to some of these great Wyoming blogs and the people behind them. O.L. Shepp (Ondi Shepperson) is the ranch wife and mom behindContinue reading “Writing, Photography and Ranching”
The Art of Irrigating
Mosquitoes buzzing, sweat dripping from the brow under the rim of a cowboy hat, shovel over the shoulder and black rubber irrigating boots almost to the knees is the description of a rancher while irrigating. The rancher can be seen swatting at the mosquitoes so there is a path through the mosquitoes to breathe andContinue reading “The Art of Irrigating”
Winding Straps
EDITOR’S NOTE: On a ranch, everyone in the family has a job to do according to their skills and abilities. On her blog, RealRancher Heather Hamilton shares a job her sister, Holly, is in charge of as part of their hay transportation operation. Among Holly’s jobs around here are rolling straps as often as possibleContinue reading “Winding Straps”
The Never Ending Job – Fencing
Fencing is a fall and spring job that has to be done on a ranch. It is part of fall and spring housekeeping. Fences have to be fixed to keep the cattle where they belong and to manage the land so the land is not over used. Fencing became an important and needed part ofContinue reading “The Never Ending Job – Fencing”
Ranching and Coal Bed Methane
Wyoming ranchers Dudley and Marilyn Mackey live in Gillette, Wyo. where they are involved in both ranching and energy work. Marilyn’s family homesteaded the ranch in 1917 and she and Dudley are now the 4th generation on the ranch, running in a partnership with her parents, Marion & Mary Scott. The Mackey’s run Red AngusContinue reading “Ranching and Coal Bed Methane”
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