tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-49693753096322054582024-03-20T06:26:14.175-07:00On the Chase!Welcome to our blog. We're always on the chase; kids, cows, tractors, water and what ever else comes our way. This is our way of letting you know what exactly we're chasing today!Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837560732661127613noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969375309632205458.post-28319257495284795742018-03-21T16:18:00.000-07:002018-03-21T16:18:10.127-07:00Ag DayYesterday was the first day of spring & National Ag Day.<br />
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So what were we chasing around here.<br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>Jeff:</i></span> Was delivering & picking up bulls in Montana. Joined by a college buddy it was sure to be the best trip East in quite awhile. They stopped at Jeff's favorite restaurant (The Land of Magic) in Logan MT. What does it mean when your favorite steakhouse is 7 hours away? Not only do bulls need to go to & come home from studs in Montana but Jeff also takes an opportunity to view bulls. In a registered Angus operation every year Jeff gathers information about who to breed our cows to to create bulls that do what our customers need and improve our cow herd. Analyzing how a bull looks, what kind of daughters he'll leave in a herd as well as what a piece of paper says about him are all considered.<br />
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<span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The farm crew: </i></span><br />
Fed Cows; while the grass is trying to grow there just isn't enough growth to turn cows out yet so the bales keep being fed. We monitor grass growth to make sure cows don't eat it too early and damage the grass.<br />
Get ready for water. Irrigation water is coming. Making sure all the circles are ready to apply water to our crops. This year our spring work turned out to be crazy little (as a primarily hay grower most of our fields are in for years) so tractor work consists of harrowing hay fields and chasing down gophers. The shop may also be full of hay equipment that is still being gone through to be ready for haying. They all keep busy and no two days are the same.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyvcSjF2r1X6U_19PWlh8T_jwpK769ad8wdfSikSIkiuUYU2IAv8VlnzFQPftChkPCv8Tm0jEOQjwtJccaXHARdma5vdrAKFajnExFpNkzVGRQOZb1aJaEd5T-Mv8jcIOoVqBhivZ4Q4/s1600/IMG_2068.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCyvcSjF2r1X6U_19PWlh8T_jwpK769ad8wdfSikSIkiuUYU2IAv8VlnzFQPftChkPCv8Tm0jEOQjwtJccaXHARdma5vdrAKFajnExFpNkzVGRQOZb1aJaEd5T-Mv8jcIOoVqBhivZ4Q4/s200/IMG_2068.JPG" width="150" /></a><span style="color: blue; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><i>The rest of us: </i></span>Kids came home from school to have mom kick them outside! The weather was pretty nice. Planted our first seeds in the garden. The guys also moved the last of the spring calvers to our house today. Their 4H steers will likely come from this group of mommas so they might as well hang out here, right?<br />
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Why do we do all this and more on any given day? Well it is what and who we are. Raising animals and crops is not only what we do but our passion. Kids playing in the dirt and helping feed cows. Absolutely! What better way to let the next generation learn about the world around them?<br />
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So on this National Ag Day - thanks to farmers for doing what they do. And consumers for trusting us to put food on their tables. Best way to thank a farmer for the hours and efforts? When you have a question about what is happening on farms around the country ask someone who feeds cows, drives the tractor and keeps rolling when the work needs to be done!<br />
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Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837560732661127613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969375309632205458.post-60680144835902333722018-03-17T09:03:00.000-07:002018-03-17T09:03:36.282-07:00Spring!<span style="color: #38761d;">Looking out the window this morning, while there may not be snow, the green seems slow to come.</span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4OiwPtTe9e_YRHa3fFgigFEVHwdBdcYt6d3iVF0uBblboX8CdCpzRywtuaaeIzKQj4xlsOx7jCL-ZychdmlWCuNQDaUoojAiJF_uEbX5I_OWkNqxB3U6YW9vf6GZlcmGSxDi8GKQV9y8/s1600/IMG_2030+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4OiwPtTe9e_YRHa3fFgigFEVHwdBdcYt6d3iVF0uBblboX8CdCpzRywtuaaeIzKQj4xlsOx7jCL-ZychdmlWCuNQDaUoojAiJF_uEbX5I_OWkNqxB3U6YW9vf6GZlcmGSxDi8GKQV9y8/s200/IMG_2030+2.JPG" width="150" /></a></span><br />
<span style="color: #38761d;">Besides daylight saving time (ugh!) spring here also means the return of irrigation water. Spring calving is about 1/2 over and Jeff has started delivering bulls.</span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMpVyW514PMNBeTDEUsKpLmQzbtOot_65HNiYMKtX5lHzC1BSJqbv4e1z7CTjTDsgxB3_A3e5B2P0amut1gl8TwxigVGBCqixwMOUtPBBOpWJr4ckpg0sDmyFWYnMyTzONwSxWXoELMc/s1600/IMG_2004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOMpVyW514PMNBeTDEUsKpLmQzbtOot_65HNiYMKtX5lHzC1BSJqbv4e1z7CTjTDsgxB3_A3e5B2P0amut1gl8TwxigVGBCqixwMOUtPBBOpWJr4ckpg0sDmyFWYnMyTzONwSxWXoELMc/s200/IMG_2004.JPG" width="150" /></a></span></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Molly and a fair steer. </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"> </span></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #38761d;"> </span></td></tr>
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<span style="color: #38761d;">One of my favorite parts about farming is that no two operations are the same. We are located in a fairly large irrigation project. Thanks to the mighty Columbia River a desert is transformed into an oasis. Washington is second only to California in the variety of crops we grow. Our county fights for the top position in the state for total farm gate value. Yep, Ag is a big deal around here!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqlZ2vBDUNPH-5iFD5buI1jIHt4WyivdpnfrYgIcXEa0HEa-gx5K3EiE2fba6sAxtduSHEMtlq8npzhhkEUUYHeesXxSmCEvNOBuK7ldkss1LiUfBaYRIoyT1ZJByixL3SRQuljBd5ko/s1600/proud+ag.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="125" data-original-width="200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRqlZ2vBDUNPH-5iFD5buI1jIHt4WyivdpnfrYgIcXEa0HEa-gx5K3EiE2fba6sAxtduSHEMtlq8npzhhkEUUYHeesXxSmCEvNOBuK7ldkss1LiUfBaYRIoyT1ZJByixL3SRQuljBd5ko/s320/proud+ag.jpg" width="320" /></a>Over the years I've been blessed to meet and visit farmers from across the nation (& even a few around the world)! What sticks out the most? Everyone's passion for what they do. We feed the world! Each farm works with their set of conditions (climate, topography, soil, etc., etc., etc.) to make their farm work. Is a single operation perfect? Doubt it. Are we always striving to make it better? Absolutely! In our immediate area we are relatively small farmers. In other areas of this country we are huge. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">So? Well rather you milk 120 cows in the upper Midwest or 2000 in California we are all in this together! There aren't many of us left feeding the rest of America. Yes, it may look greener on the other side; the big guy or the little guy may not have the exact same concerns you do. But today we all need to take the time to tell our non-ag friends & family about what we do & why. Tell YOUR story, answer questions you are familiar with, introduce your non-farm circle to your (different) ag friends. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">Guess what? This coming week is National Ag Week! Commit to writing a quick story, posting a blog, sharing some pictures about what you do on your farm. See a fellow farmer's post/picture that is right on - share it! We are all in this together! </span><br />
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<br />Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837560732661127613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969375309632205458.post-78540267121589814582017-12-09T08:52:00.000-08:002017-12-09T08:52:35.230-08:00Hat: Livestock NutritionistSome of you may know one of the hats I wear is Livestock Nutritionist, M.S. and all. I work part time for a local company out of Othello, WA. I (we) are blessed to have a boss/owner/manager (ok same person - Todd) who has allowed me to work part time almost exclusively from home so I can primarily wear my mom, wife & farm/ranch wife hats.<br />
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Anyway, when Todd calls and asks "Are you sitting down?" something is up. This week it has to do with a fire in <span style="color: orange;"><span style="background-color: white;"><a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/basf-forcemajeure-vitamins/basf-flags-vitamin-production-outage-after-fire-idUSFWN1NG0SB" target="_blank">Germany</a>.</span></span> If you weren't sure we were in a global marketplace this is one that leaves no doubt. A fire on the other side of the globe (in a BASF facility) = serious issues for Vitamin (A, D & E particularly) availability. So?<br />
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Go grab a feed, mineral or lick-tub tag. Likely there is some Vitamins A, D &/or E in there. Sorry to my pig & chicken guys, you are just going to have to swallow this very expensive pill until supply issues get straightened out (hopefully April'ish). Feeding ruminants? You may have some flexibility.<br />
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If this was the growing season I could almost blanket say (to my beef customers) pull the A, D & E and no one will notice. Green growing grass and cattle enjoying our 300+ days of sunshine have their needs met from what they eat and sun exposure (just like you and I). But, unfortunately it is the time of year I traditionally make sure we have A, D & E back in mixes. Dang it!! For a quick refresher on why we feed A, D & E <a href="http://www.sites.ext.vt.edu/newsletter-archive/livestock/aps-03_11/aps-270.html" target="_blank">click here</a>.<br />
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First free choice mineral I priced with "new" vitamin prices saw a $200/ton increase! Ouch. What should you do?<br />
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#1) If you work with a nutritionist for your vitamin/mineral needs - call them!!<br />
#2) Consider yourself warned if the local feed store has a serious price increase.<br />
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If you are my customer - I'll ask you questions. I prefer to answer questions with more questions (BTW I'm a horrible salesman; preferring to wear a consultant's hat).<br />
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Vitamin A:<br />
Animals have some storage capability, so what did their diet look like Sept-November (green or brown/stored or fresh)? What do your cows traditionally eat December-February? If you came off of dry native pasture and headed to cornstalks you may still need to supplement A. Had irrigated pasture/crop regrowth and/or will be feeding 2017 hay (green)? You may be ok skipping A this winter. <br />
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Vitamin D:<br />
Let's play weather forecaster. 😎⛅ Is December-February going to look like earlier this week or are our 60 days of not sun going to come in one horrible, dreary, foggy block (boo!)? If only I knew!<br />
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Vitamin E:<br />
Refer to Vitamin A comments. Very similar conditions minus the storage capability.<br />
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Next is stage of production.<br />
Dry cows not calving until May? Much more flexible. High-stress calves - yikes - may not want to mess with their diets! Remember we may feed higher levels (beyond basic requirements) of Vitamin E to animals in high stress conditions. This might be the year where you FINALLY try some of the feed supplements not fed generations ago. Yes, if you use the right pro-biotics and yeast products they really do work. Thought these options were expensive? Maybe not now compared to increased costs of those extra couple hundred units of Vitamin E!<br />
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If you are able to get different mineral mixes for different groups of cattle or one mix for December and a different one for the month/two weeks prior to calving, do it! Yes your nutritionist or mill manager might roll their eyes BUT we understand. Everyone's goal should be to get the animals what they need and still keep all of us in business.<br />
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Just in case you thought you had this livestock raising thing figured out...... <br />
<br />Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837560732661127613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969375309632205458.post-69713878275607191882017-09-28T09:45:00.003-07:002017-09-28T09:45:43.590-07:00Preach it......beyond the choir! Or you - farmers and ranchers - tell people what you are really doing out there!<br />
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<a href="https://www.facebook.com/wabeef/?hc_ref=ARQUmKHKGNsW6jOaOFkUxmVIWt8TKCd3agRp6nP-6gjs1xyv0ww-uWFr7VIsUhtgCjY&fref=nf" target="_blank">Beef. It's What's for Dinner in Washington State</a> posted a link to a <a href="http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2211912416300013" target="_blank">scholarly article</a> about livestock use of feed resources. It confirms what we all know - livestock farmers are using what others don't want as much as possible to produce food and fiber!<br />
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For us in the fall that means crop aftermath. Corn stalks, wheat, grass or alfalfa regrowth are all great cow feed. Pictures aren't great as this was one of the days earlier this month when we were smoked in. I'll just say this about wildfire - cows, sheep and loggers are a huge part of the solution!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0w_WbGFJ34_lx7JvChdlCXuI3ah_XWXOLjbiyrCYR9RaD89SZ4aNTvn6MYm9kpJ6utfw4-aT9hHwlSrJY4jgIuyBckLTu3zLuvVCq3BmG8hdP69i7ZV8U8cgTecFbxBjOJ43IcwOGoeg/s1600/IMG_1574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0w_WbGFJ34_lx7JvChdlCXuI3ah_XWXOLjbiyrCYR9RaD89SZ4aNTvn6MYm9kpJ6utfw4-aT9hHwlSrJY4jgIuyBckLTu3zLuvVCq3BmG8hdP69i7ZV8U8cgTecFbxBjOJ43IcwOGoeg/s400/IMG_1574.JPG" width="300" /></a>All of our cows and heifers carrying calves to be born next spring are currently eating bluegrass regrowth. You know that plant that you enjoy as a lawn, golf course, or sports field. These fields were harvested for seed earlier in the summer. The kicker about bluegrass for seed production is it wants/needs to be "shocked" to make more seed the next year. I grew up in the Bluegrass country of the Northern Palouse. In that area to make bluegrass seed production work farmers need to burn their fields. Fire has been taken out of the farmer's toolbox in that region making seed production no longer viable on a large scale. <br />
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In the Basin the bluegrass straw is baled and removed (after the seed is removed from the seed heads with a combine). Following baling, bluegrass seed growers like to have cows come in to graze the regrowth down to "shock" the plant. Our crew spends lots of time building single strand hot (electric) fence to keep cows in specific areas of a field. This allows our cows to utilize the nutrition of the bluegrass while helping the farmer have a better crop next year.<br />
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In the case of grazing cornstalks, cows are replacing the tractor! Cows adequately grazing standing corn stalks (after grain has been harvested) will decrease the times a farmer will need to till a field to prepare it for next year's crop. <br />
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So when you drive through the Basin on I-90 this fall and winter and see groups of cows on what looks like crop fields, you are right! Cows utilizing what humans can't and helping the farmers. Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837560732661127613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969375309632205458.post-21986957085931990682017-07-04T08:12:00.001-07:002017-07-04T08:12:29.091-07:00<br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: red;"> </span> </span> </span><img alt="Happy Birthday America Image 4th of july fourth of july happy 4th of july 4th of july quotes happy 4th of july quotes 4th of july images fourth of july quotes fourth of july images fourth of july pictures happy fourth of july quotes" class="_m9 _1x _3p _29" height="320" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/f5/de/42/f5de424d79e2980e3ee814af56d361be.jpg" width="229" /></div>
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<span style="font-family: Georgia,"Times New Roman",serif;"><span style="font-size: x-large;"><span style="color: red;">4th of July!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: blue;">We hope everyone has an opportunity to celebrate and reflect on our nation's birthday.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: red;">In the last week we've made 3 trips, each about 2 hours from home; there and back same "day". Milton-Freewater, Grand Coulee Dam and Reardan. At least one leg of each trip was done in the daylight. Some roads we've probably never traveled, others we've been on countless times. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: blue;">We are admittedly country people and thought it was awesome we could count the number of cars we saw between our house and Grand Coulee Dam (via Almira). Where we live is rural - but not really THAT rural. I always love the opportunity to go and be in more rural. Our little adventures took us through beautiful country. After a nasty winter and wet spring crops in the dryland area look awesome (would undoubtedly appreciate another shot of water or two, but compared to recent years - wow!).</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: red;">I call our blog "On the Chase", we are always chasing something. And often it is what is on fire - not literally; and here's to already having enough wildfires for the entire season - what needs to be done NOW (if not three days ago). I also read a great Facebook post (from someone I don't know) that got shared many times. Author talking about seeing farmers working in the fields at 1 am and appreciating the get'r done attitude of farmers.</span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/84/21/63/8421632f067a473e10b62ddf08e5da44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="free Patriotic printable perfect for Memorial Day & 4th of July" border="0" class="_m9 _1x _3p _29" height="320" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/84/21/63/8421632f067a473e10b62ddf08e5da44.jpg" width="262" /></a><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: blue;">Every farm area has their own busy times. Harvest sticks out in dryland areas. This is one of those pretty quiet times for those that rely on water from the heavens (saw some fallow being worked) and produce dry grain. Here in irrigated country it is go time! Last night we pulled off the freeway at our exit at about 11, we had to wait for a group of big bale stackers before we could get off the exit ramp. On our Milton trip we saw a field outside of Othello of grass hay. Headed south they had just started baling, with too much equipment in the field to count. On our way home (in the twilight) the same field was still full of equipment (lights moving everywhere) and they were almost done. The harowbeds were almost keeping up with all those little balers. Living on the edge of irrigated country it is pretty obvious to drop into the project and go from huge, dark fields to the irrigated ones that are dotted with the lights of circles and see equipment running at all hours of the day (from now till Sept). After just visiting the area our water comes from makes the foresight of previous generations even more appreciated. </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: red;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: red;">On the anniversary of a seemingly impossible task I am thankful for all that have given so much to allow the rest of us to do what we do. So much to be grateful for amidst the natural beauty and bounty we find ourselves. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: red;"><span style="color: blue;"><span style="color: red;"></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837560732661127613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969375309632205458.post-89102745117527153432017-05-17T10:16:00.000-07:002017-05-17T10:16:37.640-07:00#realranchmoms& realfarmmoms!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81Mv9m1b21j5cYZGg0I33NEXHg8vE_BX-4fsKWndqwUO7AaSsQo8lERyceuPBVtlYa6geimMYMnQucoMPjtsqWUoyDA7nzVyEA3oCl6MuJ-q104lbKp7c3UlZdu5-hmuRTreAI6Urtvo/s1600/IMG_1098+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi81Mv9m1b21j5cYZGg0I33NEXHg8vE_BX-4fsKWndqwUO7AaSsQo8lERyceuPBVtlYa6geimMYMnQucoMPjtsqWUoyDA7nzVyEA3oCl6MuJ-q104lbKp7c3UlZdu5-hmuRTreAI6Urtvo/s320/IMG_1098+2.JPG" width="320" /></a>Last Sunday was Mother's Day. Three kids brought breakfast in bed, Jeff brought flowers & the Sunday paper & Molly gave me this homemade card (can't find that verse in the store!). Yes, I don't make my kids do morning chores on most school days. And the livestock nutritionist in me requires cattle on grain to be fed twice daily. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kPC3pxpoAXhkgVHUzwbAIV_TEVXBBZ9rBtozqkHEUQYBr7godWr4mybMqZdEjndlfRdLVipz5H9YkPp0gsvK98k_ZChRL9FbCBnewmo71HfP0_jd78j526ppIG7EKGv41TPvWJWcoaI/s1600/IMG_1081.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8kPC3pxpoAXhkgVHUzwbAIV_TEVXBBZ9rBtozqkHEUQYBr7godWr4mybMqZdEjndlfRdLVipz5H9YkPp0gsvK98k_ZChRL9FbCBnewmo71HfP0_jd78j526ppIG7EKGv41TPvWJWcoaI/s320/IMG_1081.JPG" width="240" /></a><br />
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Besides the necessity for custom cards, ranch & farm moms also require flexibility! What we drive often showcases this. We have 4 kids - so I drive a full size SUV. But also because you can haul stuff with it & check cows (with or without groceries on board). 8' posts - sure just put a couple of seats down. Picked up at the same time as supplies for synchronizing cows, replacing the roses that winter killed (grrr.....), chick feed, and a new rosemary plant (fresh rosemary is SO good with beef!). With room for a kid or three still available. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFyR_do_f4DXUlcGch9YdWFcwM9q77i6eqIc0jczcnkKZQ3EqalfUS_yyxEEcqVNRitWEbOGSRuh3jOqGzZsQYZ6ZQZk0NG2u9eefxvv8n_RX3pKTzSsDfTBDpugmekiEVDQ2IZ5aqeg/s1600/IMG_1083.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghFyR_do_f4DXUlcGch9YdWFcwM9q77i6eqIc0jczcnkKZQ3EqalfUS_yyxEEcqVNRitWEbOGSRuh3jOqGzZsQYZ6ZQZk0NG2u9eefxvv8n_RX3pKTzSsDfTBDpugmekiEVDQ2IZ5aqeg/s200/IMG_1083.JPG" width="150" /></a><br />
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Next project is picking up feed/mineral & moving panel gates between two corral projects. Yes, stick shift operation is mandatory!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJy0J1jjbAkZdEQfPExQFu7PxfSbIthVDnXP-OidWOCWtgdO5Y2Mg8wLf9VjLqq4DWUqjdVSVcltCELff6JFvyL24DDL2l5Is_oMt-SvwpZDMO7oAhwUSZeAsB84DS7xX_uswWp5hyxM/s1600/IMG_1089.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuJy0J1jjbAkZdEQfPExQFu7PxfSbIthVDnXP-OidWOCWtgdO5Y2Mg8wLf9VjLqq4DWUqjdVSVcltCELff6JFvyL24DDL2l5Is_oMt-SvwpZDMO7oAhwUSZeAsB84DS7xX_uswWp5hyxM/s320/IMG_1089.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
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Run into a group of farm/ranch/dairy/rural moms & you will also find the necessity for shared carpool duties. Get an extra kid, give an extra kid; whatever. While we have awesome husbands the farm/dairy/ranch doesn't always allow them to help us get multiple kids to multiple places at one time. Amen for the mom who has kids a similar age as yours and understands your chaos!! And those trips to town aren't always quick - so sharing duties makes everyone's life go smoother. My favorite from this week is "neighbor" bringing daughter over to go to softball game. Takes longer to get to our house than I think it should - whatever I run late ALWAYS!! When they get to our driveway, softball player also has uncle in car. "Got a call to pick him up from swather on the way by" - yep flexibility & seating for a few extra are MANDATORY for farm & ranch moms!!<br />
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Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837560732661127613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969375309632205458.post-31382279581881773852017-04-29T20:53:00.000-07:002017-04-29T20:53:25.832-07:00Reflections--<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;">It is spring. Spring = crazy. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvvKq1JHkYntU8V_k7MCu30PpYyhhD9Aky711L1dDVpOUc4h-uWSqgofTsa-Lv9rO2sC6DyRX7QTLFWsWeoyA5rdFJHM6wVkVtyiOkatpkuQIEC7V01RSuiv3Hylj_uOqlFvp3MRACNg/s1600/IMG_1053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjEvvKq1JHkYntU8V_k7MCu30PpYyhhD9Aky711L1dDVpOUc4h-uWSqgofTsa-Lv9rO2sC6DyRX7QTLFWsWeoyA5rdFJHM6wVkVtyiOkatpkuQIEC7V01RSuiv3Hylj_uOqlFvp3MRACNg/s320/IMG_1053.JPG" width="240" /></span></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I found myself thinking about everything we had been a part of the last few days this afternoon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm just not a fan of the phrase "it takes a village". Maybe it is because of who I associate that saying with on a national stage. But, the last few days the villages my little family find ourselves a part of are rather amazing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Thursday and Friday found me at a "video bootcamp" with Washington Farm Bureau volunteers. Women I'd never met and have know for years that share a huge passion for agriculture, who came together to learn how to share our story. There was even loud, crazy hotel lobby laughing at maybe too late at night.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Friday evening found us at a Washington Junior Angus Field Day. With Molly and a registered steer in tow we got to see some of our Angus friends. Cheers to farm dads. The guys who worked as long as they could, still got the kids to the show, and figured out how to make the last spot left to pen cattle work. Yes, there was baling twine involved! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_4czj7SvNxF_itJwuv4RN-WVUPnKfdwTInKtd4QKX6kq9ytdwA2CtnXEpxXgBCZhyphenhyphenP1Q3bI5kHv7HsibYcworh7iVbm47lU4ckgi4pvQVwTedhuT16G5GNO263HIyUilH4oAYzkJo5U/s1600/IMG_1044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz_4czj7SvNxF_itJwuv4RN-WVUPnKfdwTInKtd4QKX6kq9ytdwA2CtnXEpxXgBCZhyphenhyphenP1Q3bI5kHv7HsibYcworh7iVbm47lU4ckgi4pvQVwTedhuT16G5GNO263HIyUilH4oAYzkJo5U/s320/IMG_1044.JPG" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Shows also mean other moms who are willing to braid Molly's hair (I totally fail at this task!), other kids to help clean pens, walk cattle, and the list goes on and on! I realized we've been to enough shows now I actually recognize & can name more kids than not. Just love that Molly is excited to go to 4H and Junior Angus events because she gets to hang with a different group of kids that are just as cool - and more likely to know about cow licks - than her buddies at school.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The Angus morning that started at 4:15 turned into the opening day baseball/softball parade. We're blessed with volunteer coaches who received varying degrees of arm twisting to step up. Maybe for the first time but with the commitment to help our youngsters learn something but have fun and not take the whole thing too seriously. I guess we aren't overboard about the sports thing since we would rather have the coaches smiling and laughing for our first year sluggers (hitting will come right?).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eCP4p0-77R_iacpu7AvRcDoSbJ-paTTOj61bV3MuU0JlmDTTT9Z-xW7xBG2LSpJfcCBfCb_w5Pt4kJQAHPtF1h9fdSJuBIfq6QzaEcuLAsRo0ymyF15G4q6JZSAmhOK555pJbbNYPHU/s1600/8DD21959-DCE4-450E-86D7-FE75A27655B6.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-eCP4p0-77R_iacpu7AvRcDoSbJ-paTTOj61bV3MuU0JlmDTTT9Z-xW7xBG2LSpJfcCBfCb_w5Pt4kJQAHPtF1h9fdSJuBIfq6QzaEcuLAsRo0ymyF15G4q6JZSAmhOK555pJbbNYPHU/s320/8DD21959-DCE4-450E-86D7-FE75A27655B6.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">After appreciating the company of Farm Bureau folks on Thursday and Friday, Angus peeps on Friday and Saturday, I found myself having a little quiet time (I had left all my kids in someone else's care!) enjoying fellow moms in our local community. Did I talk about different things with each group? Yep! Were my kids just as comfortable with the kids from each group? Yep! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSxQLF5jUi0Z1rchrC1NxjVkHLNDsXvDtKuixA4SW0ZmXrezK4RpCJIAMwG_apIi-QXFJWKCGNivVZb2CGjxWMP2UixA1G9zmyPre_LQzTNBByqM-OAWawqvqlXhLGeLXr3s3LaFAhXA/s1600/IMG_1051.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRSxQLF5jUi0Z1rchrC1NxjVkHLNDsXvDtKuixA4SW0ZmXrezK4RpCJIAMwG_apIi-QXFJWKCGNivVZb2CGjxWMP2UixA1G9zmyPre_LQzTNBByqM-OAWawqvqlXhLGeLXr3s3LaFAhXA/s320/IMG_1051.JPG" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So as I listened to the National Anthem and watched our beautiful flag waving in the WIND it just struck me how blessed we are to have so many great people in our lives. They may run in different and overlapping circles but they make our crazy life so much richer. We greatly appreciate the care and concern so many people around us show for all of us - each in their own way!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I hope you are able to take a moment and reflect on the various people </span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">who's life intersects with yours and truly hope you are as blessed with as awesome of people as we are!!</span><br />
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<br />Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837560732661127613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969375309632205458.post-59076730286333799092017-03-21T08:58:00.000-07:002017-03-21T08:58:02.752-07:00Ag Day 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Oh good grief - really a year since I have managed a post!!<br />
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Anyway, with that acknowledgement we really do chase plenty of different things around here. However, being a tremendous writer is a hat I don't wear. I often ponder a blog post but (obviously) never get around to actually typing.<br />
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In honor of National Ag(riculture) Day - here goes!<br />
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Yes, I spend too much time on Facebook and Pinterest. Yes, most of my "friends" on Facebook are farmers or certainly tend to have closer ties to farmers than the average American. I scroll through my feed and see fire, flooding, and mud other farmers
are dealing with daily. Seeing the pictures and video of 4H'ers feeding
orphan calves and load after load of donated hay rolling through towns
headed to burned out ranchers choke me up every time. <br />
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Farmers - here in the United States - there just aren't that many of us anymore. Bad stuff happens and we rally to each other. And guess what those folks get up in the morning and keep going - why?<br />
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We love what we do!<br />
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<a href="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/3a/70/bd/3a70bd430670fb6c8f3189674d5bbde9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="“A farm is more than land and crops. It is a family’s heritage and future.” ~ Unknown #farmquotes: " border="0" class="pinImage rounded" data-load-state="pending" data-src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/3a/70/bd/3a70bd430670fb6c8f3189674d5bbde9.jpg" height="200" src="https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/564x/3a/70/bd/3a70bd430670fb6c8f3189674d5bbde9.jpg" width="200" /></a><br />
We love working with crops & animals, with our families, with mother nature (even though she does mean stuff to us sometimes) and feeding the world! <br />
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What grows on our farm is not only sold but also helps feed our family. No, we don't feed our kids hay; but we do feed it to our cows and we enjoy home grown beef. And some of that same hay has made it as far as UAE (the camels were hungry too!)<br />
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We've just survived a crazy, long, cold, snowy, icy winter here in the
Northwest. Don't worry I whined plenty. I seriously think I've worn my
insulated bibbers and muck boots more in the last 4 months than I might
have in the last four years (& it's not because I was outside more
this winter!). <br />
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Spring is FINALLY here and that means new growth. Litters of pigs destined to be cared for by local 4H & FFA'ers and shown at the local county fairs, calves, and new green plant growth.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Some weaned pigs chew on my boot.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jeff & Spot check spring calving cows on pasture waiting for warm soil and sun.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLiaSI5e-BN9nBmGxSDl8MgBx7vRRDg-Ffgo-ifWO2z_Wu-xTPH2b-Q4YYSHH5Rgrsz2fCujgWU6EZYcJO97wLsJ9SkzC_CCaFeLAcLoghB74zd4ZWTsmPS5albw-KHvBVDa1pBcwI1U/s1600/IMG_0935.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnLiaSI5e-BN9nBmGxSDl8MgBx7vRRDg-Ffgo-ifWO2z_Wu-xTPH2b-Q4YYSHH5Rgrsz2fCujgWU6EZYcJO97wLsJ9SkzC_CCaFeLAcLoghB74zd4ZWTsmPS5albw-KHvBVDa1pBcwI1U/s320/IMG_0935.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cows look on as irrigation pipes remain stacked. With all our winter snow the ground is well saturated so we probably aren't in a huge hurry to start irrigating, but last year at this time we were. Water should be available in ditches shortly.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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Longer days also find the whole crew out in the dirt. Yes, kids would rather be outside than do homework this time of year (for some reason).<br />
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We plant a relatively extensive garden. Why? Do I not trust the produce at the grocery store - absolutely NOT the reason! Fresher is better, rather grown as part of backyard garden or a multi-acre field. Kids eat their fruits and veggies better when they help grow them. For some reason a kid that won't touch tomatoes that magically appear on the dinner table can be caught eating them by the handful off the vine. And bonus - don't tell the kids - a garden is a tremendous teacher; responsibility, science, math, with the added bonus of fresh air and fingernails that always need to be cleaned!<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-Su0A_iN54GvaVyrTIYL5ELpApu45xU2AiwgE0RFDWX0Mu4rrlfb582onerZppk2Op-dIfC6j-e7dScubBvjPJmYcnVUh_cjPRVZGCvpN8uFySzRkrmM_yLorkoLX-LjlhujJt62-vU/s1600/IMG_0933.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhX-Su0A_iN54GvaVyrTIYL5ELpApu45xU2AiwgE0RFDWX0Mu4rrlfb582onerZppk2Op-dIfC6j-e7dScubBvjPJmYcnVUh_cjPRVZGCvpN8uFySzRkrmM_yLorkoLX-LjlhujJt62-vU/s320/IMG_0933.JPG" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Two girls plant a row of cold season crops.</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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So on this National Ag Day take a moment to appreciate how the food you ate today got to you. The farmers, the workers, the truckers, the grocers, etc., etc.,. <br />
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If you have a question about agriculture or how something is grown ask a FARMER - and maybe more than one (because what we do on our farm is not exactly the same as someone else). <br />
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Subscribe to an ag blog & ask questions! There are so many great ones (that post more often than I do). Yes, we spend hours in our barns, pastures, fields and tractors but thanks to social media and smart phones we can communicate with consumers and still get our work done. <br />
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Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837560732661127613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969375309632205458.post-70447221576251863962016-03-08T21:41:00.000-08:002016-03-08T21:41:42.475-08:00#IWD2016 <i>Here I go with an attempt of two posts in two weeks!</i><br />
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Today is The International Day of the Woman. Certainly agriculture can't overlook the importance of women.<br />
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On my facebook feed this morning I saw a challenge to post a picture of #ilooklikeafarmer. While I didn't manage a selfie, I promise I was looking like a farmer today. Interestingly enough our day was all about babies.<br />
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The vet was here to ultrasound pregnancy check about 2/3 of our fall cowherd. Since the morning round of preg checking was in the middle of a pasture the vet set up his ultrasound screen in a box to avoid the sun's glare. I got to run the "box" and see all his images! Always fun to see little babies moving around inside their mom's. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Our youngest farm girl helper. Painting & digging in the dirt during preg-check. Not only am I not an experienced selfie taker, but when cows were actually going through the chute - I already needed another hand!</td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"> </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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When the first group of cows were done Nia & I headed home to check on a gilt (female pig that has never given birth) that was about to have her first litter. She ended up doing a stupendous job; delivering 11 babies completely on her own and being as calm as can be. <br />
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The kids had a half day of school today (conference week) so they even got to join in on the fun. Four kids did sit quietly in the isolet (little pig barn designed for farrowing) for 5 to 10 minutes. After that they played at the barn where the usual desire to make noise wouldn't disrupt the gilt. The kids seemed to rotate in and out and help get those little babies nursing. When you only have 4 sows and they are having fair pigs they definitely get special attention.<br />
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All of our girls (4 legged variety) didn't cooperate with where we were supposed to be! Luckily we have two great teachers at school that seem to embrace the craziness us {and our kids} bring. We'll get those parent-teacher conferences made-up! <br />
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There are so many women in agriculture who tell our & their story so much better than I. As we look towards National Ag Day next week take a moment and read some of what they have to say about their lives on today's farms.<br />
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Here's a perennial favorite post about being a farm girl:<br />
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<a href="http://www.pinktractor.com/blog/2015/3/10/20-reasons-being-a-farm-girl-rocks.aspx" target="_blank"> 20 Reasons Being a Farm Girl Rocks</a><br />
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<br />Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837560732661127613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969375309632205458.post-14535061684866021772015-08-26T17:42:00.000-07:002015-08-26T17:42:44.946-07:00Time!?!?Wow - it seems I've lost a couple of months; again.<br />
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At our house we keep a white board calendar with two months showing. I avoided putting up Aug & Sept until we were at least a week into Aug. Why? - because both months are/were a little crowded. And I didn't write in things like "calving", "haying" - you know the things that pay the bills!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We might all feel like this!!</td></tr>
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The kids started school today - let's just say 2 days is not enough recovery time for a 9 year-old after a week long fair.<br />
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I know I'm weird but starting school has always been bitter-sweet for me. I enjoy having the kids at home and the opportunity to give them an education in all the things we think are important or that school just doesn't get to. But at their current ages I do get more stuff I should/need to get done when three of them are at school.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Herdsmanship is a family affair!</td></tr>
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This year seems to be even more emotionally interesting. There is so much going on around us (without even being a follower of national news!). Our beautiful state is on fire - literally. Friends, family and bull customers are in danger and so many people still don't know if their livestock is alive. Other folks have live cattle, a house and absolutely nothing else - including nothing to feed those animals.<br />
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Closer to home kids/families whom have suffered tremendous tragedies are a part of our local fair livestock auctions. Monies raised to honor a young man taken from this earth way to early and young showman who lost their mom (while they were at the fair!). <br />
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What do these things have in common? <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhHCP2mISO6VCsWszT62gKPGoBu-032Stm5RfVoWx5Gzh1r4E2qfeRzpnU6wtbE1AK_apRqarJznADRcYdX65yMA3I9V2NrY7Nh4ccUDPH-LMqulN0KiYczcGcVG65p2wLzjsjk0QpmQ/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkhHCP2mISO6VCsWszT62gKPGoBu-032Stm5RfVoWx5Gzh1r4E2qfeRzpnU6wtbE1AK_apRqarJznADRcYdX65yMA3I9V2NrY7Nh4ccUDPH-LMqulN0KiYczcGcVG65p2wLzjsjk0QpmQ/s320/photo+1.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How many watermelon can one family eat? </td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /></td></tr>
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First they make you stop and think about what is really important. Our Molly did very well at her first fair. It sure keeps kids grounded to know show friends are in the path of a huge fire and to remember the young man missing from the showring. <br />
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Next, it makes you appreciate being part of small towns and the huge community that is agriculture. If you can please take the opportunity to help in our region's small communities hit so hard by the current fires. Send your resources to local agencies that will use your contributions in the most effective and efficient manor. If you aren't able to support financially watch for opportunities to give your time. This last summer lots of help was needed to rebuild fences. Guess what - even more fences will need to be rebuild following this disaster. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">More fairs to come -</td></tr>
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While I've never been accused of having a way with words - I hope you take the time to appreciate those around you. If you are blessed enough to be a part of a small community and/or agriculture know that more people than you will ever know are cheering and praying for you. For anyone dealing with fires there are so many people keeping you in their thoughts and prayers.<br />
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God bless ---<br />
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<br />Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837560732661127613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969375309632205458.post-70396185102011715842015-06-27T06:59:00.000-07:002015-06-27T06:59:54.302-07:00WaterYes, we are farmers. Farming is not just what we, but who we are. If you even want to start a conversation with a farmer/rancher and aren't sure where to start go to weather. I guarantee it is too dry/wet, cold/hot, windy, something!<br />
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This summer I'm following the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/groups/ethanproject/" target="_blank">ETHAN Project online</a>. A new challenge for every summer week for life with kids. This week is water. What this challenge means to me (daughter of a dryland farmer married to an irrigated farmer/cowman) is probably a little different than most following ETHAN project.<br />
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This summer for agriculture and now even non-farmers (in some locations) water is of the utmost importance. California and most of the west is DRY. Dryland crops don't look good, some irrigated farmers never got water or are loosing water earlier than normal. Other areas are drowning. Good 'ole Facebook shows me pics of corn dying of excess "dihydrogen monoxide" in the same feed as dry pastures and fields. We have a friend fighting fire in Alaska and fire is of huge concern in our state and its not even July.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WR9rz9PoIO98sZEM0TEr0n1Wh9LVs2XJiEP8LEQG9a2sLETezi8LUqP1m5NjcyUNTHmv1wNIdD-sIholkVZA9tdSDzNoB5vywOAU61886pM3AiSUcD436hzorZSadZfouaMCGW1TvBg/s1600/tadpoles2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3WR9rz9PoIO98sZEM0TEr0n1Wh9LVs2XJiEP8LEQG9a2sLETezi8LUqP1m5NjcyUNTHmv1wNIdD-sIholkVZA9tdSDzNoB5vywOAU61886pM3AiSUcD436hzorZSadZfouaMCGW1TvBg/s400/tadpoles2.jpg" width="255" /></a>We are spoiled and blessed to be in the Columbia Basin Reclamation Project. Thanks to the Columbia River we are still getting irrigation water as planned. And with temps in the triple digits we've got lots of water on - except on the hay fields that are now officially in second cutting.<br />
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Needless to say our world revolves around water. The first and last project for Jeff every day is changing/checking/fixing water. Our kids get to spend time with dad in their irrigation boots and our yard certainly enjoys the benefits of multi-horse pumps.<br />
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Jeff sent me a video of tadpoles in a shrinking puddle (in a draw of an alfalfa field that was cut today). The little guys' house was quickly disappearing. So we headed over to play in the mud and try to move some tadpoles to the overflow pond at our house. Hey - I'll take some muddy kids in favor of the hopes of a few less bugs and being serenaded at night. <br />
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Nia was the funniest. She kept telling us every time she saw one. She even caught a few.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1U_4r_D6u_0wh6kb1YCkG2ETMEoQKChf8tocMQ6lCBz_J89BhFE8tRmL1fYGohmr5q9ieZhc1MmUUFGPpkrWsDyfVpnr06gdsIpKv5wXiQwAF-SEU0HN2bHkG39oUGAsiDwk5vzFXBM/s1600/tadpoles1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQ1U_4r_D6u_0wh6kb1YCkG2ETMEoQKChf8tocMQ6lCBz_J89BhFE8tRmL1fYGohmr5q9ieZhc1MmUUFGPpkrWsDyfVpnr06gdsIpKv5wXiQwAF-SEU0HN2bHkG39oUGAsiDwk5vzFXBM/s400/tadpoles1.jpg" width="400" /></a>Life's pretty good when you are a kid chasing tadpoles in the alfalfa field!!Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837560732661127613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969375309632205458.post-34897805190119467742015-06-05T19:59:00.000-07:002015-06-05T19:59:31.967-07:00Cooking--Beware, my attempts at a food blog entry (& I might be drinking some wine, Washington vintage of course)!<br />
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" 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" style="margin-top: -2px;" title="http://www.h3dwallpapers.com/pinterest-logo-1877/" width="188" /></a>I love to cook. I rarely give myself enough time to actually make dinner though. My kids are known to say something about it tastes better than it looks. When our hired man eats with us pretty sure he expects an "experiment" or "refrigerator clean-out". I spend way too much time looking at <a href="http://www.pinterest.com/">Pinterest</a>. I don't pin that much, but basically guaranteed if you see something remotely crafty or cute from me I got the idea from Pinterest (we won't talk about the execution of someone else's cool idea!). <br />
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We also live far enough from town I don't just run in when I am missing a key ingredient or two (or six) so I improvise. More than once I've told Jeff how I altered the "new recipe" and just don't think the experiment in question is a "keeper" recipe. At which point Jeff says something about can I really blame the recipe because I may have made some pretty major alterations. OK, point taken! <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWtBssmQwS6FmPY0MyWwgF8OgkEq211scB4s-2iUiHBE0smdKjRAdTQE1jYN-FK9bKUS6hLxr5h5_G2UjgugJ3QZzenXrk_3vXVOytiiNEAGjqf6NVJSTGM2xT75Kx4ssTU18V6BI3dY/s1600/photo+1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRWtBssmQwS6FmPY0MyWwgF8OgkEq211scB4s-2iUiHBE0smdKjRAdTQE1jYN-FK9bKUS6hLxr5h5_G2UjgugJ3QZzenXrk_3vXVOytiiNEAGjqf6NVJSTGM2xT75Kx4ssTU18V6BI3dY/s200/photo+1.JPG" width="200" /></a>Apparently it is summer now (low seventies earlier in the week, expecting 100 Monday). We are starting to harvest stuff out of our garden. I feel salads coming on; lots of lettuce and hot weather. For some reason the kids eat their veggies so much better when they come out of our garden. Another blessing of farm life is lots of space to plant edible goodies. If half the stuff in our garden grows this summer we can run our own fresh food pantry!<br />
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Another part of our farm life is freezers brimming with meat we raised. This often means plenty of ground beef. Nothing against chicken but I rarely buy it and most main dish salads (need meat in our main dish) include chicken not beef. Thus begins my improvising. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4NUbCsqwl-6bD0ZclSu41_M2Ejm5eX4p1halDYEYmxt8rHNoJWT0VOJrAmcDgGWdvt0uQ1KGTx9Me071sx_YT04qPnPh9SWKeyuPqJZahOCmfL_EvKNVp5iGusrr_rElNrdugSloOQox/s1600/Italian+Chopped+Salad.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" class="" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW4NUbCsqwl-6bD0ZclSu41_M2Ejm5eX4p1halDYEYmxt8rHNoJWT0VOJrAmcDgGWdvt0uQ1KGTx9Me071sx_YT04qPnPh9SWKeyuPqJZahOCmfL_EvKNVp5iGusrr_rElNrdugSloOQox/s200/Italian+Chopped+Salad.jpg" width="146" /></a>Lettuce and ground beef in hand I head to pinterest and find <a href="http://www.thecountrycook.net/2014/06/italian-chopped-salad-with-grilled.html">The Country Cook</a>. An Italian Chopped Salad with Grilled Chicken. Looks nummy and I have "most" of the ingredients. Some didn't make it out of the pantry before the starving natives NEEDED dinner. But we did enjoy a few green items out of the garden, ground beef out of the freezer and other items I had in the fridge or pantry. Added some Italian Dressing spice mix/base to the beef and I cheated with bottled Italian dressing. I liked it and 1/2 the kids ate it (I left the ingredients in separate bowls because I have a olive and tomato (unless they come from our garden) hater. The other 1/2 used part of ingredients to make tacos (used tortilla shells - we're not that loyal to food nationalities).<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZf-vhYbLIPFMnBaGmXM4YN6IG-M3MWiKg_GASAOfgszHBAWrOnMNDrrpx6cEE_Ftt9fCVbKc-4JTa92L_pimmE6bfTCOloIbYYqp8C_dpP0G_bApVghzI6iJF-Dm9umo4ll1GvYUA9MI/s1600/photo+2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZf-vhYbLIPFMnBaGmXM4YN6IG-M3MWiKg_GASAOfgszHBAWrOnMNDrrpx6cEE_Ftt9fCVbKc-4JTa92L_pimmE6bfTCOloIbYYqp8C_dpP0G_bApVghzI6iJF-Dm9umo4ll1GvYUA9MI/s320/photo+2.JPG" width="320" /></a><br />
So goes another dinner at our house. Jeff may or may not eat the same thing - hours later than the kids and I. We have dinner in rounds here pretty much whenever water is on (March - October). You name the hour and pretty sure I'm getting ready to feed somebody, something - and there's still wine left. <br />
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Happy cooking (& improvising)! <br />
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<br />Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837560732661127613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969375309632205458.post-20478042850726773132015-05-30T17:27:00.001-07:002015-05-30T17:27:34.213-07:00Weigh & MeasureWhen we had our first child I was a little surprised how often the Dr. wanted to see our little bundle of joy (she's not little any more by the way - she's going to be looking me in the eye WAY to soon!).<br />
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I shouldn't have been surprised. We have "well calf checks" pretty often as well!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmcP2jDD0fmK53PUyuF1y5uLGf4gH3RDUaYkl5xbBd4cPExlnLGhTNejlW2M4DXN7QYM-OfCEuTwC9x62IUu9pdmnXqgDIY1avkECghKc-ke0I84eipRMwt0_UTZmWpgXMeZqJLgQBq0/s1600/photo+3.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAmcP2jDD0fmK53PUyuF1y5uLGf4gH3RDUaYkl5xbBd4cPExlnLGhTNejlW2M4DXN7QYM-OfCEuTwC9x62IUu9pdmnXqgDIY1avkECghKc-ke0I84eipRMwt0_UTZmWpgXMeZqJLgQBq0/s320/photo+3.JPG" width="320" /></a>The last couple of weeks we've had all the fall pairs through the corral and chute for their pre-weaning vaccinations. Yes, we vaccinate cattle (& pigs) just like we vaccinate our kids. Vaccinations are for specific diseases that we hope they aren't exposed to, but if they are the results can be deadly. Besides vaccinations, all the calves also get weighed, measured for hip height and given a disposition score. Just like kids & for basically the same reasons. We want to make sure the calves are growing as expected and have an idea of how tall they will be when mature. Think of disposition as the Autism checklist I've filled out at the last two visits for our youngest. We are looking for signs of cattle that may be hard to manage. At our place if a calf (or cow) has multiple incidents of bad behavior/disposition they will not be asked to remain in our pastures. Disposition is passed from parent to calf at a very predictable rate. <br />
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As for the cows they also get weighed, measured, disposition noted and a body condition score given (think BMI) in addition to vaccinations (boosters). After everyone has their time across the scale we "kick" (no boots or feet involved, just a little farm lingo) the pairs (cow & calf) back out on pasture. This allows the vaccinations to be more effective since the calves are under very minimal stress when they are still nursing mom. At weaning the calves will get vaccination boosters and whenever possible we fenceline wean - meaning the cows and calves share a common fence. This procedure minimizes the stress for both cow and calf. With fenceline weaning we rarely see a decrease in eating and minimal bawling - both signs of distress in calves. <br />
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Nothing like taking cattle to a new, green pasture and watching them all get to eating. This is one of our non-irrigated pastures.<br />
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With some very unpredictable weather in Eastern WA & OR the last couple weeks we've had some pretty awesome colors/clouds in our sky's at night. Our view while finishing up chores last night. <br />
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<br />Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837560732661127613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969375309632205458.post-39880120344804347902015-05-25T08:14:00.000-07:002015-05-25T08:14:57.318-07:00Passions<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Courtesy of "Raspberry Essence" blog</td></tr>
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When you start the day off headed to somewhere that the best directions are GPS coordinates you know it will an interesting day. I didn't take any pictures but did learn about range improvement and how local ranchers are working with a specific plant that devastated many of them 20 years ago. Information that a select handful can truly use.<br />
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Most of the attendees were "neighbors" - a term used more loosely in some {neighborhoods} than others. The names on people's name badges matched those on the crossroads in the area. Men and women; young and older all wanting to learn, share and improve their lands. Many ranchers will tell you they are first grass farmers. If we take care of our grasses than we can properly care for the animals we have the privilege of raising.<br />
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These folks have passion for what they do; raise grass, cattle & farm. They don't think twice about sharing their knowledge to help better themselves and their neighbors. Grown men (many of them grandpas) wander around plots looking for a specific plant like a scavenger hunt. There are USDA and University Extension folks who are sharing their knowledge and listening to the locals who have more experience in this specific area. Yes, some government employees that are here to help and to also learn and respect the knowledge gathered in pastures in Adams Co.!<br />
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Now that summer has "officially" arrived when you drive through the range lands that fill the American west know that a group of passionate, dedicated folks are constantly working and learning to improve the lands that we are entrusted. <br />
Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837560732661127613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969375309632205458.post-73629936666398154782015-05-11T16:48:00.000-07:002015-05-11T16:48:47.059-07:00Loosing it - - <span style="color: #783f04;">You never know what you will find in the bathtubs at our house - ok maybe there is ALWAYS dirt! </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04;">Something you may not know about cows is that they loose their teeth. Just like us, baby teeth are replaced by adult teeth. In cows the adult teeth fall out naturally and we can {generally} age cows by how many teeth they have (or don't have!). As cows get older they need extra care - partially because of missing teeth and/or teeth that are worn enough they may not be able to eat as proficiently as their younger herdmates. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04;">Cleaning out water troughs and moving them along with cows this spring resulted in a treasure (2 actually). Yep, that's a cow tooth that took a bath with some silly kid(s) and 'normal' bath toys. Jeff said he didn't recall actually finding any teeth before. Guess it was just our lucky day!!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #783f04;">With an early spring all the cows have been grazing on their own for awhile now. One group will still make their way through the coral as part of our breeding schedule, but otherwise everyone is feeding themselves and putting their teeth & tongues to work!</span>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837560732661127613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969375309632205458.post-5694685292120351492015-05-02T18:20:00.000-07:002015-05-02T18:20:41.471-07:00Measure up!After attending an <a href="http://www.agchat.org/">AgChat</a> conference and teaching a "Sustainable World Food Systems" class, I'm reminded of the importance of telling folks what we do. No matter how 'just part of the day' to us, those who aren't out here with us would like to have a glimpse of farm life. At our conference we heard how important it is to be ourselves while telling our story. My posts won't measure up to the great story tellers or photographers you may follow. But, this is us and what we might be chasing around our little part of the world.<br />
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In the last two years we have updated from wheel & handlines to center pivot irrigation at our home place. The pivots save water, power, labor and allow us to grow a wider variety of crops. While there is technology available to measure every drop coming out of a pivot, in agriculture we also have to consider economics. We are using the old fashioned water measuring technique. Jeff equally spaced rain gauges under the pivot and the kids and I headed out to record how much 'rain' was in each gauge. Its important to equate an amount of water put on with a specific speed of the pivot. We can also check for potential problems if there is a huge difference in the amount of water applied as you move along the pivot.<br />
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This field is a freshly {hand} planted seed crop. Watching the labor crew and talking to the growers about labor is another post(s) in itself!<br />
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Cows graze in the background on another portion of the field that will be turned into no-till beans. Small red beans, that is, no soybeans in our neighborhood!<br />
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Hope everyone is enjoying spring and here's to a commitment from me to give you a quick glimpse of something we're up to. <br />
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Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837560732661127613noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969375309632205458.post-45435499338746769862014-09-29T22:06:00.001-07:002014-09-29T22:06:49.042-07:00Fall!Onions (& potatoes) on the roadside.<br />
Onions (& potatoes) on the ditch.<br />
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Corn trucks on the move & we are putting hay equipment away!<br />
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That's how we know it is fall in the Basin!<br />
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This is the time of the year I really appreciate what a special place we live in. It is not the prettiest - but if you are interested in feeding the world it is the place to be! Thanks to the irrigation project and Columbia River water we can turn fertile sand into land that can grow just about anything that our growing season will allow. When it comes to "local" and fresh fruits and veggies not many places can compete with the quality and variety our local fields and orchards offer!<br />
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The guys finished hay (took 5 cuttings on one field, other alfalfa fields were 3 or 4) on Sunday night. Unless something changes, fall field work was finished this morning. </div>
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We are also 1/2 done with fall calving. The second group of ET calves are starting to come now! Calves look great and for some reason rather than being really long bull calves we are 2 heifers:1 bull. Who knows - must have been the moon during breeding?!? </div>
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Fall bull calves are started on feed in Othello. Looking big & good!! Spring bull calves will be weaned this week. Some pretty impressive Resource calves in that group.</div>
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At home 3 of the kids have put in a month at school. Molly showed a pig at the Spokane fair and did good. She still was the age for PeeWee but choose to show up with the Juniors and was at the top of the blues in her class. Looking forward (or maybe just mom is?) to her first 4-H meeting. Such great memories and skills gained over my years!</div>
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We are {sort of} moved into our new house and everyone is enjoying the SPACE!! Collecting everything to get our UGS in and lawn planted this week. </div>
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Matt is halter breaking heifers for the Evergreen Exclusive and I'm getting ready to put together the catalog for the Black FRIDAY Sale at the JR Ranch in November. </div>
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Like usual we aren't letting any grass grow under us (although I'd really like to see some grow around us!!). </div>
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Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837560732661127613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969375309632205458.post-81600096212969510512014-02-22T20:27:00.000-08:002014-02-22T20:31:00.181-08:00Just can't keep up....Apparently it has been 5, yes five, months since I managed to write a post. There are a few blogs I read once in awhile and am always impressed by anyone who can come up with something interesting to write AND actually sit down and write it on a regular basis! Maybe me, someday, in another life.<br />
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Occasionally, I think "wow, this has been a fun/crazy/note worthy day I should write a blog post" unfortunately by the time what has to be done is done I'm more than ready to call it a day. Apologies to anyone who has insomnia; let's just say we can't feel your pain.<br />
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So a few kid pictures since September. For some reason the majority of pictures on my computer are of bulls and cows. For anyone who is already checking out our sale catalogs I will spare you looking at the same cattle again. Although Jeff has become quite the photographer - taking pretty much all of the pictures of the Sackmann & JR Ranch bulls you will see in publication. He even has some pictures in a big time semen catalog this spring!<br />
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The one staged picture I have managed to get for 8 years now is at the Sunny Farms pumpkin patch. Truth be told, I made it to Othello the day after the regular pumpkin patch closed so this was actually taken in the field next to where the fall bulls spend the winter. We checked their ration while we were there; promise.<br />
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And Miss Nia; this was taken mid-January. She may walk if she decides to stop giggling while upright under her own power. Her birthday is a week from today; it has been a really fast and long (at the same time) year! She is silly, fun, crazy and promising to keep us on our toes. Every kid is certainly different but our sweet number four has already chosen to do many things none before her has done. For some reason trying to get "the bigs" to play nicer with her doesn't go very far when she seems to always laugh. A bit of a dare devil and totally momma's girl. The morning she woke up to a calf and the dog (not normal) in the laundry room was much better than Christmas!<br />
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Had to slip a sausage making picture in. Jeff's German heritage comes out at the (try to be) annual event of making german sausage and other homemade meat mixtures. Gotta' love any opportunity to get a picture of three generations making sausage like so many before them.<br />
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The other big news at our house - is a house! The crew is farther along than this picture (roof and windows are in on the outside) and working on HVAC & electrical on the inside. Pretty exciting and the kids are LOVING the giant piles of dirt. Over two hours of playing in the dirt for them today; did I mention we may be ready for spring. Anyone who wants to help us choose colors - we are taking applications.<br />
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Of course we are three weeks away from the spring bull sale. Jeff and I did all the catalog design and layout by ourselves this time around. Big project and kinda cool to see it show up in the mail.<br />
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Spring calving is 2/3 done. Fields are looking like they may want to wake up; making Jeff switch from winter mode to crazy need to do lots of things all at once spring mode. Must be the end of February. The flowers coming up in the yard say it may be spring soon.<br />
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Hope this finds everyone well. And once again I promise we are keeping busy and continuing to chase kids, animals, water, machinery & whatever else crosses our path!<br />
<br />Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837560732661127613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969375309632205458.post-22723080427136780672013-09-22T23:02:00.000-07:002013-09-22T23:02:21.229-07:00Still chasin'<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Yes, we are still here!</div>
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I am only one kid and a ton of other farm stuff behind on my posts. I read other people's blogs and so admire their writing & photography. Let's just say writing & photography don't make the top of my talents list - so here goes. Or at least the really short version of the last 7 (are you sure?) months!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDI_V-mCs4JLddd7MIzf2boeACzJB-SXJDuZpL6m6bpHVWeYDcfyOlNdCeqJ74MgUvqkvbDu7be8o_O9BsNTo0wseZ_7iArRpq8qB-8Ck-IDgCRns2vALS46ZB_NiPj-098QhTYrZKWs/s1600/DSC_0118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIDI_V-mCs4JLddd7MIzf2boeACzJB-SXJDuZpL6m6bpHVWeYDcfyOlNdCeqJ74MgUvqkvbDu7be8o_O9BsNTo0wseZ_7iArRpq8qB-8Ck-IDgCRns2vALS46ZB_NiPj-098QhTYrZKWs/s320/DSC_0118.JPG" width="320" /></a> We shall start with our Miss Nia. She joined us on March 1st; weighing in at 9 lbs. 5 oz. She hasn't slowed down on the growth curve or desire to keep up the the three crazies ahead of her. Jeff & I have an over under bet as to if she walks (takes two steps on her own) in 2013 or 2014. She is a sweetie that takes life as number 4 in stride. Now if she would only sleep through the night!<br />
Many of you met her at her first cattle sale - you know when she was 15 days old. <br />
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Miss Molly is a 2nd grader! She is off and running at school once again. Here she is with her pig at the Spokane Interstate Fair. Molly was the Grand Champion Pee-Wee Showman. Slightly proud parents. A testament to perseverance; she outlasted the pig's desire to run and managed to keep track of the judge as well or better than the other 5-8 year olds.<br />
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Trevor & Lila are on the go 4 year olds. Trevor is a little cowboy who is more than happy to go with Jeff at any time. Even if to catch a nap in the swather. Poor guy can't make it a single pass! Lila is our animal & sports lover. Always tracking down the cats, jumping in the pig pens, brushing the bottle calves and dribbling a basketball. Not many dull moments on the home front!<br />
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Of course September means fall calves! Jeff is letting Nia grab one. I think the calf was more bothered by Nia's two-handed grab than getting weighed & tagged! So far so good on calving, we do have two bottle calves (one twin & one from a not-so-good first calf heifer). Jeff has had to put on his CPS (calf protective services) hat. But those cows have had a date with Mr. Schaffer at Cows-R-Us! Sure is nice to see spunky black calves enjoying the green grass of fall! <br />
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On the farming side, haying has been going pretty well. Weather has been pretty good, prices are hanging in there and most everything is spoken for if not gone. Nothing to interesting to report until one week ago! </div>
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We Northwesterner's aren't used to crazy weather that included warnings of tornadoes! The top picture is just a sampling of the tree limbs down in our yard. Luckily only minor damage to our garage roof. Getting down all the broken pieces resulted in just as much tree pieces on our lawn. The bottom pictures are the field that fared the worst. The orchard grass probably would have been raked Monday morning (after the storm). Notice most of the field looks raked, baled & stacked. Not so much - how about blown into the neighbor's yard, onto the circle, into the next neighbor's yard - everywhere but where it should be! Sid & Matt have had the pleasure of trying to deal with the huge knotted, piles of hay. There may have been more alcohol consumed her this week than normal. <br />
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Of course we weren't the only one to loose crops. 20 hours without power sure makes you appreciate it. It is also absolutely crazy how one messed up day leads to a entire messed up week. I think those of us at home managed to eat lunch at the average of about 1:30 this week. The 4 year olds are great troopers!<br />
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As Fall arrives we are trying to finish hay (more rain today :( ). More calves are on the way, we are preparing for the Evergreen Sale and the Red, White & Black FRIDAY Sale and just trying to stay ahead of everything. <br />
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Hope this finds you well & ready to enjoy a beautiful fall!Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837560732661127613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969375309632205458.post-53479219384958856012013-02-08T20:12:00.001-08:002013-02-08T20:12:35.800-08:00Out of the mouth of (not so anymore) babes<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;">Molly keeps making us laugh with her frank comments and observations!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">(Self portrait in pick-up on Montana trip in December)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"> Yesterday Jeff moved the pairs away from our house. Molly's cow kicked Jeff while he was loading her. When Jeff picked up Molly at the bus stop to let her help with some tagging and evening chores he told Molly that her cow wasn't very nice. Molly's reply "Well Dad you were the one who bought her."</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">True Miss Molly, true. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">Later in the afternoon Molly got kicked by a little calf they were working on. First time for everything, and given how well (NOT) she handles the slightest owie, Jeff said no tears or anything. Think she'll live! </span> </div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">And earlier in the week when we were all stuffed into the front of a regular cab pick-up feeding cows, Trevor was fussing about something. Molly told him "that someday he'll be married too and have stuff to worry about just like Dad". Jeff couldn't stop laughing.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">At least there are few dull moments around here! </span></div>
Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837560732661127613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969375309632205458.post-87886032213018224732013-01-27T15:56:00.000-08:002013-01-27T15:58:51.809-08:00Where has the time gone -Our twins are 4 years old today! Seems like yesterday I was growing out of Jeff's clothes and checkers at the grocery store were obviously nervous something was going to happen in THEIR line.<br />
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I don't know what I do everyday, but we do manage to feed and dress the kids and get one off to school along with some laundry and dishes. Animals get fed, some paperwork gets done (never all of it) and although always behind we rally around drop-dead due dates.<br />
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Since my last post we've:<br />
finished fall calving<br />
finished AI'ing & ET work on fall cows (bulls are still out)<br />
farrowed and shipped 5 litters of pigs (although kids are still wanting baby
pigs back)<br />
Red, White & Black Friday Sale done - start to finish - THANKS to all buyers &
bidders<br />
a pivot (irrigation circle) magically appeared in our yard (amazing what happens
when you hire<br />
projects done!)<br />
celebrated a 7 year-old's birthday (and a few adults; we won't mention ages)<br />
Jeff & I were named the WA Farm Bureau YF&R Achievement Award Winners
including trip<br />
to AFB in Nashville<br />
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took Molly to Montana to visit bull studs & hit two sales (& she now owns her first cow!)<br />
enjoyed a pretty calm Christmas - at least for us<br />
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started spring calving<br />
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Or at least those are the major events/projects!<br />
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We are currently working on the Red, White & Black Bull Sale Catalog. Including lotting order, pictures and hopefully video. Just one day of sun would be a god-sent. Another group of bulls were supposed to be clipped and burned today, but something about wet bulls stuck in the fog don't burn very well (sounds bad - but actually very cool (I mean Hot) process even if the aroma is less than appealing).<br />
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Oh, and have I mentioned we are also working on house plans (to be build as soon as everything is in order this spring). Loving everyone's comments about marriages and building houses. We figure we've pictured bulls and sorted pigs. We're game!<br />
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And we are expecting baby #4 - with a scheduled due date of March 1!<br />
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Yep, maybe chasing a few different things. We figure if we make it through March we are in good shape.
Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837560732661127613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969375309632205458.post-9430226685338370552012-10-06T21:27:00.000-07:002012-10-09T22:35:59.311-07:00The faster I go, the behinder I get . . . . . . .Obviously I am a few months behind!<br />
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Now that our pumpkins & tomatoes are dead and there is ice under the sprinklers it must be fall. I promise summer kept us as crazy as ever.<br />
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Hay is all in the stacks. The wheat is now new seeding alfalfa. Corn should be harvested shortly; with the hard frost this week it is turning color before our eyes. Some new circles are headed our way so the fall should bring lots of digging. The unit we live on is included in the getting a circle for the first time fields. I am very excited and Jeff should save a lot of time during the irrigation season.<br />
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Cow chasing is in full swing! The fall herd is better than 2/3's done calving. Jeff bought a group of commercial fall bred cows & pairs. They will be used as recips starting this coming year. The cows have a fair amount of color (white faces, simmental, etc.) so there are some very cute babies in that group. Their calves look good and for the most part they are calmer here than when the guys picked them up. They aren't even too bothered with Jeff, Trev, Lila and I walking through them.<br />
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Our own cows have been moving right along. Calving on green grass in dry weather makes for some spunky calves that are off to the races from day one. The first calf heifers were even nice enough to give us a fair amount of heifer calves.<br />
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As of yesterday all of the 2012 calves are weaned. Fall bulls are down at JR Ranch and off to a great start. The last group of springs are participating in "fence-line weaning" and are already pretty calm. The spring calves certainly enjoyed our easy winter last year and look really good.<br />
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Jeff spent some time in Oklahoma in September and got to see his new nephew (congrats Julie & Jimmy) and bought some cows at the Limestone dispersal. As expected he selected some nice animals that are now residing in our corral. With weaning and being in that special time where grass is slowing down and corn stalks aren't ready yet, we have cattle in every possible place (or at least it feels that way). After some health issues with purchased cattle a few years back, we are very careful to keep new animals separate from our own until we are able to test and vaccinate up to our standards to hopefully prevent the problems we endured previously.<br />
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This coming weekend brings the WA Angus Evergreen Sale in Kennewick. Jeff has put in lots of time and effort for this sale with the change in sale management. Think I can bake another pie that raises over $800?<br />
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The Red, White & Black FRIDAY sale is also on the horizon. Mark your calendars for November 23rd in Othello. There will be about 50 bulls, at least 60 bred cows & heifers and show steers offered. We helped semen test all the bulls for that sale this week and are working on catalog layout. Always another project awaiting us! <br />
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On the home front still chasing kids although we are back in school mode. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0aQ7548FH0F76DunoerV29m-IQ4L52B9sTpOFjxSCH6b3cCD4bVPdu7c1CR89SF71tkaJMiJkBsqZhCN5a-fI94l6FueDJWeOHbEjOJOQIxaowmmBRQrOEyGwsVKpl79NPg3xqENpFAs/s1600/molly+jack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0aQ7548FH0F76DunoerV29m-IQ4L52B9sTpOFjxSCH6b3cCD4bVPdu7c1CR89SF71tkaJMiJkBsqZhCN5a-fI94l6FueDJWeOHbEjOJOQIxaowmmBRQrOEyGwsVKpl79NPg3xqENpFAs/s320/molly+jack.jpg" width="261" /></a>As I type Molly is writing her first set of fair support thank you notes! Yep, she showed her first pig at the Interstate Fair. Jeff and I are afraid to count how many more years of showing we will likely participate in - let's just say it is WAY longer than the length of our own "careers". Being the parent of a first time, 6 year old showman is a whole new type of stress than being the showman yourself. Molly did great and says she's ready to do it again.<br />
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Molly also has finished 6 weeks of first grade and already has a student of the month award to show for it! Off and running.<br />
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This summer she had to eat her corn on the cob off the cob. Four missing teeth (including both front teeth) made for some very cute smiles. Looks like they will all be in before Christmas so she'll have to ask for something else from Santa!<br />
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Trevor & Lila continue to make us laugh, smile and GROW! Molly holds school for them every afternoon. They still have their moments of being three-year-olds but tons of fun. Trev is daddy's shadow. Most mornings he races to get dressed so dad won't leave with out him. If Jeff hasn't left yet he usually takes him back to do the chores here. Lila is our little mother; babies aren't usually too far away. <br />
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Besides Julie's little boy we also welcomed two new nieces in September. Congrats to Chris & Kelly & Tom & Annie! They grow so fast. We've all been to see Bryn and we can't quite believe our now big kids were ever that little. <br />
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Time for our annual pumpkin patch picture trip to Sunny Farms, about the only picture session I've managed to get done every year!Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837560732661127613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969375309632205458.post-84703811977703873182012-07-08T23:17:00.000-07:002012-07-08T23:17:21.545-07:00Weather; my random thoughts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Ever meet a farmer or rancher and not know what to say or talk about?</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">The universal answer; weather!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">As I type the guys are in our yard baling 2nd cutting alfalfa, surrounded by lightning. Not necessarily the pretty kind, rather the all around us, light up the night kind. And wind, luckily no rain (so far).</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Moses Lake broke a record high temperature today. The kids enjoyed our water trough turned swimming pool. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">We were all quite happy to have A/C and power.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Yes, farmers always talk weather. Complain, pray, thank god, curse; you name it. Unfortunately weather good for one farmer generally means trouble for another. Jeff's aunt & uncle farm (dryland) about 40 miles from us. Rain on our first cutting = better crop for them. Beautiful first cutting for us = smaller crop for them. The running joke is that late May rain (or lack of) determines who buys dinner. Not sure it has ever happened but fun to comment on - BTW it is not our turn (again).</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">However, those of us in the Northwest can't complain too much relative to the rest of the United States. Watching the drought monitor map on "Ag Day" this morning was pretty depressing. You know the weather is bad when the shriveling crops make the mainstream media's evening news. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Despite some rained on first cutting and delayed cutting of another segment of first cutting we can't complain too much.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Fall heifers are all weaned. Bulls have had their pre-weaning shots. jeff thought he'd try to wait out the 100+ days before weaning the boys. But I am planning on breeding sows next weekend so that usually brings on some tremendous heat!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Pulling bulls from spring cows, irrigation water, 2nd cutting, and summer with the kids are keeping us on the chase.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Molly finished kindergarten; complete with graduation. Summer has already brought 10 days with her southern cousin (who thought two six-year old girls could squeal so much) including a trip to the indoor water park. July will be VBS & swim lessons.</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Maybe we can "relax" and do the other stuff I wanted to do in August. Probably shouldn't count on it!!!</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: #38761d;">We are self-proclaimed meat snobs and I am doing my best to raise our kids to be fruit snobs. We've already enjoyed awesome strawberries & raspberries from our garden. The cool season veggies are pretty much done but our first zucchini is nearing harvest (blessing or curse?!?!). The kids ate so many peas and <span style="font-size: small;">raspberries the other day I don't know why I bothered to make lunch.</span> </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">Maybe I'll take the camera with me (or bother to download the pics!) on some of our next adventures.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">Thoughts and prayers with everyone who is dealing with fires and droughts around the country. It is getting late enough in the growing season even the drylanders are happy to send our rain drops your way!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: small;">Happy JULY! </span></div>
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<br />Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837560732661127613noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969375309632205458.post-4282403539979745312012-03-30T20:59:00.005-07:002012-03-30T22:39:38.563-07:00March Madness . . . .<div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">. . . SCC style.<br /><br />There's a basketball tournament?!? -<br />OK I admit to not being a huge basketball fan, but Jeff enjoys watching a good ball game. Somehow we've managed to log about 5 minutes, maybe, total of NCAA tourney b-ball. We've been keeping busy, promise.</span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">I started March off with a trip to the National Pork Forum in Denver. I was one of Washington's delegates to the Pork Board (Pork Check-Off) meetings. As always it is refreshing to be with so many people who have such a passion for feeding the world, pork in this case. Getting away from home and the daily activities is a great reminder of why we do what we do every day. I know I'm a dork, but I found myself getting ch</span></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);">oked-up listening to the star spangled banner (awesome rendition!) with flag waving overlaid with pictures of pigs, farms, and families from across the country. I told one of my other farm friends about this and she said "I know, and it never used to happen." Apparently becoming moms makes us silly girls more emotional!<br /><br />Farmers seem to like to eat. As expected we had great food with a focus on pork. Had to try these and sent a picture home for everyone to wonder.<br /></span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_O11uSRLI-V842CQ3zL6BLqtv-fMOlU1OZ_ZESHujszE2-qHE5Ek6L-Cy2PuPqIJWZiTJoIvgApBH3abJxLdAruGejK8j0ayCaVm6uAnpsL2JJ73bZsitkG4ARiUxvSZ2BZsQDfPDFPU/s1600/bacon+cupcakes.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 191px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_O11uSRLI-V842CQ3zL6BLqtv-fMOlU1OZ_ZESHujszE2-qHE5Ek6L-Cy2PuPqIJWZiTJoIvgApBH3abJxLdAruGejK8j0ayCaVm6uAnpsL2JJ73bZsitkG4ARiUxvSZ2BZsQDfPDFPU/s320/bacon+cupcakes.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725906438268920930" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 153);"><span style="font-style: italic;">I admit they were not the best thing I'd ever eaten, but fun none-the-less.</span></span><br /><br style="color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">Jeff also took a quick trip to Montana to buy a 1/3 of a bull. </span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);">He's a 77P grandson from Mytty's owned with Camas Prairie Angus Ranch & Crouthamel Cattle Co.</span><span style="font-style: italic; color: rgb(255, 0, 0);"> I asked Jeff if Bob & Cory knew I thought we should own the middle 1/3. You know the business part and no need to feed or clean up! Jeff tried to ignore me and said they would likely just look at me like I was crazy. </span> <br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">The Red, White & Black catalog went to print right before I left for Denver. So home from Denver meant sale time. We are so completely blessed to be able to sell bulls wit</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);">h JR Ranch & the Schmidt family. With the sale in Othello there are many, many pre-sale details that are handled without our knowledge.<br /><br />We've added some home-done video to our marketing efforts. Jeff, Jeff, Pam & Jessie took video and we got it edited to make quick footage of our top bulls.<br /><br />Semen check, clipping, re-tagging, supplement sheets, updating digital records, and boom it's sale day!</span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><br />We were very pleased with how bulls sold. A huge THANKS to all the buyers & bidders in Othello on St. Patrick's Day!! As always sale day is a great opportunity to see people, but as a consignor - not a good chance to visit! (That's why I go to other people's sales; Jeff goes primarily to see the cattle!)<br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIHrxnsJK-md2Iq0mdIjzmwCrphzRDgz0JWoy9diLfnc-dLBYnlI-Y3uwAWD6mWP6oXZsGmQGOa1I8Ro2i1XORTXXZJ7g5hDB6kcYT6-WdKlxHWjTzx4kAaqOF8L4LIrIxCDJf0yAElE/s1600/cory%252C+ian%252C+jeff.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIHrxnsJK-md2Iq0mdIjzmwCrphzRDgz0JWoy9diLfnc-dLBYnlI-Y3uwAWD6mWP6oXZsGmQGOa1I8Ro2i1XORTXXZJ7g5hDB6kcYT6-WdKlxHWjTzx4kAaqOF8L4LIrIxCDJf0yAElE/s320/cory%252C+ian%252C+jeff.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725919365943239170" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="color: rgb(51, 204, 0);"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;">We haven't finished collecting pictures from sale day, but this was one of my favorites so far. These guys all went to WSU together. Some roommate, judging team, and Cougar Cattle Feeders time logged in good 'ole Pullman. I think the last time all three were together was at our wedding. All three are now directly involved in the cattle business; all with a little different angle but definitely knee deep in it.<br /><br />Jeff & Ian have 5 kids and over 20 years of life with the same gal between the two of them. (Dang that makes us sound OLD - guess we'll forgive a few gray hairs & wrinkles; just the guys not us, right Lindsay!?!). Congratulations to Cory who is about to join the rank of married guy! </span></span></span><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 153, 0);"><br /><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);">The weekend after the sale Jeff, Molly & I headed to Ojo Caliente, New Mexico for my brother's wedding.<br /><br />Congratulations to Chris & Kelly.<br /> </span></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTt-y7IeTwWOe5dLh-5PV7VglyS7-YcXMFxzvFdUiU1J6lS9X0SFJ5NNOnAHwCaOK_DywAV7hg_jBVmqmuNhoymbt0-DzRBVC_FCoFyo6EZ1-ITJMTRjH6HGyu7Tp03WokRJVGBl-1aUY/s1600/chris+kelly+elsa.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 191px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTt-y7IeTwWOe5dLh-5PV7VglyS7-YcXMFxzvFdUiU1J6lS9X0SFJ5NNOnAHwCaOK_DywAV7hg_jBVmqmuNhoymbt0-DzRBVC_FCoFyo6EZ1-ITJMTRjH6HGyu7Tp03WokRJVGBl-1aUY/s320/chris+kelly+elsa.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725906452194702962" border="0" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="font-style: italic;">They had a lovely ceremony complete with absolutely gorgeous weather! Molly and Elsa were so excited to play together for the weekend and spent almost 4 hours in the pool! Good thing a whole herd of adults took turns with them - just not me - I enjoyed the hot springs & a hammock with the kindle app instead. </span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8K07dEJVxC07gQYqqyaph33WcLAUJZJ74DZ_uwFQrOgzlN0ouEudgNp_tATWvFfTE0cTXW_s0WYuE0vouNfm809R1_6ZLIDLzh3X813c3MnejT1-GwEejNdZ_9qyjn5ZWR4ao87lE1uM/s1600/pool.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 191px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8K07dEJVxC07gQYqqyaph33WcLAUJZJ74DZ_uwFQrOgzlN0ouEudgNp_tATWvFfTE0cTXW_s0WYuE0vouNfm809R1_6ZLIDLzh3X813c3MnejT1-GwEejNdZ_9qyjn5ZWR4ao87lE1uM/s320/pool.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725906454999362962" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(204, 51, 204);"><span style="font-style: italic;">Thanks to Aunt Teresa who kept Trev & Lila for the weekend. Jeff & Lexi came over to help and get some parent training. Of course, being three year old's the twins provided plenty of comic relief.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: rgb(255, 102, 0);"><span style="font-style: italic;">After our quick trip to New Mexico there was fall pair working day. Calves got re-tagged, branded, and tattooed. The cows got to meet Dr. Carpenter, or at least her arm. Preg-check went well and Jeff was pleased with his AI & Embryo conception rate. Trev & Lila were great helpers, especially since it wasn't that nice of a day. Coloring in the trailer out of the rain & big wind lasted almost an hour!</span></span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWA8BEf_B4pRzrL4j4tF95zyrEChiWCaAZohPWX-LY_Dp7HqqZf01PjOZY-6wOdvMrB8a1DWNLhX2FggJUK3c_Zrsp_4FH00LrlfVz9zIbiKKNCYWYtsPHabFR2puKOblDVsgLuobDNk/s1600/trev+lila+trailer.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 191px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfWA8BEf_B4pRzrL4j4tF95zyrEChiWCaAZohPWX-LY_Dp7HqqZf01PjOZY-6wOdvMrB8a1DWNLhX2FggJUK3c_Zrsp_4FH00LrlfVz9zIbiKKNCYWYtsPHabFR2puKOblDVsgLuobDNk/s320/trev+lila+trailer.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5725906458470290514" border="0" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);">And there have been three litters of pigs, sick days home from school, taxes sent in, some bulls delivered, MOPS, market hogs shipped, announcement of LOTS of family babies to come, Dr. appointments, a stack of Box Tops & Labels for Education to be counted, and I don't even remember what else in our own little version of March Madness.<br /><br />Oh and did I mention the ditch outside our house is full of water! <br /><br />Bring on spring & farming season.<br /></span></span></div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837560732661127613noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4969375309632205458.post-55201707593737611552012-02-24T18:44:00.004-08:002012-02-24T19:20:29.927-08:00Off to the printers!<div style="text-align: center;"><span style=" font-style: italic;font-family:georgia;" >February </span><span style="font-style: italic;">means time to get back to work! The spring calving herd is about 1/2 done. Everyone is getting some supplemental hay and we've started to move cows off of hay fields because they are trying to grow!<br /><br />This week we had some good 'ole Basin wind and neighbors are "turning dirt". Must be spring in the Basin.<br /></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrMduY8dEKuqLgFkUIH_jVuyJ_PQiDcu7mJo4fdivyacknm1IMsKE44jePxOHlg76JVrdMntm1JSrDfQWcNz6fh1IZfWTsjaKkAX4jsIgwCGbIjNsvhB6o4v0EGg-gWXESYj6azBrOLU/s1600/cows+bulls+fed+12+006.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibrMduY8dEKuqLgFkUIH_jVuyJ_PQiDcu7mJo4fdivyacknm1IMsKE44jePxOHlg76JVrdMntm1JSrDfQWcNz6fh1IZfWTsjaKkAX4jsIgwCGbIjNsvhB6o4v0EGg-gWXESYj6azBrOLU/s320/cows+bulls+fed+12+006.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712901786386687090" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">These poor cows "I'm not fat - I'm pregnant!" The first group of spring cows calved at our house. Many times I'd catch the poor cows heavy in calf obviously unable to get comfortable and looking like they swallowed a barrel. We love our cows with lots of rib shape and volume. But wow with a belly full of calf and water they sure do waddle.</span><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDkC-t0Jfbh_VCvQAc-NXKif89b6hu2snqTJ_wIRTJoo3_3HmIqAIHzgAPxNcJXI5YXcqxLkNiQqGCOtZz3tynGVW9xDp_qYu627d5S8HlxTibBj0Hxw5TYVq28JvqHNi22RGPxGbvkY/s1600/cows+bulls+fed+12+014.JPG"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRDkC-t0Jfbh_VCvQAc-NXKif89b6hu2snqTJ_wIRTJoo3_3HmIqAIHzgAPxNcJXI5YXcqxLkNiQqGCOtZz3tynGVW9xDp_qYu627d5S8HlxTibBj0Hxw5TYVq28JvqHNi22RGPxGbvkY/s320/cows+bulls+fed+12+014.JPG" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712901793261493282" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Then the little ones join the world and are cute as can be. Not much better than watching a group of baby calves running around; tails in the air enjoying some early spring sun.<br /><br />Our other February project - which is officially done - is the Red, White & Black Bull & Female Sale Catalog.<br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAVf6BxLZN_-T_beAw-0fohUaWzeYASO_0ONtWCYWdWdVtLm8MD_CVoTygBoadFypkN4VdkQ1yPuWkF5C9sRnvY8R6glk9eJo6xpGLWhbm2IjmyiMLsdChB00ZaUJkb0yLeXmZxeWHNQ/s1600/2012+JR+Ranch+Catalog+final-1.jpg"><img style="cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 249px; height: 320px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIAVf6BxLZN_-T_beAw-0fohUaWzeYASO_0ONtWCYWdWdVtLm8MD_CVoTygBoadFypkN4VdkQ1yPuWkF5C9sRnvY8R6glk9eJo6xpGLWhbm2IjmyiMLsdChB00ZaUJkb0yLeXmZxeWHNQ/s320/2012+JR+Ranch+Catalog+final-1.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5712901781560250370" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">We are so blessed to be able to participate in JR Ranch's sales! The Schmidt family and crew are a pleasure to work with. We ultrasounded spring bulls last weekend; got our work done with few issues (I caused the worst one), plenty of laughs, and good memories.<br /><br />We have learned SO much about picturing cattle, writing footnotes, catalog layout and the list goes on since participating in production sales. A fellow cattlemen commented on the fun, stress, and general craziness of trying to picture bulls for a catalog. Taking pictures & putting together a catalog is something that you just don't have an appreciation for until you are directly involved! But when the final copy is done and off to the printers it gives a great sense of accomplishment. Now when the phone calls start to come as people find their catalogs in their mailboxes the first stress of the production sale process lessens.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">You can view the complete catalog at <a href="http://www.sackmanncattle.com">www.sackmanncattle.com</a> </span>under the "For Sale" tab.</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-family:georgia;">This weekend will also likely bring our first litter of pigs for the year!<br /><br />Phew-<br /></span></span></div>Jaimehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06837560732661127613noreply@blogger.com1