Off to the printers!

February 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!

This week we had some good 'ole Basin wind and neighbors are "turning dirt". Must be spring in the Basin.


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.

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.

Our other February project - which is officially done - is the Red, White & Black Bull & Female Sale Catalog.

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.

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.

You can view the complete catalog at www.sackmanncattle.com under the "For Sale" tab.

This weekend will also likely bring our first litter of pigs for the year!

Phew-

Spring?!?!

Now that February is here it looks like spring!?!

OK everything is still brown - but

I saw equipment ready to roll in the neighbors field this afternoon & the cheat grass on the ditch bank is turning green.

we have 3 calves on the ground. First due date is today and ours are normally late. This little bull was less than 15 minutes old and looking for its first meal! That's how we like 'em.

spring flowers are starting to poke through the ground! Are we going to have an early spring or are they sadly mistaken? I'm ready for the colors of spring and to remember how many tulips & daffodils we have.

mud - no we don't get nearly as muddy as everyone blessed with clay soil. But we certainly have enough to make a now 3 year old boy happy! I think I swept the kitchen floor at least five times today. The mud just has a way of making it in.

Besides pretending it is spring we are in sale catalog mode. Jeff's been with the crew at JR Ranch clipping and picturing bulls. There are some awesome bulls down in Othello that they have managed to picture pretty well. Our favorite pictures are featured on our website (www.sackmanncattle.com). I'll get more posted as the crew gets through the different pens of bulls.

Happy February!

2012 . . .off to the races!

It's a new year and we are still on the chase!

2012 greeted us very quietly but it hasn't seemed to be quiet since. Jeff finished AI'ing fall cows on January 2nd. On January 4th the entire family headed for Hawaii for a little warm R&R. My parents had rented a house on Oahu corresponding to the AFBF Convention.

We enjoyed the warm weather, water, sun, pineapple, views, lazy days, snorkeling, flowers, sand, and many, many other things. The kids did pretty good with the long flight and other than some mosquito bites enjoyed the time in paradise. Some of us made it to convention to cheer on our Washington YF&R contestants. (hum outside in Hawaii or conferences - we probably weren't the only skippers).

Molly put in a three day week when we returned, followed by a planned 4 day MLK weekend. Enter winter!

We can't complain too much - last year we were feeding cows continually starting in November. This year we didn't really feed anything until the middle of January! We'll happily sell rather than feed hay - especially this year.

Molly got to experience her first snow day (they managed to put in 1 1/2 days in a week) and got a three day weekend. Considering schools all over the entire state missed more than we did I guess we'll take just one day missed.

Besides looking at snow (which is now melting pretty well) we are quickly getting into bull sale mode. Jeff & I took some pictures early to get some advertising done. The crew at JR clipped some of the fall bulls earlier this week. The pen of falls are pretty impressive down in Othello. It will be interesting to see what bulls bring this spring as sale season gets in full swing very soon.

The STACK of semen catalogs that have graced our mailbox of late say it must be about time to start spring calving & the process of choosing bulls (round two for us dual season calvers!).

At least the first half of the spring herd is going to calve at our house - which the kids are excited about. It is always fun to see the new babies.

On the home front we are getting ready for a double party. Trev & Lila will be 3 in two days. They just aren't babies any more. Jeff & I were reminiscing about a few days prior to welcoming them into the world. I watched Jeff play basketball, went to the grocery store & one other stop. For some reason I kept getting comments like "please don't go into labor in my line". I guess I was kinda big. What do you expect with nearly full term twins.
Can't imagine life without any of them!

Bring on February!

Merry Christmas

Have a blessed day from our family to yours!

May Santa be good to you . . .



May the cows water (& feed) themselves. Or at least with minimal trouble - catch up on some phone calls while you wait!

May you have lots of treats - sampled as they were made of course.
Yes, I let the girls dress themselves!

Gotta' throw in one kid story. Molly was in the Christmas program at church. The director asked her what animal she wanted to be {in the stable}. Molly replied a "pig". The director says "I think we'll have the only stable with a pig in it." But for any of you wondering, we questioned Molly as it if she wanted to show a pig or a calf when she got old enough. "A calf" was her reply. I see my pig barn becoming a show barn & having to give up my "I have pigs in case the kids want to show them". Oh a few years to go.

And may the New Year bring you many beautiful days. This was our morning view on the 23rd.

"Christmas day is a day of joy and charity. May God make you very rich in both."

Bring on December!

Since it seems I skipped November!

I promise the last 6 weeks or so we've kept busy -
a few of our tasks accomplished

Red, White & BLACK FRIDAY Sale

Catalog from start to finish
Got started on new cattle record keeping system
We did our first sale with a computer program in the office - AWESOME!
SALE - Done
(Thanks to all the buyers, bidders & visitors)

It's always great to see everyone and wish there was more time to visit with people. (I guess that's why we go to other people's sales - when it is them who are busy!). Talking to a neighbor who had gone to one of her first cattle sales and said she didn't really know anyone. When we first moved home I only knew a few people, now Jeff doesn't want to sit with me because I just talk instead of pay attention to the sale - hum!

Thanks to Annie & Julie for taking pictures (saw the first batch last night) at the sale. Something that is hard to do and run between other jobs. They caught both Jeff's with a big smile before the sale. Anyone remember what joke Butch was telling? Poor Quinton is trying to figure out the computer system we threw at him for the first time.

Before the sale there were lots of time spent taking pictures of cattle. The kids helped take pictures of bred heifers on a beautiful fall day.

Notice Lila in her dress dancing and twirling in the corner. Trevor has his catalog (can't leave home without it) and is telling Jeff something about these girls. They all have a new home now.

We've also had 4 more litters of pigs, weaned & re-bred sows. Now I just need to find homes for all the little beggars. Spring born pigs are a hot commodity, unfortunately the litters born on the opposite season can be hard to get rid of - come on its fun keeping animals through the winter!

Fall cows are done calving and we've started synchronizing for fall breeding seasons. Keeping all those schedules in check. Blessed to have lots of crop aftermath thus far this season. Since it didn't freeze until the end of October crops had plenty of time to grow after their last harvest. If the snow stays away we are in good shape to sell more hay & feed less! There was actually haylage put up in Othello the first week of November this year - WOW!

Water's been off for a month and everything is drained (I think!). The guys kept going back to town to get more wire to build hot wire fence to surround all the fields before the ground freezes up hard.

The kids got all dressed up and Jeff carved pumpkins for Halloween. We had a Dorothy (second year running), a pig, and big surprise a cowboy!

Pictures at the Sunny Farms pumpkin batch is pretty much the only semi-staged picture I've managed to get done every year. These kids change so much year to year.

Molly celebrated her 6th birthday (yes, we are in denial). Kindergarten is over 1/3 over. Dang.

Jeff got to attend the American Angus Convention in Louisville. Good experience even though he realized how long it had been since he was there with the WSU judging team.

I think I have most of my Christmas shopping done (helps when everyone gets part of a big present). There are three big boxes of trampoline that need to be put together though.

I found a sign that I had to have:

"The Days are Long. The Years are Short."

So true, so true.

Hope everyone was able to take a minute and reflect on what they are thankful for over Thanksgiving. We have so many blessings to count it seems nearly impossible (what a great thing to be able to say!)

Many blessings as we head into the Christmas Season!

. . . Time marches on

Apparently I'm behind again.

In the last month we've finished hay (YAH!), started calving, married off Matt (our hired man), had two litters of pigs, completed another Evergreen Sale, and I don't even know what else. And I seem to have been going through life without my camera (most of these pics were taken with my phone!).

Trevor looks on as a heifer licks her new calf. We headed out - 3 adults, 3 kids and a clanking scales. She took it all in stride. Just the type of disposition we expect around here. I think last count we were at 8 calves and the first due date isn't here yet. Of course one calf had to be born in September. Which just means I can harass Jeff about calving during 3 months!

One of the last hay stacks of the year. The custom stacker was following Jeff around the field as he finished. They had the high schooler that worked for us this summer wash off hay equipment so they wouldn't be tempted to cut more. Unlike last year, we already have tons (literally) of regrowth. Now if we don't get snow before Thanksgiving so the cows can eat it! The seemingly constant rain we've had lately may also keep them from thinking about firing up a swather.

Molly & Lila flying a kite. A sure sign of fall in the basin; the return of wind.

Our little sweeties holding hands on the way to the barn. They are nice to each other MOST of the time. Our house sure is different during the day while Molly is at school.

Jeff and Trev roping a ladder. That boy's going to be trouble - he already wants to go with dad all the time. If you bribe him with a trip with dad he remembers! He likes to remind you of your promise at about 5 AM - but he's so darn happy. Now if he only has so much energy and enthusiasm when he's old enough to accomplish things.

Congratulations to Matt & Kendra! They had a beautiful wedding - complete with a Molly flowergirl. Lila was wearing the same dress as Molly and decided to join her on about half of her walk down the aisle after the ceremony.

Besides calving & farrowing we are working on the fall catalog.

I found a sign I had to have.

"The Days are Long, but the Years are Short"

So, true.

Happy Fall!!

Where does time go?

People will ask us if we are keeping busy. After the initial thoughts of have you met us before, I usually think what do I do everyday. Today was one of those days that so explained where all the time goes.

Molly on the bus - on schedule (new concept for us). Headed out with Trev & Lila to do chores and then go for a little walk. Chores done, walk started - at first corner we find Jeff moving pipe. He hurt his back last weekend so we've been trying to give me some help. I leave the kids in the dirt corner to play and help Jeff. Soaked pants and shoes later we continue to move heifers to a new pasture. Kids in toe, Lila missing all of her clothes from the waist down (potty training you know!) get heifers moved. While moving heifers we pass the neighbor's plum trees that are never picked and the last ones are ripe. In the group are two extra smart ones that found a porcupine.

Matt brings the trailer and takes the heifers to the chute. I follow because I've never seen such fun. Dry clothes for Lila & I, guys get the heifers taken care of (hopefully), and the kids and I head to pick (um, steal) plums. They were harvesting the "baby bakers" yesterday and today. I wanted some pictures and to grab some for my grandma. So after plums we went to the spud field. Return a couple phone calls. Wow - its 11:30 and check with Jeff and he would like lunch at the shop. Make, deliver & eat lunch get back home and it is 1:30.

So what I did today: help with water & heifers, steal plums & potatoes, and deliver lunch. (Naps, pick tomatoes, make dinner and put kids to bed after lunch!)

Jeff would LOVE to have plans for every day - I'm better off to not try!

Tomorrow's plan: weaning shots for all the spring calves!

County Fair

Pictures first & an outright endorsement of Sunny Farms Produce!! Kids eating their first corn for the season & we've downed many melons, peppers & what ever else we bring home. Great fresh, local produce from even better people! Stop by if you are in Othello or Sequim.

Back in the day I was a regular at three fairs. I remember my first year at WSU and my roommate insisted I was homesick because I went home every weekend for the first month. Well we weren't done with harvest yet and I had three fairs to go to! Things to do honey (she and I were not cut from the same cloth - or insert your own comment). Skip ahead (umm) 15 years and I'm not quite as regular of an attendee. At my class reunion this summer one of the gals was talking about taking her now husband to the Rockford Fair. He said nice park were is the fair. Yep, that's the Rockford Fair - love it!

I'm starting to look at the fair through the eyes of the moms not the showmen. Another one of those life perspective shifts I guess. Jeff took Molly to the Grant County Fair and she had a BLAST. They even rode an elephant. Then Jeff and I headed up to Cusick, WA for the Pend Oreille County Fair. We had been asked to judge the livestock. I signed up and told Jeff if he was available he could come to! Lucky for him we got spring pairs worked and pregged (100% preg rate on the heifers - cool!) the day before and between the two halfs of third cutting.

Jeff judged cattle on Thursday while I was the ring steward - when I wasn't talking in the corner. The first class was pee-wee showman. I 7 year-old, 5 year-old, and 4 year-old all with bottle calves. They were adorable! Jeff worked his way through the cattle and we came back the next day to do hogs and sheep. Everyone was so nice - no one yelled at the judges and lots of people came and thanked us for coming! Innocent by-standers jumped in and held sheep when one showman had multiple entries in a class.

So if you are in the area visit the Pend Oreille County Fair next year. Not at all commercial, wonderful people, cute kids, and a beautiful setting in a valley with mountains surrounding. I could dig one of the summer homes we saw along the river between Cusick & Newport. Maybe we won't visit in the winter though!

At home, Molly got to meet her Kindergarten teacher this evening. Fall bulls are headed to Othello tomorrow and working on planting alfalfa. One project after another.

Pride & Passion

WOW! Last weekend was a crazy, busy weekend that snuck up on me. Yet very memorable.

Friday was Grant County Farm Bureau's 2nd Annual tour for the Pacific Northwest University of Health Sciences in Yakima. This year we got about 80 first year medical students and a handful of faculty. Our tour idea started out as a unique opportunity to proactively bring future medical professionals to farms in Grant County.

As farmers we sometimes forget how important it is to tell our story; how and why we do what we do. Our society is farther and farther removed from where and how their food is produced. Many other individuals and groups are more than willing to tell the non-farm public their thoughts on how we feed the world so we have to step out of our comfort zones and talk to politicians, moms, and medical students from all over the United States.

This year our tour took us to Friehe Farm's potato & wheat fields, Rathbun's hay and cattle, Avila's Dairy, and Manzana Organic & Conventional Orchards. One of the coolest parts of this project is the support from ag groups from across the state. Darigold donated milk (white & the fave chocolate!), the Cattle Producers of Washington helped purchase (& grill) US beef, Skone & Connors provided potatoes, and a long list of industry groups sent educational brochures & items for the tour attendees to take home.

Our local livestock extension agent, Sarah Smith, was able to join us to help answer questions and lead a discussion on hot topics in animal ag. Sarah commented "makes me proud to live here and work with the individuals I do - Everyone has such passion!" It is nearly impossible (at least for me:)) to express how much passion these farmers have for their land, what they produce, and their "career".

Pascal at Friehe's was so excited to talk about potatoes and wildlife. He explained about how they manage "puddles" differently than they used to and all the frogs they now have. As he's talking about this a little toad hopped through! We teased him it was a trained one! The students caught the little guy and put him back in the field so it wouldn't get stepped on. I'd seen Pascal at the Jr. Angus tour and learned from him 6 weeks ago and again this past weekend.

Pascal also took us into a wheat field that was ready to be harvested and included research plots. Students got to thrash heads of wheat by hand - a new experience for many.

Our other speakers offered just as much pride & passion. Including a self-proclaimed surfer-dude who manages & owns organic & conventional orchards on the Royal Slope. They are willing to do things differently, including raising crops others tell them they can't and picking blocks of apples multiple times to get the fruit that is ripe, not just the fruit that is there.

Multiple students asked "why would a farm group take on this project". A few reasons,

-We want them to see what we do, including a better understanding of our need for ag labor. These future doctors will not only care for us but all of our employees.

-We want them to meet us, see us and see first hand how (some) of their food is produced.

-We want them to be able to bring first-hand knowledge to the table when someone from outside of agriculture tries to tell them how it is "down on the farm".

To name a few.

Overall a successful day - appreciated the students willingness to ask tough questions and basic questions alike. I echo Sarah, makes me proud (& blessed) to count my family among these AWESOME people that feed the world!

Saturday brought golf - the 9th Annual Fairway Classic to benefit Washington Farm Bureau's Young Farmer & Rancher Program. Thanks to everyone who golfed & sponsored the event (http://www.wsfb.com/programs/yfr). Below is a picture of part of the Wells Fargo team posing at their hole.

We are of course keeping busy on the farm too. The custom harvest crew is getting ready to cut down our golden wheat while our crew works on third cutting. Next week we'll preg check and give pre-weaning shots to spring calves. Keep rollin'!

Blessed, proud, and excited to be part of American Agriculture!

Locavores on a Haycation

Yep, that's us locavores on a haycation!

"Living the dream."

Before you

-head for the dictionary

-wonder how well you know us

-think we've fallen off our rockers (or finished!!)

-quit reading my silliness -

Yes, we are locavores (especially this time of year). We finally got to eat some veggies (other than lettuce) out of our garden paired with meat that we raised. Nummy. I was told I scared some poor southern "boys" last winter at the YF&R Discussion Meet when I admitted to being a locavore & a foodie. OK - the foodie is a bit of a stretch - but I like to try new recipes and foods. As for the locavore, we might as well enjoy the seasonal bounty our region provides. Which reminds me Sunny Farms in Othello is open and I ate cherries out of a Royal Slope orchard today!

As for the "haycation". Yes, I read those women's home & garden type magazines. You know the type and no our house looks NOTHING like all those cool pictures. But I do try recipes (hence the sort-of foodie) and dream of a house with no toys on the floor and matching furniture. Anyway, I read in one recently that a trend for the summer was to go on a "haycation" AKA a farmstay. As we headed out on one of our infamous vacations that either last 10 hours or 30 hours (always the same don't really know why) I told him about the article. Jeff laughed and said "oh yah, living the dream". I told him the article spoke of collecting eggs - an animal we don't have so I guess we aren't completing the dream. Oh well, I don't think we'll add chickens just for the sake of the haycation.

When does Jeff bale alfalfa in the middle of the afternoon? When the entire western sky looks black. He raced the storm (which actually was minor compared to some surrounding areas) and got about 1/3 of the field baled. My favorite part was the neighbor dropping something by, husband in tow headed to go get a baler. Anyway as it started to rain said neighbor's "scowl" matched Jeff's when he got rained out and came in the house a few minutes later. Thanks for the "laugh" Jared.

The kids were helping Jeff check hay in the backyard. Notice Lila in her farming clothes; white eyelet dress. Did I mention I'm not the best laundress?

What to say about this? Mom came one day and asked me if I had cleaned something in the bathtub or if all that dirt could possibly just be from bath time. You guessed it. Nothing clean here except kids - once a day, briefly.

The end of the week brings a tour with the first year medical students from PNWU. Wow, snuck up on me this year. Anyway, this is stollen from a facebook page that I will be sharing on our tour. Thanks for the post Cory.

Finishing 2nd cutting and heading quickly towards third. Fall calves eating away and spring calves hanging out with mamas. Thinking about putting together a fall catalog. Looks like we'll be having 6 litters of pigs this fall. And of course Molly starts school in about 3 weeks. I have a sneaking suspicion she will be graduating before I know it! Time flies when you're having fun.