Weather; my random thoughts

Ever meet a farmer or rancher and not know what to say or talk about?

The universal answer; weather!

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).

Moses Lake broke a record high temperature today.  The kids enjoyed our water trough turned swimming pool.  

We were all quite happy to have A/C and power.

**********************************************

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).

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.

**********************************************

Despite some rained on first cutting and delayed cutting of another segment of first cutting we can't complain too much.

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!

Pulling bulls from spring cows, irrigation water, 2nd cutting, and summer with the kids are keeping us on the chase.

*******************************************

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.

Maybe we can "relax" and do the other stuff I wanted to do in August.  Probably shouldn't count on it!!!

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 raspberries the other day I don't know why I bothered to make lunch.

************************************************

Maybe I'll take the camera with me (or bother to download the pics!) on some of our next adventures.

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!

Happy JULY!

March Madness . . . .

. . . SCC style.

There's a basketball tournament?!? -
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.

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 choked-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!

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.

I admit they were not the best thing I'd ever eaten, but fun none-the-less.

Jeff also took a quick trip to Montana to buy a 1/3 of a bull. He's a 77P grandson from Mytty's owned with Camas Prairie Angus Ranch & Crouthamel Cattle Co. 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.

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 with JR Ranch & the Schmidt family. With the sale in Othello there are many, many pre-sale details that are handled without our knowledge.

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.

Semen check, clipping, re-tagging, supplement sheets, updating digital records, and boom it's sale day!

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!)

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.

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!

The weekend after the sale Jeff, Molly & I headed to Ojo Caliente, New Mexico for my brother's wedding.

Congratulations to Chris & Kelly.

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.

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.

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!

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.

Oh and did I mention the ditch outside our house is full of water!

Bring on spring & farming season.

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.