Feeding the World

Now that Lungren Brothers has gone international, we've thought about changing our slogan to Feeding the World. We'll see. One thing America has to offer the world is hamburgers. 

 Our Spaniard brother Gerry has been an asset in our farm to fork operation.

After we chunk up some choice portions of beef, we run it through the grinder. For hamburger patties we like a richer fat to meat ratio.

We then run it through a second time, but with a finer grind. 

Then comes the work, pressing the little buggers. Our press is actual made in Spain. It works good but takes some time and talent. Our patties end up being about 1/2 pounders.

My buddy Daren taught me that flash freezing them before packaging makes them keep their form. 

Once froze, they sure do seal up nice. We made about 250 patties. 200 of them are going to Kurt and Leah's wedding in the spring. 

Of course we have to do our own quality control. 

Looks like they pass inspection. 

Hamburgers are my favorite food, and I'd like to share with the world the goodness that they have brought into my life. Nothing says freedom like ground beef and a cold beer. I'm confident that beef can reconcile the world's problems. We at Lungren Brothers Cattle Company won't stop ranching until every man, woman, and child has a hamburger in front of them. Peace

Duc in Altum

Don't be afraid to go out into the deep with the Lord.

           https://youtu.be/dX1awLdJJgI         

Friday Funday

Friday was snowmobile day. After Mass, Rosary, and a Maverick Bonfire burrito, Kurt, Gerry, and I arrived in the Northern Big Horns above Sheridan. A fun time was had by all.

Kevin Geis lent us one extra sled and with Kurt's snowbike and my RMK we were ready to rock.

Why not us the Paddy Wagon for hauling sleds. Thankfully they have reverse these days.

Beautiful view off the western side.

Nothing like a midday hotdog. 

Gerry rode steady all day on one of the snowmobiles. But when he switched to Kurt's snowbike, it was like a homecoming. 

Here's some rides:

Fr. Bryce

Kurt

Gerry

Blacktooth

This was about as good of snowmobiling day as you could ask for. The snow was light, but we found some good pockets, no one broke down, no one got stuck and we all had fun. Chauk it up as another American experience for our boy. 

Be a Man

Being a man is to spend yourself for God and others.

           https://youtu.be/3M6A6ByyBAo         

Sale Barn

With all our cows in the cooler, we thought we better start looking for more. We've had good look buying directly from the producer, but I'd like to find a few lighter cows too. So we took a shot at the barn in Buffalo.

If nothing else it was to be a good experience for Gerry. I also was able to run into a buddy from the Big Horn Basin who gave us some sales ring tips.

You can't go to a cattle auction without getting some homemade grub. Shepherd's pie was the special.

Short sale. This can be a pretty dead time of the year for sale barns. Once calving season comes on there'll be more of a market for our heiferettes. 

So we turned around and headed for Hulett to celebrate Mass.

No harm no foul. Just give me an excuse to roll over to Buffalo. Good folks and beautiful countryside. Hmmm, wonder what we can do next...?

Wrong One

Christ, the light has come into the temple of our hearts.  

           https://youtu.be/1TYJs2LBMM0         

Fresh Faith

Let's not get complacent. Keep our faith fresh.

           https://youtu.be/HCKgJZMCrug         

 

Accuser

Tune out of the accuser and tune into God.

           https://youtu.be/aPvEbr3wIgA         

Long Looking Love

When having to give tough advice, look beyond the fear into the fruit.

           https://youtu.be/GFDZSiiSX5U         

 

Ranchin Steady

We usually ranch pretty hard on Fridays and yesterday was no exception. The only problem is that we worked ourselves out of a job.

The mission was simple, round up the herd on the south 40, peal off Ricky, and bring him home.

But if you're gonna ranch all day, you need to start off with a ranch breakfast from Lula Belle's.

Mollie and Chief were ready to work.

No need to show off my bronc skills, I'll just warm Mollie up instead. 

Just point Chief in the right direction and hang on partner. 

There they be. Six heifers and Ricky. It was nothing short of cowboy getting this wild bunch in the corral. Just remember buddy, when working cattle with Fr. Bryce, take nothing that is said personal. 

God bless him. Ricky was given to us by a family up north. He was a dwarf and a little ornery. We took good care of him over the past 5 months, but his time had come. Gerry put a nice shot on him.

He'll make some nice little steaks. Well done ol' son. 

Beneath these western skies.

By the time we cut up some jerky meat and ate some cow heart, the day was shot and we were too. Ain't nothing better than being spent from a hard day's work. Especially when it involves feeding America. The only problem is that we shot our last cow. Guess it's time to get some more. On to the next one. 

 

Field Trip

Part of Gerry's hope in coming to America is to get to know some ranchers and how they manage their operations. No better opportunity than Don Kinstetter's outfit north of Moorcroft.

Don's my go to on many matters. He loves to talk about the land and his faith. The sun setting on the Crook County prairie made for some exquisite imagery as we roamed around the country side.

Don uses holistic management techniques on the ranch. I like to say of guys like him that they raise grass and manage it with cattle.

It's been a tough couple years for everybody in northeast Wyoming. But by strategic pasture rotation, the Kinstetters have been able to navigate the drought without decreasing their herd.

All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. Don balances his ranch responsibilities by hanging out in his wood shop, building things mainly for the Church. That’s holistic life management. 

He's fairly well cultured too. He wanted Gerry to cook some Paella, a Spanish staple.

Not bad ol' son.

One thing I love most about ranching is that no two operations are the same. Each one is tailored to the specific advantages and limitations that the rancher has to work with. Don has maximized their ranch's potential by not just thinking of the bottom dollar but by considering all aspects involved in ranching, family, land, water, fences, the future, sanity, cattle... The list goes on. But the real secret to his success is putting God and his Catholic faith first. If you learn anything on this field trip, partner, I hope it's to seek ye first the Kingdom of God... then all these things will be added unto you.

Gossip

Let's talk less about other people and more about God.

           https://youtu.be/Td2OChDuYn8