When in desolation, strive for consolation.
Monday, September 26, 2022
Sunday, September 25, 2022
Sunday, September 18, 2022
Friday, September 16, 2022
Chopping Corn
September is corn harvest season in the Big Horn Basin. After 20 years or so of farming, my brother Luke has this system down pat. I'd say 75% of the corn raised around Worland is chopped into silage for feeding cattle.
Dad has been lending a hand at Luke's ever since he retired in 2015. From planting to harvesting and everything in between, Dad's ready to help.
You can hardly keep enough trucks under this self-propelled New Holland chopper. She chews corn up and spits it out.
Once the truck is full, they run it to the pile near the feed lot.
The packer tractor pushes it up the pile...
... and then drives back and forth on it packing it tight which preserves it for the winter.
Looks good to me.
Corn harvest is a fun time of year. The temperature is usually pleasant and you really get to see the fruits of your labor. Corn silage is an amazing feed, you get your protein and roughage all wrapped into one. God bless the farmer.
Thursday, September 15, 2022
Wednesday, September 14, 2022
Tuesday, September 13, 2022
Horsin' Around
With the horses running low on grass, we were keeping our eyes out for new pasture. Thankfully, I didn't even have to knock on any doors. Pat Hladky came to me one day and said he had about 5 acres by the Camplex that wasn't being used if I needed some. I said, I'll be out in the morning. Thanks Pat.
I've heard of horses that you could walk up to and catch in the pasture, but I've never had one. I don't mess around with my horses. If I want to catch them, I oat them into a corral and give them no other option than to go to work. It makes it easier on us all. Anyway, Pat's place didn't have a catch pen, so we had to build one. There was a shed already there that we winched closer and then closed it in.
Pat had some panels near by that we could use as well.
Once the shed was in place we connected it to the fence with the panels and closed the water inside it. The horses seem to dig it.
We'll just leave the gate open and let the kids come and go. Then when its time to go to work this'll be a safe space. So they think.
God always provides. And He usually does so through other people. I'm thankful for grass to get us through the fall. I'm also thankful to do a little winching. It'd be no fun if everything was readymade. We got to get creative and sweat a little. That's what man was made for.
Rock Bottom
To encounter the Lord we need to be raw and real with the good, bad, and ugly of our lives.
Monday, September 12, 2022
Sunday, September 11, 2022
Saturday, September 10, 2022
Red Cow Roundup
After a nice fall rain, the weather was perfect to move cows on the Cozner place. Ryan and Anna Huxtable asked if I'd come down and lend a hand. Not wanting to miss an opportunity to see new ground, I gladly excepted the offer.
Their 50 head of Red Angus were grazing south east of Wright about 12 miles. It was time to gather and trail them to a neighboring pasture 5 or so miles away.
Cool country. The cactus was added incentive to stay in the saddle.
Anna was putting one of the first real rides on her colt Bella. They both did pretty darn well.
I also had a nice change of pace riding Chief. He did great even with the ole coal train passing by.
Going under those tracks was an interesting venture though.
Grandpa John helped coax them through with a bucket of cake.
Home sweet home, for a while anyway. The cattle will stay over here next to Hwy 59 for quite awhile before they come home for the winter.
The job wasn't over though. We needed to bring Red Devil the bull home.
I had to see it to believe it, but the object was to convince this bull to jump into that trailer.
Mission accomplished. It took a little cowboy persuasion, but he eventually got the message and hopped on in.
Couldn't have asked for a better day. The cool air and tender grass made for an enjoyable ride. And the birthday dinner for Anna back at the ranch was just icing on the cake. Chief and I are for hire. All we need is the promise of a good time and a hot meal. Both of which Anna and Ryan provided. Thanks y’all.
Thursday, September 8, 2022
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