Top Saving

Over the years, sugar beet harvesting has gone through different stages. In the early days, the foliage on top of the beets was saved and fed to livestock. Then, when feeding fell out of style in the 80's and 90's, the tops were pretty much always defoliated. Well today, top saving is back. 

There is quite a bit of feed value in the green leaves that adorn a sugar beet. But often, the work involved in saving and feeding the tops is more effort than it's worth. Not for the Lungrens. South Flat Land and Livestock has been saving beet tops for the past few years. Here's an example of a field on the south edge of the Worland city limits. 

Grandpa Adam farmed this same ground in the late 30' or early 40's. Here he stands with is son Lloyd, my grandfather, in about that era. Back then, you lived by the shovel. 

Sugar beet production has come a long ways, especially in weed control. Even through a light freeze, their top foliage remains green. It is a good source of feed, even into the late spring.  

Once the top is removed you can dig the beet, which is about 10" in the ground. Even if you defoliate the tops and leave them lay, cattle and sheep can still find and graze on them. One big problem though, has to do with the crown of the beet. It is pretty common to get lodged in a critter's throat. About the only way to tend with that, is to rope and tube the poor thing. Hence, guys getting away from feeding tops. 

If I have my facts straight, the way the Lungrens are saving tops today avoids beet crowns altogether. First they go through and windrow the leaves themselves. Then, with a different unit, they slice the crown off the beet, which is needed to properly process the beet at the factory. This two-fold action keeps the tops in good, clean position to be fed and leaves the crowns in the beet row where the cows are less likely to stumble upon them. 

Worland is back to feeding cattle through the winter. Feedlots are popping up all around the Basin. It is also a good area to winter cows in the field. It takes some extra work, but beet tops are still a good source of feed. It just takes a little ingenuity to feed them right. Country boys can survive.

Back in the Saddle

The day finally came for me to get literally back in the saddle. I have hardly ridden a horse this summer. New responsibilities have played a part, but not having the opportunity has been the biggest factor. Well, the call came in from Dave Belus to help him and his crew round up for fall shipping. On it.

The particular area we were working on is off of 4 Mile Creek, southeast of Buffalo. Day break is when the fun began. 

When working in 1000+ acre pastures, proper coordinating is crucial. Dave sent us to particular areas to flush the cattle out. 

As Chief and I rode out, Hank showed up to lend a hand. 

Cool rock formations around here. 

The reservoir on the south edge was our point of destination. 

Here we kicked out our first couple pairs. 

As we headed down the creek we stumbled on what looked like a road. It was actually the eastern fire line of the recent House Draw Fire. 

The Belus Ranch was probably the hardest hit in the largest wildfire in Wyoming history; loosing some 50k acres of pasture grass and about 100 miles of fence. Fanned by a driving summer wind, the House Draw Fire burned up 150,000 acres over night and around 175,000 in total. But, by the grace of God, no human lives were lost, cattle damage was considerably minimal, and no homes were burned. Thanks to the effort of local and federal fire fighters, including Dave himself, the fire was stopped from its eastward expansion at this point. 

We have also been blessed with a beautiful fall. Dry, but the warm weather has made for some amazing colors. 

Big ranches like this once relied on windmills to pump water out of wells. Windmills work good when the wind blows. But summer can be still, leaving the cows high and dry. Most windmills in this area have been converted to solar pumps. As long as the sun is out, they pump water. At a slow rate, though. Like four gallons a minute. Therefore, you want to have a large watering tank that can fill up when the cows aren't around. 

Chief and I did pretty well together, though he started to get tender footed on me. Not sure if it is sore ligaments or his hooves need better tended too. 

But the drive must go on!

As I was pushing down the creek, Wade and Adam kept bringing me more. 

Porcupine nibbling on bark. 

Eventually, we met up with the rest of the riders and combined all our cows into one big bunch. 

And pushed them through the gate into the shipping pasture. Here they'll graze until Friday when they load on the trucks. 

Beer for my horses. 

Once done, we gathered back at the cabin to warm up. 

Alls well that ends well. We gathered another bunch of cows in similar fashion so I switched horses. Ranching can look ideal at one moment and dismal in the next. When the sun is out and the cows are traveling, it's great. When the sky is covered with a cold wind blowing in your face and five miles of drive to go, it's hard. That's why cowboys are tough. They know how to ride out the ups and downs of life. 

Today was a good day. I'm thankful to get out and about, and log a few miles in the saddle. I won't lie, I'm saddle sore. But cowboys take the good with the bad. A little pain is a small cost for such a good time. Special thanks to Dave and crew for letting me tag along. Keep up the perseverance, boys. America benefits from your example. 

Greed

Store up grace in Heaven.

 

           https://youtu.be/AvQZAe632js         

Don't Poke the Bear

 Jesus is a force to be reckoned with. We want to be on His side.

           https://youtu.be/QuOiUs0dDy4         

Long Looking Love

Jesus and Paul are equal opportunity offenders. We can be too. 

           https://youtu.be/hhECv2f5Qug         

Contemplative

If the contemplative lets the standard fall, the battle will be lost. - St. Teresa of Avila'

           https://youtu.be/v0xEJSDHHqc         

 

Horse Move

The Lord always provides. For the past three months, we have held the horses up at the Vignaroli Ranch near Ucross WY. They weathered the summer well; looked slicked off and are in good shape for winter. That being said, it was time to settle them in some new pasture closer to town.  

The kids have been running with a couple other horses out here. They were pretty much on summer vacation, as I haven't saddled either of them since July. 

It's been a beautiful fall along Clear Creek. 

Recently, the horses have been grazing the creek bottom. Not a good combination for catching my brumbies. So I set a trap and lured them in with oats. 

Our new place to run on is just south of Buffalo at Jack Marton's ranch off of Klondike Road. Here, he's got about 150 acres that we can pretty much run wild on. We'll see what ideas we can dream up over our time together. 

The only stipulation of running out here is that we have to take care of Buck, the ranch manager. 

Shouldn't be a problem. We'll let them get to know each other over the fence for a couple days, and then turn them loose. 

Home sweet home.

I think this is going to work out well. Special thanks to Jean and Jeremy for letting us pull up some grass for the summer at their place. Thanks also to Jack, who is just cowboy enough to turn me and my horses loose on his ranch. Let's see what kind of fun we can drum up. 

Hauling Pipe

One of my biggest fears is not having anything to do when the day's get cold and the nights get long. One remedy for that is having some welding projects lined up before winter hits. Well, we've got plenty of gates to build around the ranch. So I hauled some pipe over to Buffalo to pick away at the gates over the next several months. 

I aways wondered if you could haul 30' joints of pipe in a 20' stock trailer. Why not?

Against the better judgment of my mother and eldest brother, Dad and I shoved some 2 7/8" tubing over the gate of Paddy Wagon with the help of the 4010. We also stuck some other random joints in there as well. It actually pulled just fine over Powder River Pass. 

The big question wasn't whether we could haul it, but how to unload it. My buddy Darin shook his head, but was willing to lend a hand. I also wouldn't trust just any stock trailer gate to support this kind of weight. However, Circle D's are built ranch tough. 

One by one, we shoved the lighter joints out from the back and set them on the ground. 

Then we could slide the door open and push the heavier joints from the front and pull them out the back as well. 

And pile them up next to the garage. 

While I was at it, I brought over some gates that needed help and some filler pipe too. 

About as beautiful as a pile of firewood heading into a long winter. 

In Wyoming, you don't wait on winter. You let winter wait on you. We're ready. Granted I got to get the shop set up to weld, but that's minor. Having a stock pile of projects for the winter is the first step. This gives incentive to get the welder up and running. I couldn't tell you the last time I bought a piece of new iron. It just doesn't fit my style. Rust is my flavor. Let's ranch!

Allegory

The spiritual life is like...

           https://youtu.be/ZI4edT6gkII         

All things are Possible

 With God.

           https://youtu.be/-_PD8gnXjJQ         

Buffalo Lake

Being a new pastor, Bishop Steven asked if I’d attend a pastor’s training workshop near the twin cities in Minnesota. Recognizing the goodness of ongoing formation, I gladly agreed.

So early last Sunday morning, White Horse and I hit the trail. Flying was an option. But that would’ve entailed traveling to a close airport, switching planes in Denver and renting a car to finish the trip. Simpler and more reliable to drive. Besides, diving allows you to see the beautiful countryside. 

 

12 hours later we arrived at Christ the King retreat center in Buffalo Lake MN. 

And true to Minnesota’s claim of 10,000 lakes, we sat right on the shore of the lake itself. 

Beautiful, prayerful grounds, with trees changing colors.  

It was a pretty intense five days. We engaged in about six hours of classroom discussion a day. A bit tough, as I’m out of practice. But very relevant information. The program itself was ran by the Institute for Ongoing Clergy Formation, which is part of St. Paul’s Seminary. 

There was about 20 of us young pastors there. We’d start the morning off with a Holy Hour and celebrate Mass together around noon. 

Midday Friday is when all the fun came to a close and White Horse and I headed back west. 1600 miles in total. 

The reality is, we are all heading back into the fire. But that doesn’t mean we have to be consumed by it. Whether it’s the spiritual life in general, or pastoral administration in particular, with the right tools we can all remain peaceful and joyful in our relationship with the Father, no matter what our mission in life is or what the circumstances that surround us are. Special thanks to all involved in the IOCF for helping us be happy, holy, and healthy Catholic priests. 

Original Holiness

Childlike docility is how to receive well the tough teachings of Jesus Christ. 

           https://youtu.be/bpekME-5gUw