Life on the farm through the eyes of a first-generation farm wife
Bulls are the backbone of any cow herd and bad genetics or a faulty bull can mean open (non-pregnant) cows. Bulls are on the farm to breed cows and cows are on the farm to have calves. If one of those two things don't happen, you don't have a productive or profitable herd. Bulls are one of the biggest investments for any working ranch so getting the right guy is very important.
The days run into weeks and the weeks into months. This morning I read a meme that reminded us that this was our 10th Monday in quarantine. Where has the time gone? And I don't say it in the dreamy, reminiscent tone. I say it in the 'I can't believe we are still doing this' … Continue reading Week 8 & 9: I’ve lost track
Farm life has it's disadvantages. You're miles away from anything. You often work alone and the work doesn't stop at 5 p.m. or when the week is finished. But this week my husband and I both realized how wonderful all the hardships of farm life can be when you are living through a pandemic. While … Continue reading Week 6: The Perks of Farm Life
Week 4 of our new normal and social distancing was capped off with Easter baskets and Evan's 7th birthday. Family Life Evan John is our oldest and our sweet, caring and studious child. He has a heart of gold, a memory like a steel trap and a love for the farm. After Easter sunrise service … Continue reading Week 4: Birthdays and Easter Bunnies
Editor's Note: This is my weekly update on life on the farm amidst the 2020 COVID-19 outbreak. When we wake up Monday morning we will be under a state-wide, stay-at-home order. Not much will change from our current routine, but things have certainly become more real, more sobering and more uncertain. The farm didn't stop … Continue reading Social Distancing on the Farm
For everyone who believes cows should only exist on pastures of green grass and far away from feedlots and barns, let me introduce you to our calving barn. On a Saturday night - after enjoying dinner with fellow farming friends - the hubs and I stopped in to check on our heifers. These ladies are … Continue reading Why yes, we put our cows in barns
I didn't grow up with pets. For a few years we had a goldfish that I'm pretty sure was actually a dozen different fish my parents rotated through after one died off or we starved it to death. We finally adopted a dog when I was in middle school and I remember being frustrated by … Continue reading The Value of Animals
My husband has spent the better part of the last 10 days behind the wheel of his yellow 18-wheeler. We had cows at our farm this winter and now it’s time to send them east to enjoy a summer grazing in the Kansas Flint Hills. The state of Kansas has more cows than people – … Continue reading Using Our Resources
For our first date, Derek and I met at a sandwich shop in downtown McPherson. I had walked over from work and Derek had just pulled into town after being on the road all morning. When I asked him what he had been doing he responded that he had been delivering bulls to the cows … Continue reading Making Babies (Calves, of course)
During the winter months we have a lot of mouths to feed on the farm. More than 500 to be exact. That makes dinner a big deal and important part of the farmer hub's day. We put a lot of time and attention into the feed for our cattle because, just as in humans, proper … Continue reading The Dish on Dinner Time
