Tom and I took a much needed trip over to the "Nick field" on Sunday to visit Neechi, Eloquence, and the mares and saddle horses that are turned out with them. Neechi never fails to come right up and say hello. I usually leave there with his nose print on my lens. Eloquence has not been handled as much as Neechi, so her "personal space bubble" is a little bigger than his, but I've discovered that makes her much easier to photograph. All the horses are looking good, but I have vowed to wage a one woman war against the burrs next summer. The horses and the cows are full of them this time of year.
So much happening here on the home-front. This year has been a mad rush of trying to get things done before winter. Usually there is a few weeks in between the time the haying is done and when the fall herd work needs to begin. That's not the case this year, and ready or not, it's time to start bringing the cattle in from their summer pastures so calves can be weaned and the herd can be preg tested. From now until the end of October, most of Tom's time will be spent on a horse. Truth be known, it's one of our favorite times of year.
A little off topic, but something I wanted to share, as it is truly one of a livestock producers worst nightmares... A couple links to what our South Dakota neighbors have been going through (pictures may be disturbing to some viewers) - here and here . I read a comment on Facebook written by a woman that asked "what do the ranchers care? They only think about the money lost." I cannot express in words how far off the mark that sentiment is. Yes- cattle are our livelihood. Our entire lives are dedicated to being caretakers of these animals from the time of conception until the time we put them on a truck and they are no longer in our care. I would like to assure those folks- When Tom and I go out and find a newborn calf that is chilled and can't get up, and we bring it into our home to warm it up and get it up and going so he can go back to his momma, it is not dollar signs we see. When we come across a cow that has somehow gotten herself stuck in a bog hole and is unable to get out because she has struggled so long that she is weak... we will get right down in the mud with her to get her out- not because we see dollar signs, but because these are living, breathing beings that deserve the best care we can give them. I have NEVER met a cattle producer that likes to see their animals suffer. To suggest such a thing, obviously, offends me to the core. There are times when we do every thing humanly possible to keep our cattle safe and healthy, and mother nature deals a blow that is beyond our capabilities. It's tragic, and yes- it can be financially devastating- but I guarantee you every one of those producers first thoughts were something along the lines of "Damn it- if only I could have got to them in time" not because of that financial loss, but because the care of these animals is something they have dedicated their lives to. My thoughts and prayers are with these livestock producers in South Dakota.
So much happening here on the home-front. This year has been a mad rush of trying to get things done before winter. Usually there is a few weeks in between the time the haying is done and when the fall herd work needs to begin. That's not the case this year, and ready or not, it's time to start bringing the cattle in from their summer pastures so calves can be weaned and the herd can be preg tested. From now until the end of October, most of Tom's time will be spent on a horse. Truth be known, it's one of our favorite times of year.
A little off topic, but something I wanted to share, as it is truly one of a livestock producers worst nightmares... A couple links to what our South Dakota neighbors have been going through (pictures may be disturbing to some viewers) - here and here . I read a comment on Facebook written by a woman that asked "what do the ranchers care? They only think about the money lost." I cannot express in words how far off the mark that sentiment is. Yes- cattle are our livelihood. Our entire lives are dedicated to being caretakers of these animals from the time of conception until the time we put them on a truck and they are no longer in our care. I would like to assure those folks- When Tom and I go out and find a newborn calf that is chilled and can't get up, and we bring it into our home to warm it up and get it up and going so he can go back to his momma, it is not dollar signs we see. When we come across a cow that has somehow gotten herself stuck in a bog hole and is unable to get out because she has struggled so long that she is weak... we will get right down in the mud with her to get her out- not because we see dollar signs, but because these are living, breathing beings that deserve the best care we can give them. I have NEVER met a cattle producer that likes to see their animals suffer. To suggest such a thing, obviously, offends me to the core. There are times when we do every thing humanly possible to keep our cattle safe and healthy, and mother nature deals a blow that is beyond our capabilities. It's tragic, and yes- it can be financially devastating- but I guarantee you every one of those producers first thoughts were something along the lines of "Damn it- if only I could have got to them in time" not because of that financial loss, but because the care of these animals is something they have dedicated their lives to. My thoughts and prayers are with these livestock producers in South Dakota.
Spring of 2012- We were fortunate to have the cattle in close when this storm hit and our death loss was much smaller than it could have been. This was the scene for 36 hours.
Tom, carrying a newborn to the relative safety of the barn.
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