Blog - The Idaho Rancher's Wife

Feeding Cows With The Rancher

February 15, 2014 by Allison

I love going out to feed the cows. Maybe that is because it gets me out of the house or it gives me a chance to play with my camera or maybe its just being back to my cowgirl element. Whatever it is, I love to be out feeding cows.

The Rancher… ah… not so much. He’s not a fan of those things that he has to do over and over, repeating it everyday (read that in a bored, droning voice). It always makes me laugh when he reminds me of how he doesn’t like those jobs. I am the queen of doing the same thing over and over- breakfast, dishes, lunch, dishes, snacks, dishes, dinner, dishes, clean, laundry… repeat. Its a good thing that I’m the house wife and he, well… isn’t.

But back to feeding cows, something The Rancher’s does everyday- that’s what we were talking about. We have a pretty handy system- I cut the net wrap on the bale, he rolls it out to the cows. Then repeat, about 8 times. We have the big group of cows, the bulls and the first time heifers.

I’ll admit that The Rancher has some pretty awesome tractor skills. He makes it look easy to pick up, drop, roll, nudge, or tip a bale. But I know different. I’m not completely inept with a tractor but I certainly couldn’t do it with such finesse.

Maternity Pen Prep- We’re Ready For Babies

February 13, 2014 by Allison

A little something you should know about The Rancher- if there is something that needs fixing he will do and when he does it, he fixes in a big way.

With calving just around the corner The Rancher is finding and fixing everything that needs updated. The major one has been the maternity pen.

Last year it was such a struggle to get the heifers in when you were alone, so that was high on the list to get fixed. He spent a few days in the shop making a new gate to replace some old panels (that, of course, we were there to “help” put up). They put in a few man-gates to make it easy to move from pen to pen. The last day they replaced a handful of poles and added some tin for a windbreak.

It makes me feel better that these new mamas have their own maternity bay- all fixed up and ready to go. Granted, we don’t really want to use it because that means there are problems… but still its nice having it there!

So lets have some babies! (don’t let The Rancher know I’m begging for the calves to start coming!)

Out to Feed

February 12, 2014 by Allison

The cows are heading to Locomotive. They are due to begin calving within a few weeks which means it is time to get them to the calving pasture.

Locomotive is such an ideal place for our cows. We hardly get snow there (or at least enough to matter) so it makes for a dry, warm place for babies to be born. NOT to mention that they are so spread out, that one momma doesn’t take another baby by mistake.

Ya, we really like calving out in Locomotive.

And since the cows are leaving, the kids and I have been taking a few mornings to go out and feed with The Rancher before we missed our chance. There were even a few days that he actually needed me to be the one to cut the net wrap! Oh, the things that make this rancher’s wife happy…

Favorite Super Bowl Ads Representing Ag

February 10, 2014 by Allison

I love football but I’m not a huge Super Bowl fan… There, I’ve admitted it out loud. I really am more of a college sports fan so I don’t really even have a favorite pro team. And since motherhood began my attention to sports has REALLY dwindled.

Even though I’m not a fan, that doesn’t mean I don’t enjoy a good Super Bowl party with the treats and commercials. It seems I only get the highlights when we rewind to rematch the amazing plays (thank you TIVO) but this year I hardly got to see even the commercials. Ya, you probably guessed I was busy wrangling my crazy kids. And making football cookies with The Rancher’s Sidekick… But of what I did get to see, I loved how many had roots in agriculture.

This was probably my favorite!

There was an ad I was watching for but it didn’t air in out here (it only went to 20 cities). What is so fun about it was that it about being a ranch mom and featured a real ranch mom that I follow! Fun to see someone representing the rancher’s wife club and doing it so well.

And the Winner is…

February 7, 2014 by Allison

Kirsten! Congratulations to Kirsten for winning the drawing for the 2014 Cowboy Calendar. Maybe this year I won’t make a calendar on an impulse at the last minute and have it ready and available when the year actually BEGINS! And who knows, maybe you can help me with the final product!

Spring in January

February 6, 2014 by Allison

You must have been praying for some snow with us because the weatherman is calling for a sever winter storm with 12″ of snow in the valleys and 2-3 feet in the mountains! Yahoo!

Of course it is coming just as we are about to start calving… so I guess now we pray that the calves will keep warm. Oh, the life of a rancher!

With all of the storms heading our way, its hard to believe that less than a month ago our lawns were bare. Our Christmas snow had melted with a few of warm and sunny days. It felt like spring!

The Rancher has really had some spring fever and has been sprucing up the ranch. He has been doing some intense cleaning in the shop and sheds- he even found the back wall of one! They have done some corral repairs and he has even trimmed up the trees.

I don’t know how professional pruners take care of the trees, but I would feel safe guessing that they don’t use a tractor and a chainsaw like these ranch boys! But I guess when that’s what life gives ya, you go with what you got!

A Ranch-kid’s Amusement Rides

February 4, 2014 by Allison

I avoid taking our kids to the tractor stores. I know that sounds harsh but I know that they will want to climb on EVERY tractor. I’m terrified that some day we will be taking home a lawn mower because we broke it from The Rancher’s Sidekick climbing all over it.

But there is a day that we wait for every January when there are tons of tractors that we can explore. ISU in Pocatello hosts an Ag Expo where businesses bring their products for farmers and ranches to check out. They also bring tractors, of all sizes. I honestly wonder how they get some of those BIG combines in- I have yet to the a door that they can fit in! This year The Rancher’s Sidekick even found some his size that weren’t lawn mowers!

Usually it is the same old stuff but its always worth going to see if they have anything new. And of course we all want to sit in the new tractors!

Even The Ranch Princess had to sit in the tractor. Nothing will stop her from being with the boys!

Ya, super big equipment…

I had to take this picture because we have pride in agriculture

Praying for Moisture

February 3, 2014 by Allison

Drought. What a yucky word, right? Images of the dust-bowl-days quickly come to mind when I hear that word. Its dusty, dirty, and dry (any other D words to go with all of that?). Maybe we should expect dryness when we live in the desert, but the lack of rain that we have had lately has just been mind blowing.

When we moved to the family ranch (nearly 2 years ago) we were coming from the Snake River valley which was lush and green. We moved to a place so barren and dry that not even the wild flowers were growing… it didn’t go over so well with this girl (thankfully I found some this last summer). But more than missing the green and wild flowers, we struggled for the good feed for our cattle.

For nearly two years now we have earnestly been praying for the rain (or snow) and lately we haven’t been alone in those prayers. When I heard how nearly the entire west was praying for the drought to end I was surprised. But then I heard that groups like Farm Bureau and BEEF Magazine were asking for prayers I was humbled. Even the big guns are turning to the even bigger guns.

Its been a great experience to be a part of this HUGE ranching/farming community moving together to our knees so that we can have the means to continue to live this life we love. Will you join with us?

A New Cow Dog… in the Making

February 1, 2014 by Allison

We were heartbroken about losing our puppy,, Cash. There were days that the first thing The Rancher’s Sidekick would ask is when would we get new puppy or tell me that he needed new puppy. It was so hard to explain that just because we wanted him, it didn’t mean it would happen.

One fine Wednesday, a small, furry puppy came running through my kitchen door and my kids started giggling and screeching! The Rancher surprised us with a new puppy for Christmas and we have been loving every minute with him.

The Ranch Princess especially loves this furball. She loved playing with him in the mud room on the cold, cold nights (like below zero- anything above that is something ranch dogs have to get used to). Now that he has to stay outside, she smashes her cute nose against the window to look for him. Once spotted she pats her tummy, with zeal, as if she is telling him to come.

Lately the puppy is really starting to show interest in chasing cows. Like today, when The Rancher was chasing a heifer in. He was all over that chase, but unfortunately he headed her in the wrong direction. So he’s not there yet… there are still a lot lessons to be learned. And I think the one on the top of the list is to LISTEN to the boss… hmm sounds like parenting.

We may have a long road ahead of us yet with him, but we are so stinking excited!

By the way, are there any guesses for this puppy’s name? Leave your guess in the comments and we’ll see who comes up with it!

Celebrating 100 Posts!

January 30, 2014 by Allison

I know that this is a few posts late, but we still need to celebrate that The Rancher’s Wife has made it so far!

I am really loving doing this- sharing the ranch with you and helping people to see what is behind the BEEF industry. Please help me by throwing out any ideas for the blog (things you want to see or ways that I can improve the blog) and by sharing it with EVERYONE you know.

With this post I am going to give a calendar to some lucky Rancher’s Wife friend. I will do a drawing in 1 week (so the 6 of February) for the winner! To enter, please post a comment either about your favorite post so far or ways to improve the blog. Ready, set, GO!