Blog - The Idaho Rancher's Wife

Sold the Calves

November 9, 2013 by Allison

Last Monday we had a big day at the ranch. Its the day that we work all the other 364 days… yep it was sale day.

And really it couldn’t have gone much better. Our calf crop this year was really good, weighing in heavier than last year. After weaning, when it seems that we have the most sickness and loss, we had a lot of good growth. Having a great summer and fall with these calves makes this pay day so much sweeter.

Its almost an emotional day because it is a day that we have worked so hard for, for so long. We have camped out on the desert in the midst of feet of snow to keep alive through the winter. We have spent long days branding and marking calves. We have spent even LONGER days in the hot dusty sun moving the herd. Then there were more long days with the weaning. We have said some very earnest prayers for these calves to be healthy and to grow well.

Now we feel the relief, the success, the tiredness, and the drive to gear up for another year.

Sorting Out the Opens

November 5, 2013 by Allison

There are a lot of reasons that we preg check the cows… I think I have already told you that. We want to know who is pregnant and who is not. And how far along pregnant they are. And if they are not pregnant we need to get rid of them. We bring them home and then to the auction (or to anyone that wants them…).

This is when the fun starts. Initially the opens are just lumped together so they sort them so each ranch can take them home after all checking is done. These cows are tired of being in the corral and the last thing they want is to be worked more. That means they put up a good fight that is fun to watch. I have to admit that I my picture don’t do justice for the awesome moments we had but I am going to blame that on the cowboys because there are only so many places I can be. So I do what I can with what I got!

1,2… 1437, 1438, 1439!

November 2, 2013 by Allison

You should have seen all of these cowboys hard at work when they were preg checking these cows. Most of these guys have been doing this together for years and years so they have it down pat. They have figured out how to run these cows through fast. This year they had 1439 cows. Are you impressed? You should be…

Tools of the Trade

November 1, 2013 by Allison

Part of being a cowboy, especially a cowboy in the middle of nowhere, means having a wide array of tools. Some of them are intended to be used on the ranch, some are not for the ranch but they actually are quite useful and some are homemade- ghetto-rigged from twine and a branch (because some times that is all they have).

Of course a favorite of any rancher is the hot shot. Efficiency is important when running through hundreds of cows and a little zap in quite motivating. Therefore, EVERYONE has one.

When we preg check cows a useful, but out of place tool is bleach. Like go-to-a-salon type bleach. They mix it up and paint a splotch according to their expected calving date. Bleaching their hair is a good way to mark them because it will last until February/March when they start dropping babies.

Tools are an important part of our work… but it’s funny to see what is the favorite or what homemade tool come up with.

Cowboy Eating

November 1, 2013 by Allison

The upside of the LONG days working cows is the food. There are a few folks that will cook for the crew and it is worth every working minute. Most of it is dutch oven cooking, which a culinary art in itself. Nobody has to be asked twice to get in line for a plate!

Preg Checking Preview

October 31, 2013 by Allison

The Rancher and the other Curlew Cowboys have spent three days preg checking cows. It went down a lot better than last year. The Rancher didn’t accidentally hot shot his horse (and end up on the ground) and we didn’t have to lift a cow out of the alley with a loader. Yes, it was a few days of pregging cows…

The Rancher’s Wife is Being a Little Spontaneous

October 26, 2013 by Allison

If you know me you can attest that I really like to have a plan, with whatever I am doing. I do like a little spontaneity but I like the dance-to-the-radio-in-the-parking-lot kind of spontaneous.

Last night we had a Young Famer and Rancher meeting where they did their annual district discussion meet. When we got there the man in charge was looking for more people to participate in the discussion meet that night. The Rancher and I told him that we would do it, only if he was desperate for people jump in.

After two rounds of questions that we didn’t have any answers for or any examples prepared we were done. I thought it was something we would just get to chalk up it up to experience. I was more excited for the door prizes they were passing out than the results. But then they finally came to it.

And I got 3rd place! I was so shocked when they called my name I just turned to The Rancher to make sure it was really me. The greatest part of all this means that we have a free trip to Sun Valley for the state discussion meet. It also means I have a lot of work to do… YAHOO!

A New Pipeline

October 24, 2013 by Allison

One fine morning The Ranch Boss found that we had a leak in one of the pipes that fed into a few water troughs. The men got to digging, found the leak, and patched it up. And guess what they found the next morning? Yep, another leak…

Their patch job worked great but they discovered that this pipe was so old and so brittle that leaks just seemed to keep coming. This actually started last year when they found a pipe broken that watered the first calf heifers pen. They did have quite a time getting it taken care of because it ran under the main highway. It was quite a project to get a new pipe through.

With these last few issues, they just decided to replace the whole thing rather than to continue to fix leaks as they come. It took a few days to get everything dug, put out, and all hooked up. That also meant a few hours of having the well turned off each day. I swear that every time I went to do dishes they had just turned if off again. Maybe next time we will be in better sync with each other.

I don’t think The Rancher was ever bothered that he could spend a few days playing in the dirt. And when they had finished The Rancher just replied that they shouldn’t have to do that again in his lifetime. That is what we call looking on the bright side. He has to dig and replace 300 feet of pipe and he is so happy to do it.

Better Than a Roping Dummy

October 23, 2013 by Allison

There are so many benefits to having a gentle old milk cow. Of course we get the milk (by that I mean Rancher Sr., we don’t milk her too often). She also comes in handy when we have bum calves that need to still suck. But a little less obvious is that she is a great roping buddy for a three year old boy.

On a morning walk The Rancher’s Sidekick had the clever idea to rope Jersey. And she, like a good friend, stands there while he torments her. He grabbed her tail, pulled her ears, and poked her belly as he tried to put a rope anywhere he could manage. Think of Nana from Peter Pan, but instead of a dog, we have a cow. And with a cow like that, who needs a roping dummy?

The Cenex Man’s Fence

October 19, 2013 by Allison

Oh, my dear friends, I have been slacking. There are pictures that I haven’t put up from some of my ranch adventures!

But I will make it right and show you, don’t worry…

So waaay back when we ventured up to Montana to visit my folks I posted about a trip that we took with my dad, The Cenex Man. The truth is that I only told you part of the story and now I am here to give the rest.

For quite some time he had been working to deliver supplies to a fencing crew that was putting in miles and miles of fence. He loved working with them and wanted The Rancher to have a chance to meet the guys and see their work.

These men (well young men, really) were a very hard working, well experienced crew. They were all from a Mennnite community from the Gold Creek area and had been working since they had finished school when they were fourteen. I was impressed at how well done these boys did. It was all done right and timely. They didn’t take time to mess around or waste time. A lot of this good work was do to a good boss that set high expectations for them.

I love to see good, hard working men that choose to do it right.