Riding for a Cause...

St. Judes Children's hospital and AQHA trail riding.... what a great combination!!  Yesterday we had the opportunity to participate in a local trail benefit ride for a great cause.  The scenery wasn't near as pretty as it usually is due to the extreme drought we are in but it was still beautiful and lots of fun.  We caught up with old friends and made some new ones along the way!!

Sonny, Dobie, and Moon were gracious enough to take us along so we had a great afternoon of fun with them.  In return, they got a bath and a bucket of grain so everybody was happy!

Nathan and Dobie are ready to go!!

The first steep hill and creek bottom crossing! Thanks to the drought there was no water to cross!

Our leader, Terry, bringing us to the end of the ride!

Heading to the finish!

Quality family time with NO electronic devices!! Mom is happy!!

Horses of every size, shape and color but they were all beautiful!!

After 2 1/2 hours, horses and riders were all pretty tired but everybody made it to the finish safely.  It was a great way to raise money for a great cause and we will definitely do it again next year!  Maybe you can join us!!  We can always round up an extra horse or two!!

Weekend Entertainment... ranching style

Some people might go to the movies or the mall on a Saturday afternoon, but we had much BIGGER plans... we headed out to the middle of nowhere to check cows.  I have to admit I was a little impressed with all the different activities we came up with in our little road trip.  Here's just a sampling of our afternoon

One of the calves thought a dip in the pool (aka stock tank) might feel good but  the kids coaxed her back out.

We searched high and low to make sure all the cows and calves were accounted for.  (Think scavenger hunt in a few hundred acres).

Ally got to practice her photography skills and try to capture some shots for  her 4-H project.

We actually checked cows while we were there...

A little father - son time.  Wonder what they are talking about?!

Bath time for one of the babies!

Canyon jumping... it should be a new olympic sport.

Watch out below...................

Not to be out-done by her brother....  Ally takes the plunge!

We found a wild blackberry tree on our way out and picked a few for the long ride home!

 So if you ever find yourself bored some weekend, give us a call and we'll see if we can't entertain you for a little while!

A girl and a horse

There are few things in life that can match the bond between a little girl and her horse.  They can share secrets, a good cry, a hug, or a long talk.  I've seen Ally and Paige do just about all of this since the horse has come to live with us and I sometimes wish I'd have had that same opportunity as a kid.  I have no regrets though because it makes me appreciate these moments all the more.  I can see the life lessons we're all learning and wouldn't trade it for the  world.

Here are just a few things we've learned lately...

If you stray from the path, it's ok to let go of the reins.  Your best friends will always lead you back home!

Your attitude flows directly to those around you.  If you want others to cooperate, you'd better show them your're a team player! 

It's ok to spend $70 for a new pair of shoes every 6 weeks...

Never run when you can jog. Never jog when you can walk. And never walk when you can stand still.

Love those who love you back, especially if they give wet, slobbery kisses!

No matter what... always have fun.  The friends you make along the way are worth more than any ribbons or trophies you'll ever receive.

What have you learned from your horse lately?!

Time for a hair cut...

4-H fair time is fast approaching and it will soon be time to give the show calves a hair cut!  We recently had the chance to attend a Kirk Stierwalt clipping and fitting clinic.  It was a pretty intense 3-day educational seminar covering everything from hair care, clipping, equipment, feeds and nutrition, showmanship, daily training and routines, and much more.   

It was a great hands-on clinic for the kids and their families.  Ally got to try her hand at clipping one of her heifers.  Luckily, Nila stood real still and didn't seem to mind the 6 hour hair cut!  Pretty sure I couldn't get any of the kids to sit still for that long!

There were about 18 families that came from 3 states to learn from the Stierwalt family.  It was yet another opportunity to make friends all over the country!  The best part was watching the kids learn about livestock and how to market their project.  It's not so much about the clipping and fitting, but about teaching them about what goes into raising beef.   

These kids know how to have fun and how to get the job done!

Ranching 101

A few weeks ago, I had an incredible opportunity to participate in an educational seminar.  Certified Angus Beef has developed a program called 'Masters of Brand Advocacy' which gathers food service distributors from all across the United States.  Their goal is to expose these individuals to beef production systems from ranch to rail so they are informed about the products they sell.  They met with a seedstock producer to learn about genetic selection and they also shadow ranchers in small groups to learn all about the day to day activities it takes to produce the beef they are eventually selling to the retailers.  One of these small groups came to a local rancher who happens to be a customer where I work.  My boss and I were invited to share lunch with them and visit about how heifer development and artificial insemination fits into their ranch management plan.  

With all of the negative press about our industry, it is more important than ever to be able to effectively communicate about our business and how our ultimate goal is to produce the most safe, nutritious, cost effective product possible for the consumer.  That being said, it is intimidating to step in front of a group of executive chefs and wonder what they are going to ask you to explain.  I was amazed at how appreciative and open they all were to our industry.  Our group represented chefs and food service execs from places like Las Vegas, St. Louis, New York, New Orleans, Denver, Chicago, and San Diego just to name a few.  As one of the CAB folks said, "These guys are the last link in our beef production chain before the product hits the retail level.  It is critical that they can effectively tell our story and sell our product."

Program participants went out with local ranchers to check cattle on grass and learn about daily chores on the farm.

Some of the topics we discussed included the use of antibiotics in livestock, products used for synchronization in breeding cattle, how EPD's can be used to improve herd genetics and product quality, and how farms and ranches are managed with conservation practices for future generations of the family.  You can read more about the day's program here and here.  All in all, it was a great day and a great opportunity.  I walked away knowing most people just want to know our side of the story and we have to be willing to step up and tell it when they ask!

Cattle... a family affair

Things have been a little hectic around the Rippe Ranch but I couldn't resist posting some of the pictures I took a few months ago.  Every year before the cows and new calves go to grass for the summer, they have to be worked.  They all get vaccinations to prevent diseases and keep them healthy, just like kids do.  We also give them a pour on product to help with fly control during the summer.

There has been a lot of discussion in the news and social media the last few months due to the legislation that would eliminate kids being able to work or help out on the farm.  I'm the first one to promote safety and, believe me, we are watching them like a hawk when they are out with us.  However, I couldn't help but think about all the things I had read by supporters of the bill as we worked our cow herd.

It's not so much the "labor" they provide at this age, but more about the quality family time we are having together and the work ethic that we are instilling.  The kids LOVE to be involved and feel like they are helping contribute to the task at hand.  Besides that, we are teaching our kids where food comes from, all about beef production, and how to appreciate what farmers and ranchers all across America do for us on a daily basis.

Even the family dogs get involved in action!!!

We always find age-appropriate tasks for the kids.  For example, Nate was in charge of handing syringes and equipment to his dad, and Ally recorded all of the tag information for every critter that came thru the chute.  After Gail and I sorted all the calves off the cows, Ally and Nate were in charge of getting them up to the barn.   Pushing calves is a great way for them to learn cattle handling skills in a safe manner and they are a big help to us!

This also gives them a chance to check out all the calves and decide which ones would make the best 4-H calves to take to the fair too!!

It was a big day but we had a great time working together and the kids were a HUGE help.  Sure, we could have done it without them, but it wouldn't have been near as much fun! 

When you get the call...

When my kids get off the bus in the afternoon, I either meet them at the house or they are supposed to call me to tell me they are home and I head that way.  Since we are only 5 minutes away, it works pretty well.  The other day, however, Gail got the call instead of me.  I happened to be standing near by and I could hear one of the kids yelling "THE 4-H CALVES ARE OUT!! COME HOME QUICK!!!".  So like any good dad would do, he replied, "Your mom is on her way!"

I was laughing the whole way home thinking about the conversation and when I got there, this is what I found:  1) Ally took charge and sent Nate to get the calves out of the garage while she notified the police a parent. 2) They sent the 4-H calves back in the general direction they came from, only to find that about 30 cows had also gotten out in the process.  3) Knowing the police and/or parents were on their way home, they did what any good farm kid would do... they got their afterschool snacks and stood guard while the cows had free range of our winter hay supply.  4) When I arrived, Nate was eating a sack of popcorn, Ally was shelling and eating peanuts, and the cows were eating hay and taunting us. 5) When I finished laughing, my helpers and I chased the whole bunch back into the pen and texted the boss to tell him the damage. 

Life on the farm... you just never know what to expect!!

Farm Fashion...

Nate is all about fashion these days.  Actually he is more about being "just like dad".  This means he HAD to have a pair of coveralls.  He also HAS to wear his "John Jury" hat...  EVERYWHERE!  He talks about it like it's Calvin Klein or Ralph Lauren.... like everybody should know about and/or own a piece of John Jury clothing.  So if you need some John Jury fashion in your life, visit his daughter's blog here and maybe she can hook you up!!  In the meantime, we should all take such joy in our farm aparell!

When it snows on a farm...

When I woke up yesterday morning, this was the view out my window.   You can imagine the excitement of the kids when they woke up.  I don't recall ever having this much snow at once since I've lived in Nebraska.  Unfortunately, when you live on a farm, snow means as much work as it does play.  Luckily we did a little of both but our first priority is always the livestock.  Hubby was at work taking care of the cattle there so I was on my own to check our cows and make sure they had water. 

 I chose to sport the always fashionable Carhart line of apparel accessorized with my favorite Muck boots.  I thought of my dad when I was getting ready... he always used to tell me "This isn't a fashion show so just get out there!"  I eventually came back to the house for my ski goggles because it was snowing so hard that I couldn't see anything!

The cows were actually pretty content when I found them.  We are blessed with amazing wind breaks all throughout the property so they found a nice tree line to hide behind out of the wind.  The temperatures were comfortable if you stayed out of the wind.

Luckily the 4-wheeler has 4 wheel drive so we were able to get back and forth to the water tank to get it filled.  The kids came with me on my 2nd trip to shut off the hyrdrant. 

Did you know beef cows drink up to 20 gallons of water a day?  A dairy cow can drink 30 to 50 gallons of water each day due to higher milk production.  That's a lot of water!!

Even though it was pretty frigid outside, Lexi couldn't resis taking a quick swim in the tank.  I think she knows her swimming days are pretty much over til next spring!