High Noon in Buena Vista

I'm writing this week's Ranch Roundup from Colorado.

Before we get started, if you're in one of the areas affected by the wildfires, our thoughts and prayers are with you. It's smoky where we are, even though the fires are many miles away.

Last night we celebrated my Dad's 91st birthday.

Today we are going home to Montana.

But before we headed this direction, we moved the cows to fresh pasture. Checked the bulls. Left Doug and Julie in charge. Loaded the truck. Hooked up the trailer. And pointed the pickup south.

Before we ever left Montana, though, there was one more thing.

Our shipping orders.

A half beef.

A quarter beef.

Montana Steak Boxes.

A ground beef bundle.

And beef sticks.

Those headed to Wisconsin, Massachusetts, and California.

Then it was time to load the trailer and start the drive.

By the time we pull back into Montana, we'll have driven 1,555 miles.

Montana. Wyoming. Colorado. And back again.

People sometimes ask if that's a lot of work.

The answer is yes.

But here's the thing.

We didn't drive 1,555 miles just to deliver beef.

We drove 1,555 miles to spend an afternoon with friends... and happened to bring their beef with us.

That afternoon in Buena Vista has become one of our favorite days of the year.

Families we've known for years.

New families joining us for the first time.

Kids who've grown another year.

Stories.

Laughs.

Coolers filling up.

And everyone was excited to finally take home the beef they'd been waiting seven months for.

This year was probably our smoothest trip yet.

No hail.

No sideways Wyoming wind.

No road construction.

No rain.

Everyone showed up almost at the same time, and for the first time I can remember, we were actually early. 😊

We also tried something new.

Instead of hauling ten chest freezers behind us, we rented an enclosed U-Haul trailer.

Our butcher loaded two pallets of boxed beef right into it.

We packed everything with dry ice and covered it with moving blankets.

It worked beautifully.

It kept everything frozen solid and made the whole trip easier than we ever had before.

Sometimes the simplest ideas turn out to be the best ones.

While we were visiting, customers picked up extra beef sticks.

T-J hats found new homes.

Steaks disappeared from the cooler.

And several families who started with an 1/8 beef are already moving up to quarter beef shares this fall.

That sure made us smile.

If you've been thinking about filling your freezer this fall, now is a great time to make your plan.

Some families start with a 1/8 share.

Others know they'll use a quarter or a half.

Whatever fits your family, we'd love to help.

Reserve Your Fall Beef Share Here

Word of mouth may be how families find us... but it's good beef that keeps them coming back.

One of my favorite moments every year is handing out our loyalty gifts.

Handmade steak turners.

Dinner bells.

And our new blacksmith-made trivets.

Small gifts to thank families who've been riding along with us for 5, 10, and even 15 years.

Those aren't just customers anymore.

They're part of the T Bar J family.

Before we left for Colorado, our granddaughter Jane helped us move the cows into fresh pasture. I thought you might enjoy this picture.

Then came one of the nicest compliments of the whole trip.

Several families told me...

"We look forward to the Ranch Roundup every Friday."

Thank you.

That means more than you probably realize.

We're glad you enjoy riding along with us.

Whether you're reading this from Colorado, Georgia, Texas, Oregon, Maine, California, or anywhere across America, thank you for letting us be part of your family's table.

We're sure grateful you're part of ours.

P.S. Today we're pointing the pickup north and heading home to Montana, just in time to celebrate the Fourth of July.

There's something special about raising American beef for American families during America's 250th birthday celebration.

We wouldn't want to be anywhere else.