Mud, Miracles, and a Montana Beef Delivery Countdown
Life on the Ranch
Some weeks are full of surprises. This one had a few more than usual — including mud in places mud should never be, calves that moved themselves, and a very excited beef giveaway winner from Illinois.
Let’s start with the messiest part first…
Mud from Bumper to Headliner
We were all set to haul in the next batch of steers when we got over an inch of rain the night before.
We’d been in town that day to ship beef and get new tires on the truck. One of the tire guys took one look and said, “Don’t any of these guys ever wash their trucks?” . . . he should see it now.
After getting the trailer stuck twice the next morning, we got it backed up to the chute, loaded the steers, and (miraculously) made it out. But with the windows down during the backing up process, let’s just say:
- - There’s mud on the front bumper
- - Mud on the roof
- - Mud on the seats, doors, armrests, and somehow… on the headliner
- - And yes, mud on the inside of the windows (We didn’t even know that was possible.)
That night? It rained again. We’ve got two side-dump loads of gravel coming Friday, so we can keep hauling through June without needing the tractor.
Bulls Behaving + Moving Day Success
We moved all the cow/calf pairs to new pastures using our now-proven “leave the gate open and wait overnight” plan.
It worked beautifully — except for four of the newest pairs who took an extra day. But now everyone’s on fresh grass.
And I got the bulls to move myself — no fight, no fuss. Our oldest herd sire led the way, the younger bulls followed, and the two that usually brawl?
One stopped to go to the bathroom, and I kept the other moving. Sometimes, timing is everything.
This is the one that had to stop and go to the bathroom, which gave me just enough time to keep the other one moving. No bullfight this week!
Calves Still Coming
All the heifers are done calving. We’ve got 10 cows left — so we’re almost there.
This two-day move works like a charm: fresh grass, full bellies, and calm calves.
Giveaway Winner — Dale & Mary from Illinois
We picked our latest Ground Beef Giveaway winner, and Dale and Mary could hardly believe it. I spoke to them on the phone and they were thrilled — and a little shocked that it was real!
They’ll be getting 10 lbs of our ground beef, a jar of honey, and a T Bar J Ranch hat. We’re shipping it Monday — it’ll take 3 days to reach them, and I asked them to send a photo when it arrives. Congratulations, Dale and Mary!
And for everyone else — we’re doing it again. You’re still in the drawing, and we’ll pick the next winner on June 30.
👉 Click here to enter or share the giveaway
Al with Spitz — the creek-born calf who pulled through with a little help. He always comes to see us when we are out checking cows.
The Colorado Beef Run — June 25–26
We're counting down to our Colorado deliveries! And we are gonna wash the truck before we head out.
We’ll start on June 25, traveling through Wyoming and delivering all the way to Parker.
Then on June 26, we’ll be in Colorado Springs and Buena Vista — handing off beef shares, sharing some laughs, and probably hugging a few folks too.
There will be hats and honey all around, coolers filled with ribeyes, roasts, tri-tips, Delmonico steaks, and briskets, not to mention:
- - Ground beef patties
- - Steak turners
- - Dinner bells
- - Boxes full of flavor
- - And lots of stories to share
We can’t wait to see you all. Most days, it’s just Al, me, and the cows — so when we get to see the families we raise this beef for, it’s the best kind of day.
6 Months Until Christmas?
Just a little note I thought of: June 25 is exactly six months until Christmas.
And while we’re not rushing the calendar, we are taking time to celebrate what we’ve been given — and what we’ve made with it: Some topsoil, some rain, and a whole lot of grit and grace.
Turns out, that’s all it takes to grow something worth sharing.
P.S. We’re still running our Father’s Day promotion, and we’ve got a few briskets left to add to beef share orders. Freezers are included on 1/4 shares and up — and we’re happy to help you choose the right size for your family.
