Life on the Ranch

Some weeks feel like the world’s working with you. Others? Not so much.

 

We have dodged two hailstorms, but the third came right over the top of us Monday— marble-sized hail knocking the alfalfa bent and broken. 

 

The chopper crew was in the field Wednesday, cutting what they could. Some patches were too beat down to reach — they managed to swath most of it, but we lost nearly half the stand from Monday.

 

It is amazing what can happen in 20 minutes.  We got an inch of rain, marble and pea size hail and strong wind. And we lost about half a crop of alfalfa for winter feed.  

 

It’s moments like that that remind us to be extra grateful for the days when Mother Nature smiles instead of slinging marbles.

 

We fared better than some of our neighbors did, so no complaining here.

 

This is the chopper picking up the windrows the swather left and putting them in the forage truck

 

Making Hay While the Sun Breaks Through

We put 6 semi loads of grass hay in the hay yard this week — that kind of preparation helps us sleep at night, knowing our cows will be fed no matter what winter throws our way.  We try to keep 6 months of hay on hand and stockpile our pastures so we are covered for most of a year.  You never know when it will quit raining, or winter start early and last forever. 

 

 Again, trying to get along with Mother Nature.  She always wins!

 

And just after the storm? We took in the last load of summer steers — putting that fresh gravel around the chute to good use.

 

That means we’re now booking beef shares for September delivery.

 

👉 Tap here to grab your beef share before fall fills up

 

Al unloading a semi-truck of bales.  This truck holds 26 bales that weigh about 1,500 lbs each

 

One More Calf, Then One Less

We lost a month-old calf this week. It’s never easy — even with the good numbers, even knowing it happens. That mama cow’s out there now, mooing, and we feel it right alongside her.

 

Grace had a bull calf the day before we lost this older bull calf. It’s been a Mother Nature kind of week all around.

 

Hope in Small Wings

But there’s still life buzzing out here.

 

The antelope babies and deer fawns are starting to pop up and run around the pastures. 

 

And our pollinator plots — Did you know it is National Pollinator Week? — are blooming beautifully, pulling in bees, butterflies, and more. These winged workers are a big part of why food ends up on your plate — and we’re glad to be doing our part to make space for them out here.

 

And you get to share the honey the bees come up with! Mother Nature is amazing.

 

These purple flowers are flax, and the white, common yarrow

 

 Coming to Colorado — Last Call

We leave Wednesday for our Colorado Beef Run — with stops through Cheyenne, Wyoming and deliveries all the way to Fort Collins, Severance, Parker, Elizabeth, Colorado Springs, and Buena Vista.

 

If you’re hoping to meet us there, now’s the time to speak up. We’d love to see you, give you your beef in person, and share a few good stories in the shade of the pickup, while we hand out honey and hats!

 

We do have limited space going south.  At this point we are taking over 4,000 lbs of beef, so please call if you are wanting us to bring some along for you, small beef shares, ground beef bundles, or even liver for your 4 legged companions.

 

And finally…

 

The Pig Parade Begins Soon

Yep — pork shares are on the way. 

 

We’ll have more to say once we’re back from the road, but if you’re thinking about trying T Bar J pork for the first time, the gates are swinging open.

 

Until then — stay dry, hug your people, and eat well. At our house, eat well, means beef is on the table!