Wind, Neighbors & Trail Sticks

A 4-H Fair in March… and it was still hot.

We made it back home this week after several days at the 4-H fair in LaVernia, Texas.

Getting away from the ranch always takes some planning, and getting everything back in order when we return usually takes just as long.

Thankfully, we have good neighbors.

Doug, Julie, and Pat kept an eye on things while we were gone and made sure the cattle were fed and watered. Ranch life works best when neighbors help neighbors.

 

Look at the pride after showing their sheep.

 

The Welcome Home Weather

Montana welcomed us back with one of those classic forecasts:

60 degrees and 60 mph wind.

Around here, we call that a 60-60 day, and after a winter of wind, the cows are about as tired of it as we are.

 

When it really starts blowing, they finally give up and just lie down to wait it out.

 

Ranch Protein at the Gym

After we got home, we dropped off another batch of our ranch Trail Sticks at Granite Health + Fitness in Billings.

 

Real Montana ranch beef makes pretty good fuel after a workout.

 

We’re expecting two new flavors back from our butcher soon. He’s an award-winning sausage maker and smoke master, so we’re pretty excited to see how they turn out.

 

During National Ag Week (March 18), I’ll be stopping by Granite to hand out samples and visit with folks at the gym.

 

You can also see Trail Sticks at the front desk; you can grab one there anytime.

 

And if you're around on the 18th, come say hello and try a sample.

👉 See the Trail Sticks here

 

Looking Ahead

We're also starting to look ahead to our next round of bulk beef shares for summer. As always, our Ranch Roundup readers will be the first to hear when those become available.

Kieran heads to U.S. Nationals in Arizona on March 27 for the hammer throw, and we’ll be cheering him on from Montana.

And on April 1, we’ll begin taking deposits for pork shares from our Stillwater County 4-H Fair. Several of our beef customers asked if we could help them find clean pork as well, so each year we reserve a small number of pigs from the local fair.

Those pigs won’t be ready until later this summer, but deposits help us plan on the ranch.

 

Life on a ranch moves forward one season at a time.

 

Sometimes it's wind.
Sometimes it's fair and travel.
Sometimes it's beef sticks and hammer throws.

 

And sometimes it’s the quiet anticipation that comes six weeks before calving season begins. This year, we’re even expecting two sets of twins, which should make things interesting.

 

P.S. If you haven’t tried our ranch Trail Sticks yet, the next batch coming back from the smokehouse includes two new flavors we’re excited about. Our Trail Sticks are made with our own Montana ranch-raised beef, real spices, and slow smoke — no fillers or shortcuts.

 

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