Here is a great letter from a farmers wife that I agree with wholeheartedly!!! Remember, we have been raising cattle in an area with 12 inches of total yearly moisture for 5 generations! We love this land, the wildlife and our lifestyle more than most folks could comprehend. If you have a question about agriculture, ASK A RANCHER/FARMER, not some person with an agenda or an internet expert.

Dear Concerned Consumer,

The marketing research tells me that I should focus on the positive when I address you. I shouldn’t talk about the environment, or the health of my soil – they say you do not care about those things.

They tell me not to discuss the challenge of feeding the world. I should not detail the challenges of feeding my own family on a farmer’s income, with ever rising input costs, unpredictable weather patterns and buyer preferences that change with the direction of the wind. They tell me this doesn’t register with you.

They tell me to only speak about things that directly impact you. They tell me not to talk about the science, because the emotional registers more. They tell me not to talk too long or write too much, you don’t have time.

They tell me not to get angry. But if I am honest, sometimes I do.

I get angry that you have time to read about the latest detox diets and “natural” foods, yet don’t have time to read how seed technology is increasing yields in developing nations, and helping us here at home to be better stewards of our land.

I get angry that you are willing to pay a premium, up to 60%, on a product with a label that doesn’t even mean what you think it does.

I get angry that you think “Big Agriculture” is waging some kind of war, but refuse to acknowledge the huge profits being made off those labels you are now demanding.

I get angry that you demand “chemical free” farming, or even think that “chemical free” is possible. I get angry so many of you do not seem to know what a chemical is.

I get angry that marketing hides that all types of farming – from organic to conventional – use chemicals. They do it SAFELY and minimally, but they use them.

I get angry that you do not understand that farmers only provide raw product and that once it leaves our farm we are not responsible for what the food processors do to it.

I get angry that you don’t celebrate the fact that you spend less than 10% of you disposable income on food, when people in other nations spend 40%.

I get angry that you try to compare the decisions you make about your garden, to the management decisions my family has to make for our farm. If your garden has a bad crop, you go to the store. If we have a bad crop, we stand to lose our farm, our house, our source of income. If entire areas have bad crops, thousands are effected by supply and price.

I get angry when you talk to a guy at the farmer’s market, who grows 40 organic tomato plants in his backyard where his 8 free range chickens live, and decide his opinion on agriculture policy is more trustworthy than mine.

I get angry that you expect us to change our farming practices as frequently as you change your diet fads, and to make such changes without using any technology.

I get angry that you demand “humane treatment” of livestock without having actually ever spent time with livestock. I get angry that you think my cattle herd needs the same treatment as your toy poodle.

I get angry that you think I need to be told how to treat my animals, like PETA is going to offer some insight that years of working with and caring for these animals hasn’t already taught me.

I get angry that you want the latest and greatest gadgets in every aspect of your life, and then expect me to put on overalls and grab a pitchfork, and farm the way someone told you that your great Grandfather did in the 1940’s.

I get angry that you think it’s fair to demand farming practices match some romanticized version of an early era and are perfectly accepting of the fact these changes will take my land and water, which I now use to feed hundreds, and use it to feed only dozens.

I get angry that you give more weight to Facebook memes than actual scientific studies. I get angry that you take Food Babe’s word, who has yet to actually set foot on a modern farm and literally has no qualifications to talk about the things she does, over nearly the entire scientific community.

I get angry that you cannot tell the difference between credible science and bad science. Like the “GMO Pig Feed” study from Australia. Or the “Glyphosate toxicity” study in rats. I get angry that the real scientists even have to address claims from these studies.

I get angry that you think there is some kind of war going on in rural America. That Monsanto has enslaved us all to fight their battle, and we are too “simple” to know any better. That conventional farmers are fighting with organic farmers. That big farmers are fighting with small farmers.

I get angry you don’t actually come out to rural America and see that we are all here, like we always have been, farming side by side and eating lunch together at noon.

The marketing research tells me you won’t have read this far down. If you have, I am actually trying to apologize for my anger.

I KNOW it’s not your fault. I KNOW that modern agriculture has failed to tell our story and companies took advantage of that.

I KNOW there is ridiculous amount of information available that is often confusing and opposing.

I KNOW we are a generation that didn’t get the core education we need to understand science.

I KNOW that nothing sells in the media better than fear.

I KNOW that most of you don’t know a farmer and that most of you have never set foot on a farm.

I am apologizing for my anger. And I am going to continue to try and reach out, in a positive way. But I just want you to know, if my anger shows through and it feels like it’s at you, it’s not.

It’s more at myself, and my industry, for not doing a better job of explaining the truth to you sooner. And yes, you do have the RIGHT to know. I just wish you had time for the whole story.

Sincerely,

An American Farm Wife

A little something to brighten your life

Life is a wild ride sometimes. And if your like myself, sometimes you get to feeling kinda sorry for yourself. Your idea of what you should be may be different from others and ya feel like a square peg in a world full of round holes! Then ya meet a feller, that finds a perfect way to re-adjust your attitude meter! Thanks to the internet, I had the chance to meet (through a short film), Chris. He will teach you about what ya CAN DO instead of what ya can't! He will inspire ya with his smile! He will make ya think about perceptions and seeing the potential in everyone. He may even bring a tear to your eye. And he will make you think! I had to share this link to youtube with ya'll, so that you might meet Chris too! Here's to Chris! May we all work with what we have and make it spectacular in every way!

Tonight I sit at my computer with a heavy heart. I got the news that a fine friend of mine passed away much to early. Keith Paulsen was a huge man with an even bigger heart. He was quick to smile, easy to forgive, always had a story and enjoyed living life. He and I worked together at EG&G's Chemical incinerator destroying the nations outdated stockpile of chemical weapons. It was a technical and dangerous job. We frequently made entry's into a highly toxic area to repair the equipment that disposed of chemicals that were made to kill people. All we had between us and death was a specialized rubber suit we were sealed into by a giant microwave. We joked that we were walking "seal-a-meals"! But I never worried about making an entry with Keith. He had my back and I had his. I trusted him completely and thought the world of him. We both moved on with our lives and careers after the burn plant. I found myself working on generators all over Utah and Nevada while Keith went to Texas in the oil fields. But we talked on the phone as often as we could and kept in touch that way. This afternoon his sweet wife called to tell me Keith had passed. I have been thinking about him and what he meant to me. I hope we all can find, no MAKE the time to spend with our friends and families. Life is much to short. As I contemplated Keith's passing, I had a moment of reflection I thought I'd share. Why is it we fall in love so completely with our hearts? Our brains don't have much to do with how we feel about the people we care deeply about. And yet, when they are gone, we try to see them, and talk to them and reach out for them using our brain. When we should just simply listen with our hearts like we did when we had them. I hope that makes sense. I miss my great friend Keith. And 52 is way to young to complete life's journey. But I know his spirit lives on! And every time I spend a sunrise in the mountains, Keith will be right there beside me. My thoughts and prayers are with his wife and kids and grandkids. And I am thankful to have been his friend!

Late February brings new calves on our place. We always look forward to the new kids and the arrival of spring. Winter had a cold, snowy grip this year and warmer temps and sunny sky's are sure welcome. Our cows have wintered well and as of today we have had 5 head calve with TWO sets of twins! Pretty amazing since last summer was really dry and we had to bring our cattle home almost 2 full months earlier than we usually do. But we have kept them on good hay and supplements and have a good mineral program in place. That has kept them in great condition all winter. We also got a new heifer calf from our Artificial Insemination program! I bred a beautiful heifer i bought from Lazy H ranch here in Vernon to a fine Hereford bull from Westcliffe, Colorado that is pictured in a previous post on my blog. We crossed our fingers and hoped she would become pregnant and really hoped she would have a heifer calf! She DID!!!! Can't wait to see what she grows into and both the cow and the new calf are doing great! I feel pretty blessed and fortunate to live the lifestyle i do and on this amazing west desert. I look to the south and see "Dutch Peak" on the Sheeprock mountains which was named for my ancestors who settled in the valley where i live and just over the mountain at the ranch. I have a beautiful wife who is the best person i know. She is a wonderful mother, a caring and thoughtful neighbor, a faithful daughter of God and a top hand on any ranch. Not to mention she makes the world's best pie! My two kids are great little stock men and always willing to help us with whatever we are working on. They even turned in science projects about "Where does meat come from" and "Using EPD's to choose a new bull"! Not bad for a 1st grader and 5th grader. I couldn't be prouder! So as i think of my amazing family, those who paved the way for me and those who walk beside me now, i am sure humbled and thankful for all i have. The Good Lord has blessed me abundantly and i tip my hat to the Master! Here is a picture of our new Hereford/Angus heifer and her cow.

Dodge honors agriculture

The American farmer and rancher has been under attack lately. Government taxes us literally to death and then regulate those of us left into almost oblivion. So-called environmentalists scream when we plow a field or let a cow eat grass. And some of the public seem to think their food comes from the supermarket instead of from farms and ranches. So it did my heart good to see a commercial during the Superbowl that simply said thank you! We all like to be told thanks and know we are appreciated once in awhile, regardless of what we do for a living. Dodge took an old Paul Harvey essay and put it with pictures and made a pretty neat advertisement that hardly mentions the trucks they sell. Please take a second and click on the link to the ad below. And remember that the typical family ranch has only 40 cows. They are multi-generational places that have been feeding this country and the world for decades and sometimes, century's. They are simply hard working families like mine, who love the land and the animals they raise. If you know a rancher or a farmer, take the time to tell them THANK YOU. It will mean a lot more than you know!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-PTovjvtsc

I have sure thought a lot about the horrible school shooting in Connecticut. My heart goes out to the victims, the families, law enforcement, medical personel and everyone involved. Some of you know i write a little cowboy poetry and i had a few minutes yesterday to put some thoughts on paper. I would like to share with you my poem i call "Senseless". Please join with our family in keeping those folks in your thoughts and prayers.

Senseless

It’s a miserable, bleak, cold, desert day
And my soul is worn and shredded.

The world has gone plumb crazy lately,
And I’m afraid of where we’re headed.

Evil has always been around,
It’s not new to have tragedy strike.

But when 20 kids are shot to death,
I kinda wonder what happened to right?

My mind can’t wrap itself around
What could make a person do that?

And why those kids had to suffer,
While, I am safe, here where I’m at.

I wish’d I could’a been there, maybe
done something to stop the death.

Anything, to just try to save those kids,
They can even have my breath.

But I’m out here on the desert
And my eyes are red and wet.

My heart, it aches, my head, it hurts
And I don’t want’a feel better yet!

Cause I’m mad as hell that it happened
And fed-up with the reasons I hear,

I don’t care about guns, I care about kids
Growing up without worry or fear.

A kid shouldn’t feel anything but safe,
In their school or in their home.

But today, a parent buries their child
Because their killer was distant and alone?

I don’t know what all the answers are,
But I hope God will show us the way.

As we try to heal from the horror,
That happened just the other day.

I pray he will comfort the families.
And bless the lives that are lost.

And help us all to love more and hate less
Protect kids, regardless the cost.

Evil will only triumph, if good people
Let it exist.

Somehow we have to destroy it
And we can’t use a sword or
A fist.

We have to get God back in our lives.
We can’t do it any other way.

Alone, we will only keep failing
But with Him we can save the day.

Connecticut is a ways from this desk where I write,
But I sure feel close right now.

My thoughts and prayers are back east
And I hope that they help, somehow.

Darrell Holden
December 2012

25 things kids should know

I found this list of 25 things every ranch kid should know while surfing the web and visiting with ranch folks like myself. I loved it and wanted to share it with you all. These are important things any kid needs to hear and experience and learn from. Good advice for us adults as well!

1. You have chores, because we love you. They seem tedious, but they are the building blocks for your future. Responsibility, accountability, and basic life skills begin with sweeping the floor, scrubbing the toilet, and feeding pets and livestock. We love you, we want you to find success in life. Success comes from preparation, so we give you chores.
2. Boredom is a choice. Don’t let me hear you say you are bored. Boredom is a choice, when your backyard is the whole outdoors, there are chores to be done, and books to be read. If you can’t entertain yourself with a stick and a bucket full of calf nuts, we’re doing something wrong.
3. There is magic in watching the sunrise. Early mornings are hard, we don’t rise as early and as easily as Dad. Do it anyway. The beauty you will witness with the awakening of the world is worth sleepy eyes and cold fingers.
4. A pet is more than a companion. You’re cats, dogs, calves, and ponies are more than friends and playmates. They are lessons in empathy, responsibility, love, and letting go.
5. Grow your own food. Our world is increasingly rife with poor food choices, the easiest response to unhealthy options is to grow your own food. I don’t care it’s a single tomato plant or a garden large enough to feed 10 families, cultivate an appreciation for fresh, whole food.
6. Be open to learning. In horsemanship and life, you will never know it all, never assume that you do. A humble open, attitude towards learning will lead to new skills and experiences.
7. Dress appropriately for the occasion. A cowboy’s uniform, hat, long-sleeved shirt, jeans, and boots, evolved out of necessity. Protect yourself from the sun, wind and weather with the proper clothing. I nag and question your clothing choices, because you are precious to me.
8. There is a time and a place for bad language. Sometimes you just need to cuss; spew anger and frustration in one grand verbal barrage. Smash your thumb with your shoeing hammer/fencing pliers, massive runback at the gate, ringy heifer won’t take her calf? Yes. At the dinner table, the classroom, in front of your grandmother? No.
9. Feed your help. Neighbors, friends, or hired men? It doesn’t matter, sometimes the best way to show your gratitude for a long day of hard work is a lovingly prepared hot meal and cold drink.
10. Don’t judge, but if you do, judge them by their abilities, attitudes, actions not appearances. Buckaroo or cowboy, flat or taco, slick or rubber? In some circles these comparisons can lead to heated debates, more often than not based strongly in personal opinion, rather than rooted in truth. This is true outside of the ranching world, as well. Words have power to create divisiveness, do not use them to speak against yourself or gossip about others.
11. Stewardship. Dad and I choose to be responsible for landscapes and livestock, this lifestyle defines who we are. Sometimes that means ballgames are trumped by pasture rotations and dinner time is delayed by cesarean sections, it does not mean we love you any less. I hope you approach the world with a sense of respect and connectedness.
12. Fake it till you make it. You don’t have to be confident in everything you do, but taking a deep breath and acting like you are helps you get through it. This can be applied in the arena, the sorting alley, to horses or people, and life as a whole. Stand up straight and look the challenge in the eye, as you gain experience confidence will catch up with you.
13. That said, don’t mistake arrogance for confidence. No one likes a swaggering braggart, even if he is a competent swaggering braggart. There is honor in being unheralded, if you enjoy your work.
14. Low-stress is best. . . . . .for you and for livestock. Don’t let it defeat your spirit and energy. Don’t let it impact your livestock health.
15. The only dumb question is the unasked question. Where is the gate? Which calf? Can you help me? Ask questions, no one will think less of you. Clear communication helps prevent misunderstandings.
16. Always do your best. There are days when your best is better than others, recognize that. Avoid self-judgement, abuse, and regret and enjoy the process.
17. “There comes a time when you’re gonna get bucked and you’re gonna need to know what to do so you don’t get stepped on.“ -Betsy Swain, 1875 Do not let fear of pain or disappointment stand in the way of new experiences. What I regret most in my life are opportunities missed out of fear. Pain and disappointment are a part of living, learn to take them in stride and keep moving forward.
18. Be polite and kind. Enough said.
19. But, don’t be a pushover. Stand up for yourself.
20. Develop a sense of place. Wherever you may live, learn the names of plants, rocks, and animals, visit old homesteads (or neighborhoods) and educate yourself about Indigenous cultures. In doing so, you gain roots, a sense of belonging that will lend you stability in all that you do.
21. Break a sweat everyday. Pound a steel post or take a jog, whatever you do, break a sweat daily. Your mind and body will thank you for it.
22. Be present. If you are mindful of the moment, it is easier to catch a mistake before it happens, redirect a broncy horse before wreck, and have better relationships. It might surprise you, what you observe and what you achieve when you are fully in the moment.
23. Unplug. Go to cow camp. Leave the computer screen, TV, and cell phones behind. Watch the chipmunks and rock dogs, read a book, or share a conversation with your family.
24. Sometimes the hard decisions are the right ones. We cannot rationalize suffering and pain to animals. Sometimes the best decision is the hardest one to make, know when to let them go.
25. You do not have to maintain this lifestyle, but please appreciate it. I don’t expect you to grow up and follow in our footsteps, the long hours and low pay aren’t for everyone. Carry these early horseback mornings in your heart.

We are excited to announce we just bought some semen from a great ranch in Colorado to use in our artificial insemenation program. Coleman Herefords from Westcliffe, Colorado raises fine Hereford cattle. We are going to breed some of our good Angus cows to a great Hereford bull from Coleman's. GB L1 DOMINO 175E is a long, fleshy, good looking bull that should make some great daughters when crossed on our cows. It will be a long wait til' next spring to see the calves, but it will be worth it for sure! Angus+Hereford cattle are perfect for our operation. They are thrifty, easy going cows that will produce great calves each fall. The steer calves will be tender and delicious as beef and the heifers will add to the foundation of our cowherd as we continue to grow our ranch. Thanks to Ken and Suzanne Coleman for your help and your awesome operation! Check out their website which can be found on a link under our friends & favorites. 2012 will be an eventful and exciting year for us. Thanks for sharing in our ranch and thanks for your business!

Setting the record STRAIGHT!!!

Lately the beef industry has been attacked by a smear campaign. Anti-beef radicals started the "pink slime" avalanche and the clueless media was spoon-fed their FACT- LESS propaganda! Instead of praising a company for finding ways to use as much good beef as possible by using new technology and being super efficient, they tried to cheap shot them and run them out of business. The words "pink slime" were purposely thrown out in order to panic folks. In fact, "lean Beef trimmings" are 94-97% lean beef! Don't fall for anti-meat propaganda folks! When they get done destroying Beef Products, Inc- the company that makes lean beef trimmings, they will attack another part of our industry. Please take the time to learn the facts about everything you eat! Don't get buffaloed by groups with an agenda that won't be happy until we are all FORCED into becoming vegans! I raise and sell some of the best beef in the world. And so do many, many thousands of ranchers throughout America. Find out the facts and don't get spooked by scare tactics! For instance, when you have a great cheeseburger made with tasty BEEF that contains lean beef trimmings, the meat only contains 200 ppm ammonium hydroxide. Ammonium hydroxide is found naturally in all proteins we eat, plant or animal! One of its main roles is to stop dangerous bacteria from forming. The cheese on your burger contains 813 ppm, the bun 440 ppm and the condiments have 400 ppm ammonium hydroxide. Why haven't we banned cheese and bread and ketchup? Feel free to contact me with any concerns you might have regardless of where you buy your beef. I am proud to be an American rancher, proud to be part of a safe, efficient, sustainable, growing industry! And I will always stand up when radical elements of our society attack my livelihood and try to limit the choices I have to feed my family! There are many websites where you can find CORRECT information in regards to Lean Beef Trimmings. And I would love to hear from you if I can answer any question about tasty, healthy, safe, wonderful BEEF!

leaninghlivestock@hotmail.com
www.beefisbeef.com
http://utahbeef.org/
http://www.beef.org/

We are back!!!

After a computer meltdown, we are finally back in business. Unlike our congress, we follow a budget and can't spend money we don't have. So after a little work fencing for a neighboring ranch we were able to upgrade and get back to updating our blog. The family is growing like weeds. Our ranch is growing too. We are almost done calving for 2012 and it has been a banner year. We even had our first set of twins! Thanks for your interest in our ranch, our cattle and our family! Check in soon for more updates.

Hope anyone who drops by our blog has had a decent winter and is looking forward to spring. We sure are!!! Today's post is all about quality. If you are having surgery done, do you want the cheapest surgeon or the best surgeon? Do you buy a dependable, well-built car or one that breaks down as you drive it home? Do you want the best education for your kids or just read comic books? My point is that we probably all would like to have the highest quality we can afford. And the good things in life usually cost a little bit more. Then the question becomes.........is the higher cost worth it? I want the best Doctor, a good truck to drive and my kids to go to college and have success that comes with a good degree. We should all feel the same way about our food. Cheaper food is always good until it effects the quality. Then we all need to stop and think about what we put in our bodies and our children's bodies. Is it safe? Is it natural? Is it healthy? Quality might cost a little bit more than processed factory food. But what is the cost to our health when we buy lower or questionable quality items? While our beef only costs a small percentage more than supermarket mystery meat, the quality you will have at every meal is expotentially higher. If you except the best in your life, add the best beef in Utah to your freezer. Tasty, tender, safe, healthy, local beef. It's worth it!

Fall is here and the calves are home from the mountain. Our calves have grown great this summer and are starting to really fill out. They will spend the winter here at the ranch on good grass/alfalfa hay. With the first green-up of spring they will go out on a meadow. They will stay there until they approach finish wieght and then they return home to more great hay and a custom grain ration until processing one month later. Our calves are raised like my Grandfather rasied his.....naturally. We like to think we know what are doing and have lots of repeat customers who agree. Please contact us anytime with questions or for more information. Thanks for your interest in Leaning H Livestock, home of Utah's Best Beef!

It's hard to believe that fall is almost here! Summer has passed so quickly. Our cattle have had a great summer and the rains have come at the right times to help keep the grass growing. Soon, we will be weaning our calves and bringing our cows home to graze on a meadow we lease. The calves are already getting most of their nutrition from grass and using less and less milk. When we bring them home, they will continue to grow as they convert quality hay into wonderful and healthy protien. It's always fun to have the calves home. They learn to look forward to us coming to feed and water. They gentle down quickly and enjoy being scratched behind an ear or across their backs. Our family and I hope you have had a great summer as well. We thank all of our valued customers for trusting us with providing them the meat that fills their freezers! We thank everyone who visits our blog! Feel free to get in touch with us if you ever have questions or need more information. Here's to a beautiful fall!

Spring!!! After a cold winter, I sure look forward to the green grass of Spring. We can quit feeding hay and get the cows out on the mountain. But in order to do that we have to our annual branding. Hot branding cattle is a quick and tested way to identify cattle on the huge areas they graze most of the year. Just like a license plate on a car, it allows proof of ownership. We also vaccinate our cattle and tag at the same time. It is a lot of work but a lot of fun with family and friends helping. Many ranchers help each other in return for needed help on their own cattle. It is a western tradition that has passed through many generations. And we work quickly and as quietly as possibly to make the process as easy on our cows and calves as possible. Just like a pierced ear that a lot of women get done when they are girls, It looks worse than it is. Our Leaning H Brand means that the calf that wears it is high quality and well cared for. Thanks to both our parents for the great help. Couldn't do it without ya! With the cattle branded and out on grass, we look forward to trips to the mountain to check water, mend fence and supply salt and mineral for our cattle. Another cycle of the lifestyle we love so much. Hope ya enjoyed us taking ya along!

We have done a lot of research this winter looking for the next perfect herdsire for our operation. And we found him at Yardley Cattle Company in Beaver, Utah! They have been selling bulls for 40 years throughout Utah and the nation. Bulls sold to customers in CA,WY,ID,CO,NV,TX,OR,NB,SD and Iowa last Saturday. We felt fortunate to buy this great young bull to continue our quest to raise the best beef in Utah and beyond. Now we just have to wait until next spring when his calves are born to see the fruits of our labor! Our new bull had impressive numbers like 3.43 actual Intermuscular fat and 11.2 on his ribeye measurement from ultrasound. What does that mean to you? Tender and delicious natural beef for your freezer. Beef that qualifies for Certified Angus Beef. The best there is! Thank you for your interest in our ranch, our beef and our family. We look forward to hearing from you in the future. Until then, we'll continue in our quest for perfection!

We have accomplished a first here on the ranch that we are very excited about! Our first Artifically Inseminated calf was born last night! He is a healthy, vigorous bull calf. His mother is one of our moderate framed angus cows and his sire is a bull called Decatur from Select Sires. By using A.I. we are able to expand our genetics in any direction we choose. We plan to use A.I. as a tool to raise even better cows, continue to offer finished beef and raise bulls to sell as well. Our excitement is pretty high tonight. We hope you share in our success because we couldn't do it without our valued customers! A Thank you also goes out to Brad Meek at Cache Valley Select Sires who taught me how to A.I. We want you to be confident that we are on the cutting edge of the cattle industry. But we still hold fast to the values and traditions that we hold dear. We work hard to improve our cattle which in-turn improves the final product we offer.....BEEF! We plan to attend bull sales throughout the spring to find the next perfect herdsire for our operation. When we get him home we'll post his picture as quick as we can. Until then, here's a picture of our newest and proudest addition. Hopefully this little guy will grow into a fine bull. Thanks for checking in!

Winter brings lots of joys and challenges to running a ranch. While the moisture is always welcome and a blessing, the bitter cold and snow makes getting things done harder. Cows have to be fed daily. Ice has to be chopped to open up water for stock to drink. And with calving season just around the corner another dynamic is about to start. Even with the extra chores I can't help feeling blessed with all I have. As I helped my cousin get his cattle home from the Family ranch in deep snow, i had to pause and appreciate all the beauty. Sure, the snow was deep and drifted. But it makes for a pretty picture. Hope nothing but the best to all of you in this new year. As always, thanks for taking the time to stop by and see what we've been up to.

Hope fall is treating you well! And, more importantly, that you are ready for winter. Our family has worked hard to prepare for the snow and cold. Our woodshed is almost full of wood and coal for the woodstove. The pantry has lots of bottles of home-canned fruits and veggies. And the freezer is stocked with delicious and nutricious beef, pork and deer. If your freezer looks bleak and empty, make a commitment to rectify the problem. Look for fall vegtables at roadside stands or farmers markets and can or freeze them. Contact your local area extension service for helpful hints or visit with grandparents or neighbors who have the know-how to teach you how easy it really is to store food. Corn on the cob in February is as tasty as it is in July! And look into buying a quarter of a local, ranch-raised beef. Protien helps fight the winter cold. You can make chilli with the burger, wonderful pot-roasts like Mom made with juicy roasts and what night isn't perfect for a steak? Fill your freezer with high quality beef. Save money every trip to the supermarket because the meat is already at your house. And enjoy the flavor, the aroma, the comfort of healthy, delicious beef! What's in your freezer?

Lets talk about QUALITY! The reason a steak in an expensive restaurant is so good isn't just some secret recipe or way of cooking........You have to start with a quality piece of meat. Angus beef is near the top of the list when it comes to tender and delicious meat. But all Angus aren't created equal! And all beef isn't either! Meat that is too lean is less tender and had less natural moisture so it drys out easily when cooked. Over fat meat just creates waste and excess fat which isn't healthy. But perfectly finished beef is so tender it seems to melt in your mouth while also having an amazing natural flavor that doesn't require marinades or sauces. Our calves are raised on grass like nature intended. When they approach finish weight we put them on high quality hay and grain for 30 days. That puts the cherry on top of the cake. They get the natural "marbling" needed to make awesome beef without the waste of calves who are fed grain for months and months like most other producers do. For those of you who don't know marbling, I'll give you a quick lesson. Like a pretty marble stone, the marbling in meat denotes high quality. It is what gives a great steak or roast its wonderful flavor. It is the inter-muscular fat that looks just like fine marble stone. Too much is simply waste and not enough makes for one tough, tasteless meal. The picture above on the left shows a steak with a small amount of marbling. The middle picture shows a modest amount and the right picture has moderate marbling. When you buy our beef your meat will have moderate marbling. And the difference is simply amazing! Quality equals Taste. Are ya hungry yet?

I sure hope you all love your family as much as I love mine! We have a blast at everything and anything we do. Work or play! Time spent with my wife and kids is simply the best! From working on the ranch to hunting trips. From weeding our garden to a trip to cabela's. We go together and we are usually grinning! Life's way too short to miss a minute. So go and do and see and take your bunch with ya when ya do it! Here's my bunch on a trip to the ranch by the old retired cattle truck.