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?