Life on "The Blue Sky Ranch" is usually never dull nor quiet. Our farm got this nickname several years ago because when you're on our farm (which is in a valley), and look up, all you can see is blue sky. (Weather conditions permitting of course...lol).
My father was a farmer until a few years ago. He and his brothers raised grains, beans, sunflowers, and corn; as well as hay and corn sileage for the cattle my father raises. He still has the cattle, between 40-50 head of them. He still raises hay and corn sileage for them, and occassionally feeds them beet tailings during the winter to save on the hay.
Raising cattle is never a dull occupation. We raise herefords, beef cattle to those of you who don't know. I can remember several times as a child being woken up at 6 AM to go "chase the cattle" back in. I don't know how my father stays so patient with them...I think I would have gotten rid of them many years ago. Fencing is a yearly chore, which I have helped with a couple of times. Yeah, I know, some of you are thinking what's Lenee doing helping with something like that, right? Well, my father didn't have any sons and I'm the only daughter willing to help out with that...plus a little extra cash in my pocket never hurts. However, fencing can actually be fun. You're asking how? Well, walking through areas you're not accustomed to is always an adventure. And spending quality time with my dad is wonderful too. Calving season is always a very tough job for my dad. Calves being born premature, or stillborn, or being born too large for the mother to handle, are all commonplace in calving season. Calves being born too early in the spring is also quite a problem, because the snow and mud affect the calves' health. Raising cattle also has it's benefits though. Seeing the calves, and seeing them chase eachother around in the pasture are a couple of the cutest things you'll find in nature, I think.
Farming has to be one of the hardest, most dangerous jobs around. Some people will argue this, but it's true. Farming can also be one of the toughest occupations to make money in. And countless farmers are injured each year by machinery or farming-related tasks. But, please don't ever think that the farmers have it easy, because that couldn't be farther from the truth. Think about the food on your plate, the materials and items you use every day, and even the beer you drink. Most of those things originated in a field. Once in awhile you'll hear politicans putting down the farmers. But when you really think about it, where would people in all the rest of the occupations in the world be without the farmers and their hard labors? So, the next time you hear a farmer being put down, stop and think, and stand up for them. Or if you're the one putting down some of the hardest working people in the world, again...stop and think.
*Just as a side note, the colors for this page were not chosen because I am a John Deere fan. I prefer Case IH in fact, as I was raised by a father that would never drive anything green. The colors for this page were chosen merely for their looks, and nothing else. Just had to clear that up...lol.*
Last updated by Webmaster 10\22\99