Being a self-proclaimed Grass Geek may seem easy on the surface but, to be completely honest, keeping our pasture and grass quality high on the priority list, particularly during a drought, is easier said than done. Just like our own personal health, we are constantly working on improving our pastures. Our bodies need attention and care consistently to remain healthy and pastures are no different! We can’t just focus on grass quality for a few months and then call it good for several years – having high-quality pastures is a labor of love: consistent and focused. It may seem like a stretch to ..read more

This post is a collaboration with Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. on behalf of the Beef Checkoff. I received compensation but all thoughts and opinions are my own. ——————————————————————- Squirrels are such admirable little creatures – in a frenetic sort of way. In the spring, they frolic in parks and backyards, unworried and joyful. But once late summer arrives, they turn into spastic planners, scurrying to and fro searching for food and storing it away for a long, cold winter. Despite their worry and anxiety, the tremendous planning pays off as squirrels spend their winters nestled in a den, s ..read more

Don’t Shoot the messenger(RNA)! The amount of time we spend consulting, planning and administering basic preventative health care to our cows, calves and stocker cattle is honestly “incowculable” (see what I did there?). But in all seriousness, health care is an extremely important component of our ranching operation. We consult with our veterinarian prior to administering treatment for disease or injury, but also as we plan preventative care such as deworming protocols and vaccinations. Lately, we’ve been hearing quite a buzz around vaccinations in livestock, particularly mRNA vaccines. An ..read more

My favorite color of green is “new spring grass.” It’s bright and you can just tell it will be crunchy and lush for whatever herbivore comes along and claims it first. I know, I sound like a #GrassGeek but grass is such a large part of what we do in cattle ranching, it’s hard not to be obsessed. Speaking of obsessed, all winter long moisture and spring grass has consumed our thoughts and plans. We’ve worried and waited to see that grass pop up in our pastures and once it’s there, WOWZA, we really want to take the cows to their summer pastures immediately! However, as much as we want to kick th ..read more

Close your eyes and picture this: a farmhouse and big red barn sitting atop a grassy, green hill. In front of the barn, in the farmyard, chickens peck the ground searching for insects and remnants of corn, children play with dogs and a farmer repairs a thresher. In the sprawling pastures surrounding the picturesque scene, cows nonchalantly graze and calves frolic. What a beautiful image, right? That diorama — often associated with Old MacDonald’s farm — is heartwarming and nostalgic, but that kind of farming has long been retired in this age of modern agriculture. Threshers were phased out lon ..read more

This post is a collaboration with Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. on behalf of the Beef Checkoff. I received compensation but all thoughts and opinions are my own. ——————————————————————- It’s National Agriculture Day! Did you know that? If not, that’s ok – it’s not a federal holiday and there aren’t any ticker-tape parades to celebrate it. For us, National Ag Day is honestly just another day so let’s take a ride-along for a day on a Kansas cattle ranch. The day starts with dropping our daughters off at school and daycare, then back home to pick up feed from the local feed mill, unload it and fe ..read more

Choices are everywhere, including the meat market. It’s the season of choices and the grocery store meat section is no different. One of the defining characteristics of the beef community, and the food supply chain in general, is the abundance of choices on the grocery store shelves. It doesn’t matter how you want your beef raised and cared for, American beef producers will provide that option. And because there are so many choices, there are accompanying labels to explain the production methods behind the package of beef. The following are common labels found on the grocery store shelves – t ..read more

Food is so much more than calories. Food is essential. Food is a human right. Food is emotional. As a rancher, I hope that you trust us to provide high-quality care for all the animals on our ranch, from day one, so that we are putting high-quality food into the supply. Food is fuel. Food shouldn’t be feared. Food is inherently good. Food is to be enjoyed. Food is part of our best memories. Food is intimate. Food is creative. Food is something to look forward to. Food is comforting. Food is a language of its own. Food is cultural. Food is multigenerational. Food connects us across languages, g ..read more

It’s not uncommon to discuss rotational grazing, water plans and soil nutrients when the topic of sustainability arises, especially when it comes to discussions online and in print media. However, there are many animal and herd management tactics that cattle ranchers can use to further improve the sustainability and viability of their ranches. It’s important to remember a few things about sustainability on farms and ranches, 1) solutions must be economically viable for them to be sustainable in the long run and 2) sustainability and animal welfare are focused on constant progress, there is no ..read more

This post is a collaboration with Beef. It’s What’s For Dinner. on behalf of the Beef Checkoff. I received compensation but all thoughts and opinions are my own. ——————————————————————- Mass chaos while trying to get dressed. Hurrying to get out the door. Trying to beat the clock. This is likely a common occurrence at your house when it comes to making it to school, church or a family function on time. For our family, during the holidays, we are doing the hustle to get our livestock cared for before we join the holiday festivities. On Christmas Eve, we rush around to care for the herd prior to ..read more