Beef frequently appears on the supper table at our ranch house – it’s a mealtime favorite for us and our kids love it, too. If you have questions about ground beef and how it can fit into your lifestyle, I’ve got answers! Here are some facts you may not know about one of your favorite cuts of beef. Ground beef may not contain any added water, phosphates or binders. Bottom line: ground beef is beef! It comes from trimmings of steak and roasts – ground beef has become so popular that some people choose to completely grind those steaks and roasts to fill their freezer with wholesome ground beef ..read more

We also stockpile on our ranch but it’s likely not the TV-worthy stockpiling you’re used to. Let me explain… Our ranch is deep in the heart of fescue country here in southeast Kansas. Fescue is a type of cool-season grass, so even though its growth shuts down in the triple-digit August heat, when the weather cools down and we get some early fall moisture, it gets a boost in growth. For example, the small amount of moisture we have gotten this fall – because we’ve been in a drought since last fall – has given our pastures a much-appreciated boost of green, even in December. Because of our rota ..read more

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

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