Slacker

For those of you who are keeping track, it's been a day or two since I posted on my blog. And for that, I apologize, but let me explain.
I wrapped up my time at Byers High School in May and headed east for Coach's farm. As things would happen, I got put to work and learned a number of farm lessons that are keepers (but more on that later...) and generally stayed pretty busy. For example, last Friday we went to town, replaced a trailer tire, picked up sudan grass seed and fertilizer, ran some errands, went to Hugo and got married...you know, nothing out of the ordinary. Then we returned to our new home south of Limon and I vacuumed the drill and Coach sprayed a field.
We got married! On June 19! And our reception will be in late August in beautiful and scenic Hugo, Colorado. More updates to follow and many stories about my new set of adventures as a new farm wife. I promise to be good and update more frequently...

Aw, shucks!

Amanda Nolz sends me a message on my email each and every morning. Ok...maybe she sends it to all of the readers of the Beef Daily blog. But she likes me best...

Nolz, who is a stellar young lady and a fifth-generation rancher from Mitchell, SD, and a recent South Dakota State University graduate. She is the editor of the Beef Daily blog and covers a variety of industry issues. You've just go to love this girl. She, as my mother would say, has a lot on the ball.

Nolz recently sponsored a livestock photography contest and you know I had to enter! Coach teased me mercilessly about submitting a photo of Caden with baby pig, Jenny, to the Beef Daily blog contest. Mercilessly, I tell you.

I was hauling water to the cattle tank that is below the stupid windmill that we can't seem to fix (bitter? me? no...) when I had a chance to read Nolz's blog and saw that I won reserve champion honors. We'll see who is laughing when I hang the gorgeous cattle-themed print in our home. Take that, Coach.

Nolz's blog can be found at http://blog.beefmagazine.com/beef_daily/2009/05/28/beef-daily-summer-photography-contest-winners/ and you really should take a peek at the winner from Minnesota. The photo is fantastic!

As for me, Coach's livestock judging contest is Saturday in Hugo and I'm off to set up panels and other exciting tasks. Thanks, Amanda!

AI in the spring

This is one of the most exciting times of the year for us as cattle producers. Coach and I have been thumbing through sire catalogs to find the best genetics for the heifers and cows we will AI this weekend.
Coach is better at this than I am because he doesn't get swayed by cool names like Womanizer, BuckCherry, Friday Night Lites and Red Headed Stepchild. He is a genetics guy and he understands what it is going to take to build a club calf operation.
The really exciting part of all of this is that we're building a club calf operation. Us. We. I have accepted a position at Genoa-Hugo High School for next year and you can join us at our reception August 29 in Hugo.
The even more exciting than that part? We will have our first big batch of club calves for sale next year. Life is good out here on the plains.