A Visit to Horse Expo

One of the highlights of my year is to visit the Minnesota Horse Expo at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds in St Paul. For several years now, I've been taking students down there to expose them to different breeds and styles of riding.  It's so much fun to see the different breeds and their colors, size and temperaments.  The Friesians are big, black and docile.  The miniatures are so tiny!  As we make our way around the fairgrounds, it nice to take in the different breed demonstrations and exhibits.  We make our way through aisle after aisle of decked-out stalls, flowers and portable video setups that give more insight to the breed being represented in that particular area of the barn.  Plus, I get my tootsie roll fix as we graze our way past each candy dish at each farm's display!

In the catalog that's provided at the gate, various presentors of clinics are listed with their bios.  If there's one that interests us, we'll take that one in also.  I particularly like to take in anything that has to do with driving, harnessing, and breeds that do well in that discipline.  There wasn't too much in that area this year, but I did manage to take in one small class on carriage attire.  The headline attractions usually don't draw my attention too much, but I'll stick my head in the coliseum door if I happen to be in there to take in the latest "gimmick" that they're trying to sell.  Some of these guys make big bucks and have quite a following as to their techniques and training aids that they sell.  But, no matter what way you look at it, good horsemanship is good horsemanship.  Sure, a horse can be taught to do wonderful things in an enclosed area, but put that horse out in the side open with the scent of bear or large cat in the wind or dogs snipping at their heels and you'll get a good idea of how good of a horse you have!  I love to be entertained by those who perpetuate bridless riding.  Looks good in an arena, but when you are faced with the everyday occurences of machinery rambling by you on the road, constant wind, pasture buddies neighing, and guns going off during just about any hunting season you can imagine around here, and when I need to stop my horse - I need to STOP my horse.

Anyway, so much for that.  We still draw some good tips that might pertain to what we do, but we still work on good solid basic horsemanship skills.  Some understand their horses better than others.  They are wonderful creatures - strong, fast, beautiful.  God has given them the spirit of the wind and boy do they ever look beautiful when they're running with the wind!

Picked up some excellent deals at the used tack sale.  That's the first place we hit when the gates open.  We familiarize ourselves with the well-made brands and watch for those items in particular.  Yes, you may pay a little bit more, but the price is still far from new.  I always try to coach my students:  "It's better to buy the good stuff used (if well taken care of), then to buy the cheap stuff new".  That advice has served not only myself but my students well over the years.

Happy Spring!

The Fieldwork has begun - but not for long!

The tractors have all been prepped, oils and filters changed, tires aired up and so on.  Farmer Rick and the Greenhand headed out to get some disking and plowing done last night while Farmerette and I milked and fed calves.  We often do fieldwork and chores/milking at the same time to keep the machinery running and the ground being worked.  There is such a small window of time in the spring to get the crops in the ground at a reasonable time to meet the planting deadlines.  Our growing season is so short here.  Corn has such little time to grow, dry down and be harvested to beat the inevitable fall snows.

I could tell last night that the good weather wasn't going to last long.  When heading out after chores on one of the horses, I could see five deer grazing out on the hayfield accross the road.  They didn't bother to leave the field until I came in the gate and started heading up the hill towards the end of the field.  When they graze like that in a large group before sunset, it usually means they're filling up so that they can bed down and wait out the storm.  And sure enough, I awoke to a steady rain pelting the skylight window.  Although we don't want the rain right now, I still love mornings like this.  The murky dawn works its way through the trees, slowly bringing light.  No hurry.  The thick clouds keep it dark longer, making it easier to hit that snooze button one more time before crawling out of bed for morning chores.

Even if we can't get in the field today (or much at all for the next week - supposed to keep on raining), there's always calves that need de-horning, vaccinations to be given, pens to clean and repairs that need catching up on.  Sorry - rainy days don't mean lounging on the couch for a farmer, just a change of work orders!  Stay dry!

Pig Weigh-In Day

Although the county fair is still over three months away, the preparation has long been in the works.  Our Farmerette (youngest) and Farmer Rick loaded the pigs up in the pig box (very large crate with air holes drilled in it), closed the tailgate on the truck, and headed off to the fairgrounds to weigh them in for her market class that will occur at the fair. It's a good thing that Farmer Rick is rather strong because trying to lift 90 pounds of squealing, stinking, wiggling pig is not an easy thing to do!  After loading the two up in the box, he had to come in the house and clean up, put clean(er) clothes on before he would jump in the farm truck and take off.  He would have to do the same thing at the fairgrounds, but atleast he'd be starting out clean.

When they arrive at the fairgounds, each pig's ear tag is recorded.  They then receive another eartag that identifies them as Farmerette's for the specific class she will be showing in.  Once each pig is weighed, they are entered in a record that will show their beginning weight, and then their ending weight when they again weigh-in at fairtime.  There is a proficiency and rate of gain award that is given at the fair that goes to the participant who demonstrates the most rate of gain, yet stays within industry guidelines for market weight.

Once the pigs were brought home, they were already snuggled down in the straw bedding in their crate, and of course, didn't want to leave the crate.  Farmerette and I had to clean the pig pens anyway, so they were able to stay in their snuggly little nest for awhile.   There's one thing for sure - I  hate cleaning pig pens.  I'd rather clean 20 horse stalls before cleaning one pig pen.  But the job has to be done.  Farmer Rick was working on oil and filter changes for the tractors, so it was up to us to do the dirty work. Yuck!  Thank goodness for a skid steer!  It still took an hour, but we managed to get everything all cleaned up, re-bedded and ready to go for the pigs once they were unloaded.  We adjusted the feeder to a new height, filled the water dish and rounded up Farmer Rick to open the crate and once again, get all dirty and stinky as he lifted each pig from the bed of the crate into their nice clean pen.  Believe me - the pen doesn't stay clean for long, but atleast it's a start!

After evening milking, we stopped in to see if the hogs had settled into their surroundings again.  Sure enough, they had snuffled down in their bedding and were actually snoring!  Content, bellies full, comfortable and warm - what more could they ask for!

A Trip to Town

For many, running to the store to grab an item or two is a convenience often taken for granted.  For us, it's an event!  Other than picking up something on the way home from church, our main grocery shopping is done about every two months.  We keep a running list on the frig of staples that we need, and when the milk check finally shows up on the clipboard in the milkhouse, I plan a day to head down to the nearest larger city (about 24 miles) to hit the discount grocery store and that old standby:  Wal-Mart.

The Country Kitchen (The Northwestern Farmer Recipe Book)

When you live in a household that hunts for and/or raises its own meat and grows and cans most of its veggies, there isn't all that much need for anything else to build your meals around.  So, with calculator in hand, I go down the aisles in the grocery store, tabulating my purchases as I go, so as to stay within budget.  We like to try new ideas for meals once in awhile, so a few ingredients that I don't normally buy are snuck into the list also.  As far as some of the recipes I see in magazines in the dentist's office - if the ingredients sound like they come from a foreign land or I'd have to mail-order them, I just skip over those.  Family probably wouldn't eat it anyway!

A stop at the Farm & Fleet is a must also.  We keep a list of things that we need for the critters too.  Calf feed, horse feed, cow medicine, vaccines - you name it, we get most of it at Fleet.  The medicines that we can only get from the vet are budgeted in at herd health time.  But as far as generic needs, it's nice to get these things when making this trip to town.  When the cows are low in milk or the milk price is low (quite often), it's nice to stock up on a few things.  Because when the cash flow has ground to a halt, you just don't have the cash on hand to cover some or all of these things.  And to no surprise, that's when a cow gets sick or a calf gets scours.  You run out of soap for the pipeline, on and on and on.  But the checkbook has no wiggle room.  So, now that the milk price is at a reasonable level (but not for long!), I refill the barn cabinets with supplies and hope that they can get us through the next price cycle.

So . . . for now anyway, the cupboards and freezer are full.  The feed bin is full.  All of the pig and horse feed is supplied, so everyone is happy.  Including mom.  I think I'm going to sneak off and enjoy that bag of cookies that I snuck into the cart.  They sure taste good dunked in a coffee cup full of our 4% butterfat milk!

Snowy Whiskers, Coyotes Singing

Did I say that word again?  Snow?  Yes.  When letting the cats in the door this morning, they left little footprints across the deck in the snow.  They must have been lounging on the wicker chair - or should I say huddling - when the snow started to fall because they had a thin layer of snow on them which they promptly shook off at my feet when coming in the door.  They took one look at me and headed to their food dish in the corner of the kitchen. I think they take turns complaining about their empty dish.  It seems like one morning, it's the old cat's shift, and then the next it falls to the other cat.  Smart guys.

Farmer Rick and I also awoke several times last night to the sound of coyotes singing behind the barn.  Rather close this time.  I don't know if they were rejoicing or bemoaning the fact that it was snowing again.  Anyway, our hound/lab mix dog decided to join in a few choruses.  And of course, he was on the back deck too.  We had quite a concert last night.  Even at 4:30 when I got up this morning, they were still singing.

Farmer Rick and Farmer Came Home were resuming their task of trying to get a grain auger attached to the feed bin.  They spent quite a bit of time on it yesterday battling the raw wind from the east that preceded this snowfall.  Just a damp, finger numbing day.  The frustrating thing is - they put in a whole day but feel like they barely accomplished anything.  You have days like that?!  But atleast the auger is hung.  After chores, Farmer Rick and I had a leg on the bin that needed bolting in the cement that just didn't want to line up right.  So with a little help from a very large pipe wrench and two wrenches locked together, we managed to turn that old bolt into the cement and anchor that bin leg down.  With spring winds and storms coming (sometime after the snow leaves!), we didn't want to have this new bin get caught in a gust and go toppling over.  While I finished up horse chores, Farmer Rick turned the last two bolts in and called it a night.  After being outside since 5:30 am, it was now 9:00 pm.  Tired.  Cold.  Time to head in.

But good news!  Last night was bill paying night!  The milk check finally came, so between the computer and licking stamps, we managed to finish up the day's work at about 11:30 pm!  Ah - another full day of accomplishment - atleast we managed to get alot done without getting alot done!

Time to pull the winter boots on and head for the barn for morning milking . . .

My Heart Took Delight in all my Work

and this was the reward for all my labor.  Ecclesiastes 2:10 NIV.  What a wonderful night to be outside!  Even though it was only 37 degrees out, there was no wind and everything was settled and calm.  Few clouds, peeks of sunshine, just plain beautiful.  As the verse in Ecclesiastes says:  I took delight in my work - and that was reward enough.  It was just beautiful beyond reward working outside and enjoying the bounty of nature that God has given us.  I took one of the geldings out for a once-over in one of the hayfields.  We wanted to see if the alfalfa had wintered over and not winter-killed with the last cold spell that we had.  The dogs were happy to join us, taking in all of the sights and smells of the damp earth as evening began to settle in.  When we came in the driveway, I dismounted and patted the gelding on the rump as he headed to the barn to wait for me.  This is our nightly ritual when I head out for a late ride after chores.  He waits for me to dismount, then when I unlatch the gate and put the lead-line on the stallion, he waits for a pat on the rump and heads up to the barn a few steps ahead of us.  The old stallion enjoys the company of another horse as we head up to the barn together.  Once the grass grows a bit taller, I'll turn the two out together in the outdoor arena.  The two get along rather well and it's good for the stallion's psyche to have company.  They romp up and down the field once or twice, then settle in for side-by-side munching, passing the hours of the day together.  Once evening comes and it's time to head in, I just have to put a line on the stallion and let the gelding head up to the barn ahead of us.  I think the stallion would like me to let him go on his own too, but I think if the wind was just right, he'd catch the scent of the mares down the road at the neighbor's place and I'd have a chase on my hands!  So - we play it safe!

It was so peaceful and relaxing to just linger in the horse barn after everyone was in their stall munching away on their supper.  Just the monotonous chore of raking down the alleyway can be a way to meditate in a sense.  Enjoying the end of another spring day.  Relaxing.  All is Well.  Giving each horse a final scratch on the cheek (or pulling that piece of burdock out that somehow managed to make it all the way through winter and end up in my old horse's mane) is a great way to bid good night to one and all in the horse barn for the evening.

We are so blessed.  I hope that you find joy and pleasure in your evening rituals as the evening enfolds around you and you feel the blessings of family and the warmth of God as it surrounds you.  Good night.

Old Wives' Tale

It is often said around here that it has to snow three times after the robins come before spring can arrive.  Enough Already!  It's snowed three times - there's two inches of the fresh stuff out there this morning!

This farmer has been battling a cold this last week.  Last night was the first time in a few days that I've been able to get outside and do some real work.  Sure, I bundled up, helped with chores, then dragged myself up to the house to crawl in a hot tub of water, but never really accomplished much for spring yard or fieldwork.  But last night, I managed to clean up a load of manure and since it was dry and rather old, spread it on our garden where we will disk it in next week.

Now that I'm slowly beginning to feel better and to make up for lost time, it is such a drag to see that snow out there again.  But, I keep telling myself, it's moisture.  After six years of drought, it's moisture.  And, with the recent outbreak of bad weather across the southern edges of this storm, I should not be complaining about a little bit of snow.  Our prayers go out to those affected by those storms.  This farmer has volunteered with Mennonite Disaster Services over the years and has seen and heard of some of the devastation that takes place.  We ourselves have experienced a tornado and hail the size of softballs.  Our crops were shredded and even our cornfields were as flat as a golf course - couldn't even tell they were cornfields - no stalks, ears or anything left.  We hope never to experience anything like that again.

So, on go my winter barn boots again - pack away the tennis shoes for a few more days.  Time to head to the barn . . .