The meaning of things lies not in the things themselves but in our attitude towards them.
—Antoine De Saint-Exupery
Below you will find timely messages on a variety of topics relating to ranching. They are intended to encourage thought, provide information, or maybe even bring a smile!
To comment on anything we've written, add more information, or discuss a point, click "Comments" below that message. Your comment will be added to the live weblog. Click the "Comments" link to read comments written by others (if any comments are available.)
In the future we hope this might become a virtual coffee shop where you can discuss issues with like-minded producers!
Our snowstorm yesterday and continuing today isn’t the reason we are heading to warmer country, but it’s a nice perk!
We are heading to the Santa Cruz, California area for a two day stockmanship school on May 9-10 and then will go north to Woodburn, Oregon for a one day introduction class! For more information about the Oregon school, contact Britt at everbearingfarms@hotmail.com or 541-231-5171.




We had another great school at Exira, IA Friday and Saturday. Thanks to Practical Farmers of Iowa who sponsored members wanting to attend. Click here for more photos.
As those of you who attended a Bud Williams Stockmanship School know, Bud didn’t like to give any sort of a “recipe” for handling cattle. However, here are three “steps” and several very important notes to keep in mind when you receive new animals or wean your own.
NOTE: ANY TIME you are around your animals, be happy, have fun, and remind them that this is a great place to live. Your attitude is everything.
NOTE: For steps number 1 and 2 especially, don’t work with them any longer than 20 minutes at any one time.
NOTE: Repeat steps 1, 2, and 3 EVERY TIME before you do something with the livestock such as gather, sort, vaccinate, load, etc. AND repeat steps 1 and 2 EVERY TIME after you do anything with them such as shots, castrate, haul to new pasture, etc. This is vital.VERY IMPORTANT NOTE: Any time the animals respond to you, make sure it’s correct. If it’s not correct, fix it immediately (work with them). IE, if you happen to walk by a pen going somewhere else and the calves startle away from you, you HAVE to go into the pen immediately and work the calves to remove the stress and touch up step #2.
NOTE: Just because they aren’t bawling and walking the fence doesn’t mean they are settled forever or that they can take pressure. Follow all the steps and notes here.
FINAL NOTE: You are done working the animals when they are loaded on the trailer to go to their new home and not a MINUTE before!
Richard and I put on a four hour Stockmanship presentation to about 132 attendees. Click here for more photos.
The Farm Animal Council of Saskatchewan, a non-profit organization, has set up a Bud Williams memorial fund to provide educational producer seminars and clinics on stockmanship. Click here for more information.