Cattle, Calves, Lambs, and Learning Curves
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Compared to last week, Week 2 was a bit slower in pace, but that did not make it any less valuable. We kicked things off with the ranch’s monthly meeting after dinner on Monday , where everyone received a printout covering what needs to get done this month, upcoming events, and other important details. It was a good way to start the week with a clear picture of what lies ahead and helped me understand how intentional and organized ranch life really is behind the scenes.
On Monday, we transitioned three of the calves to an automatic bottle feeder, which was a a lot better from making bottles two to three times a day by hand. We also began introducing them to hay. Tuesday morning I rode out to check on the cattle and land at what we call the homestead. This is something I will be doing at least once a week to make sure everything looks good out there. It is a peaceful and important part of the weekly routine that gives me a broader sense of the ranch beyond just the immediate yard and corrals. After returning, I was taught how to operate a loader for the first time in order to help move sand and fill in a large hole. I was genuinely excited about this. Running equipment is something I have always wanted to learn, and while I know I have a lot of room to grow, getting behind the controls for the first time felt like a real milestone.
One of the trickier parts of using the loader was adding sand to our existing sand pile. I had to keep the ground level, avoid digging too deep, and knock sand off the wall where it had built up. It took more finesse than I expected and I would not say I nailed it, but I kept at it and got through the task. This was actually a theme now looking back that was prominent this week which is patience. Whether I was working the loader, moving animals, or helping with doctoring, there were moments where things felt slow or repetitive and I found myself getting a little restless. But I kept coming back to the same realization: patience is not just a nice quality to have out here, it is a necessary one.
Wednesday brought an interesting addition to the week when an inspector came out to evaluate some of our rams. One of them is heading to Nationals in about two weeks, so we needed to make sure everything was in order and dong any necessary medication and separating him from the rest of the herd. I am still getting more comfortable with herding animals efficiently, though I will say it is becoming more natural each time. Thursday was another full day. I did my normal chores and we went out on another ride. I also had the chance to drive the trailer again, and while the drive itself went fine, I made a mental note on the way back when parking I forgot to take a wider turn. Nothing was hit, but it was a good reminder that I need to keep working on that skill.
Thursday evening brought one of my favorite moments of the week. We needed to feed a calf on the cow but specifically on the back udder, which took some patience to get the calf positioned just right. Once that was done, I was able to milk the cow for the first time which is something I had genuinely been looking forward to. I was slower than I would have liked, but it was one of those experiences where I just smiled the whole way through. It is the kind of thing that reminds me why I am here, and I am looking forward to getting faster and more comfortable with it as the weeks go on.
On Friday, we loaded up two lambs and a cow and drove to Buffalo to have them butchered. It was a straightforward but eye-opening part of ranch life that I had not yet been directly involved in. When we returned, I went back out to pick rocks from a field to help prepare it for the tractor. I also spent some time fixing tree posts that they had planted earlier in the season. The plastic coverings meant to protect the young trees had all been blown sideways by high winds, so I pushed the pipes deeper into the ground and fastened the coverings back tightly. It was one of those small but satisfying jobs where you can clearly see the difference when you are done.
Saturday was the Fourth of July, so it was a lighter day on the ranch. We went into town for the parade, which was a fun way to learn a little more about the community I am living in for the summer. Afterward, we loaded, weighed, and moved some bulls out to the homestead before winding down the evening. I took Cheese and Pumpkin, two of the horses, out to check on the sheep. As I reflect on these past seven days, one question that has been on my mind is whether the timing of moving the bulls was specific to this point in the season or whether there is a broader window for that kind of move. I am curious to learn more about the reasoning behind those decisions. Going into Week 3, my biggest goal is to get sharper and faster when working gates, especially with the bulls, and to make sure I have a clear picture of exactly what is needed before jumping in to help. A little more communication and preparation on my end will go a long way.
Submitted by: Kaci Jericoff
Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team
