Week in the Field, Weekend in the Mountains
#bfrdpwy #aginternship #RightRisk
Over the course of the past week, my activities mainly revolved around operating a tractor and working in the field. The tractor was easy to figure out with my prior experience operating construction machinery. First, the field needed discing, followed by roller harrowing, and then seeding. Discing the field cuts the soil and buries part of the residue. It also breaks up clods after plowing to work the surface of the soil. I then went over the field again with the roller harrow. Harrowing removes dead thatch, lifts vegetation up, and levels the soil. The drum pushes stones into the soil and reduces air pockets to enhance seed to soil contact, leaving a level finish. I dedicated a significant amount of time to these tasks. However, one particular incident stood out when the roller harrow broke, forcing us to stop the process. It was easy to fix by replacing the hub bearing, but it taught me the importance of adaptability to unexpected obstacles.
Each day before heading out to the field, I help with a few chores. One of the morning chores I’ve been helping with is feeding the calves. They’re eager to see us every day and we feed them with a bucket bottle hung on the fence. It’s not a difficult task and feeding them is a nice way to start the day. Aside from a little yard work I did, the majority of this week was spent in the tractor preparing the field for planting.
The weekend brought a little more excitement. I had the opportunity to spend time with the hosts’ sons and their friends in the beautiful mountains near the Flaming Gorge. We were packing horses, which allowed me to improve my riding skills in rugged mountainous terrain. We packed the horses with everything we needed to camp for the night, food, water, sleeping gear, etc. The guys brought a canvas teepee tent for sleeping and I was impressed with how easy it was to set up. The horse I rode was patient with me as we got to know each other. He handled rocky inclines and narrow paths like he’d done it a thousand times. Throughout the experience, I learned about handling horses and basic care. It was a hands-on opportunity to understand proper techniques and the importance of establishing a strong bond with the animals. This experience deepened my appreciation and broadened my knowledge in horsemanship.
Reflecting on this activities from this week, I find myself questioning certain concepts related to horse care and training, as I observed different approaches to handling horses and witnessed various techniques being employed. This curiosity has sparked my interest in exploring training. Looking ahead, I plan to integrate the knowledge I gained this week into my future. I aim to apply the problem-solving skills I acquired when the roller harrow broke down, carrying this mindset into other areas of my life where adaptability and quick thinking are crucial. I intend to further my horsemanship skills by looking at other riding opportunities and expanding my knowledge of horse care and training.
My week included tractor work, feeding calves, horse packing in the mountains, lessons in adaptability and horsemanship; I have acquired new skills and experiences that will serve me well in various aspects of life. I’m still settling in and getting the hang of certain things like horsemanship. While other tasks seem to come easier like feeding calves and operating the tractor to prepare the field for planting. Overall, I look forward to more experiences that build on the skills I’m learning.
Submitted by: Tristen DeLange
Edits by: GrowinG Internship Team
