Are you excited this Christmas or worried? The cattle market isn’t for the faint of heart. Prices were lower this year and some are worried about how to keep going. It isn’t just for the cattle market though–this time of year depresses many in other occupations as well. What do you do when things are hard? How is Christmas still bright?

“Fear not, for I bring you good tidings and great joy, which shall be to all people.”

I have a lot of faith in those words and in the God who makes things possible. I hope that when I speak of my beliefs, no one feels pressured or offended. Each person has a free will and I want to respect an individual’s right to choose. Yet at the same time, when something makes your life better, you naturally want to share it.

The last year has been difficult for us. If it could break, it has. If it couldn’t, it’s found a way to break anyway. Projects that should take five minutes take five days. We encountered several health challenges. It has felt like we were walking upstream. In the spring. After a winter full of snow…

But that’s not all. We have also enjoyed time with family. We’ve seen our kids’ sports games. We’ve had plenty of food in the fridge and heat in the house. We all have clothes. We even were able to do more remodeling on our house we’re fixing up.

I have a dear friend who knows my love of words and each year on my birthday she gives me a word. I love it. A couple years ago, she gave me PERSPECTIVE painted on a piece of barn wood. It’s hanging above our piano. It reminds me that what I focus on grows inside me. So either my problems loom larger and larger or my blessings keep piling up. I forget that I choose my perspective. But I’m so blessed. And there is hope. Even when prices are low. Even when things look dark. There is always something for which I can be thankful.

We are buying more cows. It’s risky. Every time we do this, I wonder what the future holds. But being in the cattle business involves risk. There are times when money is lost and times when money is made. We pray and do our best, but it does involve risk.

I don’t know what your situation holds this year. I hope it is bright and full of optimism. However, if Christmas makes you feel like you never have enough money or you are worried about the future, I hope you take comfort in the words of Christ. “Fear not, for I have overcome the world.” I know, words don’t pay the bills. BUT, since He created the universe, I’d have to say He’s the most creative being ever and He isn’t surprised by the decisions we’ve made. His love is unconditional. Which means, if we’ve made poor choices (I know I have); He is STILL waiting and willing to help us. How? Ask Him. Maybe you’ve never talked to Him before. That’s ok. He’s there. Maybe you’ve talked to Him a lot, but don’t feel like He’s answering; He’s still there.

Still need practical steps? Me too. How do we make the holidays better?

• Look for things you are thankful for. Make a list. Tell someone. Practice thankfulness.
• Look at assets. What can we sell? What should we keep? Maybe we hold on to a few more cows this year, but sell that trailer we never use.
• Make Christmas presents. I’m not crafty. AT ALL. Yet, I love baking and bake for people at Christmas. Do whatever you like to do and share it.
• Spend time with someone rather than opening your wallet. A special outing can be more memorable than a wrapped gift.
• Write notes as gifts telling people how you love them or how they make your life better.

Christmas isn’t something we have to get through. It’s a new beginning. Close your eyes and see the baby in the manger. It didn’t look “right” at all. But all those things added up to make something remarkable and out-of-this-world. Our frustrating and odd puzzle pieces in life are never wasted in the hands of God. He used death by conquering it to bring LIFE. May Christmas bring hope and life!

My mom gave me this Thanksgiving decoration several years ago. I laughed when I saw it and it still makes me smile. As beef producers, we sure want to promote the industry in any way we can. We believe in it and value the longevity of agriculture.

Yet, we also like poultry. And pork. And even fish–although not on Thanksgiving.

I imagine the first Thanksgiving dinner included fresh caught fish, but our table will be filled with turkey and ham, veggies, sides, and dessert. We have the joy of gathering with friends tomorrow, so our table will be full.

We are thankful for so many things this year: improving health, joy, family, friends, food, etc. I’m thankful for my neighbors, the mountains, the grass. I appreciate what others do for me and I love how my life story connects to others. And while yes, I’m thankful for our beef, I’m also thankful for variety. Beef is incredible, but it tastes best when varied. I don’t just mean  variety in how beef is cooked; I mean variety in what we eat. Other meats are fantastic too.

Perhaps this year, in light of changing circumstances, I am thankful for variety. I’m grateful we don’t all have the same ideas or opinions. How boring that would be! Rather the beauty, the full flavor, and the greatest peak come from appreciating other things: be it other foods, other people, or other ideas. Our beef tastes amazing because we are always listening, always learning, and striving for quality of life and production. Likewise, if I only associated with those who were like me, it wouldn’t grow me or stretch me to new places and better thinking.

Happy trails and Happy Thanksgiving!

We are trying something different this year.

Usually weaning time comes around and we separate the mommas and the calves. We listen to them ball for each other. It always makes me so sad. I know, I’m a sap. Billy (my hubby) reminds me it’d be much worse if they were never separated. Both animals would suffer like an adult child that never leaves home.

About ten days ago, we brought the cattle in and put these nose clips in the calves. This way the calves stay with their mothers, but are unable to nurse any longer. Studies show reduced stress in weaning. Then you separate them after they are no longer nursing. We thought we’d try it and see if it affected their weaning weight and/or rate of gain.

They certainly didn’t appear to be distraught with the clips. We didn’t notice any changes in behavior. The mother cows were glad to see their calves–there hasn’t been the stress on the mothers either.

Tomorrow we take the clips out and we’ll see how it worked. Nothings like trying new things!

It’s official–we have a new Facebook page promoting our locally grown beef. A website will soon follow.

We’ve been in the beef business for decades. As a small scale producer, we have close contact with our cattle. There are a lot of good producers out there who take great care of their herds. We aim for the same.

Our cattle are handled with low-stress techniques. What does this mean? It means that we use natural methods for pasture rotation and slow movements. We try not to raise our voices. Studies show cortisol levels in cattle increase with raised voices alone. Can you imagine what whips and a high lope do?

Yes, some people do still use these methods. Early on in our history, we tried a lot of methods–many which told us what NOT to do. We’ve learned from and by our mistakes. It is much like being a parent: there times I wish I would’ve responded differently to my kids. Sometimes we change our tune and say we are sorry because even though we are the adults, we don’t always get it right. We try to do it right–certainly! The same is true with ranching. We’d love to think that we have arrived at a perfect homeostasis because that would mean everything is perfect. However, we are constantly learning and studying so that we make choices that are best for the cattle and for us. We want the best long term effects, not what gets them to the pasture the fastest. We want to capitalize on strengths.

Each of our children exhibit different strengths. Ranches are similar. Granted, we don’t look at our cattle and think: “Wow, that one is artistic, that one is an engineer…” However, we can look at a particular piece of land, note the strengths, and determine, “This is great summer pasture. Or this is a great space for a hay field.”

With our place, we have a great set-up to raise beef naturally. We’ve got nice forage, river pasture, and an irrigated cover crop for later in the season. We are able to rotate pastures as needed. Most of all, we love what we do and we believe in quality food.

Check out the link to our page:

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How about you? What is the best use of your land?