Steer Sale

A big day on the ranch.

Today started off with 5:30 chores. I was going to start earlier but it was so dark out that it seemed pointless. But, it worked out. I was a little worried this morning because Ace showed up for breakfast and Joe didn't. That's not normal at all. Well, come to find out Joe must have fallen asleep and Ace just walked off. Because about the time Merle went out with the four wheeler, Joe comes trotting up to the corrals...it was kinda cute- and quite a relief! Well, anyway, we got chores done by six and went to saddle up the horses. By the time we had that done, most everyone had shown up. Mike, Delbert, Glen, Ross, Adrianne (a friend from south of town), and Mikayla. We had a pretty good crew. We all loaded up and headed towards the south end of the pasture- because of course they couldn't have been up by the house like they have been every other morning.

Just as we were pulling out of the driveway, Heather (a girl who wanted to come out and ride Ace, because he used to be her families horse) pulls in. We had her follow us and when we got there she just rode Dan (who Merle saddled up). Merle had to go back and coax the steers in with cake anyway, so that worked out pretty good.

We didn't have much trouble at all getting them down to the corral, but when we got there three turned back. And those three were a pain, let me tell you. After chasing them too long, one took off towards the trailer house- Delbert went after him and got him back. We were chasing the other two through some thick trees and brush but eventually got them turned around. We got one back in, but this little fart that was left started jumping fences, after quite some time Mike and Delbert finally got him choked down and led him back to the corral.

We loaded out five trucks (about 270 head), with relatively no problems. There was one steer hip locked in the bale feeder, but by the time I got ahold of some chains he had already found his way out. We got them all loaded up and ran around putting things away and cleaning up. By that time it was time to get going to the sale barn. I was going to just stay here and farm and rake hay, but it looked like rain, so I rode along. It would have been smart to stay and pack, but who does that? lol

We made it to Rushville by about noon, and ate dinner with Brandi. It was her first day of teaching Kindergarten for the school year...o boy, the girl has patience! haha, I couldn't do it I don't think. But, we ate, then watched the sale- and you'll never guess who drove down. We walked in and there sat Glen and Ross. I sat right between them just to make sure they behaved! haha I think Merle was happy with how it went. They looked really good in the ring and there were lots of order buyers there. The markets are down a little right now, but it still went pretty fair.

So we stayed and watched for a little while and then headed to our next stop, Chadron. Merle needed to stop a couple places and we needed to drop a four wheeler off that has a locked up brake. We got that done and flew back towards Gordon to pick up a load of corn. We just barely made that right before they closed. Then, stopped in Martin for groceries and mail, and finally headed back home. By then it was chore time, then supper, then bedtime. I think everyone was shot after a pretty full morning. We got a two tenths of rain I think- so not much, but enough to keep the dust down. It was really a perfect morning for loading out cattle, not too hot or too cold and no rain or terrible mud! But I'm late- better go do chores!