Livestock Ads

There are a million different livestock ads out there right now. Some done by professionals, others done by individuals. Some are better than others, some are more colorful and some just get to the point. We receive several livestock and agriculture magazine, some are resigtered ranches and many others are commercial. I feel that we are well blended, been down the show cattle road, grew up on a commercial ranch, and Ryan is very much on the commericial side of how to run cows and make a profit.

There are commercial ranchers that turn their nose to registered, fed-up, well-groomed cattle, not expecting them to handle environmental conditions as well as others. I believe the two side work really well together. But in a magazine we received lately an ad stated 'No over fed fat fluffy show bulls. Bulls fed to work in the hot summer sun.' Wow talk about a dig at registered show cattle operations. While there is some truth in this statement - this ranch must focus on hardy cattle with just as good of a look as the clipped kind. But I hope that not all ranchers feel that show cattle are just fat and fluffy.

I have several retired show heifers in the pasture, all were fat, fluffy, clipped, over-fed (in some's opinion) at one time. They never skipped a beat and have calved every year. Now they aren't fluffy, clipped or over-fed, but I think both kinds of cattle should be interchangeable. I think the goal of show cattle should be production and how they perform in the pasture, and I think commercial cattle or registered herds that aren't shown should still produce a good looking, well balanced herd. Or I think this is what we are striving to do. Raise registered cattle on a budget as well as mix in our good looking commercial herd to produce great heifers!

Quote for the Day

"The difference between a successful person and others is not a lack of strength, not a lack of knowledge, but rather in a lack of will." Vincent T. Lombardi

Planning for Spring

Yesterday was beautiful, we cooked out, played with the cows and enjoyed being outside. It was a taste of spring already! And then today is cold... I'm already planning for spring, flowers, green grass (we hope), the garden, and of course our swimming pool. I told Ryan we had to bring the stock tank back to the house, there was just nothing better than sitting in a tank of water at the end of a long day! Spring also means we begin calving, maybe even today, there are several getting close, they are a few days early, but they are pros at having calves!!! Here's to a great start to the week!

When People Come Into Your Life

You could classify me as a suspicious person! I don't make friends easy and always wonder if there is an ulterior motive behind actions. But recently a person came into my life that has already changed it forever. She is the sweetest, most kind person, who has taught me more about life in two conversations than I would have ever found out on my own.

She took a leap of faith, put her husband through school, moved across the state and has literally began a new life. And through all of this she was positive, knew that God had a plan for her family and did not worry. As she said today at lunch she can breathe, it has all come together. And throughout this journey, she supported her husband to the fullest, lived apart from him until she and the kids could move. She is his number one fan. And that has reminded me that I am Ryan's number one fan, and while life gets crazy, that's what is important. Remember when I told you I wrote out my priorities and number one was that my first jobs were as a wife and a mother. She is the perfect example of how those two things come first.

Even in our short visits during lunch I find myself thinking for days about the things she says. We should all be more positive, motivated and supportive. She has already made me a better person. So the next time someone out of the blue comes into your life, don't be as suspicious as I am, I have found a great friend and mentor!

Step Out There!

With the first box of books arriving this week, 22 necklaces made this past weekend and at the moment thinking of brilliant things to tell the high school students at the career day next week. In three words I've come up with 'step out there'. You never know what you can accomplish unless you step out there and try. I've lately been thinking about some fabulous people who stepped out at an early age and have successful businesses today. I don't think it's ever too late to step out there either. So whatever it is you're thinking about, pondering on, or an idea you have, maybe it's time you step out there. What can it hurt.

Quote of the Day!

Your work is to discover your world and then with all your heart give yourself to it. - Buddha

What is your world? And are you devoting everything to it?

Guest Post - The Book, A Great Teacher & More!!!

“Write about it by day and dream about it by night.” – E. B. White

For those that have not heard the latest – Katy is a published author. (Proud, so proud of her!) Her new book “Where’s My Cowboy Hat” will be available very soon and is now available for pre-purchase throughTate Publishing and the fun begins! I can honestly say that this book has been a major undertaking, from the ground up. Tate Publishing took a big chance and it will pay off! If you know Katy, she is like a snapping turtle when a thunderstorm approaches, when she gets an idea, she doesn’t let go. She formulated this idea that she wanted to write a children’s book, a book that has some purpose, some little message. Of course, I didn’t really realize what she was going to do with that idea, much less that she would be published, but she had my support, even if I’m her proof reader for the most part or sounding board.

Katy has always had the ability to write and a lot of credit needs to be given to Kay Hesby. Kay was Katy’s high school English/Literature/Speech teacher and was able to carve out Katy’s abilities in writing and speaking, hence the reason Katy went on to a degree in Communications. Thank you Kay for instilling in Katy that she can do this.

I can’t tell you the numerous possibilities she has formulated in her mind, or on scraps of paper, small little napkins, meeting agendas, sale catalogs, torn paper sacks, the back of anything is safe ground for writing down her thoughts. I know she has lost many of these ideas because they never make it back to a safe spot and I’ve asked her many times why she doesn’t write in her laptop, and she just says it’s not the same. You can tell that this is serious when I got a phone call and I hear her walking across a parking lot and she is spouting off titles of her next book, next series, or next character even before the first book has been accepted for publishing – and I really can’t hear her for the hurricane force winds that she is walking in, but I agree with her and then click - she is gone on to other things in her busy day.

There will be more books in the future, sometimes based on her childhood and her family life with Ryan, Tate and Tana, names will be familiar to some of you, you might see a similarity here and there. For most of us, we will sit back and enjoy the ride with Katy where dreams do come true, even for a snapping turtle.

(I look at the cover of the book many times, because to any author, when your name is in print – it actually means something.) Katy will begin scheduling dates and will have a shipment of books in soon, for now here is the link to order it online. -Lee Ann Scasta

Where's My Cowboy Hat? by Katy Williams | ISBN # 978-1-61862-208-2 | Tate Publishing

A Farm Quote About Love

Being Valentine's Day I decided to find a quote about love...and how fitting that I found this one!!!

Love is the thing that enables a woman to sing while she mops up the floor after her husband has walked across it in his barn boots. ~Author unknown, as printed in The Hoosier Farmer

Haven't we all been there!

Take a look around the blog, working on updating many pages and sharing more stories!!!

Using Other People's Talents...

Since the beginning of the year I've tried to become more organized...which hopefully you will see soon in this blog, with a better schedule of updating it. And...I've come to realize now more than ever that each person should learn how to use another person's talents. I believe this will save time and money! For example, I have a friend that has started making cakes. I let her make the birthday cakes for the kids, because I had no time! And she makes excellent cookies, so I'm done making cakes and cookies...you'll see some of her work soon...she's doing the cookies for my book release and then signing parties!!

I can write and I can make jewelry, I'll use other people's talents for other things!! Look around you and find out who has talents that you don't have. I'm not saying I don't love to cook, because I do... but there are just some times it's easier and wiser to find someone else. My mother's talent is proof-reading...so who do you think is my number one editor. Before the book was every sent to the publisher, she got it...and still today I read some aloud to her over the phone when they are in their first stages. Like the one's written sideways on a piece of paper from the last seminar I went to! Before they ever get typed, she's my direction. My husband has many amazing talents, so you bet, he gets put in charge of many things that I just don't need to do, he can do them so much faster and easier.

This week's challenge is to find someone who has other talents that maybe you could trade for!!! Good luck!

Newlyweds - Sharing a Blog

I think sometimes we forget what it's like to be a newlywed again! So today I am sharing a blog written by the newest member of the family - Kim Schafer...she married Ryan's cousin, Jeff. Rarely do I instantly click with someone...but Kim is awesome. She jumped right in and helped cook calf fries for the first time...and will follow Jeff on any adventure he takes. Kim's not afraid to get dirty either! She's working on increasing her files of easy recipes for a picky husband so if you have any ideas email them to her!!!!

The Newlywed Diaries!!!

Hope you enjoy!

What would you use...an OB sleeve?

...to cover a cast on a wrist, on your dominate hand? Well when you are a rancher you use what's handy, useful and makes sense. A few weeks ago my cousin, Andy, broke a bone in his wrist. Just one of the many hazards of working with cattle and large equipment. He returned to the doctor this week and it was casted. So I shouldn't have been surprised when I stepped in his shower this morning to find an OB sleeve hanging on the shower curtain rod. Makes sense to me...it's long...covers the whole arm...is waterproof and has places for your fingers. He tapes the end together around his arm and manages just fine!

Growing up Showin!

Our county show was held this past weekend and boy did it go well. Tate had second and third place, and his sister Kaetlon had Champion Pig! We have a blended family and Tate has many sisters, parents and grandparents, and it was an exciting weekend for all of us! Tana visited the show barn many times. The family that she stays with showed a goat, and Tana would tell you that was her show goat. She wants to show pigs and we’re working on a deal so that when she gets old enough she can…but they are staying in someone else’s barn!!! The cows are at our house. In the mean time she wants to show the babies!

We have a set of six calves that will be weaned toward the end of April. Here’s the breakdown: 3 Registered Angus bull calves – two of which I plan to sell and one I would like to show or we will just feed out to go back in our herd in the future. One Registered Angus heifer that we plan on showing, one commercial heifer that will either be shown or just a replacement heifer and one commercial bull that will be a steer soon and go in the pen to be sold – maybe as a show steer. Tana wants to know why these babies won’t come pet her when she’s in the pen. I tell her not to worry because in a few months they will have halters on their heads and she can pet them all she wants. Surely out of these six I can turn one into a pet that she can lead around and have fun with.

There is a picture of me at a very young age with a bottle calf named Rose. While we had many bottle calves in the back yard, Rose was the first one that got a halter. I’m not sure why but I don’t remember being scared. From standing on the catwalk on the family ranch to watching my older cousins begin showing, I couldn’t wait. I remember getting to show extra heifers when we had too many in a class or division and then there came peewee showmanship…my first show was the Brangus Nationals in Texarkana. I think Tana is the same way; she can’t wait to get in that ring! I know she’s only 3 now, but I have no doubt she’s going to be a big helper. She even wanted to take her stick to the show…not sure what her plans were but I decided that wasn’t a good idea!!!

Looking back I had many great teachers and was lucky I was related to so many. Who knew that you could learn so much about showing cattle from your mother! My mom jumped in head first, learned from other adults and helped us every step of the way. Then there was Matt – he was the oldest and learned by trial and error which made it easier for Andy and I. Matt preached that you never let go of that halter too! Andy was the middle cousin and the social butterfly of us all! You never knew whose stalls he would be at! I followed them both, learning as much as I could. Doing minor things, they were the head fitters in the family, but I could do front legs!!! I spent many hours with Matt as he clipped and I scratched bellies, we travelled and had many hours in clipping rooms. How did I learn to fit and clip…by watching…some of the best in the business. So when just a few years ago I picked up a set of clippers for the first time in many years to clip local 4-H heifers…all I did was remember what I had watched and been taught. Who knew you could learn so much from observation!