How to start out on your own!

So as I sit here on this 9 degree day looking out the window at the cows picking through the snow eating hay, it seems so long ago that we were closing on our “tiny ranch.” I want to begin all this by saying that I do not claim to be an expert on anything, nor do I claim to be some big-time cattle producer. My family and I do the best we can do with the minimal acreage we have to try to scratch out a little extra income, hopefully.

Back in 2012 my wife and I decided we were ready to have a place of our own. Honestly our main initiative was to just not have any neighbors. The housing market was terrible at the time and we were able to buy our place much cheaper than it had originally been listed. After purchasing it we worked at transitioning it from a horse barn to a machine shed and cow barn. After 3 years we finally bought our first heifer and a young bull.

Since then we have added a registered hereford cow and saved back a replacement heifer. For us, everyday brings new challenges as we are working with a significantly smaller budget than I was working with at the large ranch I used to work for. Right now as I write we also have a couple feeder steers and possibly another replacement heifer.

It has been a very long road building up what little we have. Unlike many other folks, we have not had any help as far as capital, land, or equipment from anyone. Some farms get their start with family equipment or land, we haven’t had that option. Since I am nearly 300 miles from my home farm, borrowing equipment wasn’t an option. So we have pieced together some hay equipment and every little patch of hay ground we can rent.

Hopefully I can keep everyone entertained and maybe even be a little informative!!! We are due to start calving in a couple weeks. Those always make for some interesting stories. So until next time, eat beef, order SK Leather and shop local.