Stock shows that last over a week are rough on the mind, body and soul.  This one was worse than normal.  Yes, I broke a toe in two a couple of weeks ago.  I was doing pretty good on it until Tuesday afternoon.  And then, HOLY $h!t that hurts.  The rest of my left foot decided to give up the fight.  Now, as a result of over-compensating for my toe, the ball of my foot

The Woodward District Jr. Livestock Show is nearing the end.  The hogs, sheep and goats have all shown. Cattle move in day and then show heifers and steers on Wednesday.  Premium sale on Thursday. The quality of animals and exhibitors at this show is wicked good.  High quality stock which have been expertly fitted and then showed to the hilt. No, I do not enjoy showing or dealing with does.  But, Carli Word and her

We are in the first few days of the Woodward District Jr. Livestock Show.  The barrow show was really good.  There are lots of things in stock shows that could be Olympic sports.  Very few people in the world are as good as a lot of these livestock people. I haven’t watched a lot of the Olympics.  But, a lot of it is being aired late at night.  The downhill skiing events remind me of

We ain’t going for no pulitzer prizes, so we’ll keep it short.  We did get some moisture this evening.  In the form of ice pellets.  Some have already called school on Thursday.  Woodward District pig show move-in is tomorrow.  We don’t have time for any weather related delays. Took a set of quads for the kids to take to the grade school today.  Then the quads made their way to the cooperative building, then the

As I finished chores in the barn tonight, many thoughts were swirling in my mind about this industry that some love and others find their happy moments. I’m good at getting does kidded out and babies born alive.  However, the Dragon Lady is great at getting those babies going.  Supplementing quads, getting slow starters fired up, first time mommas used to nursing, etc.  It’s kind of fun to watch her as she lets the babies

The wind!!  Oh my!   BRUTAL!!!   Straight out of the south.  I’ve seen it blow harder but it has blown consistent today.  Miserable. I got home from church this morning and had myself a To Do list.  I didn’t get it all done, but with my favorite son helping I got the main deals done.  We started in the yearling buck pens and started trimming hooves and giving Ivomec.  Wind blown!  HARD hooves and

Valentine’s Day was a long one around here.  The problem–does.  Almost all problems in the goat world trace back to does. I induced 4 does.  I was prepared for them to start dropping about 9 pm on Tuesday night.  No,  no.  One started at midnight.  Then had another about 2.  Then I assisted another doe about 4 and pulled a single.  Then I realized that the first doe might not be done.  I pulled one

What is the strongest motivational force?  Come on…name it.  Don’t try to get to smart. Don’t over think it.  What is it? No.  It is not the gravitational pull of the Death Star.  Nor is it the strong desire to eat a box of Little Debbie oatmeal snack cakes while watching the winter olympics.  Simply, it is Momma.  Regardless of species, everyone wants to do right by momma.  No matter what.   Even eminem used his

Today is the Ellis County Livestock Show.  County shows, as a whole, can be pretty stressful.  But, this one should be pretty calm.  Typically, it is a laid back affair.  One, all of the ag teachers and the county agent all get along, so we don’t cause many problems for each other.  Two, although there are some hyper-competitive stock show families in this county, as a whole, they have their sights on trying to take

The weather is not.  It is cold, real cold 12 F  with a north wind that hits about 25 mph.  I don’t know the wind chill, nor care.  All I know is that it is not fun.  Had a couple of calves born yesterday, I hope their ears are okay. The wethers got worked and the kidding barn is ready.  Time to go back to work.  Looked at a fun set of wethers today.  When