I was recently asked to describe a “typical day on the ranch.” Sure thing, but … well, what in the world is typical?
A variety of answers ran through my head faster than a rat up a drainpipe. There are many ways this question could be answered. Plus, trying to give a glimpse into the ranching world for someone unfamiliar with it might be tricky because traditions and practices vary from ranch to ranch. The answer I wish I could give was from a John Denver song: “Life on the farm is kind of laid back …” Where is this farm? I want that one!
I gave a somewhat lengthy, general answer to the question:
“We have a list of things we hope to accomplish for the day, the week, the month, the year, the decade. Each microscopic decision plays into the macrodecisions. Where the cattle graze today impacts where they can graze next week, next month, etc.
“Daily practices may include checking cows. Moving cows and putting out mineral isn’t a daily chore, although it is a regular one. Sometimes the daily task is fixing fences. In the summer, it’s often about chasing water for irrigation and scheduling branding or A.I. Lately for us, it’s been about keeping the elk away from the cows to stop any cross-contamination of brucellosis or crop damage.
“For me personally, it’s about keeping crews fed and supplies clean. It’s stepping in to help when needed and keeping the house going so the crew can keep going.
“Every day might be different, but it’s also similar in that it all focuses on the land and animals.”
My husband would’ve given a quick answer: “It’s caring for the land, the animals and the people. Whatever you need to do that day to make that happen, happens.”
Both answers are accurate, but my answer tried to encompass everything on the ranch that is ever done – and that is impossible. Maybe the best way to get a glimpse of what happens is to follow someone around. But you’d have to follow us around for more than a day, and ranchers aren’t usually the type of people who like to be followed around. If you are going to follow, you’re going to get put to work. Bring a pair of gloves and multiple layers of clothing, because you never know what the weather will do.
Really, it's a great question to be able to answer for those who don’t know the agricultural life, especially those who watch certain TV shows and think that’s what ranching is really like. I once saw a clip from a show where a calf was “born” with an eartag and a brand. If only that were real! That would save a lot of time!
How would you answer the question of what a typical day looks like?
Days differ depending on the time of year. We can’t sink fence posts in the winter. And since warm weather is short around here, a typical warm-weather day usually equates to longer hours. But perhaps I was too “booklike” in my answer. And I didn’t say anything about pop-ups. Pop-ups are a regular occurrence, but you never know what they will be: perhaps a fisherman left the gate open, and the cows found it. Sometimes ranching feels like a game of whack-a-mole because you never know what might happen. But if I were to outline some things, then maybe “typical” looks like:
- Your husband says he’s on his way home and shows up three hours later.
- Getting lunch ready for the crew and not knowing if lunch will be at 11 a.m. or 3 p.m.
- Fixing something – whether it’s a fence, a vehicle or your attitude.
- Prepping for one thing and being ready to turn on a dime to something else.
- Keeping up with records.
- Saying, “I’ll get to that tomorrow.”
- Making a list, in pencil.
- Keeping the horses on a ration because you have one horse that looks at green grass and doubles his weight.
- Riding the colts. Or taking the trusted horse. It depends on the activity.
- Cleaning the shotguns, be it vaccine shotguns or actual shotguns.
- Anticipating (as much as possible) those whack-a-mole pop-ups: A tourist driving through the fence. Or someone driving 75 miles an hour on a dirt road and hitting a cow. (Fortunately, the driver wasn’t hurt.)
I guess I could’ve made up a ridiculous tale like, each day we go for a snipe hunt. Then we take the cows for a walk. However, I do want to convey something realistic. Whichever way I answer the question of what our daily lives look like, it usually sounds ordinary, which is good. Ordinary is exactly the typical day I want – though the variety is nice.
