Commencement

The Trail, as it’s called here on Pratt Ranch, went fine this year. Well, except for that first morning when the calves decided to head back home en masse, tails in the air, sure that Mom was back in the pasture we’d left an hour before. We tried and tried to get them to keep walking ahead, but more calves kept looking back and joining the group that was challenging us, then some cows joined in. We finally had to admit defeat and let them fall back to where Seth and Gus had thrown up some panels against a fence to head them off. We stopped, got them settled, and started again. Whew, that hasn’t happened in a while.

Seth and Anna were with us every mile of the drive. There’s nothing like home-grown help. There’s one section of the route that is especially challenging. We crest a mountain, tumble down to a creek on the other side, then follow a narrow lane through a steep-sided canyon. At the end is a field with lots of grass and a good rest for the herd, but the route is fraught with obstacles, a rushing creek to dive in and out of, cedars and rocks to hide behind, and no easy way to keep the cattle from slipping back past us. As Seth and Anna and I were bringing up the rear on that final leg, knowing the worst was behind us, Anna commented how “bad ass” the event was. I’m not really sure what that means but I think we done good.   

With cattle delivered to the mountains, summer can commence. Only now we’ll wear the road out going back and forth tending them. Mark has been back almost every day since. He and Seth are up there today. They had a couple of bulls with sore feet to bring home and they’ll ride through the calves for sickness.

Before the cows could arrive, the fences needed repaired. Last winter was a heavy snow year leaving our fence in shambles with many broken wires. Mark and I, knowing we weren't much of a threat, asked our kids for help. We made a plan for Memorial Day Weekend. They had helped us tuck the cattle in to a pasture mid-route for just long enough to get the holiday campers in and out before our final push to the range.

I gathered up all the fencing supplies I could find - wire stretchers, pliers, staple buckets and splice wire for everyone, and made ground beef soup to reheat for lunch. There was a skiff of snow on the ground.  Callie even came from Boise and we finished before day's end. These young adults get along well and are a joy to work with. 

We don’t know how our kids and their spouses will fit into the future of the ranch. Making it work for them and maintaining our livelihood is top priority. We know it will look different from how we did it and that’s okay. The kids have a wide breadth of education and experience and a big world that needs them too. Their love of the land and animals isn’t under debate, however. They’ve assured us that caring for the land will endure past our short time here and for that I say a prayer of thanks. 

women at work

many, many bluebells

Anna and her Dad

Anna on Sis, with Stella (in training)