Winter is coming (& so is the dust from our feed mill!)

“Winter Is Coming (And So Is the Feed Dust)”

As the leaves crunch under our boots and the mornings start to bite a little harder, we’ve officially entered that magical time of year on the ranch: winter prep season — also known as “Let’s See What Still Works Before It Freezes Solid.”

We’ve just wrapped up our fall produce harvest for the family — the pantry’s full, the freezer’s packed, and we’re pretty sure we don't want to see another squash, for at least six months anyway...LOL.

Next, it’s on to cleaning up the yard, which has turned into an extreme sport thanks to Smokey, our new cattle dog puppy, who believes every rake handle or yard tool is a personal chew toy.  It is such a joy to see him bounding after blowing leaves! 

Out here on the ranch, winter prep means checking waterers (because cows prefer water, not ice sculptures), fixing fence posts that mysteriously lean like they were at a wild dance party all summer, and stacking enough hay to feed the herd till spring — or until the spring thaw reveals the location our tractors were parked in the fall.

And with the hard winter everyone keeps warning us about, Jessica and Danielle are downright thrilled that Dad splurged a couple years ago on what we now lovingly call “The Chariot” — our track skid steer. Sure, it’s meant for moving snow, but let’s be honest… it’s also the ultimate ride for conquering the Mount Everests of snow that pile up around the hay stacks.

Because if there’s one thing that’ll test your patience during a long winter, it’s scooping snow every single time the cattle line up at the fence, staring lovingly at the hay pile anticipating lunch...and not so patiently some days!”

Here’s hoping The Chariot earns her royal title this winter — and saves us from a sore tongue in the process!!

And over at the feed mill? Well, that whole operation started 8 years ago, because a few friends asked if we could grind some chicken feed for them. Fast forward to today, and we accidentally started a full-blown feed business. Turns out, word travels fast when you make great livestock feed (and maybe when you tell a few too many chicken jokes).

So while the ranch settles in for the cold months ahead, we’ll be out here doing what we always do: caring for our cattle, grinding up some top-notch feed, and trying to remember where we left that one fencing tool we swear we just had a minute ago.

Here’s to a smooth winter, full feed bins, and unfrozen water lines.

– The K Creek Ranch Crew

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