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Sold Out

When my Dad retired back in 1974, he leased the ranch and cattle to my brother and I, carried the contract and sold us each parcels of the ranch that he had not completely paid off for the price he had paid 10 years earlier. The folks bought a house in town and my bride and I moved in to the ranch house. Dad would come out and help work cows, help us hay and since we were also a yearling operation back then, he would order buy steer calves for us at the local auction. When things went wrong and we were in a bit of a mess, he'd just grinn and say "that's not my problem anymore!". We went through a lot of lean years and likely would not have made it if not for Dad's help and support! With the exception of a few drought years when I had to find outside work to keep afloat, I was lucky enough to make my living on the land. My wife was a ranch wife and didn't have a "town job" until after the kids were raised. I intend to help out as much as I can, but I'm afraid that this next generation faces a lot more headwinds than we ever had!
 
Faster horses said:
I'm reading a book right now about a family ranch that has survived through the years and is still owned by the descendants of the original founder. It's called "My Ranch Too" by Mary Budd Flitner. It tells the story of them ranching through the years starting at the very beginning, 1878, up to the current times. I haven't read it all
yet, but she talks about how difficult succession was. "You can run this ranch like you want, after we are dead,
but we aren't dead yet."
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Two son's doubled the ranch size buy doing a Paid for conservation easement and rolling in into neighbor property and doing a paid for conservation easment on that property.
 
Peach said:
Land is a solid investment. It might flood, drought out and blow away or not produce enough to pay it's taxes but it endures and they are not making any more of it. If you own it free and clear, handed down through generations, it is still the most enduring investment.
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was at a board of ag meeting Monday and Tuesday. Controlling cheat grass is cheaper to increase production rather then buying new land. One produce showed 66% cheat grass after control and 4 years later they had an 88% grass cover and only 4% cheat grass
 
jodywy said:
was at a board of ag meeting Monday and Tuesday. Controlling cheat grass is cheaper to increase production rather then buying new land. One produce showed 66% cheat grass after control and 4 years later they had an 88% grass cover and only 4% cheat grass
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What did they do to control cheatgrass? That would be a good thing to know.
 
Faster horses said:
I'm reading a book right now about a family ranch that has survived through the years and is still owned by the descendants of the original founder. It's called "My Ranch Too" by Mary Budd Flitner. It tells the story of them ranching through the years starting at the very beginning, 1878, up to the current times. I haven't read it all
yet, but she talks about how difficult succession was. "You can run this ranch like you want, after we are dead,
but we aren't dead yet."
Click to expand...
That reminds me of a rather large family ranch that was owned by two brothers (one deceased). The one living brother was a drunk that was always fighting with his son. The deceased brothers part was inherited by his mean, disrespectful, and cocky 19 year old son that hated his drunken uncle.

After the drunk had hostile words with his son, saying you can do as you like when I am dead, he pulled out onto the highway and was killed when a milk truck with tank trailer hit him. Nary a drop was spilled.

I will never forget what the cocky nephew said after looking over the scene.

"At least we won't be crying over spilt milk."

That was 60 years ago and I still don't know if I should laugh or cry. I have never said to anyone that they can do as they like after I am dead. Not even "over my dead body" is in my repertoire.
 
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DosArroyos said:
Sold every head I had except my eating steer last week.88 pairs,4 bulls,and 9 replacement heifers.The young fellow that bought them is going to lease all my places and some of the places that I was leasing.After a little transition time,that I told him I would help him get familiar with all of the cattle and my farms,then I'm going to take some time to do a few trips with my Wife and a few other things.Can't believe I pulled the trigger on this,but it happened.The crying is not over yet,but I can feel myself already getting used to it.
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I am 79. The wife and I shed some tears just today because we can see we need to, but neither wants to. I always figured if I couldn't help one, I would just lose it. That don't work. We about killed ourselves loading a 100 pound calf in the pickup. It was fun putting this outfit together, but it sure is hard to let it go.
DosArroyos said:
Sold every head I had except my eating steer last week.88 pairs,4 bulls,and 9 replacement heifers.The young fellow that bought them is going to lease all my places and some of the places that I was leasing.After a little transition time,that I told him I would help him get familiar with all of the cattle and my farms,then I'm going to take some time to do a few trips with my Wife and a few other things.Can't believe I pulled the trigger on this,but it happened.The crying is not over yet,but I can feel myself already getting used to it.
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Shortgrass, I hear you. Ranching isn't just about making a living, it's about making a life. It's your
life's work. Mr FH has no hobbies, he gave his life to the ranch. He doesn't care for people in a bunch
(to him 3is a bunch 🤣) so he preferred keeping busy ranching. Where we are now he keeps everything
in tip-top shape and he puts up a little hay every year. He will be 81 July 4th. He's happy because he
has something to do every day. If not, I don't know if he would still be here.
So we Thank the Lord.

May you have a blessed Easter!!
 
Maybe with that comb, he is crossing the road to donate to the Synvic bank.

491998586_1214182510714169_9088062129707245388_n.jpg
 
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