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| Doug, I think you was asking for my resume however you didn't respond as to which business you were asking about. I grew up in a western range sheep operation where sheep were trailed to pasture and also trucked to summer and winter ranges. Sheep were shed lambed in-between those grazing seasons. Who was ever herding lived in a sheep camp or wall tent depending on the location. We also ran a small amount of Hereford beef cows during that era.
Then went to college, where I never let my education get in the way of my schooling. Managed to get two degrees in five years while being on the dean's list several times during my tenure there. For those that know me really well, the dean and I was on a first name basis. Let's just say he damn well wouldn't let me date his daughter! But I was ok to rebuild his manure spreader when he blew it up.
During that time, I worked in ag equipment business that specialized in farm equipment that weighed heavy in the dairy sector. Got versed in ag baggers, choppers, round balers and other hay equipment. However, I seemed to get quite an education in feed mixers and manure spreaders during my stint there. It helped support my second hobby of dancing and partying and partaking of barley pop while in college.
During that time, I met the love of my life. A cute blonde that loved the ranching and farming lifestyle. However, we married, and I stayed in the equipment business working my way from twisting wrenches to selling in three states wholesale and retail for the same great dealer that took me under their wing. During that time my wife's family reached a point no one to take it over as all daughters, father-in-law had health problems. Wife asked me to take a look at it. So, we moved back and worked for wages, then was able to purchase the farm and dairy and beef cattle operation.
We put our heart and soul into the operation, 24/7. My wife also worked off farm in corporate industry. Infact she's still there going on 38 years with them. We raised three of the best hard-working sons that also put their souls into the operation. From farming high desert punk ground, to milking cows and running a beef operation. This isn't farm ground, but it's all we got. Same with our rangelands, people come to visit, and they are very willing to get back home and count their blessing with their green grass operations.
Also, during that time I felt I had to support our industry in dairy and beef. I was shoved into every position available for free to support the industry. Wearing out a couple of trucks driving to meetings, also spent my required time in civic positions during that tenure. My biggest regret was my sons had to pick up my slack and all the time I never had with my family. My saint of a wife picked up the slack and made sure sons made it to every sporting event to FFA event.
Fast forward to current times I sold milk cows in 2019' It had come to the point only two producers on the tanker on this route. The other one wanted to get bigger. My sons didn't want to milk and at my age it wasn't smart to take debit on to do another barn remodel and double herd size. So, I had a choice to make in less than two weeks, it was never talked about quitting before that date. So, we bowed out and sold our cows. I was the last dairy in the county left in fact for 12 years prior. I spent 30 years in dairy. Little side note the producer I bowed out to on that load just sold out this summer.
That's way I'm this early in morning typing this. My internal clock is forever messed up having to start milking cows at 1 a.m. to have milk cooled for tanker at 4 a.m. pickup. But that schedule fits us because it allowed us to fit in irrigation schedule because we flood irrigated.
Edited by Russ In Idaho 11/19/2024 03:28
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Post Weaning Calves - Confinement vs Pasture
