Ranch Raised

I was looking around my garden beds yesterday and the word “heritage” struck me. The older I get, the more appreciation I have for heritage and legacy. I can even recognize those qualities in the plants I see this time of year.

Welcome to “Psycho Spring” here on Ranch Raised! It is the farm and ranch season of life where we need 40 hours in a day and 10 days in a week to get everything done!

The girls and I broke away for a day to step outside of their comfort zone and into a new arena to do something they have never done before. They competed in their first ever JABGA and ABGA goat shows. That stands for American Boer Goat Assocation.

As the head cook in the house, this also means that I am basically the family nutritionist. I know that I need to place the majority of my focus on whole foods that pack a nutritional punch. I can always count on beef to be that powerful protein source that is amazing for the growing brains and bodies around my table!

We’ve got a bad case of spring itch and I’m not talking about the cows! I don’t know about you, but I have some kids that are just itchin’ to get out of school. I’m pretty sure they are squirming in their seats, gazing out of the windows, with no mind on reading and ‘rithmatic.

Speaking of spring to do list, I want to talk about a product that is always a part of our spring calf vaccination protocol and also the exclusive sponsor of Ranch Raised during the month of May. Which is pretty fitting during “Beef Month”!

What comes after Mother’s Day?????
Thanks for tuning into Ranch Raised! Everyone knows that after Mother’s Day comes Father’s Day. Today is Father’s Day at the Jones Ranch, I mean fertility testing day. The day when we see who will be a father to the next generation of ranch calves and who fails the test.

So, yesterday was nationally known as Mother’s Day, but to most of us who ranch, it was more commonly kept as just another spring Sunday. I have honestly never been the celebratory type, so keeping the day regular and checking off the spring to do list, along side of my family, probably brings me the greatest satisfaction.

Welcome to our first Fun, Fact Friday in May. By now I think I have made it clear that I dedicate Friday’s to giving you fun, facts about certain whole food items in your grocery and promoting American agriculture. During the month of May, I am putting that concept into hyper drive and plan to use Fridays to talk about the food commodity that is the foundation of my existence, cattle which translates to beef.

I know I am behind my usual schedule for my garden. By now I usually have all my root crops in and my cool season greens. And frankly, the April wind left me battered and beaten and honestly avoiding working in my garden. But, the spring moisture has finally arrived and this damp crisp air has me invigorated to lay in garden rows of cool season crops like radishes, greens and root crops.