Part of the S&K Farm calf gang was in high spirits recently. They are growing like weeds and loving the good weather!
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Friday, April 17, 2015
Monday, March 23, 2015
The S&K Calves Gang...
The S&K Calves Gang is accepting new members! Current enrollment is up to 13 with more joining daily. It's such a pleasure to watch all the cavorting in the field. The young ladies and lads are loving the warm weather and have running down to a fine art. Farmer S and Farmer K have had the fun of wrestling a few of the calves. It sure is startling when a calf bawls for mama and objects to being handled. But at this point, Farmer S and Farmer K have the hang of holding on despite the bawling! Thus far, 4 of the gang have received their ear tags. Hopefully Farmer S and Farmer K can catch the rest before they get too big and too quick. Stay tuned for more! If you need more of a fix of cute, cuddly calf pictures, check out our Facebook page.
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Everyone has a job...
Today while Farmer K was doing her CPA job and Farmer S was off earning his paycheck, #54 went to work and did her job. Calf #2 has arrived on S&K Farm! Mom and baby have spent the afternoon bonding and resting from the birthing process. It's hard to enter the world but we're glad Calf #2 is here. Based on the looks of the other ladies, we might have more tomorrow!
Monday, March 2, 2015
One Down...62 to go!
Today on S&K Farm Mother Nature proved once again that she is unpredictable. For several weeks the hot topic of discussion on the farm has been which cow would have a calf first. Several contenders have been solidly in the top 10. Heifer #18 never even entered the race to be first. However, as of approximately 3 PM today, #18 took the prize and delivered a healthy, baby bull calf. She is already showing off her mothering skills quite well!
Enjoy the videos below as we wait for more to arrive!
Saturday, February 21, 2015
Bound to happen...
Some say nothing in life is certain except for death and taxes. Well on the farm, there are other certainties in life...and two of them occurred in the past 48 hours.
Certainty #1 - Frozen water lines.
Thanks to the frigid temperatures we've been experiencing in the area, water lines in our watering system froze. However, we've been down this road before and have just the tools on hand to make sure the herd has plenty of water. After some carburetor cleaning, the trusty water pump fired up and filled up a few temporary tanks for the herd. The cows were mildly grateful. However, they had previously found the little spring in the field so they were only mildly interested in the new tanks. With the calves expecting to drop any day now, we want to make sure there is a plentiful water supply to keep the cows hydrating and producing milk. Milk does a body good - especially calves!
Certainty #2 - Escapees!!!!!
It's a well known fact as soon as you turn cows into a new field, they will walk the fence line learning their new boundaries. After they learn their boundaries, they do what cows do...test their boundaries and plan their escape routes. Upon arriving at the farm today to deal with certainty #1, the first thing we noticed is that we had three escapees. Thank goodness our cows are food motivated! After some coaxing with food and a bit of herding, the escapees were eventually convinced to return to their correct field with their herd mates. Based on the evidence, it appears the three rouges had company at some point this week. But fences have now been mended so the herd will have to plan a new escape route for next time. Tune in for more to see if they succeed!
Some tips for when on the farm....
Some tips for when on the farm....
Brought to you by the Master Beef Producer of S&K Farm.
1. Carhartt!!!!!
2. Insulated Muck boots!!!!
3. Never let the boss lady and retired farm hand go out of town at the same time. This is when mother nature unleashes her fury or something else happens.
4. Must have a AWD SUV/hay hauler/farm supply vehicle.
5. Step in warm brown stuff (smell of money to a farmer)? Just keep walking for It'll come off sometimes and if it doesn't the livestock may just think you are one of them.
6. Waving your arms, jumping, and screaming like a crazy person may not be accepted in public but on S&K farm it keeps the cows at bay sometimes.
7. Close all gates!!!!
8. Move faster when bringing hay into a field on a tractor.
9. Have cows that come running to you when you bring hay.
10. Make sure you follow tip #7 or you will have cows wander to another field.
11. Do not have cows that follow you as you try to do tip #7.
12. Have cows that will follow a rolling hay bale down a hill. This will help make them come back to the field they belong in.
13. Have a hammer on the tractor at all times. Breaks ice, gets things working, or see tip #14.
14. Use tip #13 so you can break a frozen layer on round bale to roll down the hill.
15. Move quickly to break the frozen layer on the hay bale or the cows will help you roll it before you are ready.
16. Cardio!!! This helps when you now have to roll the round bale because you didn't follow tip #15.
17. Have all the animals you own in one location. This prevents you having 4 different stops through 2 counties and getting home way after dark.
18. Tractor with a enclosed cab. Heat and air optional.
19. Never think that you can visit your farm or someone else's farm and not have anything to do while you are there. Say something or stand around too long and you'll be working.
20. Brakes on a tractor that work.
21. A good seat on the tractor for long hours cutting hay.
22. Stay alert around your animals. Nothing like not realizing you 5 cows breathing on you as you try to roll out the round bale they pushed for you.
23. Head lamp for night. This frees up your hands to wave around like a crazy person, push a round bale or close a gate in a hurry.
24. Saying the phrase "Oh s**t!" seems to help stop or turn the tractor in snow or mud. Also your rectum tightening up can help even more.
25. Gloves. Always have a pair in every vehicle you own, don't ever think one pair is all you need or that you'll never lose them. There is the putting up hay gloves, tractor driving gloves, warm gloves, super warm gloves, holes in the fingers glove and the mismatched gloves.
26. Cows are sometimes smart until you need them to do what you want. Then they are stupidest animals on earth.
27. Don't get to attached to your cows. They one day maybe cooking on your grill.
28. It is ok to name your cow you are going to eat. Example we name ours Beef (Beef III is currently beefing up in the field).This way you can brag to your friends on who they are eating.
2. Insulated Muck boots!!!!
3. Never let the boss lady and retired farm hand go out of town at the same time. This is when mother nature unleashes her fury or something else happens.
4. Must have a AWD SUV/hay hauler/farm supply vehicle.
5. Step in warm brown stuff (smell of money to a farmer)? Just keep walking for It'll come off sometimes and if it doesn't the livestock may just think you are one of them.
6. Waving your arms, jumping, and screaming like a crazy person may not be accepted in public but on S&K farm it keeps the cows at bay sometimes.
7. Close all gates!!!!
8. Move faster when bringing hay into a field on a tractor.
9. Have cows that come running to you when you bring hay.
10. Make sure you follow tip #7 or you will have cows wander to another field.
11. Do not have cows that follow you as you try to do tip #7.
12. Have cows that will follow a rolling hay bale down a hill. This will help make them come back to the field they belong in.
13. Have a hammer on the tractor at all times. Breaks ice, gets things working, or see tip #14.
14. Use tip #13 so you can break a frozen layer on round bale to roll down the hill.
15. Move quickly to break the frozen layer on the hay bale or the cows will help you roll it before you are ready.
16. Cardio!!! This helps when you now have to roll the round bale because you didn't follow tip #15.
17. Have all the animals you own in one location. This prevents you having 4 different stops through 2 counties and getting home way after dark.
18. Tractor with a enclosed cab. Heat and air optional.
19. Never think that you can visit your farm or someone else's farm and not have anything to do while you are there. Say something or stand around too long and you'll be working.
20. Brakes on a tractor that work.
21. A good seat on the tractor for long hours cutting hay.
22. Stay alert around your animals. Nothing like not realizing you 5 cows breathing on you as you try to roll out the round bale they pushed for you.
23. Head lamp for night. This frees up your hands to wave around like a crazy person, push a round bale or close a gate in a hurry.
24. Saying the phrase "Oh s**t!" seems to help stop or turn the tractor in snow or mud. Also your rectum tightening up can help even more.
25. Gloves. Always have a pair in every vehicle you own, don't ever think one pair is all you need or that you'll never lose them. There is the putting up hay gloves, tractor driving gloves, warm gloves, super warm gloves, holes in the fingers glove and the mismatched gloves.
26. Cows are sometimes smart until you need them to do what you want. Then they are stupidest animals on earth.
27. Don't get to attached to your cows. They one day maybe cooking on your grill.
28. It is ok to name your cow you are going to eat. Example we name ours Beef (Beef III is currently beefing up in the field).This way you can brag to your friends on who they are eating.
Stayed tuned for more tips for the farm from the Master Beef Producer at S&K Farm.
Another day at the other office...
Another day at the other office. You have the equipment to provide material for the workers,
the workers waiting for the materials to do their job,
then we have a couple of slackers who get paid for standing around
and finally the proper attire the boss man wears for the office.
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