keep feeding and take photos

John’s Farm News: 3nd Edition, February 12, 2021

All roads are go here as the frozen frost as literally evaporated, leaving only light snow flurries this evening which are non-threatening. 

The saga continues; lesson #3 was presented today as John worked for a short time to get the newborn headed toward the milk source. Once the little fella started sucking he held on tight. Impressive! At lunch, when I questioned John about today’s nursery experience, I found myself a student. John explained the young calf will develop dependency on him so the time has come to forego the milking and bottle feeding routine and teach him to be dependent on his mamma. Tomorrow I plan to attend lesson #4 and meet John’s #1 student.

Today the truck, loaded with hay and organic barley, ventured to the Gosney OK Centennial Farm, home of our red Angus herd. Using another pickup (it’s called photographer’s advantage) I followed John to the farm and today was a bonus. Blue birds were taking refuge at the road’s edge alongside cedar trees. Feathered in royal blue with soft red breasts is it any wonder Blue Birds are perceived as a symbol of joy and happiness. 

Once in the pasture the cattle eagerly met us. A bale of alfalfa was rolled out, followed by a bale of grass hay and feeding was completed with organic barley offered. Talk about a chow line! A rewarding feeling sweeps over us when the livestock are satisfied, healthy and calm.

Pulling away this young calf posed as if to say “here I am, take my picture." Who could resist?

My thought was to hustle home to get a warm lunch prepared but a few sights caught my eye - Cheyenne Spirit, rising stately above the frozen plane 

and Cheyenne Creek, with trickling water in her bed. 

With such outrageously low temps expected, ice will become quite thick on ponds; John would prefer the cows avoid pond-walking/ice-skating but for them to do so they need a consistent water source. He spent the afternoon repairing a frozen pasture hydrant and relocating a stock tank; it was dark, with a wind chill of -6°, when my farmer pulled into the yard.