Kansas

I love the fact that a 3 oz. serving of lean beef provides 48% of the Daily Value for protein in 150 calories. Studies I have read have shown that protein can help maintain a healthy weight, build muscle and fuel physical activity, which I need to keep up with my kids and their activities. It makes me feel fuller longer and satisfies my cravings faster!

Tags: Beef, Cattle, Family Farms, Food Production, Grilling, hamburger, healthy lifestyle, lean beef, Kansas, May is Beef Month, Nutrition, Ranch, Steak

Our calves, which range from three months to three days old, will be transported to grass pastures in the Kansas Flint Hills alongside their mothers in starting April 15. The mother-baby pairs will graze through the spring and summer months. The calves will return to our farm weighing close to 500 pounds and the mothers will, hopefully, return pregnant with their next calf.

 

My husband and his father are responsible for a large portion of the trucking duties, spending days on the road moving cattle from our farm to pastures we have leased for the spring and summer months.

 

While the cattle may be out of sight for the summer, they are never out of mind, as we travel frequently to check on them and ensure they are getting the minerals and nutrients needed to thrive.

 

In the midst of all the cattle duties, we also must be present in the field, preparing the soil for fall crops and planting corn on hundreds of acres. And this year, April will be extra, extra hectic as we prepare for the arrival of our first child. The official due date is May 1 but we have a nursery to arrange, a crib to assemble and doctor appointments to attend before “Bull” arrives.

 

April is guaranteed to be a hectic but enjoyable month with several busy days and a lengthy to-do list but it’s all part of life on our family farm.

 

Tags: Animal Welfare, Beef, Cattle, Cowboy, Family Farms, Farmers, Food Production, Kansas, Ranch

Lately, I have been tremendously proud of several beef farmers around the state for stepping up to the plate and telling their beef stories. In fact, Kassie did a great job on the last post highlighting all that the Peterson Farm Bros have been up to lately, including the launch of their new mini-series.

But look out; they might have some competition down the road. Check out the latest parody video – Ranching Awesome! A spin on Thriftshop by Macklemore; posted this week by Klingenberg Farms.

This video is hilarious. It’s ranching and it’s Awesome! Word of caution…be prepared to laugh. Not only is the video comical, it packs a punch in terms of information about their ranch. The video  gives viewers an inside look to everything from different cuts of meat, nutrition aspects such as Omega-3’s,  the importance of prescribed pasture burning and so much more! But I’ll let you see for yourself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRXyqHMK4Tg

What do you think makes ranching so awesome?

Kiley

Tags: Beef, Cowboy, Cattle, Animal Welfare, Family Farms, Food Production, Kansas, Ranch

The month of February has seen much more moisture than we have seen in a long time in Kansas. While this most recent snowfall that covered the state brings much-needed moisture, it has also caused ranchers to go above and beyond the call of duty to care for their land and livestock. Even when it is freezing cold and many people are wrapped up in a blanket on the couch, ranchers sacrifice to do whatever they have to do to care for their animals in the snow, ice, sleet, and rain in these cold temperatures. Keeping their cattle healthy is the top priority throughout the year, but during winter storms it takes even more effort from the ranchers to ensure the warmth, safety, and health of their animals.

Tags: Animal Welfare, Beef, Cattle, Cowboy, Family Farms, Farmers, Food Production, Kansas, Ranch

 

Tags: Animal Welfare, Beef, Cattle, Cowboy, Family Farms, Farmers, Food Production, Kansas, Ranch

 

This commercial hit me hard, and I’m certainly not one to be influenced by commercials on during a sporting event. But, Paul Harvey holds a special place in my heart, as my family listened to him on the radio every morning and every lunch hour. During these lunches we weren’t allowed to speak, as my dad needed to know what was happening in agriculture (the markets, the weather, the bean crop in Argentina, etc.) But, I was probably too busy eating my peanut butter and jelly sandwich with the crusts cut off to even notice then.

 

Now, I watch my dad work hard everyday - finishing his 40-hour week during planting and harvest on Tuesday.

 

I am applauding Dodge, and I am mostly applauding the American public for welcoming this message – without anything degrading, vulgar or sarcastic in the dialogue. We, the American farmers are very hard working, and thank you Dodge for acknowledging that with a $4 million dollar commercial.

 

On top of it, the imagery used in the commercial is beautiful.

 

This blog from NPR encourages conversation on the commercial, and I have read some of the comments. http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2013/02/04/171056911/-god-made-a-farmer-and-the-super-bowl-made-him-a-star Here is your chance to stand up to agriculture, again.

 

Until next time,

Robin

Tags: Beef, Cattle, Cowboy, Family Farms, Farmers, Food Production, Kansas, Ranch

For many, the countdown to Christmas is in full force in homes throughout the community and every family has their own traditions that they share with one another during this special holiday. Today I thought I would take a moment to share a little about my favorite family tradition.

My parents have raised their kids much like their parents raised themselves; on a family farm. But in order for my parents to carry on this family tradition, they are dedicated to leaving the environment in better shape for my brother and I. Cattle farmers take extra steps to accomplish environmental goals such as preventing erosion and conserving water. My family does our part to protect our land and improve the environment all while providing food for families.

Caring for cattle is our family tradition and a commitment handed down from generation to generation. Raising cattle is not just a “job” to us, it’s our livelihood and defines the way we live our life. Even as early as I learned to sing my ABC’s or tie my shoes, I learned what it meant when my father would say “we don’t eat until all the cows have ate.”  That might have made us a few minutes late to the big family get-to-together, but what my parents were teaching us was the value of respect, responsibility and the act of giving, especially during the Christmas season. And what about Christmas morning after Santa had stopped? We patiently wait until all the chores were done before we could open our presents that sat under our live, usually straight out of our pasture…Christmas tree.

A lot of things will change over the years. Our family will grow and new traditions will be introduced. But one very important tradition will always remain the same. The pride and dedication we feel for our family farm when it comes to providing delicious, wholesome beef that feeds not just our family, but yours this holiday season.

Season’s Greetings.

Kiley

Tags: Beef, Cattle, Family Farms, Kansas, Nutrition, Ranch

 

While this picture was clearly taken in the summer months, we hope to have more happy, healthy calves like this born this winter!

 

Snow is on its way to Kansas, so please say a little prayer that all the farmers, ranchers and livestock survive the holiday season, as well as you on your travels to places near and far.

 

Cheers,

Robin

Tags: Beef, Cattle, Family Farms, Food Production, Kansas, Ranch, Animal Welfare

October is National Farm to School Month and the Beef Checkoff is partnering with the initiative to celebrate “Explore Beef” theme day on October 30.

 

The Farm to School Network connects school-age children (5-18) with local farms to talk about healthy cafeteria meals, agriculture education opportunities and support for local/regional farmers.

On October 30, the Beef Checkoff encourages farmers and ranchers to speak to classrooms, or direct teachers to the Beef. It’s What’s for Dinner website or the Cow-Chow interactive game to teach them about what cattle eat.

 Kansas rancher Debbie Lyons-Blythe was quoted in a recent press release, “It’s a great way to answer specific questions about how cattle are raised, explain how cattlemen and women care for the environment, and connect those who are interested in learning more about the families who raise beef.”

 

For more information please contact the Farm to School Network Kansas liaison, Barb Depew,
785-456-7388 or
bdepew@ksde.org.

So here cattle lovers, here’s your chance to give back to your local community.

Best,
Robin

Tags: Beef, Cattle, Family Farms, Farmers, Food Production, Kansas, Ranch

"Are you still in a drought?", asked my brother from New York.  He trades commodities.  You'd think he'd know. 

Yes, we are still in a drought was my reply.  I guess this goes to show the disconnect the rest of the world seems to have from agriculture.  It's nobody's fault.  Modern day farmers and ranchers are like the janitor.  You never see the faucet get fixed because he's on it before anyone notices it's broken.  That's the pro-active approach you have to take to survive in ranching.  You never know what kind of curve ball you're gonna get.  Today it's the weather.  Tomorrow it will be political.  You just got to have a plan B, and sometimes C, D, and E.

For the last two weeks we have been on plan B.  Plan B means a lot of horse back time, so I'm liking plan B.  First we sorted the heavy steers.  These are steers we would normally keep and send to a feedlot sometime in December.  Plan B involves them leaving yesterday.  And when I say yesterday, I meant last Monday.  Feed was double this year on account of a poor harvest, so it was cheaper to have someone else feed them.

Next, we sorted off the heifer (Female) calves that we want to keep.  This is what we did for the last couple days.  Tomorrow we will vaccinate them, getting them ready to go to another feedlot in Iowa this coming Monday.  Once again feed cost is the reason they are leaving at all.  Normally we winter the heifers here at the ranch.  This year they are going now and coming back in the Spring.  A little winter get away if you will.

After the truck leaves Monday we will gather the remaining calves that were a little too light for us, and take them to the local salebarn, where they will have a new home...permanently.

The boss says we're just getting rid of work, but if that's true, then it's a lot of work to get rid of so much work.  I just hope we get some rain so plans C,D, and E can go move somewhere else.

Tags: Beef, Cattle, Cowboy, Family Farms, Farmers, Food Production, Kansas, Ranch