Happy New Year

I wanted to say happy new year to everyone today!!  I am getting ready to go finish up a little bit of work for the neighbor and then take a nap before the big snow storm hits tonight.  

Our herd check went awesome on Monday.  It was so much easier and we were able to go through all 31 head of cows and calves in 2 hours from start to finish.  Last year it took 2.75hrs to check 27.   I was also very excited to find that we have a 100% conception rate this year!!!!!  That is right, we will be having 14 new calves here on the farm as well as one in Montana this year.  My daughter's calf, Princess, will be having her first calf this year as well! 

As I was finishing up the last round of chores for 2013 I was thinking about what all we have accomplished throughout the last year as well as our losses this year.  We lost my grandfather this summer whom I have spent a lot of time with from the day I was born.  I have many fond memories of him and will always have them.  Just like when I have lost other family members in the past, something will happen that is great or we accomplish something that we have been working toward and my first thought is "wow, I can't wait to tell Grandpa".  Then reality sets in and I go through the summers events all over again in my head.  Sometimes I wish I could find a way to erase some of those memories but fear that if I ever did I would lose all the good ones that came with them.  So, instead I try to think of all the good times we had with those we love and how not to waste precious time with others in the future.  I try to make the most of every waking moment so I never have to look back and say "man I wish I hadn't wasted that time".  

This brings me to our accomplishments this year here on the farm.  We finally reached a milestone that I was looking forward to crossing at this time last year and have been planning toward since starting the beef portion of our farming business many years ago.  Our beef production is going to an entirely new level this year.  I have always wanted to have my own herd of cattle and I have finally achieved this.  We purchased two more Momma cows this year and with the heifers added that were born here on the farm we now have 14 breeding age cows and 3 more heifers were born this year bringing us to a total of 17 females.  I will be splitting the herd this summer for breeding purposes so I can breed all the younger stock to my full blooded Black Angus Bull Erica's Legacy, or as you all know him Legacy!  After summer is over I will put them all back together for the winter season for ease of feeding over the winter.  We had many bulls born this year which we steered during the herd check yesterday.  This will allow us to offer more beef for sale starting in 2015. 

 We also finally got my new cow shed / corral built short of having a roof.  It is so wonderful to be able to clean the barn without having to deal with mud!  Now if I can just get the roof done it will be perfect!.  

Our pork production portion of the farm is running smoothly now as well.  Now that I have solid numbers to work with to make decisions from I have reduced our sows down to the three best and sold the rest.  This allows me to produce my own piglets here on the farm and know where they came from and have the breeding I want as well as not have to worry about disease being brought here from elsewhere!  I also was able to concrete all the pig shed pens as well as a pad outside the shed to limit the mud and give them access to the waterer without having to go in the mud!

I am looking forward to growing our business to the next level starting today.  We have set some strong goals for the farm and I am pushing to reach them.  We want the farm to start paying for itself completely and pay me back for all the hard work and money we have put in it to get it going!  We are close....so very close.

I have so many things I would like to discuss tonight but I must keep moving if I am to sleep at all before the snow gets here.  Here is my final picture from 2013.  This made me think about how winter brings an ending and a new beginning.  It forces us to stop, think, asses, and change.  This is one good thing winter does.  You don't have a choice!  If you look into the pasture you see the results of last year as well as the potential next year holds!  Learn and move on.  When I look into my pasture I see all my mistakes and my successes right before me.  I wish everyone would look into their pasture and do the same.  Everyone has one they just need to know where to look and it may not always contain cows.  Mine has animals, equipment, two kids, a wife, and a family.

So, I wish everyone a wonderful new year and may you look into your pasture and be as happy as I am right now!

Happy New Year everyone!

Kenny