Ohh, what a difference a year makes

This time last year, we stood in the middle of the pasture watching the sun bake the grass into a crunchy, brown, dead state. The drought came on fast and was devastating, especially for cattlemen with herds much larger than ours.

In 2023, we set out to hay our own fields for the first time. We were told to expect 60 to 70 bales of hay off the 30 acres. Thanks to the drought, we got 27. The fields weren’t the only thing affected. The garden yielded some tomatoes and zucchinis; but, we couldn’t get a cucumber, green bean, or pepper plant to survive. The drought also contributed to the loss of our first two bee colonies.

But as with everything, what a difference a year makes. The first cut of this year’s hay season yielded a little more than 200 bales. The garden is growing cucumbers faster than we can preserve them. The green bean and pepper plants have yet to fruit, but are thriving, showing promising signs of growth with vibrant green leaves reaching towards the sun. And, fingers crossed, two new honey bee colonies are storing honey and looking strong, contributing to the buzzing activity in the hives as they prepare for the upcoming months.

The ranch feels more alive than ever, with the comforting sounds of contented, not hungry, livestock. Ranching is one ongoing experiment. What worked one year may not be suitable the next. But, we learn something new every day – which sure makes things exciting.