As the sun rises over Ogilvie Stock Ranch in June, the air is still cool, but the promise of a hot day lingers. With drought conditions impacting our pastures, this day begins with an essential task: checking on our cows and ensuring they have adequate water. My day, like every other day, is a blend of ranch duties, parenting, and lessons learned.
Our first stop is a leased pasture, where we make our way to check on the cows and calves. The boys sprint up the steep climb to the water source. Meanwhile, I’m carrying the baby in a backpack, soaking in the beauty of the landscape and the determination of the boys. We find one cow who is a bit lame with swelling in her front foot, and another, who may be walking slightly off. We make a note that we will need to keep a close eye on them over the next couple days.
After our early morning trek, we return for breakfast, a much-needed refuel before starting the next tasks. The boys feed their steers and settle one steer in the barn under a fan to keep him cool.
Next up is checking another leased pasture, where we must haul water to each day. The boys have fun playing in the water trough as the water fills from our tank in the truck.
Afterward, we tackle the sheep fence.I find it easiest to move the sheep fence when we move the sheep so that the sheep aren’t wanting to push on the fence to get more grass. If they are in a new pasture, they are content and not worrying about me moving fences close to them.
Now that the morning chores are finished, it’s time to finish up some homeschool assignments for the boys. It’s hard to believe the school year is almost over! Between math and reading, we take breaks to cut the lawn and enjoy the sunshine.
Amidst it all, I have a Canadian Junior Hereford Association zoom meeting in the late afternoon while the boys play outside. Once the meeting wraps up, we make our way to check the cows in the back quarter. The two show heifers need turning out to their summer pasture, so we turn them out with the cows nearby. After the boys show early in June, we kept them in for a bit to make sure they were healthy.
As evening arrives, I made dinner while the boys fed for their steers again and turned the one steer out of the barn for the night.
Every day on the ranch is filled with hard work, lessons, and family. As we adapt to the challenges of drought, I know we’re not just sustaining our livelihood—we’re creating memories. Here’s to more days of adventure at Ogilvie Stock Ranch!
