July is usually one of our busiest months on the ranch, but this year the drought has added another layer of challenges to every day. From moving cattle to hauling water, nearly every decision revolves around finding enough grass and water to keep our cattle healthy.

Starting Before Sunrise

Today started early.

Before the heat settled in, we headed out to gather one of our groups of cows. The cooler morning temperatures make moving cattle much easier on both the animals and the people. Thankfully, the cows gathered well, and we were able to move them into a smaller pasture where we sorted off the boys’ show cattle so they could stay closer to home.

Once they were separated, we carefully checked every cow and calf off our list to make sure no one was missing. It’s a simple task that gives us peace of mind before starting a move.

Moving the Cow Herd

With everyone accounted for, we piled into the side-by-side and headed up the hill. My dad stayed with the cattle while I dropped off my mom and the boys at different locations where we needed people to help guide the herd. Once everyone was in position, I returned to let Dad know we were ready.

Slowly, we moved the cows about a mile up the road toward the lake. Once we reached the water, they naturally drifted into the bush, following trails. We continued moving them until they were through the gate, next to their water source and settled into their new pasture.

Then it was time to head back down the hill.

Fresh Grass for the Show Cattle

The boys’ show cattle were waiting for their turn. We moved them into a fresh pasture with new grass as well.

Hauling Water During a Drought

Back at home, the work shifted from moving cattle to hauling water.

This has become one of our biggest jobs this summer. Many of our local water sources are drying up, and the pastures are becoming brown far earlier than normal. We’re hauling water to several groups of cattle just to ensure they have enough to drink. It’s a little unsettling to realize we’re only at the beginning of July.

Between water loads, we grabbed a quick lunch before tackling another project.

Grazing Around the House

We moved one of the boys’ show cows and her calf into a small pasture beside the house. With everything so dry, we decided we wanted her to help graze down the tall grass around our yard and reduce some of the fire hazard. Earlier in the week, we’d installed temporary electric fence, so today we simply set up the energizer and ground rod before letting them in.

Everything went smoothly…except for one small adventure.

The calf managed to sneak through the electric fence once. After a quick lesson from the wire, he decided escaping wasn’t nearly as good of an idea as he’d first thought and then stayed where he belonged.

When Ranch Plans Suddenly Change

Just when we thought we were getting caught up for the day, another surprise arrived.

One of the boys and my dad had been hauling water to another pasture when they discovered our bull was missing. It didn’t take long to find the problem—a section of fence had been destroyed, and he had wandered into the neighbours’ pasture where a group of heifers had caught his attention.

That quickly changed our evening plans.

They headed home for fencing supplies and we all returned to repair the fence. We spoke to the neighbour and we’ll bring him home the next time he visits the neighbours’ corral for water. One of the benefits from this surprise was the beautiful view while fixing the fence.

Ending Another Busy Day

As the day wound down, there were still evening chores to finish. We moved the cow and calf beside the house back into the barnyard for the night, finally sat down to enjoy a supper of homemade meatballs, and ended the day with much-needed showers. After spending time in the side-by-side, the dust this summer seems to work its way into absolutely everything.

Days like today are exhausting, but they’re also incredibly rewarding. Every day brings a new list of jobs, a few unexpected surprises, and plenty of problem-solving. This year, drought has made every task more urgent, from finding grass to hauling water and reducing fire risk around the ranch.

It’s not always easy, and there are certainly moments that test our patience, but caring for our cattle and this land is what we do. We take each day as it comes, solve the problems in front of us, and hope for the rain that the grass so desperately needs.

What does a typical July day look like where you live? I’d love to hear how summer keeps you busy, whether you’re ranching, farming, gardening, or simply enjoying the season.