Life on the Ranch, North Dakota

Prairie Clover Ranch, North Dakota
Farmer Chit Chat
Another Hay Field Baled
Cowgirl Trish Checking on Cattle

A few weeks ago we attended the State Fair in Minot. We were wandering through the cattle barn (the livestock is our favourite part) and starting chatting to some youths there about the different breeds they had. As we were leaving, the owner of the cattle approached us and asked if he could answer any questions...as soon as he heard our accent, he metioned he had an Aussie wife - she was born in Tassie like Murray. So then he rang her on her mobile and she joined us. Turn out they manage a 4000 acre ranch running 600 head of cattle and lots of hay fields (to sustain the cattle during winter when they are in the barn). Before we knew it, we had arranged to drop in on them for a day or so to get a bird's eye view of life on their ranch.

Two days ago we left Lake Audubon, sadly saying goodbye to Avalyn & Wes, and drove about 2 hours to reach the Prairie Clover Ranch. Almost in the centre of North Dakota. We parked on a lovely grassy spot and connected to a power box. Very convenient. Our hosts, Amanda & Clint have 4 delightful daughters aged 3 - 12 - very entertaining to say the least. The two older girls are so capable around the farm, and have their own animals they care for - bulls, heifers and sheep. To be able to show them, they have to provide 99% of the day to day care. You ought to see them driving around in ATV's carting grain etc. They constantly amaze me.

On the first night, our hosts had invited some of their farming neighbours over for a BBQ. Apparently once a week, they have this BBQ after which the guys (about 10 of them) practice roping steers in the big corral by the house from 7pm till midnight (they have big floodlights after dark), and the women have seats and chat on the fenceline watching the roping, while the kids play around them and take turns riding with someone on the horses. It was very entertaining for us city folk.

The next day Murray learnt a real lot about hay farming...driving around Idaho, Montana and North Dakota, especially at this time of the year, we often see hay harvested and baled. We have stopped to chat to farmers and asked questions about the process and the machinery. Well, being here on the Ranch in the middle of this busy season, an extra pair of hands (Murray's) was put to work. He was out in the field all day yesterday and got to drive the tractor and hay baler. After they baled 100 bales and finished one field, they moved to another field and started mowing the ripe crop. They returned today to finish the mowing, and then it too will be ready for baling. Once that is completed, the big job will be to load the big round hay bales (automatically secured with string during the baling process) onto trucks and stack them in the barn. It is stored as winter feed for the cattle. The weather has been glorious, and kind to the farmers - what they don't need once the grain is ripe, is to have any rain as the hay needs to be cut and baled while it is dry. When Amanda takes the lunches out to the field today, Murray will get a lift back with her, and we will continue on towards Minnesota. Our two days here experiencing ranch life has been very enjoyable. Amanda and the girls here are very crafty, so I am about to go up to the house and be shown how to make a dreamcatcher. More about them in the next blog...