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Rancher’s Diary

heather smith thomas with a beef cow
Cattleman’s Corner, Columns, Rancher’s Diary

It’s been a wonderful visit

For years we've shared our lives with Grainews readers and they've done the same with us

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This will be my final Rancher’s Diary column. I was recently informed that with the current business changes at Grainews, my column will no longer be published, but I was graciously given the chance to say goodbye to my readers — many of whom have become personal friends over the years. I first became aware […] Read more
Cattleman’s Corner, Columns, Rancher’s Diary

Making a wish list of bulls for next breeding season

There are always several late fall projects to complete before the ground freezes

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October 20 Last week we moved the cows to the lower back field to join the heifers They can all graze there a few weeks. We checked the temporary fence around the deep gully — to make sure it was still secure enough to keep cows out of that gully. It’s so deep and narrow […] Read more
Granddaughter Emily and her new husband, AJ, pose with Christopher for a family photo following their wedding on a lovely September afternoon.
Cattleman’s Corner, Rancher’s Diary

Great gathering for granddaughter’s wedding

Rancher's Diary: Firewood pile is ready for the winter ahead

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September 7 Last week we moved some big bales in our upper stack that was leaning over into the bushes toward the creek. We stacked them on the end of the smaller stack, reconfigured the black plastic covering and put deer mesh around them to keep the deer out. Emily’s wedding was Friday — marrying […] Read more
Haying season gets underway, a tribute to a great-granddaughter
Cattleman’s Corner, Rancher’s Diary

Haying season gets underway, a tribute to a great-granddaughter

Warranty was applied to replace a bull bought last year

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June 20 Two weeks ago, after the doctor here checked Dani’s baby, they were sent to Community Hospital in Missoula to be checked and monitored overnight (see ‘Tribute’ at bottom). Ammarie was doing better by next day so Andrea brought them home. Later that week we had a vet look at Barney, our new bull. […] Read more
As brush and old buildings were cleared for new fencing and more pasture, it was necessary to pull this old 1960 Ford tractor out of the way. It had been parked near the old tack-room for nearly 35 years.
Cattleman’s Corner, Rancher’s Diary

Cold temps slow fencing and yard cleanup

There were a few antique treasures in the old sheds, and also some junk

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February 21 This past week has been bitterly cold. On Valentine’s Day we had a snowstorm and nasty wind. We decided to move the big bulls to the main corral sooner than planned since they refused to drink the water coming through their pen. It’s murky and probably bad-tasting after the waterway was rechannelled through […] Read more
Veterinarian Dr. Cope who was just at the Thomas ranch this fall doing ultrasound preg checking has died after serving  his clients for some 44 years. Although in failing health he remained active until the end.
Cattleman’s Corner, Rancher’s Diary

Community mourns the loss of a longtime veterinarian

Rancher’s Diary: Dr. Cope served his clients for 44 years, working right up until he died

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December 26 Last week I added a short pole to the little bulls’ feeder to divide the space where one of the upright bars is missing, so they can’t climb into it. I went to the dentist late that afternoon to have a broken tooth prepped for a crown and the dentist put a temporary […] Read more
On one of the warmer days (above freezing) it was an opportunity to vaccinate the bred heifers with the first scour vaccine so they could have a booster shot before calving. Charlie and Dani ran the head catch and the tailgate and squeeze.
Cattleman’s Corner, Rancher’s Diary

Winter conditions made it difficult to travel

Snow and cold weather for trips to buy bulls and pick up a mini excavator

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November 26 Last Thursday morning it was snowing hard. Michael called to tell us he was worried about Andrea and me trying to take our trailer to the bull sale Montana the next day. We’d have to chain up the truck and trailer to make it over two of the passes. We realized another problem […] Read more

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