farm women | one_local_gal

The steers have gone to a cool place. Any reader familiar with this blog knows what that means. It is the hardest day for this PFO. There is little hope this day will ever get easy. They have been processed and delivered to the buyers. Buyers who have an interest in the quality of food they eat. They know the farmer. They know the farm.

“Are they grass-fed only?” The most asked question heard from interested buyers. “No, they are not.”

Are they grass-fed only?

What many folks do not realize is that cattle have a natural fear of man. Unlike dogs, cats, and other household pets, cattle have to be taught to feel comfortable around humans. The way this works for us is with feed. As I heard a cattleman say once, “Feed keeps the cattle humble.”

Cattle have to learn to feel comfortable around humans.

What does that mean? Here it means getting close to the cattle. This is of utmost importance to this PFO. They are visually checked daily for injuries, pests, and vital signs. Is their breathing normal, eyes bright, coat healthy looking and coming on nicely for cold weather? Do they have a good appetite? Are they interested in their surroundings?

Feed allows us to get close to them.

When they are trained to come to the feed call and beating of the feed bucket, they are willing to hang around we humans. If these steers were totally grass fed, I suppose we would need re-training on how to properly care for them. Until our steers are comfortable with us, they spend all their time in the woods and graze at the farthest points in the pasture. They bolt away should we get too close.

After learning to come in when called for feeding time there is a peacefulness to the day here with all the animals. They will hang around with the horses and chickens and feel far more at ease. This is the goal for us. Is there a more bucolic scene than cattle resting in grass chewing their cud? Well, do not answer that. Suppose we are cattle folks at heart!

Training does not take too long. A couple weeks going out into the field to bring them in quickly gives way to them coming when they hear our voices calling.

Our steers get plenty of fresh air and all the grass they can eat.

It does not take them long to learn the sound of the feed bucket.

Our goal here at the farm with our hand-raised steers is to give them plenty of fresh air, a place to run, and all the green grass they can eat, along with a little feed to keep them near us for the best of the best care for them. Right now, as I write this, the steers are out lying in the wet, wet grass peacefully chewing their cud…

Feed allows us to give the steers the best of best care.

Know the farmer. Know the farm.

Homemade is best.

PFO, Primary Farm Operator. That is what I am, and is what I do. This title was given to me by my twin sister several years ago. Actually, she is a PFO as well. Are you?

We are the main care personal or Primary Farm Operator on our farms, or ranches as my twinster, who lives in Colorado says. It is a growing movement in the rural parts of our country. Where woman are the mainstay, while husbands have full-time, away-from-the-farm jobs. Indeed, we have a small farm because our husbands do work an outside job.

Making ‘livable’ money from farming alone is pretty much non-existent. Most especially for small farms. Father Harry (aka my husband, Bill) has worked away from home for all our married years. This PFO has considered the home and farm her business. It is true we have had our little farm for only thirteen years, and we have been married nearly forty years! Those years before our farm, I considered myself the PHO, or Primary Home Operator.

I have always looked at our home as my ‘business’. The way I saw and still do is; no one–NO ONE has the interest in the prosperity and success of this business as I do. The work has been lonely and long, as Father Harry travels far, wide, and often. It has been a choice, an agreed upon choice by the two of us, and it has worked well.

Thirty years ago, the house was full of five active children and pets. Now it is full both inside and outside of pets and animals. Some would say the animals are better than the children. Some would say children are better because “they grow up and go to college!”

I say they are similar in many ways. For instance: to leave the farm for any amount of time requires finding farm hands to do the work; having healthy kids or animals is the product of attentive care and attention; the work is never-ending; the rewards are far greater than the back-breaking labor; they all are more fun than television; they keep me young-at-heart; they all make me smile.

Different tools and skills are required, of course, between home and farm. There are excellent books on small-scale farming. A good place to find them is Tractor Supply stores. Tractor Supply also has great tools you will need.

Enjoy our blogs on something every PFO needs: A Tool Purse. A Chain Saw. A Tractor. Click on links to read blog posts on these important farm tools.

Happy farming gals!