We finally completed our first cutting of hay. It’s always nice to look around the ranch and see full stackyards again, especially after having completely depleted them last winter. Mother Nature was kind and sent much needed rain in May and June. Our fields (both irrigated and dryland) were as tall and abundant as I’ve ever seen them; a stark contrast to last summer.
Hot weather arrive the first of July and once we started swathing we never stopped. Although we finished the majority of cutting, baling, and stacking around the 24th of July, Dad and Leroy knocked down a few fields of new seeding and “officially” finished baling last night. I recon second cutting is just around the corner, as is grain harvest. The men are busy getting our old 1970s grain trucks in tiptop shape and Tad’s busy making sure “his” combine is clean and ready for Grandan to run.

We ladies have been awful busy this summer as well. We’re short-handed so we’ve been picking up the slack and trying to ease the men’s workload. At the very least I keep my fridge stocked with beer, which always seems to keep the men content, if not happy.

We hosted our first “Farm to Table” dining experience on July 20th. It was a wonderful evening filled with friendly banter and fine food. My sister Katie put a tremendous amount of work into coordinating the event with Chef Melissa of Seasonal Montana. 40+ folks, many visiting Montana on summer vacations, made the drive out to Willow Creek and joined us in dining under the willow trees. Safe to say that all in attendance had a wonderful time and are looking forward to our next dinner, whenever that may be.

It’s hard for me to believe that tomorrow marks the 1st of August. It’s the time of year  we beging to notice the shortening of days and wonder where in the heck our summer went. I’m always amazed at how quickly each season passes. Just think, in 30 days we’ll have another set of  bull calves in the feedlot and the fighting bobcats will be back at it on the football field. ’till then….