Late yesterday afternoon, we headed west and started gathering heifers and cows/calves.

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Why?

The decision has been made to take all the cattle back to our friends in Northeastern South Dakota. We have some grass... but most of the place is grazed down pretty short. Hopefully we can keep the horses going here on the ranch. Hay is not available in our area and what one hauls in is right at cost prohibitive. Our stock dams are either dry or despicable mud holes. We will ride tomorrow toward the peak and bring those cows down.

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We got most of the cows in the West Pasture and then without much reason, the horse I was riding (Hoss) hit a rock wrong and began to limp. I rode him just a little further and decided that I had better just lead him home... It was only around a mile... "We could limp home together,"

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Walking across the plains at dusk with no sounds except cows and and occasional voice of a family member in the far off distance allows one to really think. I am sad that we have to to take the cows off the ranch. I have only made that decision one other time and that was to SE Montana in 2006. I know how much my family enjoy the cows. I am thankful that we have friends that are willing to assist feeding the cattle during this extreme drought. I was blessed by the fact that even though I was walking now... I had been riding with the family. Yes... Molly we missed you. I was grateful that most of the cows and calves look pretty good considering the dry conditions and the heat of the past couple of years. Some of the first calf heifer's calves are pretty light. I was grateful that I have a wonderful wife that came riding up behind me as I was walking through the dry prairie and she offered me her horse. I told her she could just take my horse and then I would not "slow" them down. We all made it home after dark... enjoying the coolness that came with sunset. Much to ponder... Much to do...Much to be thankful for... And to top it off...

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I found a shed... an antler that had survived the summer lying on the buffalo sod. Danny found a piece of petrified wood... Rachel found fossils... Caleb and Julia found an arrow...a broadhead out on the far side of the Little Johnson Pasture... And we enjoyed a beautiful evening on the Lonetree Ranch together as a family. Thank you Lord.

WHAT OTHERS HAD TO SAY….