Mile High Buffalo

We spent last Saturday at the National Western Stock Show. This sixteen-day event started in 1906 and features livestock shows and sales, horse events, rodeos, and commercial exhibits.

The first time I went to the Stock Show was in 1960 when I was almost six years old. Mom and us kids got on the train in Lindsborg and rode out to meet Dad. He helped his uncle bring Hereford cattle to the show during the 1950-1960s.

It had been a number of years since we made the trip to the Stock Show, so I looked forward to it.

The finale of the bison conference was the Gold Trophy Show and Sale that was held at the Stock Show. We didn't buy any bison, but might look at calves next year for a future breeding bull.

Frozen Water Tank

Last week I talked about the nice weather we've been having... and at the moment it's 5 degrees and it's snowing. I'm sure my newletter readers up north would think that is warm compared to what they are enduring today, while readers in Florida are wearing shorts and enjoying warm sun!

I drove over to the work pens an hour ago when I saw the cows were walking in for water. Sure enough the little drinking cup in the top of the water tank had ice in it because it had been overnight since they were last in for water. It only takes me one "knock and flip out the chunk of ice" with a screw driver while it's more work for them to have to lick it out, so I got out into the cold to help them out.

Buffalo Enjoy Warm Weather too

While it was nice today I wandered outside and I took some photos of the buffalo calves. Remember my story of Blind Danny and the buffalo "brother" that lead him around? (We had a blind calf that survived his first year with the help of another calf.)
Well bull brother #703 is now taking care of the three new calves. If you don't know "buffalo body language" you wouldn't realize what's going on between them, but we can see it.

While I was taking photos, the four of them moved together- #703 in front, and the three little ones behind peeking around him. #703 is a happy camper protecting and teaching again.

A New Year

Today I'm cleaning up from having company and thinking about my goals for 2009. I want to get back to writing again. Realistically I don't have blocks of time for my next book series while running the Bison Farm, but I can work in blogs and articles about my favorite subjects- buffalo and the prairie.

I cruised websites about blogging while watching TV and then looked at my latest photos that I had downloaded from my camera- to see what I could add to the next newsletter.

My mind went immediately from the noise of the TV, clothes washer, and clicking of my keyboard...to the silence of a windy hill we had visited while my sister was here. On top of my late uncle's pasture is an old abandoned cemetery that was started in the 1870s.

I walked through the scattered rows of stones looking and taking photos of these past sorrowful events. The wind fluttered the overgrown weeds and trees around the silent tombstones. Many young wives and children were laid to rest, never getting to live out their lives as their families had hoped. Now there are just elaborate stones left in a pasture.

It made me think of what I've done in the past, and what potential I have for my future. I have the new year of 2009 ahead of me. What shall I see, do, and experience? Watch to see what I do with it!