This story is by our 2nd daughter, Abby. She and her husband Ethan live near Alderspring. Both work here at the ranch while also raising their own pastured pork. Weather is coming. All of us can feel it. I get up at 7:00 because, even on a Saturday, my 1 ½ year old daughter doesn't believe …
The Wild Ones
This story comes from Abby, second of the Elzinga sisters. Abby lives a few miles from the ranch with her 3 kids and husband, Ethan. It was just Becky and I in the front, driving the long, dark road home from Salmon. My three little kids snored in their car seats in the back, rocked to sleep by …
Dow Meets the Cow
"You mean you're certified organic, both on the cattle and the grass?" Former Wall Street Investment Banker was incredulous. "What the heck for?" "The consumer wants the whole picture. They want to know for certain that their food is clean, and for cattle, that's from birth to finish. That …
Between Fire and Ice
Dear Friends We were hiking high up in the wilds of the remote North Fork of Hat Creek. It was Sam and Jess, the two summer range riders, and I. We were on a quest to inspect some of the farthest reaches of barbed wire boundary fence on our grazing ranges. It was a beautiful blue sky day …
Ode to the Belle
Dear Friends Sometimes saying goodbye to an old friend is just the right thing. It was one of those winter afternoons where I was walking through the cattle earlier this week, and it had spit snow all day. The wind was up a little, and the breeze was sharpening, as the sun finally crept out …
The Way of Human, Horse, and Hay
Dear Friends. “Pet.†I looked at her as I spoke, and the mare’s ears rotated back as she heard her name. In response, the big Belgian leaned forward into the great leather collar, conveying true horse power to the thick cowhide tugs behind her. There was a brief jingle at the beginning of …