Branding Day At The Hackens Ranch


Branding day at the Hackens Ranch at Viewfield, SD. Dean and Tammy Hackens are dear friends and we always enjoy our time with them. We will post some more photos that Robin took throughout the morning.

Brandings work best when played as a team. and each person realizes the importance of their contribution. I will be honest, I have seen some brandings with way too many spectators and at times it may be best if they would go contribute effort elsewhere. I will say that yesterday was a pleasure. with all working hard.

Someone has to watch the gate...."Not always easy". With saddle horses dragging the ropers last successful loop and young calves just plain missing momma. Kiersten and Julia, you did a good job.


The Boss...someone to call the shots. Dean Hackens, Thanks for letting us work with you. Our kids get so amazed at how much fun we have at your place. "Maybe, its your stories?" 


Rachel will sometimes take "matters into her own hands"

TEAMWORK

I had a great time yesterday with Dean and Tammy Hackens. Robin and I count it a privilege to have known them for so many years. It was a blessing working working with so many fine young people as well. "It's a good day to be alive." :)

If anyone is trying to figure out my expression...I was probably working through another one of Dean's stories.

We had a good day yesterday...

Another piece of the story...36 years ago the Reinhold family branded in the morning on the Lonetree Ranch. My Brother Lee had invited some friends out to help. They had just returned from the State Track Meet. Lyle would be leaving for Idaho the next day and he had some friends out as well. Both the boys had their girlfriends. at the place, tool.

As many of you probably know, that afternoon played out in a way that would change our lives forever. After the hard work was done, we went fishing. A storm blew in and my two brothers Lyle and Lee along with our good friend Wayne Brost died in a drowning incident.

Yes branding time during May stirs up the emotions and memories. God's grace has sustained through many of life's storms and we press on.

WORKING CALVES

Most agricultural operations in America are family owned and worked. All across the north country, farm and ranch families are working together along with friends and neighbors to get livestock out on grass.

Rachel thoroughly enjoys working with livestock. Here she is pulling some LA 200 into a syringe for a calf that is a little droopy. And no I did not cut myself shaving...I am just "wearing the day".

Of course Grandpa Tige was halfway to heaven as he watched the crew work together. We like to have fun with him whenever we run anything through the chute that isn't straight Hereford. We ran a Holstein Heifer, out of the milk cow, in and then asked him what he thought of her..."I don't like her!" 

Awh Dad, we knew you would say that. 


Danny is such a great big brother. It is such a joy to watch as your children grow and become capable in the different tasks on the ranch. "Thanks Son!"


The Lonetree Ranch and Rainbow Bible Ranch are very fortunate to have some top hands working with us. Levi, has a continuous desire to learn. Good Morning Levi and here is an "Atta Boy" to you.


Julia is becoming one fine cowgirl...Learning many life lessons as a stockman...or would that be a "stock girl"? I know that Robin and I are just very thankful that she is our girl. 

Another one of our guys, Derek Anderson. He is not just a hired hand. I count it a privilege to call him a co-worker.

Caleb and Molly Reinhold are a great team and they had an enjoyable time as we worked cattle in the chutes yesterday on the Lonetree Ranch.


We don't get to use the electric branding iron very often. It worked very in this project as the heifers were still carrying a lot of winter hair. Warm weather and green grass will sure shine up that hair coat.

Caleb Clark recently graduated from Lake Area Technical and is finishing up his internship with us. Caleb has actually spent many summers with us and we look forward to working together again this summer. We had a good time working cattle yesterday.


I believe that Kiersten will be an animal trainer someday. She shows an amazing aptitude in that way. Kiersten and Belle were decked out for the day and both were paying attention to their duties, as well.

MOTHER'S DAY STORM 2015

We ended up with about 17 inches of snow on the tenth of May. These are some photos taken during the and after the snow. We came through pretty good. We even had some fun, as well.

Awh...A Mother's Day surprise. on the ranch. Ten of these little fuzzy chicks so far. The Reinhold kids commented on how nice this hen is. What a fun discovery during the 2015 Mother's Day Blizzard. We received about 17" of snow.


Of course the kids had to build a tall snowman as well. What a great Mother's Day Photo...Robin and her kids after the Mother's Day Storm May 2015

And Julia and Kiersten had to build one that was their size.

Well Rachel, Don't squeeze your friend too tight.


And then the snowflakes started falling again and the snowballs started flying. Happy Mother's Day!

Just one more photo...Caleb's rosy winter cheeks on a spring day. Mother's Day Blizzard 2015 on theLonetree Ranch in Meade County, South Dakota.

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY

I wanted to be the first to say Happy Mother's Day to none other than "my kids' Mom". Robin you are such a blessing and it so evident that your heart's desire is to please God and bring glory to Him. You have been entrusted with a fine family and they are your high priority. Thank You Robin. I am so glad to be the Dad to your kids, too. May you be blessed.

LT PRIDE AND JOY


Danny Reinhold is shown bringing in a couple of stragglers on the good big horse, "Rooster" this morning. The forecast calls for 12"-24" of snow with strong winds. We have the livestock pretty much where we want them, but we realize that this is shaping up to be a dangerous storm. We are pleased to receive the moisture. Snow brings nitrogen into the soil. We sure can use the runoff...however on days such as this, one's memory bank is certainly tapped. I recall another Mother's Day Blizzard in, I believe, 1967. There was significant livestock loss. I do remember riding with Dad after the storm accounting for loss and as well the living. As Dad and I rode then, near where Danny is in this photo, we came across a pretty Hereford heifer calf. Dad smiled big and said, "Well you rascal...you made it." This heifer was out of the 67 cow and when it came time to register this little heifer, Dad named her "LT (Lonetree) Pride and Joy. A good memory indeed!

"QUITE A STORY"

This picture here holds a story.... As I was riding out in the rain this morning to get some cows in before it started snowing. I was overwhelmed with a flood of memories from "the storm" (a.k.a The Atlas Blizzard of 2013) The weather today reminds me SO much of what it was like before Atlas. I also rode to get cows the night it started raining in October. As I was thinking of so many memories, I rode by three cows that had died in Atlas. 
Just another reminder of one of the hardest weeks of my life. It's easy to worry about will happen in a storm. But we must remember that we serve a BIG God and He will take care of us through whatever happens! But we must JUST TRUST! Please pray for safety for the livestock and all those that are in the path of this weather. And we must remember to thank God for the moisture!

THANKS MRS. WIEBE


Last evening Mrs. Wiebe shared with me that she so enjoyed listening to our daughter, KIersten, say her bible verses. Of course she had a big smile and "I did as well". Anyone that knows Mrs. Wiebe, knows how dedicated she is in encouraging and reaching out an touching people's lives. To add interest to this post,we found the second photo of Mrs. Weibe holding Kiersten as a baby just days after she was born. :)

What is so cool...In the first photo above the door is a quote that was often stated by the Mrs. Wiebe's late husband, Pastor Waldo Wiebe, who is now with the Lord. Simply stated and continued to be lived out by Pastor and Mrs. Wiebe..."You are now entering your mission field".

Remuda Ridge

We use to refer to this field as the Hillsview Field...but we find ourselves calling it Remuda Ridge now. For it was across this flat and for another half a mile beyond,that our Rainbow Bible Ranch camp string of horses perished after the wind and snow pushed them up out of the breaks during the Storm Atlas in October 2014. Now in the course of sowing this field we are force to go around a huge mound of soil, a mass grave of over thirty of the finest saddle horses that a kid could ever want. However, life continues on.

SEEDING HILLSVIEW "REMUDA RIDGE"


We have this one little field of 49 acres up on top of the breaks. It lies next to the ruts of the winter route of the Old Ft. Pierre Deadwood Freight Trail that ran its course in the 1800's. The views are amazing. And when it came time to top off the drill for the last remaining rounds, everyone pitches in. Thanks to my family and crew for working so hard.

Another view from our field on top of the breaks. That is the peak (Costello Point) and the cow camp in the background. Rachel and Danny are in the tractor racing the sun to finish up.
One can see Fox Ridge on the far distant horizon on a clear day. When we take people up to top and they see all the big country...one word describes their response..."overwhelmed".

We use to refer to this field as the Hillsview Field...but we find ourselves calling it Remuda Ridge now. For it was across this flat and for another half a mile that our Rainbow Bible Ranch camp string of horses perished after the wind and snow pushed them up out of the breaks during the Storm Atlas in October 2014. Now in the course of sowing this field we are forced to go around a huge mound of soil, a mass grave of over thirty of the finest saddle horses that a kid could ever want. However, life continues on.

Looking west one can enjoy the vista of the Black Hills with Harney Peak on the south end to Crook Mountain on the north. Sometimes it is a little difficult keeping your mind on the farming end of things.

Of course Bear Butte holds it demanding presence.


And yes we were treated to another grand sunset. We did not eat supper until 10:00 PM, but as we sat around the table enjoying each other's company, eating good food and laughing at the recollections of the day, deep down inside, we realized that we held nothing back and the tiredness was replaced by peace. It has been a good day. Thank You Lord.

RUNAWAY DRAW


Years ago I found a piece of a single tree which is part of the buckboard wagon's tongue that the horse's harness connected to. I showed to my Dad and he told me that his brother, my Uncle Tom, had a runaway that ended up going down into this draw. It is nearly 200' deep and very steep over the edge. We planted some trees in the upper end of what I have thus called Run Away Draw ever since that story that my Dad told me of Uncle Tom

"POTSHOTS"

Robin visited with her Mom yesterday and they discussed the prescribed burn that has begun to burn out of control in Wind Cave National Park just north of where they live. "Yes Grandma had an opinion!"

I will share mine... the Tatanka Hotshots have been called in to fight the fire. But how did it start? The NPS "Potshots". Potshot is defined as "a shot fired in a careless way!" Oh yes the Potshots work for various institutions, but I am amazed at how many work within the halls of our government.

I am well aware of the trials that come with stewardship of the land. We fight pestilence and fire as well. I am not here to "Cast the first stone". I am just calling for these government institutions to be called into responsibility just as we in the private sector.

My carelessness with my property may cost me money and resources from the onset. My carelessness may even cost others eventually. Without a doubt the mismanagement of our public resources costs us all. Let us not be tolerant of the actions of the "Potshots"

Lonetree Ranch
14666 Lonetree Road
Sturgis, South Dakota 57785

© 2024 Lonetree Ranch All Right Reserved