DAKOTA SKY
INDEPENDENCE DAY CELEBRATION AT GRANDMA'S
A GOOD DAY'S WORK
It was certainly, "A Good Day's Work". The accomplishment of the fencing project around a newly planted tree patch was much needed. The fellowship of family was huge as our summers do not allow for us to do much without thinking of the camp schedule. We were able to get some planting done as time was running short on that as well. And then God gave us a spectacular display as we wound up our activities near sunset.
Photography by Robin Reinhold and Julia Reinhold
WE HAVE BEEN BLESSED WITH GOOD RAIN
FAITHFUL BY RACHEL REINHOLD
Last week we planted the fields. It was 108 degrees. Things were drying up, The grass was turning brown, And Another dry summer was setting in.
But we planted, we prepared for rain and we prayed for rain.
Last year we also planted. It didn’t rain. And nothing grew.
But what if this year we didn’t try? Because it didn’t grow last year than why try again?? Why put thousands of dollars worth of seed into the ground if it might not even come up and grow feed for the upcoming winter??
Because it’s faith. And because God is faithful. And because God also calls us to be Faithful too. And to prepare our fields for rain is to exemplify faith that God would send the rain... IN HIS TIME.
I got done at 9:00 Saturday night, one hour later it started to rain. And it rained... and it rained.
In what area of your life do you need to prepare for rain? Are your fields ready? As Grandpa always used to say... “it’s not gonna grow in the bin!” God’s timing is perfect. He could have sent the rain last year. He could have sent it a month ago. But He sent it in His time... and God knows what He’s doing.
We still need rain. Most of the dams are still very low. But... look what’s growing in our fields this year...😊
Don’t miss out on life because a lack of Faith in a Faithful God. It’s a lesson I’m learning with each passing day.
IT'S JUST WHAT WE DO
It is just what we do... I am not sure of all the details... but when you have a vehicle stuck on an ignored county road that is unmarked.... you do your best to help. The truck was going south and we felt it best to assist in getting it out of the middle of the road. Makes sense when you have a neighbor in a 4wd pickup stuck coming from the opposite way that needs assistance as well. I am proud of my kids for stepping up to help someone in need. I hope they learned that from their parents and grandparents and neighbors and friends. This road needs attention... it has for years. It is not a situation that just happened. Good job Rachel Reinhold, Molly Reinhold, Danny Reinhold, Caleb Reinhold, Tanner Ellefson and Derek Anderson... Thanks for letting me supervise
FATHERS DAY
CATTLE BUSINESS WEEKLY ARTICLE BY COLEEN BRUNNER
A look at how three fathers include agriculture in their kids’ lives
There was a recent meme on Facebook of a silhouette of a father and son. The son is standing facing his father, but it looks like a piece of him is missing. The father, reaching out to the son holds out the missing piece which he has taken from his own body to make his son whole. And then you look at the father and realize there are many more missing pieces; pieces the father has given to his son in the past. Pieces he has shared, sometimes to his own detriment, to teach his child, to help his son learn all those things he has to share.
This is the essence of a good father. And this is profiled in the three people we will introduce you to through this article.
Kurt Stiefvater was raised on the farm northeast of Salem, S.D. where he now lives with his wife Kathy and three daughters, Lauren, Megan and Karlie. The girls, ranging in age from 12 to 15, are learning and have an interest in the farm operations and helping with the livestock.
“We farm about 1500 tillable acres with 500 acres rented pasture,” says Stiefvater. “The cow/calf enterprise is 140 cows, with back grounding the calves until about the first of March.”
So, this is one busy family. Stiefvater says his parents purchased the place in 1959 and he grew up alongside five siblings.
“The girls have been involved on the farm since day one,” he says. “They have grown up riding in the tractors and combine, and helping with the cow/calf operation. If we have orphaned calves, they help with the bottle feeding and raising the calves. They also help with the cattle records and help with whatever is needed on a day to day basis on the farm.
Stiefvater says it is critical to teach the next generation about agriculture. The more removed from the farm each generation becomes, it becomes even more important to have them understand where their food comes from and what is involved to bring their food from field to table.
“Kathy uses agriculture as a teaching tool as much as possible in the classroom to bring across how everything is ultimately a result of the earth,” he shared. “Using this platform, she has spoken to hundreds of school children to help them realize how important agriculture is, regardless of where they live.”
He says the work ethic on the farm is also something that is important, completing a task no matter the struggle, because there are so many others depending on you to get the job done.
“Our two older children are members of the McCook Central FFA program and have participated in the Agri-science fair for the past several years,” says this father of three. “Both of the girls have completed projects dealing with soil health and the benefits of no-till practices and taken them to the national level of competition.
For the past three years, Lauren has competed at the national level of National History Day; dealing with historical agriculture topics to bring awareness to the general public about events that have happened in South Dakota’s agricultural past that affect today’s farming practices and farm policy.” And guess where she learned about those topics? Right there on the family farm at the side of her hands-on father.
“Being a farmer is very adventuresome,” shared Stiefvater. “We must be independent workers and no two days are ever the same. Life is never boring or repetitious, something that appeals to kids.”
“Our family experiences nurturing crops and caring for animals that come to fruition at harvest with the knowledge that you had a great impact on the outcome of production”, he says. And his three girls are right there beside him, taking those precious pieces of wisdom handed down from one generation to the next.
Stiefvater and his family will be hosting the SD Soil Health Coalition School this fall and the whole family will be involved. This is just one more way this father teaches his children through sharing pieces of himself and his world.
If there ever was a real teaching scenario where a father helps his children learn a whole host of different things, it would be on Lonetree Ranch in Meade County, where Larry Reinhold, along with his wife Robin, spend their days encouraging, explaining and praising their six children, Rachel, Molly, Danny, Caleb, Julia and Kiersten.
“We have raised our children in agriculture and ministry from the day they were born,” says Reinhold. “Agriculture and stewardship of God’s creation is so much a part of the education that they have been encouraged in. As we have homeschooled and also operate Rainbow Bible Ranch we unapologetically use our setting and biblical principle for the classroom. Each one has not only had hands on experience from a vocational experience, but benefited from the technical aspects as well.
The Reinholds have enjoyed raising Hereford cattle and quarter horses for years on the place his grandparents homesteaded in the 1900’s. He learned from his own father in a partnership in the early 80’s and his family continues that tradition.
“All of our kids have learned to milk the cow, feed the chickens, doing chores involving livestock,” Reinhold shares. “They were involved in planting the garden yesterday. I believe that we have a golden opportunity to teach responsibility and stewardship to our children at a young age. Education with purpose can best describe teaching your kids the importance of doing their daily chores on the farm and ranch. Too many parents in agriculture have filled their schedules with “stuff” thus forgetting the privilege of teaching and working with some of the most important members of the next generation, our own kids. As they grow older, we realize the value and necessity of passing the baton. If we want our children to do it after we are gone, we need to allow them the opportunity to do it before we are gone.”
Larry and his wife show their children the enjoyment and fun that may be had here on the ranch. They love to explore and say they are rockhounds, finding artifacts, fossils and plenty of pretty rocks add a variety to their workday schedule. With homeschooling come opportunities to educate.
“I remember one school day; I borrowed a couple of our kids to do some tasks with me.
Robin was feeling the squeeze as it was taking some time away from the “three Rs”. I simply said, “Robin, sometimes education needs a little redefining. Right now we have two of our kids bringing in over a hundred head of horses from out of the breaks. Not everyone is able to do that.
They will be better for it. We need to add another R to the three that has been greatly ignored and that is responsibility.” The farm and ranch is a wonderful place for hands on learning with lessons in science, math and communication abound.
“Never did I dream in my youth that I would be afforded the tremendous impact that many have experienced while they have been a part of the ranch and the family,” Larry shared. “Emanuel Reinhold was able to do that with his wife Hazel and their eight children to an extent. My Dad, Marvin (Tige), and his wife Voreta (Vicky), instilled into my brothers and sister and me the Godly principles and a desire to make a difference in the lives of people around us. And today, I am so blessed to not only be married to Robin, but also work together with her and our six children on the Lonetree Ranch and the ministry of Rainbow Bible Ranch.”
Each generation is passing to the next, those precious pieces of self to help their children learn.
Christopher Schauer and his wife Ronda, have five children between the ages of eight and 15; Kaden, Katy, Kelly, Kayla and Kortney. He grew up addicted to 4H horse projects and team roping in Hettinger, North Dakota and received his doctorate in Animal Science from Oregon State University. He returned to his hometown as an Animal Scientist for the NDSU Hettinger Research Extension Center. But he and his family own and operate the Schauer Sheep Company, a purebred Polypay flock.
“All of my children are actively involved in Schauer Sheep Company, through 4H and FFA projects, and also selling registered sheep,” says Schauer. “We raise registered Polypay sheep enrolled in the National Sheep Improvement Program, and market them locally, regionally, and at the national level. My wife is also the Vo-Ag teacher and FFA advisor.”
Schauer says his children are actively involved with daily chores and help with marketing the sheep online. They are also involved with his research and extension work at the HREC, purely due to the fact that they live on the facility, and they are often his free labor on nights and weekends. They have their sheep located five miles from where they live.
“The ‘hands-on’ portion of their education comes through our personal sheep and daily chores, haying, etc.,” he says. “However, they also get to know my graduate students in my research program, giving them a personal connection to the rest of the animal science industry, not just the production side. Because both Ronda and I are 4H leaders, and she is the Vo-Ag teacher, our kids are truly ‘coach’s kids’ in the field of agriculture. They are present at all of our professional activities both as participants, but also as helpers, and sometimes instructors.
Schauer said he and his wife want their children to succeed in life, regardless of the occupation they choose. The work ethic, responsibility, and professionalism that are taught through agricultural activities will be valuable to them regardless of where they choose to work in the future.
He feels that he was lucky to be able to come back to agriculture in his hometown without having a farm/ranch family to come back to.
“That opportunity isn’t available to everyone, but I strive to provide similar opportunities to my children and high school and college students as well, by demonstrating there are plenty of opportunities in agriculture without having your own operation,” he says.
Since he and his wife are actively involved in leadership in 4H and FFA, their children receive pieces of this couple’s life and experiences.
#605DAY
BRANDING DAY GALLERY 2
BRANDING 2018
UNCLE LARRY AND GILBERT
"Uncle Larry is pretty taken by this little boy." Gilbert Lewis Paulton... "What a little man! In about six years, he will be at Little Rancher's Camp at RBR" CONGRATS TRAVIS AND KENDRA
BRANDING DAY
BRANDING DAY 2017
it is more than cattle... It is the people.
We love to eat outside.
RALLY DAY... WHEN THE COUNTRY KIDS GO TO TOWN
Rally Day has been a spring tradition in Meade County, South Dakota for decades. It is a time for rural students from across South Dakota's largest county to gather and take part in various track and field events. From kindergarten to eighth grade, boys and girls enjoy the friendly competition and the great fellowship. Julia and Kiersten Reinhold are the fifth and sixth children in our family to enjoy the activities.
Mrs. Bev Rosenboom has been organizing the event over the last years. She is the lady behind the microphone. Mr. Cal Corey is at the starting line. He is a long time coach and mentor to many young people. Mr. Corey was my brother, Lee's coach for track in the late 70's. I know they had mutual respect for each other. The races today began with the short distance.
TOGETHER...GETTING MORE ACCOMPLISHED THAN YOU REALIZE
Working together... Yes, the old adage of "Work together to get tasks accomplished" is true. However more is accomplished than just finishing a job. The unity that is achieved and the sense of responsibility to one another is huge. It can be life altering. And for a family the these goals should be a priority.
Another gorgeous evening on the ranch... We had spent much of our day in town at the final track meet of the season. It was actually Rally Day, where many of the rural kids from around Meade County get together to compete and have fun. We knew that many projects awaited us, however when we returned home to the ranch. This project is also a labor of love. The site that we were planting was also the burial place for many of our good old saddle horses that perished during Storm Atlas in October 2013. We had planted trees the following the year to mark the spot where so many had died. The junipers are doing OK, but the pine have been decimated by the deer. The decision was made to replant and this time we will build a fence around the new trees. Yes lots of emotion and memories here. It is such a good example of going through trials and realizing God's sustaining love and how we keep pressing on and sometimes just trying again is the best we can do.
To end the evening, we had a picnic supper. As a family, we accomplished our tree planting chores at the site and now as a family we accomplished fellowship with each other with the amazing panoramic view of God's creation. Yes, more was accomplished than we will realize.
MAY 19TH SUNSET
REINHOLD FAMILY ENJOY PICNIC SUPPER ON A BEAUTIFUL SPRING EVENING
After a long winter, when it seemed that spring would never arrive, our senses were certainly taken captive this evening. The birds were singing in this sea of green. The sweetpeas in the midst of our table and the food smelled amazing. Robin prepared Salisbury Steak and made a cake with the first rhubarb of the season, as well. Later, Rachel started a bonfire, and yes there were even marshmallows that needed roasting. Danny, Caleb and I were able to identify several stars, with names that seemed unpronounceable. It was nice to easily point out the "evening stars" which were the planets, Jupiter and Venus. The only other sounds that broke our silence, was the loud rumble of a B-1 bomber on it's way to the Powder River "Range" where it's crew were honing their skills for in the art of battle. it was a nice evening... one that left you thankful for many blessings.
GOOD ADVICE TO OUR DAUGHTERS
From a piece by Sam Levenson to his daughter:
"I even suggested several time-tested inexpensive beauty hints:"
For attractive lips, speak words of kindness.
For lovely eyes, seek out the good in people.
For a slim figure, share your food with the hungry.
For beautiful hair, let a child run his fingers through it once a day.
For poise, walk with the knowledge that you will never walk alone.
Through the Window Panes....
Photo of Julia at about a year old and cousin Laura.
Julia and I are sitting in the living room right now... mostly quiet...reflective. Julia says to me, " When I woke up this morning, I lay in bed looking up at the window. And you know the panes that kind of look like tic tac toe... Each one held a memory of Laura and when I got to the last two, I could picture Laura in the car accident, but the last one I could see her walking through the gates of heaven into the arms of Jesus.
Julia Lee Reinhold reflecting on the home going of her dear cousin Laura Chord
