We have been a Hereford outfit for around a century. This is a bull that my Dad raised. He was probably born around 1969 or 70. Dad called him "Champ". Oh sure he had a registered name, but one seldom uses that fancy name. We used him as one of our main herd bulls for years. Some of his DNA may very well still be on the ranch in our cowherd.
We Need Those Snowdrifts
Why we need those snowdrifts... You notice I did not pose that as a question...
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This is photo from straight west of the ranch headquarters. I took it from the top of the windcharger tower looking west in about 1975. We use to run a half mile of side roll irrigation on the nearly 80 acres of alfalfa. We also had 30-40 acres of ground that we flooded. However, we finally sold the irrigation system. Too many years where our big dam (Reinhold Lake) would not receive enough runoff to enable us to irrigate. Drought is a killer. We need our watersheds to have plenty of snow in the draws and on the sidehills to run water.
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FYI... The watershed (acres of drainage) for our reservoir is around 2500 acres. Also of interest... the irrigation system pictured was half mile long and put out a 1000 gallons per minute. We aimed at about 3 to 4 inches in a twelve hour period.
JACOB & Molly Reinhold Fisher
The Fisher Family
I’ve tried to find the words to express our feelings right now….. but over and over all we can say is thank you, Jesus.
We can’t get enough of our precious miracle, as we soak up every moment, and are perfectly content to just let the world pass by right now.
»»» Jacob, Molly and Hunter Blaine «««
(Photo Credit: My awesome Mom
VALENTINE DAY... WHEN I WAS YOUNGER
In all my growing up years even to this day, Valentines Day was not just a holiday on the calendar. February 14 was my parent's wedding anniversary. In 1956 they committed their lives together in a covenant to the Lord. I know that God was in their marriage because their journey in life gave evidence to that fact. Their story is worthy and proved to be an example to many. They did not celebrate fifty years together as Mom went home to be with Jesus at the age of 68 years. However, Mom and Dad did celebrate their marriage each and every day. I and many others marvel at their grace and tenacity through the good times as well as the countless difficult days. Allow me to encourage all reading this to consider the amazing love that only God gives and then let that love permeate our hearts and lives so that those we impact will benefit in ways unimaginable. The "love of this world" is superficial and temporary. The "love" that is promoted in the glitz glamour of our society will prove to be no foundation for relationships of any sort when the tempest of life shakes our being.
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Tige & Vicky Reinhold... We will still celebrate your anniversary on February 14. We are grateful and many would attest to the fact that God's love lived through you made a difference.
LOOK WHO IS IN VIRGINIA
Look who is in Virginia... Our hearts are full.
Grandma Robin... (I like the sound of that) left Rapid City this morning at 6:00 AM to spend time with our sweet grandson, Hunter Blaine Fisher. So happy for Molly and Jacob Fisher.
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By the way... Blaine is my middle name... and Danny's... What an honor to share with this precious sweet child. And don't worry folks... I look forward to getting to Prospect, VA one day soon... but Grandma Robin had Grandma duties that couldn't wait.
YEARLY PRESENTATION IN HONOR OF TIGE REINHOLD
Our yearly presentation in honor of Tige Reinhold to a Hereford enthusiast. This year the honor was given to Keith and Cheryl Fawcettof the Fawcett's Elm Creek Ranch.
NOTE FROM KEITH FAWCETT
It’s been hard to write a thank you to Larry and his family. It’s been hard to find the right words when you’ve been acknowledged in a tribute to a families father and grandfather.
The picture and frame are priceless to Cheryl and I, and it will be hung on a wall in that 1920 house that my grandfather built.
The family traditions, the Hereford Heritage, a family that takes the word of God and fulfills the hearts of our youth thru a ranch setting…..who is the real honoree?
Larry and family
Thank you
A Foggy Day
A foggy day... that allowed us some sunshine for a time this afternoon. Robin took some fun photos of the crew horseback.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY ROBIN 2022
Happy Birthday to a wonderful lady.
Robin... we sure do love and appreciate you. May you be blessed abundantly as you so abundantly bless. Thanking God everyday for my awesome partner.... Larry and family
CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS OVERWHELM THE WINTER BLUES
Yes it is still cold in the "North Country"... Yes the toll has been taken and the tally will show of some of the damages following two brutal weeks of weather.... but hey, the sun is shining and Christmas is upon us.
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Thought I would share some fun memories. My Dad played for the Rapid City Cobblers. Yes under the coaching of Coach Cobb. He played varsity as a freshman from a country school and had a promising future... but the war effort took its toll up high school kids as well. Since Dad's brothers were all called or occupied, Dad was unable to graduate since he was needed at the ranch. He never complained that he had to go home.. nor was able to continue his football dreams. He only talked of the good times... "That was just my dad". I enjoy this pic... I know some of you old timers in the Rapid City area will recognize some of the names of the players. Let the memories be a blessing.
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And let the blessings of the Christmas Season overwhelm the winter blues.
"RELENTLESS" UPDATE
Around 3:30... cleared up for just a short while. This is the view out of front window. Danny had spent yesterday and last nite in town, but was able to get fuel filters picked up and brought home in that time period. Yes the tractor had gelled up... and yes Danny's mode of transportation (the pickup) is still parked up the road on the other side of snowdrifts. The good news is that they were able to get the tractor running and everyone is home. It is still blowing... around -45 degree chill factor. We are just grateful that all are home. Praying for the livestock.. our community... the region. This has been a tough go.
2022 December Blizzard "Relentless"
DECEMBER 15, 2022 WEATHER UPDATE
Thursday December 15, 2022 9:30 PM
Update from the Lonetree Ranch..
Wind started blowing Monday nite...
Started snowing early Tuesday morning...
Wednesday was tough... 30-50 mph winds with lots of drifting...
Today... Thursday was the toughest day so far.. Winds gusting to mid fifties... lots more snow... whiteout conditions most of the day.... Drifts are building... two feet plus of snow... but who knows... wind has been more than constant.
Blizzard warning continues into tomorrow and more snow... Temps next week dropping to minus 20... It is winter folks.
Current Temp Officially 15 degrees... winds presently 36 mph gusting to 44 mph Wind chill at -6... and still snowing
"Up on the Hill"
Fifty-five acres on a ridge above Lonetree Creek. We just call it " up on the hill". As I was cutting hay today, so many stories, experiences and memories came to mind. Over a hundred years ago, Emanuel Reinhold, (my grandfather) broke this piece of ground with a team of horses. He recalled those days as slow steady work, but since this was on the edge of an ancient prairie dog town, there were some unique challenges. Along with huge mounds and deep holes, there were countless rattlesnakes. He told how his team responded not in fear at the sight and sound of a rattler, but how they would methodically stop at each one without command and Grandpa would go kill the snake. He filled an entire cigar box with rattles from all the snakes.
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I remember my Dad telling of building fence on the east side with his brother Paul "Brownie". Again, this was accomplished using a team of horses and hayrack to haul supplies. He would tell about stopping to eat and sitting under the hayrack in the shade. The pronghorn antelope were so curious that they would come right up to them. I always thought that was amazing. In those days, most of the country was nearly open range except for the small plots of homesteaders that had come and gone on the prairie.
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I recalled the time when our neighbor, Robert Brechtal was combining wheat and when he had breakdown on his machine, I was helping him. I was probably only about twelve or thirteen and I don't even remember really what the problem was except we dropped a tool and it fell into crack in the gumbo. Since it was dry year and the crack was deep and wide... we were never able to retrieve that tool.
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I recalled when my brother had the unfortunate incident on this very field of going off the back of a moving tractor and being run over by a tandem disc. The seat on the Case Tractor that he was farming with broke and and he literally fell over backward. A freak deal, no doubt. But there was no cab to hold him in on that old tractor and it happened. He broke his pelvis, bruised his body, nearly cut off an ear but survived to walk the half mile home... with a broken pelvis. Amazing to say the least. He spent weeks in the hospital, but was able to walk across the platform at his graduation from high school.
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I recalled driving the Massey Ferguson tractor in mid September trying to rake the sudan that was on the ground and snow was pelting me in the face. Yes, weather and the extremes thereof worked its way into my memories.
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And I could not forget how forty years plus years ago, I was planting wheat. No big deal, but this was about fourteen feet per round and I had a very sore neck and body. Dad and I had a wreck with a runaway team of horses one Labor Day. Yes, we still enjoyed teams of horses even just for fun. But something went wrong and team took off just like in the old westerns. We stayed with it for about a quarter of a mile until on a turn, the wagon tipped. I flew through the air and landed on my head and shoulder. (I have joked that since I landed on my head... I didn't get hurt as bad as my dad) However, Dad was holding the reins and was pulled hard into the ground. He broke eleven ribs and a collar bone... and oh yes... a punctured lung as well. That is why I planted the winter wheat that year with a very stiff body.
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Yes... over a hundred years of farming and haying this piece of ground. Today, was uneventful. It was nice to have hay on this field for the first time in three years. Made some pretty nice windrows. Did the work with family. Danny took the drone up to take this photo. The generations before him would be amazed. And thanks to the next generations for adding to the stories, experiences and memories on the Lonetree Ranch
Lonetree Ranch Branding 2022
Around the Ranch
AROUND THE RANCH...
PIC #1 "Mule Deer near Castello Point"
PIC #2 "The Amazing Delicate Gumbo Lily"
PIC #3 " SunnyView Field is ready for Campers"
PIC #4 "Out in the Breaks"
PIC #5 "Vantage Point"
Wonder of Lilacs
Are you overcome with the aroma?
We have three different locations of lilacs on the ranch. One group will blossom later than this beautiful lineup. These are a little later this year than sometimes is the case. Probably for good reason... our thermometer hit 27 degrees last nite. All said and done... "Who doesn't like lilacs?" I remember as a boy... my brothers and I bought Mom perfume that had the fragrance of lilac. I think she liked it... I know I sure did.
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A little history on this long row south of RBR... They were transplanted in the early eighties. We dug these up as "suckers" from some other lilac bushes on the ranch. The row was nearly destroyed in a series of blizzards around 2009 -2011. With alot of pruning and time... they are again a delight to the senses.
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Photos by Robin Lee Reinhold
Planting Potatoes
We enjoy gardening together, especially on evenings such as tonight and since we have been receiving some rain. The soil was perfect for the potatoes that we planted. Yes we missed the Good Friday date... but we had a full moon last night.... so if that helps...
2022 Air Show at EAFB
The Reinhold family and around 45,000 other folks sure enjoyed the 2022 Air Show at Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota on Saturday. The event culminated with the Navy Blue Angels.
Photography by Robin Lee Reinhold
Edited by Larry Reinhold
