The seasonal life of Western ranchers

It seems like I tell the same story every year. I began sharing our work on the ranch to give complete transparency to our consumers/voters.

Now, that I have been doing so for a couple years, I realize the narrative repeats itself over and over, season by season. Some years, the seasonal nature of our work seems repetitive and some years, not so much.

We have an idea of what is ahead because of what lies behind us. The seasonality of our work becomes very evident with the changing of the year. When working so close to the land and the natural environment, seasons are notable. While hanging the new calendar on the wall, it is a good time to reflect on the seasons that mean the most and are most impactful to a successful year.

Just several weeks away for many livestock producers in western Colorado, is a time of new beginnings as lambs and calves are arriving on ranches and farms. Most producers will tell you it is one of their favorite seasons of the year and in the next breath tell you it is one of the most intense. Monitoring and ensuring both mom and offspring are healthy and safe are big responsibilities. Most times, Mother Nature drives the outcome to a positive conclusion. But, not always. Death is a part of the process. No matter how long a rancher has been caring for livestock, a death is always troublesome. “What more could I have done?” Second guessing the outcome if a different decision had been made is commonplace.

As the days and the grass get longer, the focus changes to moving the livestock to summer pastures. Generally, this means maintaining fence, perhaps irrigating, and caring for the animals as the youngsters begin to be more on their own and less dependent on their mothers. Herd health concerns are integral to this season, as well. Overseeing livestock on large landscapes to ensure safety in the face of predators is an important part of the summer range management.

Thinking ahead to the seasons to come, many producers are preparing feed for their animals in the wintertime when forage will not be readily available. Growing and harvesting hay and other feedstuff for the cold season takes much of the family’s time during the summer. Dealing with temperamental equipment and on-going mechanical challenges can try even the most patient individual.

Usually, around this time of year, caretakers put on their business hat and start to make marketing decisions that will sway success for the year. This season is one of the most stressful of the year. Even though weather impacts all that we do, markets are even more unpredictable. One wrong or right decision can have financial impacts for years, or decades, to come for a family business.

As the daylight begins to lessen, herders and cowboys begin to plan the roundups to bring the herds from the high country where they will be more accessible to transportation corridors. Ownership will likely change as trucks take the younger animals on the next step of their journey into the food supply chain.

Preparing the herd for the season of winter takes planning and organization. It is similar to turning a large truck around on the side of a hill. One wrong turn or erratic movement and it goes downhill fast! Most times, the herd is separated to meet individual nutritional and management needs during the cold winter months. The younger and older animals need extra TLC. By dividing the animals into smaller bunches, they are more easily observed.

And, before we know it, the calendar changes again. The season of new life is just around the corner, again. As caretakers of the animals and stewards of the land, we have an idea of what is around that corner. We also know, even though the seasons are similar, no two are exactly consistent. In this way, food production is the same as any other business.

Janie VanWinkle is co-owner and co-manager of VanWinkle Ranch with her husband, Howard. She is the past president of the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. Caring for the land, livestock and the community is the focus at VanWinkle Ranch, at the same time, contributing to food security of all. Cattle from VanWinkle Ranch go into the mainstream food supply chain, as well as directly marketed to the local community.

Summer is when ranchers harvest winter feed for cattle while they’re in the high country.

MCKENZIE LANGE/ Sentinel file photo