Meet a Colorado Ranching Family
The Johnston Family , Canon City
We are a first-generation ranching family that manages a large cow-calf herd in southern Colorado . Cow-calf means that we have cows ( females ) and bulls ( males ), and every year each cow has a calf ( baby ) in the spring . The calves are sold in the late fall , after they have been weaned ( separated from their mothers ). The ranch has two divisions , one high up in the mountains and the other on the plains . Our land isn ’ t very good for raising crops — it ’ s too dry and cold with a short growing season on the mountain , and too dry and hot down on the plains — it ’ s great for growing grass and other plants that cows can eat !
Who is involved :
Bert and Cassidy ( aka Mom and Dad ) and their three boys : Wacey , Buster , and Kirby . Plus a lot of dogs , horses , and several barn cats ! There are also ranch hands and their families who live and work on the ranch .
Describe a typical day :
This time of year ( the middle of winter ) is all about keeping cattle fed and getting ready for calving ( when cows give birth to calves ). We should have calves any day now , so the barns have been bedded , the vet
The Johnston Family Cassidy , Kirby , Bert ( standing ) Buster and Wacey ( on fence )
room has been stocked , and we are ready to go ! Every morning we feed cows and break water that has frozen during the night , check on the horses in the pens , and generally get a good look at everything to make sure all is well . The heifers ( first-time moms ) that are getting ready to have their babies are in a pen near the barn so we can keep a close eye on them .
Why we ranch :
We are first-generation ranchers , which means that we are the first ones in our families to decide that we wanted to ranch . Bert knew he wanted to be a cowboy from the time
Heifers standing in a pen . he was really little . He participated in rodeo all the way through college and started working on a ranch as a teenager . Cassidy discovered ranching in college and knew that it was what she wanted to do for the rest of her life almost right away . Because they didn ’ t grow up on a ranch , they work for big ranches that need a lot of cowboys to take care of all the cattle . Together they have lived and worked on several large ranches in three different states but are glad to be back home in their native Colorado . Wacey loves to go with dad on his horse , Zombie , to help move and care for the cattle . Buster hangs out with mom , helps keep cow records straight , and makes sure we have enough snacks . Kirby loves to be anywhere that he can wear boots that might have a cow , horse , cat , dog , backhoe , tractor , skidsteer , or a pickup truck , so he ’ s a happy camper no matter what .
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