Paintin' the Town

When ranchers really want to go out and paint the town, they do one of two things: they go to a rodeo or find a field day.  Last Saturday we got to do both.  Maybe a little too much town-painting for the family that hits the hay before sunset, but sometimes you have to buckle down and be social.

The field day was hosted by the Siskiyou County Cattlemens Association and the Ag Extension office and is a tour of a local area and highlights how other cattlemen and women operate.  We hit our first feedlot at 8:30 AM and were at our third by 11:30.  Cattle, cattle, everywhere.  The kids mentally checked out when the donuts ran out at 9:00.  But still, I learned a few things.  Any chance I can ask, "How'd you plumb that water trough?" or, "Where'd you get them perty heifers?" is a win.  We cruised through a valley which is, literally, just over the hill from ours, and saw areas that I'd only heard stories about.  We also visited a prominent ranch that I hadn't visited since I was 12 (which was probably the last time they hosted a field day).  I really need to get off the Eastside more.

After the 4th ranch on the tour, it was time to load up and hit the Jefferson State Stampede Rodeo.  The kids ate kettle korn and snow cones and the adults found the Etna Beer booth.  We watched my little nephew ride his first sheep and cheered on friends and neighbors.  We got home waaaaay past our bedtime (9:30), fell asleep and was awakened 3 hours later by the entire purebred Angus herd grazing on our front lawn.  Regina and I spent the next hour gathering them in the dark.  I guess I didn't have to leave the Eastside after all, sometimes field days and rodeos just find their way to you.