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Across the Fence:  "Sale Barns" and Cattle Drives  |
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
14020 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
14020 Posts |
 Posted - May 10 2012 : 5:54:06 PM
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It's just the way of life here and the way it's ALWAYS been . . and it's what I grew up with. Yesteday and today I was totally blessed with times to experience what I grew up with . . .and I ain't no spring chickie!!
Our local livestock auction has always been called the "sale barn" and there have been livestock auction sales there every Wednesday for . . . well, decades and decades. Ranchers and farmers and their families come and go, bringing their animals for sale or coming to buy. The pens and corrals are FULL until sale day is ended and the parking lot, which is HUGE is filled with every kind of vehicle possible for the haul. This is a family owned business, but the same family that started it long ago and the auctioneers are all men from that family, just a new generation every now and then.
My family has been in and out of there more times than I can remember and these days, I go to sell aprons! One of my best customers is a lady who runs the Stockman Cafe there and she bought aprons for her staff, for herself, for practically everyone in the family and then she said she'd sell them in the cafe if I brought some over. Yesterday I had to wait for her to run home and get wire and clothespins so we could put up the display. While I waited I had a cup of redneck coffee and enjoyed chatting with the old farmer/rancher guys in there about riding our horses to school. Yes, I did . . . I rode a horse to school grades 1-8.
TODAY, I was headed into town on the main highway that goes east and encountered a cattle drive. Ahhhhh . . . I actually love them, because that tells me that there are ranchers out there that STILL take their herds up into the mountains for the summer and back home in the winter.
This was a pretty big herd and they were along both sides of the highway, many of the heifers had gotten separated from their calves so there was a lot of "mama bellaring" going on. I put down my window and enjoyed it . . yes, I did! I am always entertained by the tourists because they don't really know how to negotiate their cars through a cattle drive and, I think, some of them are annoyed by having to drive through the "goodies" on the pavement.
This photo is a quick shot I was able to manage today of a few of them. You can see one of the cowboys in the back. There were about six cowboys with this herd and, of course the lead vehicle and vehicle at the back with orange flags.
Yes, I loved it all . . .they are traditions still alive in my part of the world.
Thanks for letting me share!
CJ
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..from the barefoot farmgirl in SW Colorado...sister chick #665.
2010 Farmgirl Sister of the Year
Mother Hen: FARMGIRLS SOUTHWEST HENHOUSE
living life - www.snippetscja.blogspot.com
from my hands - www.cjscreations-ceejay.blogspot.com
the "Purple Thistle" http://www.ceejay48.etsy.com
from my heart - www.fromacelticheart.blogspot.com
from my hubby - www.aspenforge.blogspot.com |
Edited by - ceejay48 on May 15 2012 09:40:44 AM |
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YakLady
True Blue Farmgirl
652 Posts
Natalie
Montana
USA
652 Posts |
Posted - May 10 2012 : 6:11:50 PM
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Super cool! No one does that in our area...
~Natalie~ Just a farmgirl in Western Montana. http://mtnme.blogspot.com
Starting a family and raising Tibetan Yaks, Highland cattle, Laying hens, Muscovy ducks, Silver Fox rabbits, and a few dogs. |
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FarmDream
True Blue Farmgirl
1085 Posts
Julie
TX
USA
1085 Posts |
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laurentany
True Blue Farmgirl
3259 Posts
Laurie
Patchogue
NY
USA
3259 Posts |
Posted - May 10 2012 : 6:17:59 PM
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Oh my goodness CJ! How cool is that? Thank you so much for sharing your story and for sharing the picture of the cattle drive. I just think that is the neatest thing, and am thrilled to hear that it really does still exist in real life, not just in history books!
Hugs,
~Laurie
"Little Hen House on the Island"
Farmgirl Sister#1403
Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.. |
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jan49829
True Blue Farmgirl
2428 Posts
Janet
Gladstone
Mi.
USA
2428 Posts |
Posted - May 10 2012 : 7:42:52 PM
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I agree, CJ, that is really great that they do still exist in this day and age. How wonderful to be able to get that close to watch and enjoy. I would be in my glory also, sonce they do not have those around here. Wonderful pictures too.
Janet
Farmgirl Sister #3340
http://hardatworkcrafts.blogspot.com
http://Jan49829.etsy.com
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Nana Shirl
True Blue Farmgirl
352 Posts
Shirley
Kit Carson
Colorado
USA
352 Posts |
Posted - May 10 2012 : 10:26:23 PM
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Oh CJ thanks for sharing...you brought back some memories when I was little n got to go to the sale barns with my Uncle Harry...the sale barn burned down many years ago...in our area ..there is still one in LaJunta...and Burlington...ya know...nothin tastes better than a cheese burger at a sale barn or a bowl a chili..(maybe the aroma..lol)..yep nothin better... I have to share a funny here...I was on my way to town out here on the eastern plains and the neighbor was moving cattle down the road n across the hiway 287...of course they had traffic stopped and all was going well until one ole mama cow balked and STOPPED...cars n trucks were backed up and A GREYHOUND BUS..must of been full of people from the city...they were takin pictures and could not believe how this ole cow hunkered down and would not move..til finally they roped her and tried to pull her across that pavement...she would not step foot on it...then finally her calf started bawlin...and finally they got her across....believe me...the tourist got their money worth that day...lol...thank you for sharing your story...it is awesome to see a sale barn lot full of pickups n trailers n of course the pen riders at work...I haven't been for a while...think I better jump in the truck like the dog when they say .."Let's go to the sale!"...
You can't get a cup of tea big enough or a book long enough to suit me. ~C.S. Lewis |
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Alee
True Blue Farmgirl
22944 Posts
22944 Posts |
Posted - May 11 2012 : 05:27:39 AM
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That is fantastic, CJ! I haven't seen a good cattle drive for a long time. I love the old traditions and it's great to hear of such a thriving community tradition!
Alee
Farmgirl Sister #8
www.farmgirlalee.blogspot.com
www.allergyjourneys.blogspot.com
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
14020 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
14020 Posts |
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Blessed in Colorado
True Blue Farmgirl
7648 Posts
Debbie L.
Oregon
USA
7648 Posts |
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
14020 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
14020 Posts |
Posted - May 11 2012 : 08:11:50 AM
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You didn't believe me about riding a horse to school??
Well, here I am . . the horse was a chestnut bay mare named Ginger, we rode bareback.
First photo is my brother, Gerry, on the back, me in the middle and my little sister, Gaye Lynn, in front. We did that for about a year before Gerry went to the high school. Note the lunch box
This would be ME . . 
Several other kids rode horses to school and they just patiently waited for us in the barn about behind the school until time to come home.
Those were the days, my farmgirl friends 
CJ
..from the barefoot farmgirl in SW Colorado...sister chick #665.
2010 Farmgirl Sister of the Year
Mother Hen: FARMGIRLS SOUTHWEST HENHOUSE
living life - www.snippetscja.blogspot.com
from my hands - www.cjscreations-ceejay.blogspot.com
the "Purple Thistle" http://www.ceejay48.etsy.com
from my heart - www.fromacelticheart.blogspot.com
from my hubby - www.aspenforge.blogspot.com |
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Dusky Beauty
True Blue Farmgirl
1108 Posts
Jen
Tonopah
AZ
USA
1108 Posts |
Posted - May 11 2012 : 4:05:56 PM
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Sending the children to school on horseback... I'm almost at that point!
I just about see myself moving to Amish/Mennonite Country just so no one will bat an eye to see me clip clopping in a buggy to the store or post office.... Or they might at the sight of a heavyset, 6 ft tall, long haired valkyrie-women in blue jeans and concert T-shirts driving an Amish buggy...
~*~ http://silverstarfamilyfarm.blogspot.com/ ~*~
“When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, 'I used everything you gave me.”
~Erma Bombeck |
Edited by - Dusky Beauty on May 11 2012 4:08:35 PM |
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marlee
True Blue Farmgirl
1650 Posts
Marlene
DeRidder
Louisiana
1650 Posts |
Posted - May 11 2012 : 4:36:40 PM
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My mother when she was going to school in the 30's she rode a horse to school. And underneath the school in the back there was a place to keep the horse, they had water and feed for them. In the winter time it was a good place to keep them out of the weather.
My mother would bring the cows in to be milk when she was eight years old, before school and then evening. My mom was eight when her first brother was born, 10 when her second brother was born and almost 13 when he youngest brother was born. she was the only girl and the oldest.
Also when she was eight she could cook and put meals on the table. She told me one time when she was ten, she make a chocolate cake and iced while grandma and papaw were in the field she said everytime she passed the table the cake called her name and she said she ate half of
before anyone got back. Grandma ask her what happen to the cake . She told grandma she was trying to clean and watch the boys and the cake was calling her name. So from then on Papaw would say is the cake calling you yet!!! HEHEHE. I could hear papaw say that! Marlee
Sorry I got of the subject. WOW.
God is the painter, he paints the picture. And his son builds it, for he is the Master Carpenter! |
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treelady
True Blue Farmgirl
2388 Posts
Julie
Medina
ND
USA
2388 Posts |
Posted - May 11 2012 : 6:07:41 PM
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We too still call it the sale barn and they serve the best knoephla soup there in 3 counties. It also the best place to visit and hear stories of the old days. Aren't cattle drives fun CJ, they always seem to attract alot of attention even though to us it just plain work! Thanks for teh pictures, it is always fun to see someone else doing it.
Julie
A little rain can straighten a flower stem. A little love can change a life.
Max Lucado |
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crittergranny
True Blue Farmgirl
1096 Posts
Laura
Lindrith
NM
USA
1096 Posts |
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
14020 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
14020 Posts |
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acairnsmom
True Blue Farmgirl
1319 Posts
audrey
cheyenne
wy
1319 Posts |
Posted - May 15 2012 : 12:35:50 PM
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Oh CJ! You just brought back memories of my youth also! We used to go visit my Grandfather (Pop) on his ranch every summer. There was always a day we got up early and went to the livestock auction. I was too young to really know what was going on but I loved it. I remember seeing the cattle and the horses in the auction pen and wishing I could one day own one of those horses. Still don't have the horse or cows but we are finally in a place that it might happen some time in the future. Thanks for bringing these happy memories to mind!
Audrey
http://prairiecairncottage.blogspot.com/
.jpg) Good boy Hobbs! I love and miss you. |
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FieldsofThyme
Farmgirl Guide & Schoolmarm / Chapter Leader
4928 Posts
USA
4928 Posts |
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ceejay48
Farmgirl Legend/Schoolmarm/Sharpshooter
14020 Posts
CeeJay (CJ)
Dolores
Colorado
USA
14020 Posts |
Posted - May 17 2012 : 7:55:57 PM
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Well, I went to the sale barn again yesterday morning to hang more aprons for sale in the cafe. Just as we arrived one of the young gals that works in the cafe came out, got a .22 rifle from her pickup truck and went back inside. When I went in I didn't see it or what she had done with it, she was back to work and there were about 8 rancher/farmer guys at the tables having coffee.
Only in the wild west . .
CJ
..from the barefoot farmgirl in SW Colorado...sister chick #665.
2010 Farmgirl Sister of the Year
Mother Hen: FARMGIRLS SOUTHWEST HENHOUSE
living life - www.snippetscja.blogspot.com
from my hands - www.cjscreations-ceejay.blogspot.com
the "Purple Thistle" http://www.ceejay48.etsy.com
from my heart - www.fromacelticheart.blogspot.com
from my hubby - www.aspenforge.blogspot.com |
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Across the Fence: "Sale Barns" and Cattle Drives |
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"Sale Barns" and Cattle Drives
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