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April 29th, 2011
 With an exhausted husband trying to catch up on some sleep, I offered to take the night shift and check on the cows and new calves. Since it is usually an uneventful exercise, I was tempted to stay in my warm house on my comfy couch. But my conscious got the better of me so I bundled up and headed outside.
As soon as I left the house I heard the bawl of a cow that had recently calved. Some cows are more vocal than others and this cow had the concerned/anxious/what-in-the-world-just-happened bawl. Once in the meadow I took the usual rout around the outside perimeter, shining the spotlight on every cow and calf in range. Everyone looked fine. I spotted a coyote in the mix which wasn’t much of a concern until one set of eyes turned in to three.
After encouraging the pack to relocate, I made my way around to the nervous cow whose display of extreme confusion was familiar. I called for help and we then watched the cow alternate between forcing the calf to stand up and forcing it back to the ground. We have seen this a few times over the years and don’t really know what causes the cows to behave this way. Eventually they get over it and resume being excellent mothers, but it’s dangerous for the calves if you don’t catch it. We brought the calf in to the barn, fed it and let it recuperate overnight. The next morning the cow was waiting at the gate and immediately (and peacefully) took the calf when it was re-presented.
It is interesting to watch Mother Nature and instinct in our animals. There is a balance we have to find when deciding when to interfere. Fortunately for that newborn calf we were there at the right time so that it will get to join the others as they run and buck around the meadow.
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March 4th, 2011
 A conservation easement can be a useful tool to accomplish a variety of landowner objectives. One of the primary reasons owners place an easement on their property is to receive a direct cash payment, often in combination with state tax credits and a federal tax deduction. The benefit to the owner is they retain ownership and use of their entire parcel and “sell” some or all of their ability to develop the land. The public benefits because the limited development translates into open vistas and less interruption in open landscapes.
The encumbrance on the property results in a diminution of value which can also benefit the landowner by lowering the value of the estate.
Properties encumbered by conservation easements typically experience a longer sales effort and attract a smaller pool of buyers. There are several organizations that are qualified to hold conservation easements and each trust is unique and distinct as is each conservation easement. Time and money spent on the front end discussing how to best fit a conservation easement to your land, your income and your future plans will be well spent.
The featured property on this site; the Zimmerman Ranch, has numerous exit strategies; one of them may be conservation.
Tags: buyers, conservation, credit, development, easement, estate, federal, landowner, landscapes, money, property, public, ranch, Steamboat Springs, strategies, tax, time
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February 28th, 2011
 While I attended a class on weeds over the last several weeks, the instructor touched on a question I often hear from buyers or new owners of acreage: Can I plow up the sagebrush and replace it with grass? The simple answer may seem to be to cultivate the ground but if you do that to permanent pasture or rangeland, consider a few thoughts. To cultivate the ground requires specific equipment (plow, large disk, and a tractor big enough to handle it); a large area of bare soil is exposed to erosion and invasion by weeds; and if adverse environmental conditions exist (drought) the whole process may need to be repeated. Additionally, the seed itself can be expensive so it is certainly an investment in both time and money. You can check with the Routt County extension office and the NRCS (Soil Conservation) for more information.
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February 14th, 2011
 I have heard before that horses “take care of children and fools.” I have also witnessed this firsthand many, many times. Twenty-some-odd years ago, my husband Matt acquired a nice looking line back dun mare through a trade. He trained three young horses and kept one as payment. “Camel” was smart and attentive as a young horse and it did not take her long to become a fun, reliable and trustworthy partner. She was athletic, had great cow-sense and loved to be in the lead on the trail. Her lone–but extremely bad– habit of pulling back when tied would result in a complete backward flip. Ending up on her back or side, she would jump up, shake off the dust and look around as if to say “well, I guess that worked out pretty well.” After several years of her tantrums, we threw our hands in the air and decided that all of her remarkable qualities far outweighed her tantrums and we just laid the lead rope on the rail. Problem solved.
Once our son Tell was born, we knew that of all our good horses, Camel was one worthy enough of carrying me and our new mini-rider. Years went by and when Tell was old enough to balance on his own horse with his own mini-saddle, our smart dun mare was the horse we trusted to teach him about independence and confidence. As they walked along, he would sing to her, her ears constantly turned back, dutifully monitoring him. In the span of less than a summer Camel learned that if she reared up or launched into reverse when an unfamiliar adult placed his or her foot in the stirrup, it would significantly decrease her chances of carrying a heavy non-crooner. Interestingly, she would patiently stand as Tell tugged and pulled while inadvertently kicking her belly with the foot that was leveraging his balance as he climbed up her side and into the saddle. They were a contented duo.
After more than 20 years of eager service, Camel is getting older and slowing down. Although she still maintains her status as the alpha female in our horse herd, she communicates that fact more often with her pinned back ears than with her teeth and hooves. Her days of taking care of Tell as they wander along a trail or move cattle are getting fewer and farther between. It has been touching to watch this horse so carefully look after our son as he has grown over the last decade. We hope we can return the favor for her with a comfortable retirement full of green pastures, plentiful hay and loose ties.
Tags: children, herd, horse, pasture, ranch, Steamboat Springs, trail
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January 27th, 2011
Last weekend were the final days of the National Western Stock Show. My family looks forward to this mega-gathering of all-things-western each year. It is an opportunity to check out some of the latest technology in the ag world and enjoy an easy mid-winter getaway.
Perhaps the most impressive event at the Stock Show is the draft horse competition. We enjoy watching the six and eight horse teams with their replica hitch wagons parade around the arena, seemingly in step with the beat of the music. The horses are proud to be there and it’s obvious. Their high stepping, thundering gaits, their heads tall and their forward facing ears leave no doubt that they are excited to show off their striking black and chrome harnesses.
Although the teams as transportation are obsolete, the show is a reminder of the “old west.” The drivers of today are no less talented as they maneuver multiple horses to run, walk, turn, and reverse on command. After several heats, all the teams are brought into the arena to line up side by side; it is by far one of the most spectacular displays of power and beauty in the West.
Tags: agriculture, denver, draft, harness, horse, horse teams, ranch, stockshow, wagon, western
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January 19th, 2011
Join Christy and her family via video for a morning feed and explanation of why they raise Angus beef.
I AM ANGUS-THE BELTON FAMILY
Tags: Angus, cattle, ranch, sleigh, Steamboat Springs
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December 2nd, 2010
Winter is a welcome visitor to the ranch this year. Following a crazy-hectic fall schedule, we are looking forward to the simplicity winter offers. Although the cold winter weather doesn’t usually make a rancher’s work easier, it does add a degree of predictability to the job. Spring, summer and fall demand taking advantage of every hour of daylight to fix fence, harrow fields, irrigate, harvest hay, and gather cattle at a relentless pace. Winter demands feeding cattleon a regular daily schedule and routine is allowed to take a front seat.While most locals can’t wait for that famous Champagne Powder to blanket the slopes, we can’t wait for it to cover the meadows so we can pull the feed sled through the snow and feed our cattle.
Our day begins when the barn door opens and the black Percheron work horses diligently stroll in for their morning grain. As they eat, they are harnessed with simple leather gear that will enable them to pull with amazing force and grace. Done in less time than it takes for a cold tractor to warm up, harnessing only takes a few minutes per horse. The horses are then led in two’s to the feed sled equipped with runners that allow smooth pulling across the deep snow. Once they’re hooked up, they’re driven to the appropriate hay stack where they patiently wait, steam rising off of their backs, while we hand load a feed sled with about 6,000 pounds of hay.
Once loaded and following a stern voice command, the horses work in unison with a powerful tug that frees the sled from its ruts. The horses then fall into a routine and together they pull the load through the snow. The cattle fall in behind the sled with the dominant ones keeping pace in an effort to get a taste of some green meadow grass hay before it’s pitched from the sled. We scatter the hay along a trail that allows the herd to spread out and eat without pecking order pressure. With the bells on the harness ringing, the snow creaking under the weight of the hooves and the horses labored breathing; it is a melodic reminder of why we love what we do. After a few trips around the feeding area, we head back to the barn where the horses are returned to their respective stalls and allowed to cool off while they finish their morning grain.
Somehow the routine seems to set the bar for the rest of the day and we are energized but relaxed at the same time. We are able to connect as a family and with our animals. We often say there is no better way to start the day than by feeding cattle with a team of work horses. Wintertime gives us the opportunity to slow down and take notice of how fortunate we are to be able to enjoy this lifestyle.
Tags: horse, winter
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