It All Began

with three calves ~  two of them heifers, Bessie and Bertha, and one steer that we named Ribeye.  Our family had just built a couple of farmhouses on 9 acres giving us the freedom to have livestock.  We thought it would be fun to raise some cattle and our Papaw, who lives on the farm too, bought us the three calves from a ranch down the road.

Oct. 1, 2010
the day they arrived on the farm

The rancher was a lot of help getting us started.  We spent the year taking care of them and watching them grow.  We had a lot to learn and we found out real quick what worked and what didn't.

Over time the steer became pretty tame allowing us to pet him but the heifers which we intended to breed were harder to handle.  Eventually, they started breaking through our fence and we decided it was time for them to go.  It was May by then and we didn't need to butcher three so we sold the girls.

That left Ribeye to be finished out.

It was an experience taking him to the butcher, one that we won't forget.  But we knew that he lived a great life as far as cattle go.  He had fresh water and plenty of lush green grass or quality hay to eat.  He never had to stand in a feedlot.  He had good grain to fatten him up a little and scratches on the back everyday.  Yes, he had it good.  We provided for him and now he would provide for us as meat on the dinner table.  That is what he was made for and we appreciate him all the more because of that.