When looking at the role of taking care of animals, farmers have been considered caretakers, doctors, nutritionists, and most recently in our minds, firemen. This past Saturday we went to our state’s Young Farmer and Rancher Winter Conference. Prior to leaving we had checked our cattle and cows as we do everyday, making sure they had food, water and were all present. Then we headed off to the conference. After lunch, Chad received a call from a neighboring farmer panicked. He had been burning a grass pasture of his when the wind picked up and the fire was out of control. It was heading toward the grass pasture that we had 34 first calf heifers (female calf pregnant with her first calf) due in February. Since Chad was three hours away he was helpless and told the farmer to cut the fence and let them run, we would gather them later. Chad then called his dad who luckily hadn’t left for some ballgames yet and asked him to help. One of the heifers had calved early and had a two-day-old calf, which calves often hide in the grass at this age. Thankfully they found him and put him in the pick-up, because he would not have been able to keep up. Another friend driving by helped on a four-wheeler get the cattle to safety and into a corral.

In the process, we lost the tires on a portable corral, some of the posts on a brand new five-wire fence and the grass to run our heifers on. But we realize how necessary burning is to get rid of the old dead vegetation in a pasture so the new growth can come this spring. We use this method many times ourselves. Mishaps just happen sometimes. The farmer has a pasture he is going to let us use until the heifers have their calves.

After Chad knew the cattle were safe he said, “I can’t be gone for even a day.” This is how farmers all over feel. I can’t tell you how many times Chad has said, “my cattle don’t know it’s the weekend or a holiday.” I should be used to it. I grew up a farmer’s daughter and it always seemed like our vacations got cut short because dad would begin to worry about his cattle. I don’t understand how people can criticize the farmers when no one cares for animals as much as they do. Most people put their hours in at their job and they are finished until the next day. A farmer’s job is 24/7. But they love it and thankfully they do because where would we be without them. You can’t have a more important job than feeding people.