You Can't be in the Cattle Business Without the Cow

“THE ONLY WAY OUR OPERATION, AND OUR WAY OF LIFE, IS SUSTAINABLE IS IF THE COW DOES HER PART. “- Klint Sickler, AGA President

Greetings from bi-polar western North Dakota. As I write this month’s article, it’s April 11 and we’re preparing for the biggest blizzard to hit the state since 1997. It’s almost funny how we can go from two years of unprecedented drought to 30 inches of heavy, wet snow in a matter of days. Thanks to advances in technology, we were able to be notified of this major storm before the system even moved off the Pacific Ocean, something our grandparents never had the luxury of experiencing.

As we do our blizzard preparations, a majority of our focus is on our cowherd. More specifically, how do we make sure those newborn calves stay safe and the mama cows stay fed. We are fortunate to have windbreaks, barns, and shelters that we can get them into if needed. Even with all of these ‘luxuries’, the focus remains on the cows. They truly are the heart of our operations, and while we don’t hand out any “Employee of the Month” trophies