April 22, 2008

Cattle Ranch




A's 2nd grade class took a field trip to the Quilici Cattle Ranch today. I asked A if he wanted me to go and he said he did. I love field trips in our small town...we get to walk to all of them. We walked across the street and through a new housing development to find 2 flatbeds of hay waiting to take us to the ranch. So we all got on the flatbeds for a hayride. What fun!

We were taken to the Quilici Ranch just down the dirt road. I had no idea this ranch was as big as it was. The land just kept going. The owners showed us their horses, cows, bulls, and hay.


They grow their own hay, harvest it, bundle it, sell it, and keep some for feed. I have only seen a cow up close when I was really young. This was a whole new experience for me. We rode right into the middle of the cows and their young. It was so cool. I took too many pictures. They started to eat the hay we were sitting on and the lady next to me started 'ch ch' -ing them away.
F wasn't sure how he felt about this. He was interested in them but didn't want them to get to close. They were all so pretty. Well as pretty as cows can be. When we drove off we were followed by some cows who still wanted our hay and the ones that were REALLY pregnant just 'mooed' after us. They are quite loud when they all get mooing.









Everytime we passed more cows F would say, 'We don't need to get close to those cows.' The land was beautiful and so peaceful. I was impressed with how thought out the irrigation is. Just amazing to me. I had never thought about it before but there is real planning that goes into the whole irrigation system. Their irrigation runs off the Carson River. They consider themselves very lucky. Their ranch is about 127 years old and was a potato farm before it became a cattle ranch. This was really a fun field trip. A had a great time with Timothy, his best friend. And the weather was perfect. I bundled up and made sure A and F were bundled too. We didn't even need our coats until it was time to head back to the school. What a great way to spend my morning.





9 comments:

Bellblogging said...

What a neat expirence! Love the new song by Ashley! Sounds like you been busy as always, when you coming to visit?

Joey and Nettifer said...

What an awesome field trip and especially for you! I think that is neat that you can walk to everything!

danielle and jason said...

Gotta love small towns! How fun that you got to go.

ishybeanie said...

you take such great pictures, just every day life looks professional. we got stuck behind some one hearding cows is a canyon at bearlake it was fun to be so close you could touch them, although we didnt

cmshort said...

How fun. I have only visited a dairy farm. I bet it was cool to have the cattle all around you, instead of cages. The baby ones are cute.

Bubbles said...

I love Carrie Underwood!! Do you like her new stuff?

Maren said...

Sounds like a fun field trip! I never got to do anything like that as a kid. I like cows-- little calves are so cute! When I was in school at BYU I had to give cows shots, ear tag them, and even castrate (neuter) one! Not so fun.

danielle and jason said...

Thanks for the new candy! He can "save me" anytime! :)

Heather said...

This post just takes the cake!!!! What great photos. You really haven't experienced the cattle ranch until you've been branding all day. Whew! now that's some good times! How 'bout preg checking the heifers? How fun. We need to get Ford out for a horse back ride. One of our neighbors has twin foals. They are soooooo cute. Glad you had a great time exposed to a little heaven. he he he Come visit sometime!
Heather S.