Provider: Rick Kuntz
Profession: Rancher
Hometown: Dillon, MT - Diamond Bar J Ranch

May, 2007 Diary Entry

I apologize for not updating my diary for so long, but we've been pretty busy with calving.  We are almost done - about five head left to cave out! It has really been a good calving.  We have been about 96% successful in saving the calves - that's an A in most classes I've been to!  As the wet weather hits in the spring, we have had some problems with sick calves, but most of them have responded well to the medicines we give.  All in all, this is about the best calving season we've had on the ranch since my wife and I came here in 1988.

We branded our first bunch of 125 calves last week and have gotten the pairs (cows and calves) moved out to their first pasture for summer grazing.  We wanted to brand another bunch today, but as rain storm last night and wet snow falling this morning caused us to wait until next week.

When not busy with calving and feeding the cows, we've been kept busy fixing fence and brushing meadows, getting them ready to apply irrigating water. We've also been checking water lines in some pastures to make sure our cows will have drinking water when we get cattle turned out into them.

This weekend my wife and kids and I will be traveling to Billings (Montana's largest city), some 270 miles east of here to attend the wedding of my 25 year old daughter.  Morgan (age 14) and Jace (age 11) have been asked by their sister to read a poem at the wedding, so they will be part of the ceremony.  We are excited and pleased for my daughter.  She is a good kid and is marrying a nice young man.

My wife Gail will go with Morgan and Jace to Virginia next week.  They will be gone about five days.  The kids are part of a musical group here in town known as the Dillon Junior Fiddlers.  The group has been asked to represent Montana at the 400th anniversary of the settlers landing at Jamestown in 1607.  They have been practicing hard on a 35 minute program they will present at the festival next Friday night (May 11).  They put on a dress-rehearsal for the Dillon community this past Monday evening.  It is a great show - they will represent Montana and Dillon well!

Guess that catches you up.  Study hard as your school year winds down over the next month.  Always remember - when the going gets tough, just reach down deep and COWBOY UP - you'll get through the rough parts in good shape!

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