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IF THERE’S ONE THING FARM & RANCH LIVING READERS AGREE ON, it’s a love of farm machines. And why not? They’re essential to earning your bread and butter. Now, if we asked if you preferred green, red or blue, we might have an argument on our hands. But an appreciation of old iron is universal. Earlier this year, we asked you to send in your best tractor stories and photos for our My Favorite Tractor Contest, and you delivered. We had a sense—and reading through your entries confirmed it—that restoration work sometimes cements a friendship or a skill. The three stories we felt best illustrated that idea begin on page 52. This issue is full of what you love about ag life, including fields and pastures in their autumnal splendor;…
MYSTERY TOOL This tool was found in the remnants of a building that had been torn down. Most recently, the building housed a restaurant, but at various times it has also held a grocery and a feed store, among other interests. The triangular-shaped part turns independently of the threaded part. I placed the pen beside the tool for size comparison. Please let me know if you know what it is. Thank you! EMMETT MACHANDE SABULA, IOWA Trick or Peat My husband works for the local co-op. Our son heard us discussing possible Halloween costumes for him, and he said, “No! I wanna be like Daddy.” His desire at such a young age to be like his father was so sweet. So, a coffee-drinking, phone-talking, fertilizer hauler it is! RHONDA WHITNEY…
CHIPPING IN Our son, Makai, helped collect firewood during our last family camping trip at Utah’s American Fork Canyon before it closed for the winter. ANNIE THOMSON PROVO, UTAH 1 A MODEL HORSE Gypsy is the friendliest and most outspoken of all our miniature horses. One fall evening I spent some time grooming her and decided that she might like to try on my jacket. I think it suits her! SUMMER LACKEY STONY POINT, NORTH CAROLINA 2 DEN MOTHER EXTRAORDINAIRE There isn’t an animal my friend Dagne Wesley wouldn’t help. Her barnyard consists of one Hereford bull, six cows, two Belted Galloways on loan for breeding, 16 hens, six sheep, three dogs, two cats, one beehive and five fish. BONNIE MARK WHITMORE, CALIFORNIA 3 BROTHERLY LOVE My…
Our dog was named Rusty, but we all called him Smartdog. My parents, Nancy and Duane, got him not long after Mom was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. He brought her so much joy. When Mom was in the house, Smartdog would lie just outside, near or against the back door. He liked it there because it was good for his ego: Mom would stand inside and tap on the storm door to get his attention, then she’d laugh, telling him what a pretty and smart dog he was. Anytime Mom came outside to see what the rest of us were doing, Smartdog came with her. If he was out where we were working, the minute he saw Mom, off he’d go to escort her, staying beside her until she went back…
Our story begins with a dream of a ranch—and a bolt of lightning. In 1965, my wife, Sandy, and I moved onto a 5-acre parcel of land with hopes of building a horse farm. After it was constructed, our farm saw the birth of more than 100 horses, including many Quarter Horse show champions. We had cows, cats and dogs, and our three children grew up there, too. We loved the scenic area, especially all the trees. A neighbor had a beautiful old Bartlett pear tree. It had been struck by lightning, but he’d repaired the damage with bricks and mortar, and the tree was thriving. When I asked about the pears, he said he canned them. As the years went on, he would let us buy some of the…
When I returned from a trip out West, I pondered how the landscape inspired the food. When you eat this treat, think of plains pouring into the blue sky. LEAH WALDO JAMAICA PLAIN, MA PREP: 45 min. + chilling • BAKE: 45 min. MAKES: 8 servings 21/2 cups all-purpose flour 1 tsp. salt 1 cup cold butter, cubed 8 to 10 Tbsp. ice water FILLING 2 Tbsp. butter 8 medium ripe pears, peeled and thinly sliced 11/2 tsp. ground cinnamon 1/3 cup apple cider or juice 1/4 cup packed brown sugar 1 tsp. vanilla extract 1 Tbsp. coarse sugar 1. In a large bowl, mix flour and salt; cut in butter until crumbly. Gradually add ice water, tossing with a fork until dough holds together when pressed. Shape into a…
