Archive for July, 2009

July 30, 2009

Smoky Hill Bison buffalo calves

I know it sounds unusual for any of you that have visiting Kansas during the summer, but we’ve had 70-80 degree weather this week. We didn’t even turn the air conditioning on in the Visitors Center the past two days.
 
I was visiting with a family from Sweden that stopped in today, and they were wondering if this is typical weather for Kansas. I wish! We’re just lucky to get a break in the heat and humidity. But at least we’ve enjoyed a nice green summer with all the sporadic rain we’re had. Everyone that stops in says how nice the pasture and fields look on their drive out to the Bison Farm (and the buffalo love this cool weather too).
 
Notice that the calves are changing colors on their faces in the above photo? That’s another sign that our weather and day length is changing too. We’ll soon find out if we have a hot or cool August.

Dyllan’s Birthday

Dyllan turns 18 tomorrow, and next week will be his last work week here at the Bison Farm. (We’re having cake and ice cream during lunch to celebrate his big day.) He takes off for college next. Dyllan will be majoring in wind technology, which is growing career field in Kansas.
 
This afternoon I had Dyllan pull back the leaves around one of the new giants growing in the pumpkin field so I could take a photo. We have several pumpkins already at 30 lbs. and they will add at least another 150 lbs. in weight before the fall season starts September 26th.
 
Dyllan is going to miss working the fall season this year, but I hope he will come back to enjoy it as a guest after working it three years. We’ll miss him!

July 24, 2009

Mt Rushmore

Yes, Verne and I left home for a little R & R this week. We didn’t have any tour groups until Sunday, so we took off last Saturday and came back yesterday. Donna, Jim, and Dyllan took care of the Visitors Center and checked water tanks. 
 
We had never been to Mt. Rushmore, so we tossed some clothes in a suitcase, stopped at the library for some audio books, and took off.
 
The weather was cool and clear, and the drive was green with beautiful scenery. I prefer to vacation in rural country rather than the big cities, so this was a very relaxing trip.
 
Besides seeing the night lighting of the faces of the presidents, we went on tours the next day that told the story of Mt. Rushmore. There were a lot of other tourists there, but it was not overly crowded.
 
We also went to the Crazy Horse Memorial and toured the old mining towns in the area.
 
Venders were gearing up for the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally which was just over a week away. They were expecting 535,000 people into the area the next two weeks. WOW! That’s a lot for the little town of Sturgis which normally has a population of 6700 people. But this will be their 69th year to host it so they know how to do it right.
 
Custer State Park

Smoky Hill Bison pickup truck at Custer State Park

We also spent time driving through Custer State Park enjoying the scenery and wildlife. Yes, I know…here we raise buffalo and then we’re looking for more buffalo on vacation! But it was really fun to see not only the buffalo, but the people jumping out of their cars to take pictures.
 
The bulls had started the breeding season and we could hear them roaring and grumbling throughout the area. We stopped and watched while a herd of about 200 moved through a valley and came to cross the road.
 
We had gotten out of the pickup to take photos, but always moved to the back of the pickup whenever bulls were going by. They are very dangerous and unpredictable, especially during breeding season.
 
One cow, probably the head of this group, was trying to cross with her calf, with another thirty cows following her. The people crowded up too close, so she stopped. I couldn’t resist saying “Stand back to give her room!” The people did and the cows proceeded across.
 
Since we were in our pickup with our business logo on it, people asked us questions about bison while we were stopped there. We were glad to give them facts about these great creatures.
 
Now we’re back to work and catching up after being gone a week. I enjoyed the trip but I did miss head cow Esther and our herd…

July, 17, 2009

Smoky Hill Bison pumpkin patch

After two days of heating up to 106 degrees on Monday and Tuesday, it dropped down to 82 degrees the rest of this week. What a welcomed relief!
 
We’re still getting little rain showers now and then so that has kept the humidity high though.
 
The pumpkin vines are growing like crazy with this hot humid weather. They are stretching out several inches a day now. The air is humming with the bees pollinating the flowers and we have lots of little pumpkins setting on.
 
And this is a good thing because we’ll start having groups in for the fall activities in nine short weeks.
 
Growing Buffalo
 
The calves are growing too. They are starting to turn brown around their eyes and nose, and getting their brown stripe down their backs. I just noticed calves in this photo have brown tufts on the end of their tails too.
 
They have also doubled in size and spending more time in play groups instead of always being by their moms.
 
New bull Chief is blending in well with the herd and was showing an interest in one of the two-year-old heifers by following her around. It’s time to start the breeding season so this is a good thing.

July 9, 2009

Now I know your first thought was that “Donna and Jim” were new buffalo, but actually I’m talking about people for a change!
 
We’ve added two new people to our staff recently so I thought I’d introduce them to you, so you know who might be answering the phone besides me or Patty.
 
Donna Nelson was hired for sales and order fulfillment. (A note for my local readers: Donna owned Lindsborg Lace, a retail shop in downtown Lindsborg for 25 years until she sold the building in 2005).
 
Before joining Smoky Hill Bison Co., Donna was the assistant to the director of the Lindsborg Chamber of Commerce. Besides taking care of the gift shop and internet orders, she’ll be good at promoting the Bison Farm.
 
Jim Plattner was hired to do sales and marketing for our fall business events, and for corporate gifts for clients and customers (like Bison Snack Boxes). He was a salesman for Great Plains Manufacturing before recently retiring after thirty years with that company.
 
He loves going out to visit businesses, and has many connections with companies and groups in the agriculture industry.
 
They already seem to be a “good fit” at the Bison Farm and I’m sure they will help Smoky Hill Bison grow into our next decade.

July 2, 2009

Smoky Hill Bison buffalo steaks

Besides being the Bison Farm’s 10th anniversary, this is the tenth year for National Bison Month. It was created and registered in 1999 by the National Bison Association to promote the bison meat. July was picked because people enjoy grilling meat during the summer, so it was a good month to promote buffalo burgers and steaks.
 
Over the years our association has promoted bison meat to restaurants and chefs besides the public. People have tried it, liked it, and continue to look for it, especially through the internet- and that may be how you found us at the Bison Farm.
 
So a salute to bison! I hope you enjoy this tender tasty meat this July and other months too.