Tall Grass Prairie

Kyle and Natalie's dad works on our farm.

Kyle is a chip off the ol' block.......

Natalie is a spitfire.

They're both good help for moving cattle.

Look at that grass behind Kyle. The platter is just about licked clean. Because our pastures are small and bovine appetites large, our cattle leapfrog around the county all summer, following the grass like ancient nomads. Only these nomads periodically have to thumb a ride with a friendly trucker.

Here they have been herded into a portable corral to await the arrival of their limo.

Cattle are naturally claustrophobic. The gaping mouth of a dark stock trailer, just to the right of this photo, isn't too appealing. Merrill's job is to tap that red calf on the noggin and redirect his thinking.

Erica's job is to count cows and calves as they offload into fresh grass. Then Kyle's job is to stand in the gate opening until we return with the next load.

Natalie's job is to be a spitfire. Lookin' good, Natalie.

Natalie's other job is to keep from getting lost in the tall grass.

I think she may be better at the spitfire job.