Your Ag Network

So, cattle towns were midwestern frontier settlements that catered to the cattle industry. The economies of these communities were heavily dependent on the seasonal cattle drives from Texas, which brought the cowboys and the cattle that these towns relied upon. Cattle towns were found at the junctions of railroads and livestock trails. These towns were the destination of the cattle drives, the pla...

Before we dive into this week, I wanted to let you know that I will be back on the road next week headed to meet with cattle producers. I have learned that cattlemen travel in very small circles, mostly from the ranch to the sale barn and occasionally to the feed store.

I took a special trip this week to Hot Barn reporting market, North Platte Stockyards. As I was getting close to North Platte, I realized I really didn’t know where I was going.

There is just something about a dog. There is something about raising kids and dogs together. And none of this has anything to do with Border Collies. You choose the dog for you and sometimes the dog chooses you!

While our Border Collie brigade plays a vital role in the inner workings of our ranch, I will tell you that there is more to having these dogs than just having them round up and push cattle.

THEE Hot Barn Report! Heard ONLY on American radio stations across the nation and online at hotbarnreport.com!

THEE Hot Barn Report! Heard ONLY on American radio stations across the nation and online at hotbarnreport.com!

There are a lot of talented cattle herding dog breeds. I would say that once you find a breed that you click with, you tend to be hooked and that is how I would describe our love for Border Collies.

There are a lot of talented cattle herding dog breeds. I would say that once you find a breed that you click with, you tend to be hooked and that is how I would describe our love for Border Collies.

THEE Hot Barn Report! Heard ONLY on American radio stations across the nation and online at hotbarnreport.com!

Ranch dogs are to ranching, as tractors are to farming....or at least here on the Jones Ranch, we could not imagine life without our pack of 4-legged ranch hands. When it comes to ranch and herding dogs, everyone has their favorite breed that they are loyal to. I can’t say that I have a lot of experience with the Shepards and the Heelers, because we are a Border Collie family through and through.

Nothing makes my heart swell more than seeing kids in a sale barn! It’s about like seeing kids in church! They may bring a little bit of chaos but the hope for the future that they bring is worth all of the loud footsteps and a few spilled soda pops.

ALLLLL ABOARD..... Thanks for coming back to Ranch Raised! Did anyone else ever watch The Magic Schoolbus show on PBS growing up? As an adult and parent, now, I think back to that show and how genius it was. Miss Frizzel saw a learning opportunity in even the most ordinary situations.

So, I have more than just kitchen recipes up my sleeve. Just like some people like to tinker in their shop or garage, I like to tinker and make everyday household products that are cleaner and work better for my family.

SPECIAL INTERVIEW: Monte James interviews Senator Mike Rounds on today's Hot Barn Report

Last week I shared with you one of my hippie life hacks to help with sore muscles. I will tell you that ranching not only wreaks havoc on your body but also on your skin this time of year. Your hands are constantly exposed to the elements, sometimes getting wet or covered with goo and animal excrement.

THEE Hot Barn Report! Heard ONLY on American radio stations across the nation and online at hotbarnreport.com!

Wow the year is already going fast… welcome to a Monday January 10th edition of America’s Hot Barn Report. Monte James back in the studio fresh off a Nebraska panhandle and West River South Dakota road trip. Shout out to our affiliates KQSK in Chadron… not Chad Ron Nebraska and check these call letters out KCOW in Alliance Nebraska! I like it!

Welcome back to Ranch Raised! We have a big day today, so listen closely to learn all about it!

We are bringing in the new year with a bang today at Crawford Livestock Market in Crawford, NE. Big run of feeder calves that have been weaned a long time and are ready to go to work for you! If you can’t make it to Crawford, check it out on cattleusa.com!

We made it through the first full week of 2022 and I appreciate you spending a few minutes of your day with me, right here on Ranch Raised!

This cold weather is hard on everyone! Hard on tractors and equipment, hard on livestock, and hard on herdsman.

Ice chopping is a pain, literally! If it’s not your face, fingers, and toes freezing, it is your shoulders and back burning!

Normal people consider summer, fall, winter and spring the seasons that they turn their calendar too. But, if you have ever spent much time talking to farmers to ranchers and you know that our seasons haying, weaning, ice chopping/feeding, and calving season.

Welcome aboard Creighton Livestock Market, Inc. Owners Joel Kumm and Ryan Siecke specialize in taking care of stock with clean pens and plenty of feed! Hot Barn Report welcomes this family owned business serving Western Iowa and Eastern Nebraska!