Life on the Ranch

Some days it’s a blessing, and those few moments we spend leaning against a tractor tire, watching the cows feed on some alfalfa we just laid out for them as the sun sets, can be magical.  No matter the kind of day we just had, those moments make it all worthwhile.  There’s also the days when everything just seems to go wrong too; a tire just blew, and the windmill is down, a tree fell across some fence, and a water hydrant is frozen… you get the picture.  But, every time that happens something always appears, whether it’s a moment later, or the next day, to remind us just how lucky we are, and how amazing the ranch is in its beauty, to erase the short term irritation and replace it with the peace that comes with life on the ranch.

Life at the Flying B Bar provides the full continuum of experiences for us, from the joy of watching a new calf being born, taking its first few steps and nursing, to the sowing of sorghum/sudangrass seeds and the swathing and baling at harvest time. Then there are the ever-present things that mark time at the ranch that provide the pacing and discipline that is ranch life.  Every morning and evening there are chores to do: feeding, watering, cleaning a stall, or chasing the calf that slipped through the fence. These are the things that go on every day, rain or shine, warm or cold, sun or blizzard, no matter how you feel that day. 

Flying B is located about 7 miles north of Strasburg, Colorado, along the Kiowa Creek.  We farm and graze over 3 1/2 miles of the creek and it provides beautiful green native grasses that our cattle flourish on.  The ranch is located along the creek valley and is surrounded by gentle hills that slope up out of the valley to the east and to the west where the land transitions into mostly wheat fields and CRP grass. My mom, Katie, calls it “a little piece of heaven”.  We agree.

Feast Worthy Chuck Roast

Feast Worthy Chuck Roast

1 Beef, chuck roast, about 6–8 pounds Cooking oil, as needed Salt, as needed Black pepper, as needed Rosemary, about 3 sprigs, as needed Garlic, crushed, about 5 cloves Herbs: fresh, such as thyme or rosemary Black peppercorns, whole Coarse Salt Egg white Stock, beef,...

New York Strip with Tarragon Butter Sauce

New York Strip with Tarragon Butter Sauce

Ingredients: 1/2 cup olive oil, plus oil for skillet 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice 3 cloves garlic, minced 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 1 teaspoon ground black pepper 6 (1-inch thick) boneless New York strip steaks Tarragon Melting Sauce, recipe follows Tarragon...

Beef Stroganoff

Beef Stroganoff

Ingredients 4 tablespoons flour ½ teaspoon salt 1 lb beef sirloin, cut into ¼ inch strips 4 tablespoons butter (or 2 tablespoons butter and 2 tablespoons olive oil) 1 cup thinly slices mushrooms ½ cup chopped onion 1 clove garlic, minced 1 tablespoon tomato paste 1 ¼...

Moroccan Spice Blend

Moroccan Spice Blend

Ingredients 2 tablespoons cumin seeds (or ground cumin) 1 teaspoon sweet paprika 1/2 teaspoon hot paprika or crushed red pepper flakes 1 tablespoon kosher salt Directions Combine all ingredients. (Use an electric spice grinder if using whole seeds.) Store in an...

Grilled grass-fed burgers

Grilled grass-fed burgers

Ingredients 1 pound Flying B Bar burger 4-5 cloves garlic, chopped 2 teaspoons rosemary 2 teaspoons sage 1 teaspoon salt 1 teaspoon pepper Directions Mix the garlic and spices into the meat. Form beef into patties. Make a slight indentation in the center of each...

Steak Salera

Steak Salera

 Part 1 1.5lbs top round steak ½ teaspoon ground cumin 1 teaspoon salt Freshly ground pepper to taste 1 tablespoon olive oil 1 tablespoon butter Directions Season meat with cumin, salt, and pepper in a skillet over medium-high heat. Quickly brown meat on both sides in...

Spice-Rubbed Chuck Steak with Whiskey

Spice-Rubbed Chuck Steak with Whiskey

Ingredients 2-3lbs grass-fed chuck steak 1/2 teaspoon coriander seeds 1/4 teaspoon whole black peppercorns 1 tablespoon Moroccan Spice Blend (see end of recipe) 1/8 cup single-malt whiskey or amber spirits such as bourbon Directions Bring the meat to room temperature...

The Truth about Raising Animals on Pasture

Going Green at Flying B Bar Ranch

Go Grassfed