Category Archives: Photographs

Paregien Ranch, March 14, 2012

Almost a new species to us, it’s been over forty years since I’ve seen any chipmunks in this watershed. According to what I’ve garnered from the Internet, Fresno County is the southernmost point of their range. (These were found at about 2,400′)

About half the size of a ground squirrel, I jumped a bunch of 15-20 running parallel with me along a granite outcrop, playing and slightly curious of my presence. They were quick and active, in and out of cracks in the granite rock piles, up manzanita trees to get a different perspective of me, then finally escaping into the gooseberry patches. They don’t pose long.

Paregien Ranch, March 14, 2012

Checking cattle, feed conditions and to cut a Kubota load of manzanita in case it rains and cools down.

Little bunch of late calves waiting for an iron.

A slick bull calf we missed in the first gather of Sec. 17.

Heterosis=Mrnak bull.

Chemise – Greasy Creek. See ‘Wildflowers’, tab “Early Bloom 2012” for a few more.

Blossom Peak

Don Shrock

John Vincent

Russ Fisher & John Vincent - photo Earl McKee

Zach Shaver

John Dofflemyer

Earl McKee

Wayne Weller

Clay Lyons

Zach Shaver & Banjo - photo Earl McKee

Dance at the Fire - photo Earl McKee

Jaimie & Casey

Brent & Paige Huntington

Beautiful day, nice calves, good company!

Clarence Holdbrooks, Brent Huntington & Zach Shaver

Sam Avila, Ken McKee, Tony Rabb, Doug Thomason & Craig Ainley

Sam Avila & Doug Thomason

Ken McKee & Craig Ainley

Craig Ainley

Brent Huntington

Doug Thomason

Craig Ainley

Virginia McKee

Tony Rabb

Zach Shaver & Clarence Holdbrooks

Jody & Sam

Under a threat of rain or snow, cold wind and less than ideal conditions, we got the Wagyu calves branded. The Wagyu-cross are more active than our straight English calves, and a little tougher to rope in our big pen with tall grass. Lots of long ropes coming to the fire, our neighbors certainly rose to the occasion.

Afterwards, we barbecued some delicious American Kobe (Wagyu-cross) tri-tips from Snake River Farms that melted in our mouths – well-worth the premium over Angus USDA Choice. Snake River Farms

courtesy: Gary Nabhan

In the past decade or so, the combination of increased U.S. foreign imports, corporate outsourcing of jobs overseas and the rising price of crude petroleum has foreign interests holding huge amounts of U.S. dollars looking for vehicles in which to invest beyond the low yields of U.S. Treasury Notes that are subject to our deflating dollar as a result of several huge injections of cash, and debt, to bail-out the banks and brokerage houses due to aggressive and creative financing until late 2008.

These foreign interests, most armed with graduates from outstanding business schools across this country, invest on Wall Street and other world exchanges, looking for yields and opportunities other than holding-on to U.S. dollars. As capitalism prevails in a global economy that consists of multi-national corporations and shareholders, I wonder what percentage of these corporations are owned and influenced by these diverse foreign shareholders? Whatever the number, it’s more than ever before.

And how does this multi-national ownership influence the media, foods and services in this country? Long an advocate for the culture of small family farming and ranching to prolong our sense of independence, self-reliance and essential common sense, the trend towards corporate agriculture may not be in our national best interests. As neither foreign nor domestic politicians and investors value these intangibles more than money, the future of small agricultural operations is now under unprecedented pressure.

To acquiesce to the corporate control of our food and clothing subjugates us all, defies common sense, and does not bode well for the future. It is time to redraw the fuzzy political lines between Democrats and Republicans, between Socialist and Capitalist philosophies, to address the more important loss of our independence and freedom, and to re-instill a nationalistic sense of self-reliance. Increase your freedom and options by getting to know and supporting your local farmers.

'American Gothic' by Grant Wood courtesy of Wikipedia

From the session in Elko: ‘Agrarian Poetry: Why We Need Its Messages and Beauty Now, More Than Ever Before’

Included above: Keith Pascoe, Mark Pascoe, Brent Pascoe & Vincent Pascoe
(click to enlarge)

Vincent Pascoe

Brent Pascoe & Shelly; Vincent Pascoe