~Sunburn~Windburn~Freezerburn~

Track Season in Wyoming

We are on the road again and Wyoming's temperamental spring weather has us packing the full spectrum of sunscreen to snow gear--all of which are used throughout the day of a single meet!

Lukas has been having success in the 800. He was invited to compete in The Best of the West meet where he placed sixth. He has run the 400, the 4 x4 relay and the 4 x 8 relay at various meets this year besides doing the Long Jump.


Levi also Long Jumps, runs in the open 400, the open 800 and is the third man on the 4 x 4 relay.

BHS Prom 2010

April 17, 2010

Frankie Vossler and his date Sarayla

Jessica Phillippe and Lukas

This year it was nice not to have to race (no pun intended) home from a track meet in order to get gussied up for prom. Mike and I hosted the two couples for supper. Afterwards, they all dressed in their finery. Like last year's dates, the girls were ready before the boys!

Being a Junior, Lukas was part of the crew to decorate for prom. This year was a Vegas/Casino theme.

April Showers Bring... Calf Scours

Actually, so far we've been spared the calf scours. However, the weather has been harsh for baby calves and we are on edge keeping an eye on their health. Every three to four days we've had wet snows blow through leaving behind 4-8 inches and frigid temperatures. These pictures are from last night's 40% chance of precipitation. The moisture is a blessing considering the last nine years have been a drought(yeah! for the wheat and grassland)...yet it provides new challenges for young stock.

Easter Sunday C-Section

A life in production agriculture is one that exceeds the boundaries of 9 to 5 hours and 5 days a week. Not that I'm complaining, it's just a part of the territory of the business we're in...a commitment to livestock and land. Like others in this industry, it isn't uncommon to be baling hay on the 4th of July, fixing fence the morning of your niece's wedding because the cows found/made a hole and are camped out in the neighbors yard ten miles down the road, or have the septic tank back up on Christmas morning.

While feeding Easter Sunday morning we noticed this gal start in the calving process. As time rolled along she hadn't made much progress and it became evident that her situation was beyond the help of the calf pullers.. We loaded her up to share our Sunday with our local Large Animal Vet who got the "joy" of being on call for the weekend.

Ladies- In-Waiting

A few more weeks and these ladies along with their herd-mates will once again experience motherhood. We'll be busy with our bovine midwifery chores of bedding barns and making certain that mothering up/colostrum intake takes place in those early, crucial hours after birth. Levi calls this "The Nectars Of Life".

A Tech Fall Season

Regional Wrestling

Lingle, WY

February 19&20

Todd placed 2nd in the 215 lb Division and Frankie placed 4th at 160 lbs. These two along with four other guys on the team qualified for State. We were excited and hopeful for Todd to make it to the Championship round.

Our wrestling family:

Jacob, Rhonda, Chase, Becca, Levi, Trenton and Max

(On Sunday, Feb 21, Chase was sledding at our house. He shattered his left elbow and fractured his left hip.)

Coach Romsa matside, wondering why his wrestler didn't get nearfall points.

State Wrestling

Casper, WY

February 26 & 27

Friday night and the parade of champions. All the 2A -4A teams are introduced at this special ceremony.

Frankie in action at the Events Center.

All our hopes were dashed. No one made it into the placing rounds and Todd severely injured his elbow and forearm. He had to drop out of competition. We returned home with a bus load of disappointed kids. I feel especially bad for Todd as this is his Senior year.

~Beautiful Wide Open Spaces~

A Wrestling Trip To Hanna, Wyoming

As a child back in the 1970's I went to a ribbon cutting ceremony outside of Medicine Bow, Wyoming for a wind tower. Wind energy was going to be the salvation to our Nation. It was a boom time that went bust. 35 years later the trend is a boom once again--trying to capture Wyoming's tremendous winds--yet the same problem remains. How does one preserve the energy and add it to the grid?...and now for the State Legislator..how to tax this form of energy?

Don Quixote has saddle his horse once again to chase after windmills!

Granted, it's not for everyone. But for me I love this wide open, many times harsh country. The farm country of Goshen County, the expanse of the Red Desert and the majesty of the Tetons also make it diverse in it's economy. It has fashioned some of the most sincere, down to earth, problem solving people I know. I can't help to feel truly blessed to have been born and raised in this State!

Coaches Cooper and Romsa at the two day Carbon County Invite hosted by the school at Hanna. The teams had to stay 40 miles down the road in Rawlins as there aren't any accommodations in this small mining town.

Big Mike: the team bus driver and a man in search of a good BBQ!

Todd Baker was the team's big winner. He dominated the 215 lb weight division and brought home the first place hardware!

Poor Joe

Metro League Wrestling

January 23th Levi participated in the Regional Tournament in Gilchrist, CO. He placed fifth which earned him a chance to compete in the Championship Tournament. It took place on January 30th in Greeley, CO at the UNC campus. There were 12 in his 14 and under, 105 lb weight bracket. He ended up placing 7th. He really wrestled well this season. Now for a three week break and then he will compete in a Wyoming league called WAWA.

The Rest of the Family

Lukas received good news from the Dr. It looks like he will have a full recovery from his C5 injury. He's gaining strength and could possibly be healed up by next year's wrestling season. In the meantime he helps Mike with the high school team at Burns. Every weekend they are competing around the State. Three more weeks are left in the season until the State Tournament in Casper. It's been hard for Lukas to be "benched" but at least it looks hopeful for next year.

Back In The Groove

January 2010:

~Christmas vacation flew by... spent most of it chopping ice on the stock tanks and trying to keep the cattle fed during the arctic blasts and blizzards. We made a quick trip out to Kearney, NE for our niece's wedding on January 2. The ceremony and reception were held at the restored Opera House in Minden,NE. It was a beautiful wedding and fun to visit with family. Lukas and Levi are back in school. The end of the semester is on January 15th. Wrestling practices are in full swing.~

Levi wrestled in Cheyenne at the Metro League Regional Tournament. He placed fourth in the 14 and under,105lb division. In two weeks he'll wrestle again at the District Tournament.

On Wednesday we had another blizzard. This one lasted throughout the day but blew in below zero temperatures which persisted until Saturday. Today, however, was a beautiful, warm 40 degrees!