Working Ranch Blog

Ag Engineering by Brett Haas
Mar. 4 2010, 11:47 PM

I must apologize for my lack of blogging, but needless to say life has been a tad busy here at the ranch. I've had lots of happenings to write on, just no time, or maybe energy, to write about them. As I was telling a friend the other day, when there is time to write, there isn't much to write on, and when there's plenty to write on, there's no time to write about it. I guess I could give you a summary.

Over the last week, I've broken and fixed my truck twice. This last time was the worst. I kept hearing a popping noise when driving over bumps (never a good thing). When all the mud and ice finally thawed enough to reveal my truck again, I discovered that the frame had sheered on the passenger side. I had just repaired a twist in the driver's side a week ago and replaced the rear springs. When the body shop twisted the frame back they must have tweaked the other side and weakened the metal. It's kinda like when you forget your fencing pliers and cut a wire by rapidly bending it back and forth.

I remember my pastor saying one time that if he ever broke down he'd rather have a farmer show up to help than a mechanic. He said a mechanic would spend an hour explaining what's wrong in terms you don't understand, only to say that he can't do anything without his diagnostic computer and a part that's a geographical oddity (two weeks from everywhere). A farmer would have you going in 30 minutes with some baling wire, fencing pliers, duct tape, and a recycled wad of Red Man. I took my truck to both body shops in town and they said it was beyond their expertise. One did, however, recommend someone who he thought could help. He gave me a number and I called Bob (not his real name). I told Bob the situation and he told me to come on up. So I drove out of town and found Bob's shop nestled among various automotive and farm antiquities displayed across his yard like tanks on the field after the battle. I knew I found the right man for the job. You remember what I was saying about the farmer vs. the mechanic? Well, this guy was a hybrid. I dropped the truck off at 10:30 and left a message on his phone that it was there and how to get a hold of me. He was at the dentist. Kirk and I were choring together when I got the call back. It was about noon. Bob was done. I was expecting a call that he just got the truck in, but he was done! And here's the best part. The bill was $40. Forty bucks, are you kidding me? I had visions of at least a hundred dollar bill. My first thoughts wondered how good of a job he did. I had visions of sheet metal fastened with rivets swirling in my mind. Not so. Bob is not only a good fabricator, but he's an artist. I found myself gazing at a metal smith masterpiece. The beads were smooth. The frame was realigned. It was perfection. Good Lord Mr. Ford, I don't think you could've done a better job.

Oh man, now look what I've gone and done. I've used up this whole blog talking about my truck. I'm sure that's why you read this, so you can know how my truck is doing, right? Well, for the sake of your time and mine (I just got back from pulling a calf and have to go check on another in an hour) let's just do it like this: I also got stuck, was chased by mad mothers, roped some calves, roped some cows, pulled some babies, got stuck, went to a farm profit dinner, pushed some snow, played with the kids, chored, tagged a lot of babies, put out some mineral, put a starter in my truck, helped Kirk doctor a snotty bull, helped Kirk pull a calf from a snotty heifer (now a cow on the short list), got summoned for jury duty, forgot to go to jury duty, got stuck, walked a mile back to the house at midnight after getting stuck, and last but certainly not least wrote this blog. Sheesh! Is it July yet?

Are you ready for summer yet? Tell me at thekansascowboy36@gmail.com, or look me up on Facebook or Twitter.