November 20, 2019 by ride-n-mama Sharon

Harvest my Blessings : Happy Thanksgiving 2019

When I, Connie, take the time to look around and harvest my MANY blessings, I always have to ask, “Is Jesus enough for me?” Stopping to take time is incredibly hard for me in this season of life on the ranch, as I try to serve four generations daily. There is always something pressing for me to do.

Stop, Reflect and Harvest my Blessings

When I do stop, reflect and harvest my blessings, especially in the recent light of the passing of two dear friends of Grieb Ranch, Janet Maddux and Carolyn DeBlauw – known to us for over 50 years, I drink in the freshness of life. Jesus is enough.

“He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.”
Colossians 1:17 NIV

As I reflect, I find myself appreciating the gorgeous sections of the ranch, watching the little ones compete on horseback and naming new baby calves. When I pause and focus on the giver of all the blessings, I get to harvest the blessings of God’s amazing promises…eternal life, forgiveness, our health, strength, peace and daily guidance. Yes, He is enough.

“LORD, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.”
Isaiah 33:2 NIV

October 23, 2019 by ride-n-mama Sharon

The Heart of the Matter…

Part of processing our grass fed beef means we have to deal with the organs. One of our favorite organs to consume is the beef heart. Organ meats, also known as Offal, are the liver, kidneys and heart. These are nutrient-rich food sources and can actually be delicious. Crock Pot Beef Heart is one of our favorite ways to enjoy beef heart.

On the Grieb Ranch we have three favorite ways to prepare the beef heart: Baked, fried and in the crock pot.

Crock Pot Beef Heart

Beef heart is easily enjoyed at our traditional first Sunday of the month family potluck. The crock pot recipe is perfect for this as the heart is cooked and ready to serve as we arrive home from church.

Prepping the heart by cutting up the raw heart meat with an electric knife, may be the hardest part. Trim off the fat, and the gristle and sinew on the interior side. A 4 lb heart should be trimmed it down to about 2lbs, so just the lean meat is left. The rest is easy!

Special Memories: While looking up the family beef heart recipe Connie came across a beef kidney recipe. This brought back a clear memory: “When I was little my mother tried to prepare kidney just once. When you walked into the house it stunk so bad that there was no way we would eat the kidney. So, if you know a secret to preparing kidney, please let me know!”

Recipe for: Crock Pot Beef Heart

From the Kitchen of: Connie Grieb Willems

Servings: 8

Ingredients

1 raw beef heart (trimmed down from 4 lbs to about 2 lbs)
1 teaspoon “Susie Q’s Santa Maria Style Seasoning (Parsley, salt, pepper and garlic blend)
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano (roll to release the flavor)
½ onion

Instructions:

Cut well-chilled raw heart meat horizontally into one inch slices and then cut each slice into 6 to 8 pieces.
Put seasonings into the bottom of crock pot and then add the heart pieces. Stir to coat the meat.
Pour in ¾ cup of water.
Top with thin rings of onions.
Cook on low for 5 hours.

September 27, 2019 by ride-n-mama Sharon

Live, Laugh, Love – Abundant Life

Agriculture sustains life. If not for the products of the land or the produce of the trees and fields how would humans and animals live? This gives us abundant life. Who created it all? God. He’s the master provider and protector. It’s all part of His perfect design.

What is That Perfect Design?

Live, Laugh, Love - Abundant Life | The Story of Ranching at Grieb Ranch

John 10:10b. Jesus states, “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.
¹¹“I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep. “
NASB John 10:10b-11

Abundant Life

As a rancher it is reassuring to know that Jesus gives us the perfect example of a what it means to be a protector and provider for everything under our care or watch. Through the provisions given to us on the ranch we are able to have abundant life here on earth and an abundant life is in store for us in heaven.

As we protect and care for the people, animals and land He has put in our care we also count our many blessings . . . fruit from our trees; raising beef with value, quality and consistency; the beauty of the many flowers on our hillsides and around our homes; and the blessing of family and friends with whom we work alongside. This is our abundant life here on earth.

How do we protect and provide for everything He has given us so we can enjoy our abundant life? Colossians 3:23 tells us how, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters.”

August 28, 2019 by ride-n-mama Sharon

Sales Yard Lessons for a Kindergartener

How many Kindergarten students do you know who are learning to read while learning to be businessmen or women? Our own kinder student, Mr. P, recently spent a day at the sales yard watching for his steer, Percy (out of his cow, Pudge), to be sold.

Since Mr. P is just learning to read he needed to add some sight words to his reading vocabulary so he could understand the business part of the day. To get Mr. P started off right he learned to sight read: cow, bull, heifer, steer, sale, head count, average, total price.

Lots of Brands are Seen at the Sales Yard

While waiting for his steer to come up for auction the time was passed by learning the important info regarding brands and legal branding locations. A legal brand is proof of ownership of an animal – it can guard against cattle rustlers. Mr. P learned there are six branding positions for legal proof of ownership of cattle. They are the left or right shoulder, rib or hip.

A livestock business person must learn to read brands. The Grieb Ranch brand is a backwards G with and arrow underneath. The Willems’ brand is a lazy S over a horseshoe placed on the left hip.

This hat also sports the brands of an uncle and a niece along with the Willems’ brand and the Grieb Ranch brand. The first and last brands read bar crescent moon and crescent moon bar. If you would like to see more livestock brands check out the online California Brand Book.

Kindergarten Business Lessons

Back to the sales auction . . . Mr. P’s steer sold and he now must calculate his profit. He must tally up all his operational expenses and apply them to the amount he received for his steer. Mr. P must understand the value of bringing quality livestock to the market. This brings repeat buyers for his livestock. Pretty big lessons for a Kindergarten-level Businessman.

August 15, 2019 by ride-n-mama Sharon

Have You Ever Been Kissed By A Cow Tongue?

Have you ever been kissed by a cow? If so, you know cow tongues are big, strong and bumpy. That licker is one big muscle which makes cow tongue an ideal cut of meat to enjoy.

Say What? Enjoy Cow Tongue??

Say what? Our western palates many not easily wrap around the idea of eating a cow tongue but those who venture forth choose to again and again.

Have You Ever Been Kissed By A Cow Tongue? | The Story of Ranching at Grieb Ranch — Cow tongue is delicious and nutritious.

First of all, the outer bumpy part is pulled off after cooking so one doesn’t actually consume that part. Next, because the tongue is a muscle, and a fatty one at that, it is really quite delicious and nutritious. Tongue is packed with Iron, Zinc, Choline and Vitamin B-12. It is also a complete protein providing all the essential amino acids essential for new tissue growth.

Special Memories: Connie shares her memories, “Each time we would have a beef butchered (later known as processed) we would of course have the tongue, heart and liver processed too.”

Now How do you Cook That Licker?

Recipe for: Boiled Tongue

From the Kitchen of: Connie Grieb Willems Servings: 6 to 8

Ingredients:

1 3 lb. Tongue
2 tsp. Salt
3 Bay Leaves
3 whole black Peppers
1 Onion, sliced
1 Carrot
1 Stalk Celery

Instructions:

Wash tongue. Place in 3 cups cold water; add seasonings and vegetables; Cook slowly in covered pot for about 3 hours, or for 8 hours in a crock pot on low. Cool cooked tongue. Trim excess tissue from root and peel off the outer bumpy skin layer.

Serving Suggestion: Grieb Ranch folks like to slice the tongue into thin slices and dip in mustard. Yum . . . really!

July 29, 2019 by ride-n-mama Sharon

Ranch Dog Dee, Truly Man’s Best Friend

Ranch Dog Dee was simply THAT dog.

Special enough to be at Daniel and Jessica’s wedding.

The special friend who was put to task to check out the girlfriend to see if she was the one for life. Dee was THAT dog who was so special she was part of the ensuing wedding. She was THAT dog who was trusted enough to welcome home all three of children. Dee was THAT special friend who sat faithfully listening to expressions of the ups and downs of ranch life.

Trusted to welcome home all three children.

Daniel’s Ranch Dog Dee was simply THAT dog.

Dee was Daniel’s faithful friend. She rode in and helped sort at more cattle roundups than any dog. Her life was not easy being a ranch dog. Yet it was her purpose. Ranching life produced it perils: Dee dealt with several broken bones by being smashed by charging bulls or cows. Dee loved her job and was counted on over and over for tracking wild cattle, bear, pigs, or whatever needed to be done. Dee brought many years of joy!

Cowboy P drew a picture of the happy times they had with Dee.

Dee was simply THAT dog. She is truly missed by all.

July 3, 2019 by ride-n-mama Sharon

Four Generations Help Make Ag Adventure Camp Happen

Ag Adventure day camp for kids provides farming and ranching experiences for 7-11 year olds. In the process they learn to appreciate God’s creation and understand how vital agriculture is to life. Here are some of the activities cowboys and cowgirls got to experience at Ag Adventure camp run by the Apela Foundation:

Watching turkey chicks hatch then holding the new life,
horseback riding every day,
eating food made and prepped by the campers themselves,
squirting milk from a goat teat,
learning how to properly handle and shoot a BBG gun,
playing horseshoes,
learning to rope,
building or making a craft,
learning about and handling a variety of farm animals,
doing chores
and so much more

The Origin of Ag Adventure Camp

Ag Adventure camp is the brain child of Connie Grieb Willems and a few others who had like-thinking so they formed the non-profit, Apela Foundation. Now approaching it’s 10 year, many Ag Adventure camp memories have been made and much work has gone into this one-of-a-kind experience for youngsters.

Who Provides the Animals and Ranch Resources?

The Grieb Ranch family is one of the main suppliers of horses and tack for the cowboys and cowgirls to ride every day, the puppies for kids to love on, goats to milk, hatching turkey chicks, berries for the cobbler and many other fun items each year. Other local friends of Grieb Ranch also donate the use of their horses and livestock.

This endeavor involves the whole Grieb Ranch family and this year it took four generations to provide. Papa delivered the horses; Connie directed, taught classes, and managed help; Amanda assisted the staff; Cowboy P provided puppies and help; Little A kept his mama busy and played with other staff kids; while cousin Josh did all the heavy lifting and assisted where needed.

A great time was had by all, especially the campers many of whom experienced God’s creation through agriculture up close and personal for the very first time.

June 7, 2019 by ride-n-mama Sharon

Fun With All Kinds of Ranch Kids

Ranch kids enjoy so many fun activities that their non-ranch companions may never get the chance to experience. All kinds of kids have fun on a ranch and not just human kids, goat kids get their fair share of fun activities too.

Ranch kids get to experience new life throughout the year as calves are born, goat kids arrive, bunnies appear and chicks peck through egg shells. New life is celebrated at Easter, and so are cute kids. Grieb Ranch had all the grands together for a fun Easter pic, complete with a kid goat.

Baby Kid Delivery

Sometimes new life appearing needs a little help from the ranch hands. This momma goat had a tough delivery with Connie to the rescue to bring this new life into the world. Mama goat and baby kid were good to go a few hours after delivery.

Electrical Fencing Keeps Kids In and Out

Electrical fencing is employed often to keep goat herds contained. The fencing keeps both adult and kid goats inside. Little ranch hands soon learn the red wire is hot and the green wires are ground wires. Electrical fencing keeps goat kids in and human kids out.

Ranch Kids Learn to Count with Ear Tags

Think back to the games you may have played learning to count past 100 . . . betcha only a handful of you may have learned to count past 100, and identify the numbers, while helping grandma with the ear tags. Ranch hand P gets the ear tags ready while keeping the numbers to 110 in order.

So many memories and life skills are developed everyday on a ranch where there are kids of all kinds doing fun things.

May 29, 2019 by ride-n-mama Sharon

Chicken or Rabbit Enchiladas

Chickens and rabbits have been raised on the Grieb Ranch through the years. However, it was only in 2000’s that the Grieb family changed from eating fried chicken and rabbit to enjoying chicken or rabbit enchiladas.

Recipe for: Chicken or Rabbit Enchiladas

From the Kitchens of: Sandi Ferrio and Connie Grieb Willems Servings: 8

Ingredients:

Seasoning packet – 1 teaspoon Cumin, 1 teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon salt and 1 Tablespoon onion Powder
2 – 2 ¹⁄₂ lbs dressed rabbit or 2 – 2 1/2 lbs broiler- fryer chicken whole
Water, pepper and garlic to slow cook meat in
3 Cups Cheddar cheese or your favorite cheese – grated
8 to 10 flour tortillas
2 small cans Green Enchilada Sauce (Mild) or one large can 28oz

Instructions:

About two hours before you begin prepping the enchiladas prepare the chicken or rabbit meat – Place chicken or rabbit in a large crock pot and add pepper and garlic with water. Cook on high for 2 hours until meat falls off bones. Remove and allow to cool. When cool, pull meat from the bones and shred the meat.

After meat has been cooked:

Warm shredded meat in frying pan with a small amount of oil or PAM spray to help keep meat from sticking. As meat heats, sprinkle seasoning packet to taste.
Heat green enchilada sauce in separate saucepan until warmed. Remove from heat.
Warm 8 to 10 flour tortillas in microwave 20 to 30 seconds until warm. This softens the tortillas and makes them more pliable.
Pour enough sauce in bottom of 9×13 dish to just cover it.
Dip a tortilla into sauce in saucepan then lay on a plate and fill with a few spoonfuls of meat and shredded cheese then roll up tightly. Place in casserole dish.
Repeat until pan is full. Pour remaining sauce over enchiladas.
Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
Bake 350 degree for 20 minutes covered. Remove from oven and let sit for 5 min. before serving.

Dress with salsa, sour cream and olives as desired. Serve Enchiladas with a side salad, or beans and rice.

April 13, 2019 by ride-n-mama Sharon

The Cowboy Life Is In the Jeans

Is the cowboy life in the jeans . . . or is it in the genes? Perhaps it’s a bit of both. The cowboy/cowgirl way of life is passed down from one generation to the next as they work along side one another.

Cowboys and cowgirls learn to be good stewards of the land, efficient cattle raisers, train and ride horses to partner with them in the ranch work, help their neighbors, love God and love the cowboy way of life while using their gifts and abilities to serve others.

The Cowboy Life Is In the Jeans | The Story of Ranching at Grieb Ranch — Four Generations of Grieb Ranch Cowboys and Cowgirls – from Papa at 90 years old to little Cowgirl R at 10 months. March 2019.