Carnine Ranch

It was a harsh world in the Sandhills of Nebraska in 1901 when Forrest's father homesteaded the land. There were endless miles of rolling, sandy, semi arid grasslands, but not a tree in sight. Finding bitter cold blizzards in winter and hot drought conditions in the summer, this homesteader said, "If I could have afforded it, I would have left." Not having the opportunity to leave, he dug a well, planted trees, and started growing alfalfa and wheat, and a family. Forrest, the second generation to run the ranch, is now 88 years old, and his son Daniel, now in his 40's, is continuing to run the ranch as well as his father and grandfather. The ranch is large and productive. Of the 6,500 acres, about half is irrigated and producing crops of alfalfa, corn, and wheat. The remaining land supports their cattle business.

There is no sugar coating ranch life. The folks are genuine: honest, hard-working, conservative, warm and friendly, and always there to lend a hand to a neighbor. But they live by the laws of nature. I bottle fed a young calf who has been weaned from his mother. She was a good, nurturing mother, but had an infection and couldn't feed the baby. When they took the calf away, she stood by the fence and bawled for three days. They watch over the calving, assist at the births when necessary. Forrest carries a small notebook in his shirt pocket. Each animal has a numbered tag on its ear, and Forrest keeps notes on each one - even though there are about 300 head of cattle!

The trees planted over 100 years ago now offer wind breaks in the winter, and shade in the summer. Dorothy tends the beautiful lawn and gardens around the old ranch house that has seen a century of branding, planting, reaping, sharing and caring.