"We're tired ... but satisfied."(problems and thoughts on farming)

Also: propane, insurance, rural law enforcement, and horses

Seven years ago we moved from northwest Iowa to southwest South Dakota. Due to a job residency requirement, we didn't have many options on where to locate our homestead, so consequently, we have neighbors much closer than we would prefer. We have decided to make the best of it, and bury our perimeter in windbreaks.

We have spent all of those years building our own conventional house, doing all of the planning and labor ourselves except for digging the basement, laying the block and bricking up the fireplace, after we installed the actual working system. We lived in the basement during the years of construction, and it feels very good not to be living the life of a prairie dog any longer.

We also built several outbuildings for livestock, hay and machinery storage, plus fenced several pasture areas for rotating grazing. We have a large organic garden. Our potential resale value is excellent.

Would we do it again? Once is enough... we are tired, but very satisfied with our efforts.

We have raised feeder calves, hogs and horses. With this in mind, I'll follow with what we've learned along the way.

Propane

Initially, we rented our propane tank for a dollar a year... what a deal. The only stipulation was we had to buy the propane from the company we rented the tank from. All went well until propane doubled, and one January they came out and filled the tank, without our permission. The fill cost double what it should have. We learned too late from a delivery person that we could have demanded they come back and remove the propane. (He'd done it for five irate farmers in one day.)

Our solution was to buy our own tank, and contract a year's worth of cheaper priced summer propane. You have to pay for a year's worth up front, but with the summer price, and no chance of an expensive winter fill, you can make up the cost of the tank and accumulate your first year's propane cost, even flit takes a few months to do so. You are also free to buy propane from any company.

While on the subject of heating, the company we purchased the fireplace insert from advised never to use inked paper or commercial fire starters in your fireplace. They suggest starting your fire with the propane cylinders used for camping, that you can attach a nozzle to. They start the fire easily, on any size or shape log in just minutes. Caution should be used of course, as with any fire source.

Insurance

Another concern was homeowner's insurance. We were assured by the insurance company that we were indeed insured under a gentleman farmer's policy for livestock and machinery replacement and liability. Those things were not listed in our policy anywhere we could find. After three years of questioning each time our policy came due, we had another agent from the same company check into it. We were not covered. Needless to say, we no longer do business with the first propane company we tried, nor the first insurance company.

We also learned that South Dakota is a free range state. You aren't automatically liable if your cow is hit by a vehicle on the roadway, unless the party can prove you consistently keep rundown fencing. We aren't taking any chances, but the information is interesting. Check your own state.

Law enforcement

Our background is law enforcement in rural areas. No matter how remote you are, times have changed: it's a jungle out there. You may have to be your own 911. Lock your doors, take the keys out of your pickup, install good locks, don't invite strangers in unless they're bleeding bad. Don't keep your keys in the fake rock you bought at K-Mart: burglars shop too. Report suspicious persons or vehicles in your neighborhood, jot down their license numbers and vehicle descriptions. Be the neighborhood busybody, and you may help clear up that burglary.

We've been told many times, if a perpetrator wants to get in bad enough or to steal your vehicle he will. There are two things to consider. Do you want your wife or child to come home and surprise a criminal in the act? You want to see signs of forced entry, and go elsewhere for help. Another thing to consider is if insurance covers loss incurred if the residence or vehicle is unlocked.

Depending on how remote you are, I would consider a driveway alarm, motion detectors, and at least one big noisy dog, preferably two, who are bonded to you. There have been many incidents where dogs have altered the outcome of an intended rape or burglary. If someone knocks on your door to ask the time, consider it strange... it's been done... the farm wife is dead. Criminals do not like noise or lights.

If you get an obscene or harassing phone call from a stranger, pretend you are deaf. The caller will get tired of repeating his spiel with no comprehension from your side, and will hopefully move on. A nice loud whistle works too, but you need to keep one by the phone.

Guns

There's much hoopla over guns in the household now. If you are a hunter, in any type of law enforcement, or a hobbyist, you have firearms... not to mention for personal protection. Use common sense as you would with anything dangerous. If children can be taught not to play with fire, or get in with the livestock, they can be taught gun safety. You don't give access to weapons in the first place. When age and responsibility is appropriate, you teach gun safety and send the child to the appropriate safety course in your area. Our grandfather's gun stood in the corner loaded, all the years we were growing up. We wouldn't think of doing such a thing with young children in the house. But we did respect Grandpa Andy's warning... don't touch! Anything can be dangerous, even a crabby cat. The key is taking time to educate your children.

Horses

On the lighter side, we've read with interest the reader's comments on horses. We have a few thoughts to add. There are two kinds of people, those who like horses, and those who don't. The outside of a horse can be good for the inside of a man, or you can consider them fence-leaning hay-burners.

If you're a beginner, read every book you can, and then associate with someone who actually has horses. No amount of reading can prepare you for the way a horse's mind works when he shies from a rock. Modern horsemen don't use the rough school of thought when it comes to breaking. Handle your colt from birth with gentleness.

The only horses we've ever bought at auction were obviously healthy young stock. Buy privately. For example, we live in the corner of South Dakota, across the river from Nebraska, up the road from Iowa. We watched the same horse sell at three different auctions, in three different states, with three different stories, in a month's time. The gum from three different auction numbers was still on its hip.

If you are responding to a newspaper ad, know what to expect. The term "green broke" means one thing in the book... it can mean the horse was caught and haltered... has been touched by human hands, or maybe a rider threw a leg up. It's anyone's guess. The term "needs experienced rider," could also mean absolutely anything. The horse could buck, take its head and run, bite, kick or take your head off going under the barn door.

Always have the owner saddle and ride before you get on. Preferably get a return policy in writing if the horse isn't what the owner represented on a week's trial at your place. Private buying can also be hazardous to your health and pocket book, but maybe less so than the auction scene. One horse was said to "chase cattle." One would assume that means "worked cattle." The truth was he chased cattle... all day long, he ran the fat right off them. Ask questions.

If you enjoy auctions as we do, go and watch. It can be interesting when you know what's going on. If a killer buyer brings in a good horse and represents him as a family horse, it's probably been bought yesterday and never seen a child... it's his business. If the seller picks up only the front feet in the arena, you'll probably get your head kicked if you touch the back feet. The best way to know a horse's age and real history is to buy a registered horse. It's recorded and you're able to trace past owners.

There's still a lot of good riding in what's called an aged horse, over nine years. If you follow rodeos, you'll see they buck aged horses regularly.

We've attended several seminars on horse management sponsored by the extension service and put on by the ag department of various universities. The feed choice was consistently alfalfa, a fact older horsemen swear causes founder. Another change from the old school was soaking the horse's feet in warm water if a case of laminitis could be forthcoming (such as could be caused by excess strain on the feet from concrete, or over-ingestion of feeds). This could short circuit getting full-blown founder. Formerly cold water was used. It has been proven warm water promotes circulation, which circumvents further hoof deterioration.

There's no way to cover everything about horses, nor does anyone know everything there is to know about them. Observation and common sense should be used. Watch experienced horsepeople. You'll see they first touch a horse on the hip before picking the back hoof. Or, when going behind a horse walk very close up or very far away, not within prime extended leg range. The best tool in training a horse is a curry comb, not a whip or spur.

South Dakota is called the Land of Infinite Variety. So is homesteading. Choose any level that's right for you... wherever you choose... and just be sure you bloom where you planted yourself... and don't forget to have some fun along the way!