Completing the Project.........................

The project is ready for final inspection of:

65 - 7X7 posts, hand dug 3 ft. deep

65 bags of premix

310 steel posts

15,500 ft. electric wire

1 - 110V charger

1- energizer solar charger

18 gate systems

6 yds. concrete

64 tons gravel

2500 ft. water line

5 watering tanks

5 shut off valves

15 days of bobcat work

7 days backhoe/trencher work

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I think the cows are satisfied!!!

The Concrete is Delivered...................

Gravel has been spread around all of the watering sites and the forms are built so cement can be poured. All of the plumbing and water connections are now ready to go for final hook up of the water tanks.

 

The concrete truck arrived.....................................................................................................

This is a closer view of how the water is hooked up.

These are pictures of the preparation of the watering sites in the south field.



These pictures are of the north field watering site.





And a little more work on the fence preparation to allow the cattle to have more shade................

Temperatures are extreme this summer, 100+ and the cows are taking advantage of the lake!

Preparing to Set the Water Tanks............

This is a view of the waterline that is going to the north side of the property. The closest water line to tap into was the one that also services the house.

The area is being prepared for a water tank. Concrete will be poured tomorrow.

Today was another 100 + degree day but it didn't keep my husband and his 77 yr. old father from working outside on the project all day. I'm not sure if this project would get done without help from pops!

After working a 12 hour day these two guys are dirty and exhausted. They still have to A.I. breed a cow tonight.  NO REST FOR THE WICKED!

Connecting the Water Lines....................

We are putting in 4 new watering tanks. One will replace a trough and hydrant in the corral area. Below are pictures of the process of connecting the new water lines to the existing ones.

The plastic pipe being used is 200 PSI. We used brass fittings.

One of the harder areas to trench was along one of the pond dams. The angle was difficult to trench and we had to cut across two spillways. Water was an issue too. As we were cutting in from the back side of the dam water was fill up the trench. In this picture, the pipe is already laid and the dirt has been pushed back into the trench.

This is the old well house that hold the pump. Water from this well will feed the tanks in the upper fields and corrals.

Even though it is July and 100+ degrees during this project, the trenches in this area are wet because of all the natural springs on the property.

 

All trenches got back filled. It took 22 hours to trench and backhoe 2500 feet.

The equipment is being moved to the corral area for the final area to be trenched.

This line will replace the hydrant and trough that is shown in this picture behind the shovel. It will be more efficient  and will keep us from having to fill the trough several times each day and we won't have to use a heater to keep the water thawed in the winter.

This this the pipe that encases the waterline below all the tanks. Thermal heat will keep the line from freezing.

I think my husband really likes working with the equipment.!!

Trenching Begins.................

 The equipment arrived so that trenching for the waterlines can  be done. The depth of the waterline has to be deep enough that the lines won't freeze in the winter. The lines are approximately 30 inches deep.

The trenching is going good. We only hit a small section of rock at this point. The fun begins!



The Work Continues.........................................

We worked on the 2 strand electric fence that will keep the cattle out of the wooded area designated for wildlife. This is called "access control."

Trenches were dug between the poles that are designated for gates. We are taking the electric under the gates so we can have continuous electricity to the next paddock. We are placing coded wire in electrical conduant.

These are the spring gates we are using between the paddocks.

We are using steal posts for our line posts inbetween the corners 30 to 50 feet apart.

This is the "spinning jenny" we are fastened to a piece of plywood and put on the back of our fourwheeler. Can't do the job without the "jenny!"

Below are two examples of fencing techniques. Both are straight line pulls. One using steel fence posts and one using the tree as a line post.

                                       

Rain stopped us for a while today. It poured for about 30 minutes. It was extremely humid but it made the fence posts easier to drive. 

Attaching the snap pin-locks to keep the wire from touching the posts.

Hopefully by next year we will be able to increase our herd by practicing intensive grazing techniques! We are a total A.I. operation!

                                      

After a hard day of work.....This is our view of paradise!