The Storm, The Roof, and Staying the Course

The Sunday night storm hit the ranch. 

I posted a few pictures to our facebook stories and then haven’t been active on facebook. I didn’t mean to be mysterious. We are ok. Monday the storm ripped a portion of the barn roof off and in an unrelated incident, some of the calves got out. They ran across the street to the neighbors, and we ended up getting them out of a pine tree forest. I’m allergic to pine trees in a pretty sensitive way, so I’m currently working my way into a sinus infection. But as of this moment, everything is okay on the ranch.

About the Barn

A portion of the barn roof was ripped off. We knew that section of the roof wasn’t strong. 

When we got the barn, the roof had crinkly marks in it where it had peeled back before. The first year Arlin was here, he hopped up on the barn roof and did some work, but that crinkled roof section wasn’t safe to work on due to trusses already being compromised from the crinkled tin. 

We didn’t have a lift to work safely from underneath, and without the right equipment, fixing it properly just wasn’t possible. 

It was something that frequently came up in our conversations, but renting a scissor lift to work on the barn that was damaged just didn’t feel like a wise investment for where we are as a business. 

The Myth of Ranch Insurance

We tried to get the ranch insured multiple times. All unsuccessful. 

We weren’t able to find a company that would insure the ranch that didn’t need us to prove we had previously been insured. Arlin and I weren’t given the ranch, and we worked in the construction industry before being ranchers, so we have not previously had the ranch insured. We did manage to find one company to insure us, but they excluded the silos and the barn and a number of other exclusions, so again, that’s no coverage. Seems crazy, but that is our reality. 

What happens now?

The hard truth is the barn isn’t going to be fixed. It’s frustrating.

The trusses are too compromised. To repair it properly, we’d be rebuilding a large portion of the building, and that doesn’t make sense for our current goals or ‘return on investment’ as a business.

There isn’t a way around it for us. We are grateful there wasn’t further damage, the calves are safe, and the power even stayed on. We are okay. 

Staying Focused

Before the storm, one of our big goals this year was to get a few more shipping containers on the ranch. We aren’t going to pivot from that. We are going to stay focused. 

Last month, Arlin and I just stood in our pasture looking at the cows, and confirmed we had the same goal priority list of what the ranch needs next. I’m frustrated we lost the weather protection, but grateful we have plans that will protect us in the future. 

You’re Important

We know we have your support. If you want to help more, just keep spreading the word that you know ranchers, that you can buy directly from. If you want to donate a shipping container or carport, let us know :) But really, we just need to keep selling as much meat as we can. With fuel prices like they are and expenses going up we need to stay focused. 

This isn’t our first speed bump, and looking at the damaged barn every day will be emotional, but we have a plan.