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"... one of the most dangerous things I know, has blue eyes and a heartbeat"-Unknown  Our beautiful aussie Allie Meet Our Blue Eyed GirlsAllie, Blu, and Cassie all have a special place on the ranch and share a common trait, blue eyes. Allie was purchased two years ago as an addition to the Aussie breeding program, and has the sweetest most loyal heart. Allie is one of the best babysitters and has the biggest heart shown through her two piercing blue eyes. Allie is considered a “BET.” Blu, was one of the original breeding bitches of the ranch and comes from a kernel based out of Arizona with great herding instinct. Blu loves to be on the go and have something to do. Blu is the hardest worker and when she looks up with her bright blue eyes you can’t help but fall in love. Cassie is one of the new girls on the block with one amber eye and one baby blue. Cassie is a 10-Bar-Y ranch bred through and through out of our foundation bitch, Jadis by our foundation stud, Spur. Cassie is a pleaser, with great conformation and a bright future with success.  10-Bar-Y Castin' Kisses "Cassie" Blue Eyes BackgroundHaving blue eyed Aussies in both the merle and tri colors has sparked our interest in learning more about the blue eyed gene. In recent years the popularity of dogs with blue eyes has increased dramatically. Blue eyes among Australian Shepherds is not a new concept, in fact there is a Native American legend that refers to the breed of Aussies with blue eyes as the “Ghost Eye Dog” and thought them to be sacred. Other breeds outside the Aussie breed have also been known to have blue eyes in either both eyes or in at least one. The most popular of these breeds being the Siberian Husky with the Australian Shepherd in second. So what is the reason for this Blue Eyed gene?  10-Bar-Y Hardts Blu Thunder "Blu" Blue Eyed GeneFor years many people have thought that blue eyes in dogs is a sure sign of blindness, however blue eyes are not. Blue eyes in dogs have three ways they are most commonly seen or portrayed. The first is the merle gene which we see in Blu and Cassie. The Second is a genetic and rare blue eye gene present in some breeds like the Australian Shepherd and the Siberian Husky, which is what Allie has. The last reason we see blue eyes is a lack of pigment in the dog’s eye. There is also a possibility for an albino dog to have blue eyes but is a much rarer occurrence.  Jackie Aussies Allie "Allie" Blue Eyed Tri (BET)“BET” stands for Blue Eyed Tri, which is what our female Allie is. In 2018 Paw Print Genetics released a statement regarding BET Lined Aussies. In a concentrated testing effort, Paw Print was looked into 38 different BET dogs to see if their blue eyes had the same mutation as a merle colored dog. They found that it depended on the dog, some had a merle gene and in fact others had their own gene. Siberian Huskies are some of the only dogs known to have blue eyes without a merle mutation, so this study opened up some new possibilities. Faithwalk Aussies did a post about the BET lines fad, one of the most important things, in my opinion, touched on was to do your research and look at the overall dog, not just the blue eye. We love our blue eyed dogs and hope this information was helpful.  Past Merle puppy with the amber and blue eyes We are on a journey to bridge the gap between producer and consumer by sharing our dream, knowledge and experience with the world. Hold on tight the ride is only 8 seconds long.
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Sometimes it takes a painful experience for us to change our ways, and in that moment God is giving us an awakening- Kyle Idleman  The animal known as a "Rooster" Table ConversationFamily Dinners are a big deal among the 10-Bar-Y Family. With so many members it is a rare treat to have everyone from the youngest to the oldest present. For years the best stories and updates have come from around the dinner table. Stories from the ranch, whatever sporting events or activities have happened that week and of course an update from what you learned on Sunday. Sunday dinners growing up were the most memorable. They were a time when the best stories and memories made their debut and some retold for new listeners. One of the most famous stories retold around the dinner table, is the time the ranch rooster went rogue on an unsuspecting family member.  Casual Sunday Outing with the Family Lou and the RoosterLou is the second oldest child of the 10-Bar-Y Family. For the last 15 years or so her famous rooster story makes it's round in the family dinner conversations. Currently, Lou is living in South Carolina teaching people about Jesus Christ full time. To accurately tell this story we asked if she would help us, and include some of the lessons this experience taught her. When Lou was in about 2nd grade or so, it was her task around the ranch to care for the chickens. At the time we had close to 40 hens and two big roosters. One of the roosters would chase after you if you didn't collect the eggs fast enough, but he always seemed to be more bluff than anything else. This particular rooster was sort of a pet for little Lou, and she was convinced it was her best friend. You see our journey to chickens wasn't like most folks, our journey started with two baby chicks.  Baby Chicks similar to our first two Started in a ClassroomWhen I (Lou) was in 2nd grade my class hatched baby chicks. I was so excited! At the end of our experiment my teacher started giving the chicks away. Many kids couldn't take one home, because they lived in the city. So imagine my delight when I got to take home 2 adorable little chickens. The one was yellow and the other one was black. Well 10-Bar Mama decided we couldn't have just 2 chickens and not long after that we had close to 40. At first I loved spending time with the chickens but as they got older the fun kind of wore off for my 8 year old self. My black chicken would always be my favorite, however he had turned into a beautiful rooster with a multicolored tail. I was convinced that he was truly my best friend.  Multi-colored tail The Morning Friends became EnemiesOne morning, I don't remember the time of year or even the events that happened, but I got in trouble. As part of my punishment, I was given the assignment of feeding the chickens before school. I was a very stubborn child and I decided I would not feed the chickens if I didn't want to. I mopped and prodded around all morning. Finally it was time to leave for school and I had still not fed the chickens. Now by this point everyone was getting frustrated with me, and rightly so, I mean it was me who was making them late. My dad nicely reminded me, that no one was going anywhere until I fed those dang chickens! My dad kindly walked me out to the chicken coop, where I sat on a hay bale and defiantly looked at him. I knew my siblings were watching at the window and I was not going to give them the satisfaction of seeing me give in. Daddy 10-Bar called for me to stand up and feed the chickens but that only aggravated me more, so I kept on sitting in the coop. I continued to sulk there, and Daddy 10-Bar continued to wait.  Grain bucket and some alfalfa hay Surprise Encounter Suddenly, out of nowhere, something interrupted my sulking thoughts. I was attacked! My dear rooster had jumped atop my head and began pecking me vigorously. I'm sure I looked a sight, as I sat there for a minute before a pure adrenaline rush took over. I stood up and has quickly as I could began waving my arms. Every time I reached up to push that pesky rooster off, he would reach over and peck my hand! So there I was running around the whole yard, screaming and waving my arms with a rooster on my head. It took everyone a minute to stop laughing before they rushed over to help me. To be honest I don't remember the rest of that day. I do remember my dad's workers received a bonus that month... they said he was delicious! You can bet for the next couple months if there was a way to get out of feeding those chickens, I took it after that.  Rooster preparing for attack Lessons By a RoosterFor many years after this experience my pride and stubbornness would flare up and I would again become defiant. However, as time went on I would remember I realized there were some important lessons to be learned from the rooster. 1: We often bring challenges on ourselves by playing the victim. If I hadn't let my pride get in the way I could have avoided that particular outcome. 2. Sometimes we need to stop being a sissy, pick up our petticoats and get over it. A lot of crappy work needs to be done in life and we'll all have to do some of it. 3: Do what mama and Pops ask, they wont change their minds just cause ya pout. 4. Never trust a rooster. Y'all may disagree but I'm sticking with this one!  Lou with her Puppy 2019 Lou's ClosingWe don't always see the big picture. God has given us the Holy Spirit as a guide for our lives, but oftentimes we, like that little girl, refuse to listen. We think we know best and often ignore the gentle pleadings of the Spirit warning us of danger. Pride, anger, stubbornness, all of these bring about pain. They are a poison in our lives, but if we can learn and become a little bit better every day we will become happier. I have come a long way from that time but I will always be grateful for the lessons I learned that day. I am happier now then I would be if I had stayed that angry, defensive girl. Thanks Dad for loving me enough to teach me, it may have taken a few years but I'm better for it.  We are on a journey to bridge the gap between producer and consumer by sharing our dream, knowledge and experience with the world. Hold on tight the ride is only 8 seconds long.
"Luck to me is lots of determination, hard work, faith in myself and in God"- Lane Frost  Marj after winning the Winter Series Rodeo 1st place intermediate barrels Rodeo Ready?Growing up in a family where multiple people are headed to a rodeo of some sort can be kind of hectic. What's even more crazy is when your siblings all age out and you are left to your first rodeo season alone! This year, Marjorie found herself attending Jr High rodeos alone, since her older brother moved on. Marjorie has had a lot of changes happen this last year. In the early fall her trusted barrel and pole horse, "Dunit", pulled a muscle and needed to be layed off for a couple of months. Thankfully, Liza, allowed her to borrow her horse "Sophera", as she was focusing more on her up and coming horse "Jetta". Marjorie was hesitant at first but has since clicked well with "Sophera" and won the Diamond Fork Winter Series Rodeo, taking first place in intermediate barrels. Being the only one competing means it is up to you to make sure the trailer is packed with all your gear, food, extra clothes and any equipment you might need. Once at the rodeo there is a lot to be done to make sure you are rodeo ready. This weekend as Marjorie was getting everything ready to compete she walked us through her event ready checklist at her Jr High Rodeo in Hurricane, Utah. Brush Horses Waiting her turn for a brush Before anything else it is important to make sure you have brushed off your horses. Brushing off your horses prevents sticker weeds, hay or dirt from rubbing on the saddle pad and creating annoyance. Imagine if you never brushed through your hair, the dirt would probably rub and cause you to itch. Grooming your horse is a curtesy. Pick out Your Horses Hooves Learning to pick out Halley's hoof Just like grooming/brushing your horse prevents itching and horses, so does checking their feet. A horses hooves are their lifeline, because they literally can't function without them. Especially when you're getting ready to compete you want to make sure your horses feet are clean of rocks and hard packed dirt so there isn't any discomfort. This is very important for rodeos as you want your horse to do their best and avoid discomfort. If you've never picked out a horses foot before, here is a great place to learn how. Saddle Up Heber Saddling up Too Fame for a practice barrel run After we have inspected the horse and gotten them groomed. It's time for the blanket and saddle. We use a separate blanket/pad when competing that is only for rodeos so it stays nice and clean. Briddle and Boot Up Putting Sophera's boots on before the run After we have the saddle on and ready to go, it's time to get the headstall and boots on. We ride "Sophera" in a Myler bit to stiffen her up just a little because she is super bendy, but we also like to use a Sherri Cervi bit. Due to the fact that the horse is going to be performing, proper protection for their legs is needed. We use the professional choice boots for all of our barrel and pole horses. Warm Up and Double Check Warming up for their barrel run Our horses are athletes, you wouldn't go sprint 400 meters with no warm up and expect to not pull a muscle, so we don't ask that of our horses either. We take the time to warm them up, so that when it comes time to run, they are ready. During warm up is also a good time to check your tack and make sure it is tight. Team Meeting Team meeting with Sophera As we were talking with Marjorie, she reminded us of one of our favorite family and ranch traditions, team meetings. When you go in that arena to compete it isn't solely on you. You are a team with your horse, and God. It is important to take a minute before you run to say a quick prayer for your horse, your competitors and you. No rodeo is ever complete without some praise towards heaven. Time to Ride Liza riding Sophera in 2020 coming out of the 2nd barrel After you've had your team meeting with God and your horse it is time to put your worries, fears and nerves behind you. Run your race, leave it all in the arena. Marjorie has placed in the top 3 in the 1D in every jackpot she and "Sophera" have entered in, since December. We look forward to seeing what all this team can accomplish. We are on a journey to bridge the gap between producer and consumer by sharing our dream, knowledge and experience with the world. Hold on tight the ride is only 8 seconds long.
"Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals & happiness." - Thomas Jefferson  The boys talking about the Alfalfa Starts as a DreamWhat is your life-long dream? Do you dream of wide open spaces, cattle grazing and checking fence lines on horse-back? Do you dream of the sun beating down on your back or the sweat drizzling down your brow as you look over the fields? Or do you dream of closing your eyes at night and thanking the Lord for just one more day of doing it all again? Dreams fuel life. Hard work gives the mind and body satisfaction, especially when you're working on something you love. Nothing accomplishes both of these the way our little ranch does for the 10-Bar-Y Family. Our hobby ranch gives us the thrill of seeing our hard work produce something that blesses everyone's lives; it's a fulfillment of a dream. In the last couple of years more and more people have joined the trend of hobby farming and ranching. So what is a hobby farm?  Summer View of the back pastures and pond What is a "Hobby" Farm/Ranch?A hobby farm or ranch is a plot of land or an operation that is typically run for pleasure not for a substantial income. Hobby farms and ranches are passion projects rather than a full business endeavor and have increased in popularity within the United States in recent years. In an article published in May 2020, the reasons for this increase can be boiled down into three main points. The first being that a small hobby farm can generate a small amount of income and supplement what is already being made. Second, it provides an opportunity for you to grow your own food, which is seen as a health benefit. Lastly by having your own hobby farm, it can help you decrease your ecological footprint. For some people one of these reasons may be more important than the others. Knowing what your reason for wanting a hobby farm makes it possible to have one no matter where you start.  Clara and Cam taking the case to dump manure! Farm chores never stop The BeginningOne of the best ways to get started on your dream is to let others know what it is. Before starting 10-Bar-Y, we let others know that we wanted to have a Ranch. Through talking about our dreams with others we were able to find and make opportunities for ourselves. We got started in the dog business because we told our family friends about our dreams. They helped us get started in the breeding business and were our mentors as we were new to the dog breeding field. We were able to lease more ground for our cattle because we told our neighbors we were looking for a place. Often people are afraid to talk about their goals and what they want to accomplish; however, when you take that leap of faith it doesn’t matter how close you are to achievement you automatically get closer. You can start your hobby farm or ranch today. You don’t need the fanciest tools, all the frills or even 20 acres. All you need to start are some goals, a plan and a budget. Lauren Arcuri published an article in 2020 with Treehugger.com called “How to Start a Hobby Farm.” In this article she outlines how having goals, a plan and a budget can get you started on your dream.  A Sunset roadside view from the pasture Some Tips for Success1: Seek Advice From Experienced Farmers and RanchersWhen talking with others about your dreams, be selective about who you take advice from. People are always willing to give advice but seeking advice from experienced farmers and ranchers is always beneficial. You need to figure out what is going to be best for you and your goals and how to implement new practices. Don’t get discouraged, instead keep your head up and remember that hard work is the key. When we were starting out, and even now, we seek advice from those who have been farming and ranching for a long time. Some of what we learned we implemented in our own operation and it helped us improve what we had. Other things didn’t apply to us but helped us grow in our appreciation for the industry. 2: Don't be Afraid of SacrificeOne of the challenges with having animals and farm responsibilities is the work never stops. With hobby operations you can occasionally get away for a vacation or two but having someone watch over and take on your responsibilities can be a hassle. Sometimes you have to sacrifice the things you want to do, for the things you need to do. Even though by definition "hobby" operations are not the main source of income for most people, they do help supplement income. Don't be afraid to say no to luxury items or unnecessary things that are not needs.  Rubee learning how to pick out her pony's feet 3: Enjoy Every MinuteA hobby by definition is something done regularly in one's free time for the purpose of pleasure. Having a hobby farm or ranch is a great job especially if it's your dream. It is not going to always be easy; in fact sometimes it will be downright hard! By having your dream come to life and working to achieve them, it will be one of the best things you’ll ever do. Enjoy each moment with your family. Enjoy the work, the blood, sweat and tears and make it happen. Keep DreamingDreams fuel the human life and help give us purpose. In 2016, Beef Magazine did an article with 8 tips for an old time rancher on his success. In this article the rancher, called Nelo Mori, at the age of 91 had a plethora of good advice stated the following... “If you don't have nothing else but ranching, you better get with it and sacrifice and change your lifestyle." Mori's advice goes for all dreams, if your dream is all you have, then make the changes needed to make it a realtiy, not just a dream. Don't be afraid to go all in, even if it starts as a small little hobby ranch, it can change your world for the better.  Getting lambs ready for the Stock Show We are on a journey to bridge the gap between producer and consumer by sharing our dream, knowledge and experience with the world. Hold on tight the ride is only 8 seconds long.
"Nothing brings people together like Momma's cooking"- Unknown  Nothing better than Momma 10-Bar's homemade picnic lunches Momma 10-Bar's Chicken CasseroleMomma 10-Bar is known for her amazing dishes on the table, that fuel our bodies so our family operation runs smoother. One of her staple meals is Chicken Casserole, adapted from a traditional Tuna Casserole to most of the world. Momma 10-Bar focuses on yummy meals that can be served right out of the oven or be frozen for a rainy day. Chicken Casserole brings elements fresh from the farm and combines them with your staple kitchen ingredients, creating a flavor explosion in your mouth. Enjoying a meal with the family is sometimes a rare occurrence during the week. With everyone's individual events, from rodeos, sports and even just feeding the animals it can be rough to find the time. Freezer meals have saved us during rodeo season. Having something from home to eat brings comfort and is a great way to calm the kids nerves. Chicken Casserole is delicious and easy; even tastes amazing after being frozen. Momma 10-Bar’s Chicken Casserole is a perfect staple food for western lifestyle. Step 1: Steam Carrots chopped carrots The first step to any good recipe is to make sure you have all your ingredients together, and then begin the prep work. First step Momma 10-Bar recommends is chop the carrots into small circles or chunks. After cutting the carrots steam them for 2-3 minutes until soft. Step 2: Bring water to a boil and add noddles Best casserole noodles After you have got your carrots chopped and ready to go, in a large pot bring water to a boil. Once your water is boiling add your three cups of egg pasta noddles. Everyone is different when it comes to the tenderness of their noodles, boil your noodles for about 6 minutes a dente. Drain the noodles and add in your steamed carrots. Step 3: Drain chicken Shredded chicken ready to go The original dish calls for tuna fish, however our family has always loved beef and chicken. You can use fish, canned chicken or cubbed chicken depending on your preference. Using your choice of meat, saute the meat and add it to your noddles and carrots. Step 4: Cream Mixture Sauce ingredients Measure out the cream of chicken soup, sour cream, milk, mayo and lemon juice. Combine each of the wet ingredients in a bowl and mix well.  Sauce Mix completed Step 5: Add cheese to noodles Cheese added to the noodle mix If you haven’t already, drain your carrots and noodles. Combine and mix the noodles, carrots, chicken together, then add your shredded cheese in a large bowl. Step 6: Combine sauce and noodles After you have completed step 5, gently pour the cream mixture over the noodles, carrots, shredded chicken and cheese mixture. Mix the sauce in with the noodles to the consistency desired. Step 7: Crush Ritz cracker topping In a ziplock bag crush one sleeve of ritz crackers. Feel free to add more crackers depending on your preference. Once ritz crackers are crushed add 1/2 cup grated cheese, salt and pepper and spices to taste and mix well in the zip lock bag. Step 8: Spoon Casserole into Pan Casserole ready for the oven Spoon the casserole mix into a 9x13 pan and top with cracker/cheese mixture. At this step you can choose to freeze the casserole for a later day. Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes. Serve hot and ready to your family. If you choose to freeze the casserole, cover it with tinfoil and place it in the freezer. When you are ready to eat it thaw in the fridge overnight then bake 350 for 45 min to 1 hour. Ingredients Ingredients for Casserole topping 1 can cream of chicken soup ½ c sour cream ¾ c milk ½ c mayo 1 can shredded chicken (or meat of your choosing) 1 c cheddar cheese ½ t salt and pepper 1 T lemon juice 3 c cooked noodles Top with crushed ritz crackers and then bake  Enjoy your meal from our home to yours We are on a journey to bridge the gap between producer and consumer by sharing our dream, knowledge and experience with the world. Hold on tight the ride is only 8 seconds long.
I would rather be on my farm, than be emperor of the world." - George Washington  Ranch views Ranch What?Every day on the ranch is a new experience, and with experience comes wisdom. Some of the wisdom gained is learned through a period of trial and error. Choosing to live a country lifestyle teaches you lessons in many shapes, sizes and varieties. Some of these lessons are welcomed with open arms, others are great stories later on. We have learned so much from our farm, and want to share 10 quick lessons learned on the ranch.  Clara and her bottle calf The 10 Lessons1: Put the light in the chicken coop before it freezes, or you'll have frozen eggs for breakfastThis last year didn't get too cold at the ranch until late December. We had just upgraded our chicken coop and honestly didn't even think anything of the colder weather. One morning after it first snowed, Ellie (8) came in from collecting eggs. She wanted some eggs for breakfast, so she cracked on a freshly gathered egg to find it a little frozen. Needless to say if you don't have a heat light in your coop your eggs might freeze and breakfast takes twice as long.  A look inside a frozen egg... 2: Don’t wait for the hose. Fill your buckets and carry them to water the horses. It makes strong muscles and good kidsMomma didn't raise no sissys. Being in a large family we all had animals to take care of and sometimes one hose wasn't enough. We kids got "farmer" strong from hauling water to different animals and getting our work done.  Mountain ride flex 3: Always remember to chain the gate shut.—Otherwise mom gets to catch the horses all by herself while the kids are at school.How many times has this happened in your family? During the school year all the kids are at school and there have been multiple times horses, dogs, goats... you name it have gotten out. Luckily they are all pretty good to catch, but we always get an earful when we get home. :)  BTS Family pictures 2020 Audra and Cassie 4: Play hard, work Hard! Go ahead and eat the dirt, the doctor says it keeps you healthy!A couple years ago, Cam, told one of her friends the reason she wasn't allergic to anything was because she ate dirt as a kid. There is a lot of dirt involved in ranch life and a little dirt never hurt anyone. Whether it's working hard or playing hard dirt is always involved somehow, even if its a little mud wrestling.  Ru, working hard or playing? 5: When dad says we have a half days work that means 12 hours, remember there are 24 hours in a day |
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