Wet, Cold and Wind

It had been a good year for the ranchers.
The rains had doused the drought,
The hay crop was good
The gas prices were lower, cattle prices higher.

This was going to be the year to make some money,
Money to tide them over during the down years,
Money to invest in their ranch and herd.
Things were looking good.

The early storm came with all its fury.
It came before the cattle grew their winter coats.
It bore down before the income cattle had been sent to the stock yards for the year.
It swept in before the rest of the herd were in the winter pastures.

It was wet, followed by cold, and then the wind.
The wind was relentless, suffocating cattle in the wet snow,
Blinding those who wandered far from the pasture,
Killing many from exposure.

The ranchers were helpless. They could only wait it out.
After it was over they rode their pastures, trying to save cattle that survived.
Some were too sick to make it.
The rest had to be buried.

They buried them by the hundreds,
As the snow melted they found more bodies,
Mothers lying next to their calves,

Trying to protect them the best they could.

Now ranchers are a hardy bunch.
They have to be. Ranching is a tough business.
They build a herd over the years
Only to watch helplessly as they lose them one by one.

The next time you enjoy a steak or burger,
Think for a brief minute of our South Dakota ranchers.
They love the land, they care for their herds.
They will never forget the October storm of 2013.