Articles

Creating ice-skating memories hard work

One of the joys of living in rural South Dakota is the variety of wintertime activities available. Since childhood, I’ve taken up South Dakota’s most popular activity of shoveling snow, mostly off frozen dams so others could ice skate.

• Amy's Ranch Slants

Building a reputation, one haystack at a time

We take pride in what we do. As ranchers, we have a reputation to uphold, which you might’ve guessed has to do with hay.
There was a time when the Kirk family’s reputation was based on haystacks, but with the convenience of baling equipment, my husband believes our reputation is now built on the appearance of hay bales and the bale piles in our stackyards.

• Amy's Ranch Slants

Cowboy and rancher Christmas gift guide, Part II

I have 16 years of experience in agonizing over what to get a cowboy/rancher for Christmas and consider myself a seasoned gift giver to the cowman. More of my gift suggestions follow.

• Amy's Ranch Slants

Columns

AMY KIRK: One key that doesn’t cut it

You already know I’m kinda weird so it probably doesn’t come as a surprise to you that there’s something I find gratifying about making a clean cut through twine.

• Amy Kirk

AMY KIRK: Bright spots on the ranch

There is nothing more mini-celebration worthy than remembering the frozen cowpie along my path from the car to the house and not tripping on it.

• Amy Kirk

AMY KIRK: Recognizing contributors of generosity

Before we get any further into the new year, I think it’s a good idea to remind everyone that now is an ideal time to acknowledge those who have helped us in the past to get where we are today: just your average rural American grinding his or her butt off in hopes of succeeding at our work.

• Amy Kirk

AMY KIRK: Wishing you a happy list of little stuff for the new year

May your pants still fit after the holidays. -May your bathroom time not be disturbed. -May you get your good 9 by 13-inch cake pan back.

• Amy Kirk

AMY KIRK: Understanding the way a woman thinks

Women have a reputation for forgetting where they left their purse or where they set down their car keys or cell phone. And according to men, women also have a reputation for bringing up stuff from the past.

• Amy Kirk

AMY KIRK: Questions are the answers to gender gap

Days or sometimes weeks prior to an all-family ranch chore like moving cows, my husband starts letting the kids and me in on the plan but only a little at a time.

• Amy Kirk

AMY KIRK: Christmas colors missing on Black Friday’s specials

I know just where some red and green post-Thanksgiving specials could be found: implement dealerships that sell John Deere, Case IH and New Holland equipment.

• Amy Kirk

AMY KIRK: The challenge of looking like I have it all together

During the winter months getting to appointments, church, meetings or school sports activities in the morning and looking presentable are two hardships I struggle to overcome.

• Amy Kirk

AMY KIRK: Stress-free environments

I’ve read various articles suggesting ideas for reducing stress and shrinkage in calves. What I want to know is how to eliminate stress in producers.

• Amy Kirk

AMY KIRK: Be careful around this bunch: Famous Kirk family deals

The Kirks have a family tradition of masterminding unusual deals.

• Amy Kirk