Fence Repair: The Never-Ending Task on Our Ranch

This week, we tackled the ever-present challenge of fence repair. A few of our cows decided the grass looked greener on the other side, prompting their little adventure. Luckily, I've spent most of my life fixing fences—15 years in the fencing industry, to be precise. April has been by my side for a couple of years, but even our experience doesn’t make this task any less strenuous.

Our property is mostly hills, making every trek feel like a workout. No matter where you go, you’ll be hiking uphill at least once. There’s a certain beauty in that; life on flat ground can feel, well, flat.

Then there’s the weight of the fencing materials. We use high-tensile wire at 12.5 gauge, which comes in heavy 4,000-foot rolls. While we can manage it alone, it’s much smarter to work together. The same goes for the t-posts, fence pounder, stretcher, and all the specialized tools we need to haul along the way. The weight is also too much for our horse, making it impractical for traveling the fence line.

You might think a fence should last for years once it’s up, but with such a vast property, that’s rarely the case. Wildlife frequently crosses our land, whether going over or under, leading to inevitable damage. Often, it’s the plastic insulators that take the brunt and need replacing. Thankfully, those are relatively easy fixes, though we end up spending all day hiking the fence line since driving along it with the ATV isn’t an option.

Despite the labor-intensive nature of fencing, we make the best of it. With our Bluetooth speakers playing classics from Cash, Cline, and Marty Robbins, we soak in the sights of wildlife and enjoy the natural beauty of the ranch we call home.

As always, savor, flourish, enjoy the ride—and remember to close the gate!

Trevor Moller, April Johnson 

and the team at Stock and Steeds