The New Year Begins at Stock and Steeds!
As the new year kicks off, we’re filled with excitement and ambition for the projects ahead. At the top of our list is the completion of our 200-year-old dairy barn transformation into a modern horse boarding barn. We're hoping to wrap it up by mid-year and celebrate with a grand opening!
The first major task was pouring a new wall. Our biggest challenge was raising the barn and building a stud wall to set it back down on. Fortunately, Trevor’s experience as a carpenter has made this process much smoother. However, the summer slipped away faster than expected, and we still have some concrete work to complete before the wall is fully finished. We’re eager to get back to it as soon as the weather cooperates!
On the inside of the barn, we’ve made great progress, especially when it comes to adding new stalls. This winter, our goal is to finish the stalls so that come spring, they’ll just need a coat of stain. Again, we’re at the mercy of the weather, but we’re determined to get it done!
Our two sons are also getting involved in the process. We love encouraging them to come out and learn about the work that goes into creating and maintaining the ranch. Not only is this valuable hands-on experience in building and craftsmanship, but it also gives them a better understanding of what it takes to care for the animals. Of course, with an almost-10-year-old and an almost-3-year-old, they’re not always interested in the work for long, and often find more exciting things to do. But we definitely enjoy their help while it lasts!
While our barn is designed for horses, we have big plans for incorporating our cows into the mix. One day, we hope to build an arena where we can practice bovine sports, such as calf roping, team roping, cutting, and reigning. It’s a big dream, but like all big dreams, it starts with small steps. First things first: getting the barn ready for boarding. Once that’s complete, the rest will follow.
Savor, flourish, enjoy the ride—and don’t forget the gate!
Trevor Moller, April Johnson,
and the team at Stock and Steeds