A Week of Firsts at Valhalla North Ranch

There have been a lot of firsts around Valhalla North Ranch this week.

Our newest girl arrived Friday night, officially adding another member to our little herd. She has settled in beautifully and has already started learning what life here is all about. She came to us with very little handling, as her original path was expected to be that of a broodmare, so some of the things we might normally take for granted with a horse are completely new to her.

This week brought her first halter lessons with us, along with learning to walk quietly beside us and beginning to understand that hands near her head aren't something she needs to worry about. She is a little head shy, so we're taking our time. There is no deadline and no reason to rush. Right now, the most important lesson is simply that she is safe here.

Both of the young girls also had their first learning session with Caio, who came out to the ranch to work with them at home. Every little experience adds another piece to their foundation, and it's exciting to watch them start figuring things out.

And today brought another big first: their first farrier visit here.

One thing this adventure continues to teach us is just how important it is to have an incredible care team around your animals. We are incredibly grateful for a talented, knowledgeable, and exceptionally patient farrier, as well as a talented, knowledgeable, and patient veterinarian. When you're working with young horses who are still learning the world—and with an older gentleman like Teddy, who has his own needs—having professionals who are willing to slow down, listen to the horse, and work through things calmly is priceless.

And yes, Teddy got his pedicure too. We couldn't possibly leave the our main man out.

Our newest girl does have one strange, sensitive spot on her side that we'd like checked, so she'll hopefully be getting a quick visit with the vet on Monday. We'd always rather ask the question and have something looked at than wonder about it.

Meanwhile, fall has officially arrived.

Yesterday was the first day of autumn, which means Carolina and our newest girl are experiencing their very first Minnesota fall here at Valhalla North. Soon enough they'll also get their first introduction to a northern Minnesota winter—which should be an adventure all its own.

Chico has been steadily working on shelters and helping get everything ready for colder weather. Around here, winter preparation isn't really one big project. It's a hundred little ones: shelters, fencing, bedding, water systems, feed storage, equipment, and trying to think three steps ahead of whatever Mother Nature decides to throw at us.

Eight Weeks With Our First Meat Birds

Our Cornish Cross chickens officially turned eight weeks old today.

It seems impossible that the tiny chicks we brought home in July are already this big.

That means their journey here on the ranch will soon be coming full circle.

Raising animals for food has given us an entirely different appreciation for what goes into putting food on the table. These birds have been cared for every single day, and when processing day comes, we'll approach that part with the same intention and respect we've tried to give them throughout their lives.

One thing nobody adequately warned us about?

The water.

Everyone talks about how much Cornish Cross chickens eat—and they absolutely do eat an impressive amount—but nobody talks about how much water they drink.

It is unbelievable.

We clean waterers. We refill waterers. We turn around approximately five minutes later and wonder how on earth they need more water again.

If there is one completely unexpected lesson from our first flock, it's this: plan your watering system just as carefully as you plan your feed.

Clean water and clean living spaces are something we take seriously with every animal here. That means waterers are regularly cleaned and refilled, chicken areas are maintained, stalls are mucked, bedding is refreshed, and everyone gets checked daily.

It isn't glamorous work, but it's probably some of the most important work we do.

The Pigs Have Opinions About Forest Management

Our two pigs are also doing wonderfully.

We've actually opened up even more of the wooded area for them, and they are happily continuing their careers in forest management.

We've had more than a few people tell us that we shouldn't allow them so much access to green forage because it will somehow negatively affect the flavor of the pork.

We understand that everyone raises animals differently, but pasture and woodland access was part of the reason we wanted to raise our own pigs in the first place.

Good pastured pork is incredible.

The boys get to root, explore, forage, move around, and behave like pigs while also helping us work through an area of the property that needs attention. That feels like a pretty good arrangement to us.

Their primary feed is sourced locally, just like the feed for the rest of our livestock whenever we're able to do so. Keeping our dollars within the local agricultural community is something that matters to us, and we're trying to carry that philosophy all the way through the process.

We recently discovered a local meat processor with a USDA-inspected facility that we hadn't even known existed because they don't really advertise. I've got a phone call in to them now, and we're hoping they call us back.

Being able to raise the pigs here, feed them with locally sourced feed, and then have them processed close to home would be exactly what we're hoping for.

Preparing for the Next Season

So that's where we are this week.

Young horses learning.

An old horse reminding everyone he still deserves equal billing.

Chickens reaching an important milestone.

Pigs happily rearranging the forest.

Shelters being built.

Waterers being cleaned and filled again...and again...and again.

And winter preparations slowly getting checked off the list.

There will be a brief pause in my own ranch projects at the end of the week because I'm heading into surgery Friday for another procedure related to my tracheal and subglottic stenosis. Ranch life, unfortunately, doesn't stop just because one of us has to check into a hospital, so I'm especially grateful for Mr. Pacheco keeping things moving here while I take care of myself.

This week hasn't been flashy.

But it has been full.

Full of learning, preparation, patience, and an awful lot of firsts.

That's ranch life, we're learning. The big milestones are wonderful, but most of the story is written in the small things—the first time a young horse quietly follows you, freshly trimmed feet, clean bedding, full water buckets, chickens growing before your eyes, pigs disappearing happily into the woods, and another project finished before winter arrives.

Led by Faith. Guided by the Northern Lights. Semper Fi.

— Valhalla North Ranch