Features photos gallery
Winter on the ranch January 5, 2008
About 10 miles north of Craig, on Highway 13, Ronald Lawton is beginning his day. He packs up his two dogs, Callie and Ringo, at about 9 a.m. into his large John Deere tractor and heads out to feed the horses and cattle on his farm. It is surprisingly warm for how much snow is on the ground, making his job a little easier than in the normally frigid temperatures he experiences — temeratures so cold his tractor won’t start. Lawton is used to it though. He started his farm in 1972, working full-time at the Colowyo Mine to help finance what the farm wouldn’t support until 2002, when he retired. He credits his wife, Shirley, with helping to keep the farm moving while he worked. Now he spends his time working at a more leisurely pace, enjoying what he’s worked to build.
Ronald Lawton rolls out a bail of hay for his herd of cattle Friday morning.
Callie and Ringo, two red and white Australian Shepherds, round up the cattle to draw them away from Ronald Lawton’s tractor.
Callie peeks out from Ronald Lawton’s tractor before setting out for the day Friday. “It’s a way of life,” Lawton said. “I intend to pass this on to my son.”
Ronald Lawton breaks through the watering hole for the cattle, which must be done so the cattle can drink. “Sometimes the ice is over an inch thick,” he said.
Ronald Lawton cuts off the string holding the bale together. The cattle “become really dependent on you,” he said. “If you don’t feed them, they don’t eat.”
E-mail this gallery to a friend
Explore Craig
Retail · Recreation & Sporting Goods · Food & Dining · Real Estate & Rentals · Clubs & Organizations · Automotive · Services
Advertisement
Question of the week
An estimated 2,550 people attended the Three Dog Night and Firefall concert Saturday as part of the Craig centennial celebration. Was the concert a success?
Advertisement