Oftentimes we remember past Northwestern Colorado summers for something that stood out at that time, like being hotter or drier than usual — or the opposite, colder and wetter.

Or maybe it’s for another reason, such as a grasshopper infestation or even seeing more butterflies than usual. This summer will probably go down as wetter than usual, with lots of grass and wildflowers. Some area residents will never forget it due to the crickets.

However, no matter the year, you can always tell it’s summer around here when …

• implement dealerships and welding shops are doing a brisk business, supplying hay equipment parts and repairing machinery.

• area pickup trucks are loaded with grease, tools, baling twine and water jugs.

• the rancher has put away colostrum, ear tags, the tagging gun, and other calving supplies.

• ranch dogs are in their busiest season, chasing cows out of the brush or keeping sheep moving along a highway.

• cars have to slow down or even stop because sheep are being trailed on the highway.

• some of a rancher’s cows have crawled in with his neighbor’s herd—sometimes just a bull.

• planes are out early in the morning, spraying fields.

• fair events are being advertised in the newspapers. 

• ranch stores offer specials on livestock grooming supplies and show halters.

• 4-H and FFA members are leading their sheep and cattle around, teaching them how to place their feet for the show ring.

• ranchers check ponds and the mineral supply on summer pastures.

• bulls “converse” with one another across the fences.

• garden corn wasn’t “knee high by the Fourth of July” but may be by Aug. 4.

• the rhubarb is going to seed.

• robins are enjoying the fruits of the strawberry patch.

• in places where cattle graze along a county road, the mailboxes are open because the cows have “helped themselves” to the mail.

• some sheep are being hauled to summer pasture in semi-trucks.

• the barbecue gets a workout.

• corrals are being cleaned.

• stores run low on fencing wire.

• badgers are busy digging holes in fields and pastures.

• ranchers cut hay, it dries in the sun, they rake it, it rains and they start over again.

• the hay field is the hot place to be, literally.

• sheep wagons are being moved along the highway from one camp to another.

• the hummingbirds have returned, and every house has containers of nectar out for them.

• smoke can be seen in the distance, coming from a fire started by lightning.

• at night skunks let everyone know they’re around.

• some of the barn cats have left for the fields to hunt gophers, mice and ground squirrels. Other cats have had their second batches of kittens and hidden them in newly-stacked hay.

• cattle rub gates down.

• hoses for gardens and yards run all day long.

• corrals are empty and lonely.

• kids are participating in Little Britches Rodeos.

No matter what the summer is like, enjoy! It won’t be here long.