Not only does this video by Bryan Marcel accurately show the conditions on a committed grass fed ranch operation, but he is a big proponent on eating healthier as a lifestyle. Beyond his catchy motto, “Look Better Naked,” he has a healthy diet plan that includes grass fed beef. For more information, check out The Bryan Marcel Healthy Diet and/or read his article, “Unhealthy Americans.”
For most of our customers, they seek out grass fed beef because of a desire to eat healthier. They instinctively know that the more naturally an animal lives the better. They believe the adage, “You are what you eat.” If you eat meat filled with antibiotics and growth hormones, then it stands to reason that the meat will eventually have an adverse effect on your health.
On Cross Creek Cattle Company, we raise our beef in a natural setting in Grimes County. The herds graze natural grasses, and they are currently enjoying planted rye grass. They have access to fresh water and loose minerals. There is no feed-lot setting on our ranch.
To see for yourself, we invite you to tour Cross Creek Cattle Company. Contact me for an appointment so that I can make myself available to you and your family.
A storm came early Monday morning. It woke us up in the middle of the night with swirling winds, lightning flashes, and rumbling thunder. Our youngest boy, Andrew, knocked on our bedroom door as he sought our parental comfort. Our puppy was whining. Typically this scenario would not be welcome. I mean, I treasure my sleep. However after the year we have had, it was a sheer joy to wake up to the sound of the downpour on our metal roof. I did not mind the inconvenience of a whining dog and scared child.
The storm was not short lived. It lasted most of the day, but by noon the really hard rain had left. Instead, a soaking rain set in for a few more hours. We watched as puddles spilled into larger ones, which then eventually led to some minor flooding as the once dry creek beds filled and spilled over.
This was not our first rain during this drought. We have been blessed this fall and winter with occasional showers. They have had an incredible effect on our winter grass. These rains have provided a steady soaking of the ground. In spite of these showers, our ponds and lakes have been lower than we have ever witnessed. Run-off had not really begun to refill them.
We cannot say that anymore. Just look at the before and after photos of the same lake on our ranch. If you will recall, we built the pier this summer in the hopes that we would once again have a full lake.
Taken in late August. The lake dropped another four feet, but I failed to take a picture of it.
Water level as on January 9th.
In literature, a rain like we experienced Monday symbolizes a rebirth or fresh start. This is exactly how we feel. It is like we have turned a corner. Our land is on the mend from the devastating effects of such a severe drought. To receive 6.6 inches in one day is truly a blessing. Cross Creek Cattle Company is looking forward to watching as God heals our land and restores it. What a wonderful way to start this new year!
Alton Brown, host of Good Eats on the Food Network, prefers grass fed beef to grain fed beef. As usual, he presents his argument in a humorous way. Enjoy this clip as Alton explains why he loves the texture and flavor of grass fed beef.
If you have never tasted the true flavor and texture of beef, there is no time like the present. Cross Creek Cattle Company is still harvesting beef. Please contact Lara DeHaven, our Business Manager, today. Her phone number is 936-870-5798 or her email address is lndehaven@aol.com.
We had such a great time last Saturday! Our trail ride was so much fun. It was a beautiful, slightly cool afternoon. The horses felt great and did a wonderful job crossing the creeks, cutting through the woods, and walking through open pastures. We had experienced riders as well as beginners ride the trail and all did a great job.
Isaac is catching a ride with an Indian (Kyla) on her painted horse, Dolly. To the right is Jake as a deer hunter.
For me, the best part of the evening was seeing everyone come dressed up to the ride. When the costume contest was first announced, I did not think that the Posse members would actually dress up. Boy was I wrong.
Most people came in costume. We had rodeo contestants, Indians, Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz, a deer hunter, a Western outlaw, and a gypsy. Cathey Holliday came as a female Zorro. She was my personal favorite; although, my daughter Kyla looked pretty authentic as a Native American. Kyla researched actual symbols that Indians would paint on their horses. She painted them on her horse, and dressed the part herself.
It was fun to see these costumed riders riding across Cross Creek Cattle Company. After the ride, the Posse held their officer election. We awarded two costume prizes. One for the best dressed horse and one for the best costume. The Sheriff judged the contest and had a hard time making his decision. We also ate dinner and visited with one another. All in all, we hosted a fun evening for the Posse.
Since this year’s costume contest was such a hit, it will probably occur next year, too. They will have all year to try to top this year’s costumes. As evidenced by the costumes this year, the members of the Posse not only ride horses well, but they are very creative. Below are the costume contest winners.
Dorothy (Samantha Roesler) and Toto. Best Costume 2011.
Timber Thomson and her very painted horse, Patsy. Best Decorated Horse 2011.
I am all for natural alternatives to pretty much anything. However, I get a little skeptical when the natural alternative requires releasing another animal/insect. There have historically been some major mistakes in this area.
For example, Hawaii has a large rodent population. In an attempt to control the number of rodents, they imported many mongooses. Unfortunately, the mongoose are active during the day while rodents are more nocturnal. Mongooses have actually created more problems for the small native fauna than they have eliminated the rodent problem since they were introduced in 1883.
At Cross Creek Cattle Company we own many horses. At night they are stalled in a barn. Needless to say, during the hot summer months, the fly population around the barn can be unbelievable. Keeping the stalls as clean as possible did not help as much as you would think. Flies were a nuisance to both man and beast.
Cathey Holliday researched and found Fly Eliminators from Arbico. She decided to order them and give them a try. They soon arrived in the mail and we began Operation Fly Be Gone. We have now put out four or five packages of the fly elimators, which are fly parasites, in and around the horse barn.
Last week I was cleaning stalls. By the time I was in my sixth stall of the day, I realized that the fly eliminators were really working. It dawned on me that I had not been pestered by one fly that entire afternoon. I kept my eyes peeled for flies for the remainder of the horse stalls. I saw maybe three.
Unbelievable!! Fly Eliminators really work. If you are looking for a natural alternative to controlling flies, check into these fly parasites. Even a skeptic like myself, sees major improvement. Considering that the flies torment animals and residents in Texas from the end of February to mid November, I am looking forward to a virtually fly-free horse barn for months to come.
Unlike Hawaii, we have not experienced any ill effects from releasing the fly parasites. They do their job well. We could not be more happy with the product.
Since our cattle rely on high quality grasses, Cross Creek Cattle Company is interested in doing all we can to improve our pastures. Proper pasture rotation is critical for not over-grazing. It also prevents erosion. It aids in weed control. But what else can we do to naturally improve our pastures?
The answer is quite simple: soil aeration. Aeration is the method of removing small plugs of earth from your soil. When to Aerate lists the following benefits of aeration.
reduction in the amount of weeds
a greater amount of nutrients reach the roots
prevention of soil compaction
an increase in growth of your grasses
improvement of oxygen circulation at the root level
an increased activity of vital organisms, such as earthworms
According to our local co-op, soil aeration yields a 15% improvement to your grass. With just the aeration, you should see quite an improvement. Adding compost tea or composted manures to your soil after aeration increases that percentage even more.
Knowing when to aerate is key. The best times are late spring and early fall. If you have mostly clay soil, you will want to aerate both of these times. Ranches with mostly sandy soil can choose either time, but most aerate in the spring.
My husband is busy aerating our open pastures. It is the perfect time to start reaping the many benefits from soil aeration. From your pasture to your yard, soil aeration offers a way to improve your grass naturally.
I saw the trailer for Freshthis past week as part of the Real Food for Rookies cooking class that my children and I are taking together. I was so intrigued that I have sought out more information.
There is a movement afoot. A movement to get back to the basics. A movement to grow and/or raise our food naturally without herbicides, antibiotics, etc. Cross Creek Cattle Company is part of that movement, too.
As producers of grass fed beef, we have transformed the way we raise cattle. Some ranchers call it re-inventing ranching. That might be the most appropriate term; however, we don’t need to re-invent the wheel. American ranchers/farmers need to find our way back to the way God intended our food to be raised, which is what we are trying to do with our ranching business.
Cattle were created to eat grass. They were created to stay in a multi-generational herd. Since we raise cattle, it only makes sense that I discuss beef all the time. But today, I want to use a different animal to illustrate this point.
When you cram thousands of chickens into a facility in tiny cages, you are simply creating problems because chickens are supposed to forage. They roam around eating bugs, worms, and grass. They will peck at each other in these tight quarters so to remedy that problem farmers have to clip their beaks. The stress of their lifestyle lowers their immune system so farmers regularly administer antibiotics.
The way our country has been raising animals, fruits, and vegetables has created problems that have led us to our current food system. Scientists have genetically modified many of our vegetables as they look for ways to grow disease resistant, fast growing, new and improved produce. According to many experts, the most commonly modified foods are corn and soybeans. We consume hormones, antibiotics, steroids, pesticides, and/or herbicides as we eat our “healthy” grilled chicken, salad, and corn on the cob.
Joel Salatin, a fellow grass fed rancher, says that he is “in the redemption business: healing the land, healing the food, healing the economy, and healing the culture.” From this statement, I gather that Joel Salatin feels a strong need to heal our country. Again, the theme is not necessarily re-invent, but instead restore. Mr. Salatin was made famous in Michael Pollan’s book, The Omnivore’s Delight. He also appears in Fresh.
I really want to see this movie, but alas there are no showings anywhere near our ranch. The public should be able to purchase the video soon for personal use. If you are lucky and live in an area where there are showing of Fresh, please write and let me know your thoughts and impressions of the movie.
Until I hear from you or Fresh comes out for sale, I have the trailer to watch. I am including it here at the end of this article for you to view as well. Whether you see the movie or not, a movement is occurring in our farming and ranching communities. Consumers want better, healthier foods. Together we can all work to improve the state of our food supply. Together we can restore and heal the practices in our country.
Summer would not be complete for my family unless we went fishing. At Cross Creek Cattle Company we have several stocked ponds. One has catfish. The others have bass and crappie. With so much work to do on the ranch, it is nice to carve out time to enjoy living here.
Last weekend my boys went fishing with their dad. They did not catch many, but what they did catch was huge. You cannot help but get excited when you hook a big bass on your line. This one in particular put up a fight. Catching fish is very rewarding.
Fishing is a great way to encourage father/son bonding. I am not saying that my daughter and I do not fish because we do. It is fun for me to see the way that my husband teaches the little ones how to fish. He has so much patience with them.
Once Jake hooked Lane, my husband, in the forehead with a treble hook. Actually he hooked him twice in the forehead by casting too soon before Lane was out of the way. Lane calmly asked me to remove the hook. When I saw that two hooks were buried in his skin, I got sick to my stomach. I tried to move them, but they would not budge. Lane had to remove them himself.
I will never forget how he did not yell and scream at anyone. Jake already looked sick. He was only five at the time. I think Lane knew that he had learned his lesson already. Lane just asked him to not do that again.
When my step-father takes little ones fishing, he always cuts the tips of the hooks off. The hook still catches fish, but it does not catch him. A great tip for anyone fishing with young children.
Multiple generations like to come out here to fish. Grandfathers and grandsons, uncles and nephews, fathers and sons enjoy the day together. Friends are always welcome, too.
My dad has a friend who visited here two months ago. He is an avid fisherman. He began fishing early in the morning and fished most of the day. He caught over 40 fish. My dad said he has never seen anything like it. Almost every time his friend cast out, he pulled in a fish.
We don’t always have luck. Sometime we catch nothing, but those days are few and far between. I tell my kids, “That is why it is called fishing and not catching.”
I find it relaxing to sit and watch your bobber float on the surface of the water. My children prefer fishing with lures because there is always something to do. They can reel in and cast out as much as they want.
We usually stop fishing as soon as we have enough for dinner. The taste of fresh fish coupled with homegrown vegetables is out of this world. There is nothing better than eating what you raise, forage, and/or catch. Living on or visiting Cross Creek Cattle Company enables you to experience a taste of self-sufficiency.
At Cross Creek Cattle Company, we do not just raise grass fed beef. We garden organically. We pick wild grapes and berries. We tend our fruit trees. We eat fresh fish from our lake and ponds. Our family believes in the health benefits of eating real food.
Recently I received many phone calls by family and friends who viewed The Oprah Winfrey Show last week. I did not watch it as it aired, but Oprah was interviewing Michael Pollan. He is one of the most famous proponents of natural, healthy foods. When he eats meat, Mr. Pollan chooses grass fed beef, which is why I received all the phone calls.
Michael Pollan has written many books like,The Omnivore’s Dilemna, and has delivered many speeches on the subject of food. You can search his name on YouTube and you will have many different choices of videos to watch. His most recent project has been a documentary called “Food Inc.“ I have not seen the movie, but it has intrigued me. To see more about the movie as well as watch its trailer, click here.
To see a portion of Oprah’s show from January 21st about Food. Watch this video. It starts out with a food quiz. You will not believe how much antibiotics are given to livestock in one year. It is astounding! The clip also gives a peek into the documentary, “Food Inc.”
Oprah’s interview, “Food 101 with Michael Pollan” is available to read. Mr. Pollan also has a new-book out called, Food Rules. In short, Mr. Pollan wants America to get back to what our great-grandparents ate, to eat real food. He calls out other nations in the world that live on seal blubber or cow blood mixed with milk and have little heart problems and/or type-2 diabetes. This line of thought and the desire to eat what our ancestors enjoyed daily is very similar to one of my favorite authors on food and nutrition, Sally Fallon.
In light of all the national debate on health care reform, I think that it is safe to say that we are all concerned about our health. The connection that Michael Pollan makes is how our health is affected by the foods that we eat.
We are concerned about what we eat here on Cross Creek Cattle Company. We are also very happy to be able to offer grass fed beef to the public. Our beef might cost more than a steak at a Super Wal-Mart grocery store, but as Michael Pollan asked, “What are the long-term health costs of buying the cheaper food?” I assure you that our grass fed beef has been raised as a herd on grass. Our beef has not been raised on antibiotics, growth hormones, steroids, or grain. If I might add, our grass fed beef is not only nutritious, but also very flavorful and delicious.
There are fewer and fewer full-time ranch managers anymore. It is a job description that encompasses many skills; it requires much more than being a cowboy. So I thought I would interview the ranch manager of Cross Creek Cattle Company to give a better idea of what his job entails as well as tell you about the ranch.
Lane DeHaven
Lane DeHaven has been working for Cross Creek Cattle Company for four years. He brought many skills to the ranch and has acquired many more through on-the-job training. He is a husband and the father of five children.
What is your most challenging job as ranch manager?
I think it is like most jobs where your biggest challenge is keeping the boss happy.
As ranch manager, what are your main responsibilities? I am in charge of pasture management, equipment management, managing cattle, managing horses, fence building and repair, and wildlife management. There is always something to do.
Why did Cross Creek Cattle Company make the switch from traditional ranching to grass fed beef? It was a family decision. We saw a need for more healthy beef and wanted to enter this new and exciting market. We have always enjoyed eating our own beef, and we thought we would extend that privilege to other families.
What is the biggest change for you as ranch manager since the switch? I spend a lot more time out in the pastures. I really have to watch the grass and rotate the herd accordingly.
In what ways, if any, is the ranch environmentally responsible? Well, this is something near and dear to Mr. Holliday’s heart. We created a wildlife refuge. As mentioned previously, I really watch the grass in the pastures to ensure proper grazing which eliminates erosion. We keep our waterways clean and uncontaminated. We do not use antibiotics or hormones in our cattle. This translates into healthier food for ourselves and our customers.
What is the biggest advantage to having your family live and work on a ranch? There are so many advantages to this lifestyle. We are able to provide our own food. We raise other animals, have a garden, and of course raise grass fed beef. But the absolute biggest reason and the reason that I continue being a ranch manager is that I get to see my family throughout the day. It is so wonderful to work and play alongside my wife and children all day.
Are there any downsides to your job? I enjoy being outdoors and doing physical labor. For some, these would be the downsides. However, I guess the downside for me is knowing that I will never be retiring a multi-millionaire. I think it is much more important though to invest ones time in the things that matter like family.
What is your vision for Cross Creek Cattle Company in the future? A bigger tractor would be nice. Naw, I am just giving the owners a hard time. Seriously, I would like to see this ranch more profitable and a leader in the grass fed beef industry. I would like to see our grass fed beef sold by the cut to families, restaurants, and grocery stores. Most of all, I would like to see the ranch continue to be family-owned business for generations to come.
There you have it. The words of a full-time ranch manager who obviously holds his family and its business dear to his heart. If you want to contact Mr. Lane DeHaven, click here. If you would like to read about or order the grass fed beef that Lane serves his own family, click here.
