Pat & Sharon O'Toole: Vaccinating cows

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Winter cows in front of sheepwagon
Home Ranch
photo by Pat O'Toole

This weekend, we vaccinated cows. Our son, Eamon, came home from the University of Wyoming with his girlfriend, Megan Ann. She is known as such to distinguish her from our daughter, Meghan Lynne. It is an improvement over her old nickname, Megan-without-an-H. With their good help, we had enough of a crew to process the cows.

The cows were understandably a little reluctant to enter the chute, considering that their last experience there involved a veterinarian, a long rubber glove, and an invasive procedure. If women had to undergo the same sort of pregnancy testing, there would be no prenatal care. Or as Linda Hussa pointed out in her very humorous monologue in Elko, “That vet—he’s no Baxter Black!”

We had a nice day—enough snow to wade through, but pleasant weather. It was warm enough to make sure we were each thoroughly splattered in mud by day’s end. In spite of recent really cold weather, the cows look good and we are gratified by the prospect of a good calf crop (knock wood!).

Eamon on Pal.jpg
Eamon on Pal, a young horse that he broke
Home Ranch
photo by Pat O'Toole

Pat, Meghan & Seamus at chute.jpg
Pat, Meghan & Seamus
Home Ranch
photo by Sharon O'Toole

Megan at chute.jpg
Megan at the chute
Home Ranch
photo by Sharon O'Toole

Eamon, Pat, Sharon & Bruiser.jpg
Eamon, Pat, Sharon & Bruiser
Home Ranch
photo by Sharon O'Toole

Brian & Siobhan in corral.jpg
Brian and Siobhan in the corral
Home Ranch
photo by Sharon O'Toole

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About Pat & Sharon O'Toole

Pat and Sharon O’Toole are ranchers in the Little Snake River Valley near Savery, Wyoming, right on the Colorado-Wyoming border. They raise cattle, sheep, horses, dogs and children. Pat “immigrated” from Florida in 1970. He attended Colorado State University, where he met Sharon when both worked for the campus newspaper. Sharon grew up on their ranch, where they live and work with her father, their daughter, son and granddaughter (soon to be grandchildren!). Pat is a “water buffalo” and has served in the Wyoming House of Representatives (1986-1992), on the President’s Western Water Policy Review Advisory Commission, and is the current President of the Family Farm Alliance, which advocates for farmers, ranchers and irrigators. Sharon is an author, poet and journalist. She writes extensively on Western issues and is a columnist for “The Shepherd” magazine. Pat and Sharon are the parents of three children: Meghan, 27; Bridget, 26; and Eamon, 20.

Pat & Sharon O'Toole

Vaccinating cows

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