This is the view down the old loading chute.

It was time to make some changes to the corrals. While they have worked for many years to sort and load cattle, everyone could see improvements that would make the whole process easier on both bovine and human.

Of course, we had to tear down the old chute and one of the small corrals to get ready to begin the new ones. We did that on Friday so we’d be ready for the work crew on Saturday!

Many holes needed to be dug in order to set new posts, and we were happy to host our friend, Roger and his skid steer auger to save all that labor with post hole diggers. We’ve done plenty of that. This part was time consuming because everything has to be in line for all the boards and/or panels to be flush.

Then the work began in earnest as the huge posts were put into the holes, leveled in every conceivable direction and dirt was shoveled back into the hole as we tamped

South posts of new loading chute are in and the rest of the holes are waiting for posts!

and tamped and tamped until the post was firmly set. We worked the posts, leveling, shoveling and tamping for two days, as well as: cutting boards, drilling pilot holes, securing the boards with washers and screws, wiring panels, setting gates-lots of gates, and sharing a lot of good natured teasing. 

At the end of the weekend, although there is still more work to be done, the loading and sorting chutes are ready, the posts are set, the gates are up, some panels are set, and we were rewarded with a beautiful sunset and a super moon!