South Dakota Ranch is Way of Life for the Dagley Family

Hi, I’m Susanna Dagley!

And I want to introduce you to my family.

My husband, David, and I have three amazing teenage children, Hadassah, Clementine, and Ephraim.

David trains Hangin Tree Cowdogs and horses, and he worked for 16 year for a rancher near Mobridge, South Dakota.

Our cowdogs helped us move the different cattle groups through their pastures.

We’d divided the ranch into small pastures, and moved cattle to a new pasture every few days. That way the cattle not only got to eat their fill of fresh grass, but they also trampled the grass creating a mat to protect and feed the soil.

Our cowdogs made it easier to move the cattle more often, which improved both the nutrition and weight gain of the cattle.

But it didn’t just benefit the cattle! Intensive grazing also allowed the land to rest most of the year, which improved the soil and encouraged the growth of native grasses.

To accomplish this, we spent a bit of time fencing. Because, we used a combination of permanent fences that needed mending, and temporary fences that we were always moving.

Since we have winter in South Dakota, we also put up hay for the winter. Then, when the grass is covered with snow, we fed the cattle.

Our children enjoyed helping me milk our goats and collect fresh eggs. Together we gardened, take care of our cowdogs, and helped David with ranch work.

However, this summer is bringing to close this chapter of our life.

David recently excepted a job as a ranch hand on a ranch near Mound City, South Dakota. So, we will be moving this fall. (fall of 2023).

David plans to continue training Cowdogs and horses as he has time, and we’ll update you once we are settled in.

So, you probably figured it out by now, but, no, we don’t own our own ranch. Right now “Dagley Ranch” refers to our family and the ranch style life we live.

Maybe someday, if the Lord wills, we will have a ranch of our own.

But for now we are working on doing the best we can where we are, and hope you enjoy joining us for a glimpse of ranch life!

-Susanna Dagley

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