Question: What’s worse than a child running into the house yelling that the steers are out?

Answer: A child running into the house yelling that the steers are GONE!

That’s how we were greeted not too long ago. Of course, it was a morning where we had somewhere to be.

Inspection of the steer pen revealed that they had broken a board leaving a gaping hole. And…the feed from the night before was still there. They must have made their escape soon after feeding time. Twelve hours is a very long time to wander. Visions of the beasts marching through town made my stomach twist.

We scoured the property for any sign.

They’d been in the garden. My broccoli…Gone!

To our great relief it seemed they’d headed for the west end of the property. Hundreds of acres would come between them and civilization.

Our oldest son took off running, the younger son took the quad, oldest daughter saddled the horse, and the youngest hopped in the truck with us.

Behind our property dirt roads twist around poking out here and there into various field. So many routes they could have taken. What a wonderful sound to hear one of the kids scream that they’d spotted them!

There they were, on a narrow path near the river. My oldest son haltered one, and we began the long walk home.

With the steers back home (I think they were happy to be back too), we repaired the fence and moved on with the day.

Wouldn’t you know it, they broke out again only few days later. My husband only had time for a quick repair because the sun was setting.

This is what I saw the next morning:

Yes, that is a Suburban blocking the hole. Classy, huh?

The fence is REALLY fixed now. On to other adventures.