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About The Blue Mountain eagle. (John Day, Or.) 1972-current | View Entire Issue (March 15, 2017)
Ag Day Blue Mountain Eagle Wednesday, March 15, 2017 A9 Young family enjoys ranching lifestyle By Angel Carpenter Blue Mountain Eagle Brandon and Sydney Thompson of Dayville keep busy, raising four young chil- dren with a ranching way of life. As soon as 10-year-old Ethan and 8-year-old Tyler step off the school bus, they load up in the pickup with their parents and younger sib- lings, Carson, 4, and McKen- zie, 3, to feed cattle. Sydney said that’s the best thing, ranching together as a family. During haying season, it is not unusual to see Brandon and Sydney driving tractors, carting two children each in the cabs as they rake fields. “That’s pretty much how it works,” Sydney said. “It’s re- ally a good time to just talk to your kids and find out what’s going on their life.” When other ranchers vis- it, “they’ll say, ‘I remember when our kids were little, and we were doing the same thing,’” she said. Sydney said there are many things she enjoys about ranch- ing in Dayville, including the good weather and the commu- nity. She said most of her boys’ classmates are also have fami- lies who ranch and farm. “They get together and help their friends when it’s time to brand, and they help us,” she said. Brandon works full time as a wildlife technician for Ore- gon Department of Fish and Wildlife, and he and Sydney share ranching duties. They run Angus-cross cattle for the Auxier Ranch, Three of the Thompson kids ride horses on March 9, at their Dayville home, before going out to feed the cattle. From left: Ethan, Carson and McKenzie Thompson. which includes some of their own cattle, and they also have cattle on leased land, working about 200 head in all. The couple have lived in Dayville for 10 years. Both grew up on ranches, Brandon in North Powder and Sydney in Northern California, and both of their dads worked full time at other jobs while ranching, receiving lots of help from family. Sydney said ranching followed Brandon, and he started doing some side jobs. “I told him, if you’re going to do this, we have to be real- ly involved, so we can spend time together,” she said. “That’s the kicker for me,” Brandon said, adding if they didn’t work it out that way, they’d never see each other. “It works out pretty well, and it’s a good way to teach your kids that there is more to life,” Sydney said. “We pray as a family for J OHN D AY NAPA IS PROUD TO SPONSOR E ASTERN O REGON ’ S A GRICULTURE B USINESS . rain or for calves to get bet- ter, and they see the results,” she said. “It’s kind of a ‘faith- based’ business.” Brandon said he appreci- ates the value of hard work his children are learning. See FAMILY, Page A10 Eagle photos/Angel Carpenter The Thompson family pauses after feeding cattle on Thursday, March 9, in Dayville. Front, from left, Sydney, 3-year-old McKenzie and Brandon; back, Carson, Tyler and Ethan. Grant County Chamber of Commerce Providing Grant County with feed and farm supplies for its agricultural industry. 311 N Canyon City Blvd, Canyon City would like to recognize the hard work our local ranchers and farmers do for our county this Ag Day. Thank you for everything! 541-575-2050 OTEC Celebrates National Ag Day as your rural, electric co-op. OTEC fights every day to continue to provide our members with some of the most affordable energy and reliable rates in the country. W E HAVE BEEN HELPING KEEP FARM & RANCH EQUIPMENT RUNNING SMOOTHLY SINCE 1966. All OTEC members are invited to our 2017 Annual Membership Meeting Saturday, April 29 at the Blue Mountain Conference Center 404 12th Street, La Grande, OR Free Transportation I Live Music I Catered Lunch I Drawings and Giveaways 721 W Main • John Day • 541-575-1850 Call us for more information at: 541-575-0161 Putting Our Energy To Work For YOU! • 400 Patterson Bridge Road, John Day, OR • www.otecc.com ly p p u S ing d l i u B Mills ll t For A s e B e ith Th s Build W ultural Need ic r g Your A Horse Barns • Storage Buildings • Hay Barns • Sheds & Building Supplies Metal Roofing & Siding 751 W Main St. • John Day 541-575-1021 821 W Hwy. 26, John Day • www.jdpolaris.com
