John and Donna Fields had a dream 21 years ago; to someday own the many acres of countryside that John played and explored on as a child growing up. The couple moved back to Jay, Okla., from Alaska in 1990 and began taking steps toward their dream. Starting with only 40 acres, John and Donna worked daily to make that dream a reality. Today, that dream is the successful 550-acre farm, Bar Circle F Ranch.
Their dream isn’t without sacrifice. John resides at his Jay, Okla., ranch for two weeks, and then he travels to Alaska where he works a second full-time job for two weeks in the oil fields. This leaves Donna to oversee the daily ranch operation, as well as caring for their 7-year-old son, Keith. Unlike the first 14 years of working and expanding the ranch, currently they have hired hands to help with the workload.
Working with 210 head of Angus-cross cattle, John has a solid routine set up. The calves and females involved in the fall births are grazing in a larger pasture area. Both of the groups are further able to be identified by different color tags. John says this is done in case a fence becomes broken. If the two groups become mixed together, it will just take a second to identify the fall from the spring herds.
One thing that Bar Circle F Ranch does to offset climbing prices of gasoline and feed is to sell private treaty on-the-farm, rather than driving them to a sale. Also, a common practice is to put a portion of the herd in a section of pasture for grazing, to cut down on hay usage. In addition, John prefers to use his horse as a primary mode of transportation on the ranch. Whether he is checking cattle in pastures or removing trash and debris, he can be found on his horse. Aside from saving on gasoline, his method has a few other positives. He can approach the cattle easily, with not as much warning given to the cattle. Also, when he is horseback, he can always manage to make some free time.
You won’t find any pets on the Fields’ ranch, only working animals. John says that each animal, from his horse to his dog, have a daily job to do. The dog is a cattle dog, always helping to keep the cattle moving. The calves aren’t pets; they are simply for financial gain. In addition, the females, he says, are strictly to keep the ranch running smoothly. If a female can’t give birth with typical assistance, then she is sold. John says that the cows are needed to provide a profit, and if a cow can’t produce, then she quickly becomes a liability – a cost.
Looking down on the ranch from a high hilltop, John says, “I couldn’t have done it without the grace of God, or my wife.” The ranch is something he hopes to pass down to his son Keith one day. Their pride and hard work are displayed throughout every acre of their ranch and they are happy to be “living the dream.”
