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In late spring on the open range, ewes give birth outside when the weather is warmer with very little assistance. Depending on the terrain of the ranch, a shepherd will move the flock to a winter pasture that has a lot of natural coverage such as sagebrush or rocky out coves.

• What's New Wednesday

During the cold of late winter, gardeners begin planning their gardens and buying seeds. When sunshine and mild temperatures arrive, gardeners are ready to get their hands in the soil.

• What's New Wednesday

April 7 is National Beer Day. The brewing of beer has a long history in South Dakota.  When the first brewery opened in 1866, many Germans and other Europeans were settling the Northern Plains.  They began growing crops and brought their knowledge of turning grains into ale.

• What's New Wednesday

This tractor spent its entire working life in South Dakota with all but five years on the Guilds farm east of Dell Rapids. In 1989, after rejecting many lucrative offers and wishing his Mogul would permanently remain in South Dakota, William "Willy" Guilds donated his tractor to the Agricultural Heritage Museum.

• What's New Wednesday

One Wednesday last April, the blog featured an Aspinwall Potato Cutter. The Aspinwell is free-standing manufactured device. Today’s potato cutter is hand made.  It is simply a board with 2 metal blades set into the center of the board. It could be placed over a basket or bin so that the sliced potatoes fall in. 

• What's New Wednesday

The Prince Butter Cutter No. P306 was manufactured by Strite-Anderson Manufacturing Company, Minneapolis.  It was patented on Aug. 16, 1932, by Albert Slaten, Minneapolis.

• What's New Wednesday

Hand cards are the traditional method of preparing fleece and fibers for spinning. The purpose of carding is to produce a batt or rolag of fluffy wool that makes spinning easier.  

• What's New Wednesday

Even though today is Wednesday, the traditional day of baking, we are talking about Monday (wash day) today. This funny looking item, a tin cone with a wood handle, is a laundry agitator.

• What's New Wednesday

No waiting for the school bus when you have a pony buggy to take you to classes!

• What's New Wednesday

Crispy, warm waffles are delicious plain, with jam, honey, fruit, whipped cream or whatever your favorite topping might be. This waffle iron sits on the range top of a cast iron cook stove. The handle to the left belongs to the collar that fits into the burner or to be used over a campfire. The waffle iron is then set on the collar. At one end of the waffle iron there is a ball shaped joint that allows the iron to open and to flip it so that both sides of the waffle are cooked.

• What's New Wednesday