Great Plains living Summer 2012

GREAT PLAINS

SUMMER 2012

living

Bale Grazing 101 Plus...

Kubota’s New Grand X Cab Keeping Up With Clarita Hitting The Trails

www.greatplainskubota.com ADA 1212 N. Broadway

855-4KUBOTA

DUNCAN 3445 N. Hwy. 81

GREAT PLAINS living

Editor/Art Director: Reed Boettcher Owners: Bill and Todd Clark Information: 855-4KUBOTA www.greatplainsliving.com

GREAT PLAINS

SUMMER 2012

On the Cover Owner Bill Clark gives insight to the effective methods of bale grazing. Read about tips and techniques and find out how he saves time by minimizing feeding efforts while benefiting his land and livestock.

living

Bale Grazing 101 Plus...

Kubota’s New Grand X Cab Keeping Up With Clarita Hitting The Trails

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7 10 PROTECTING YOUR POLARIS • Keep your Polaris at peak performance.

12 KUBOTA NEWS FLASH • Kubota introduces their new Grand X cab.

HITTING THE TRAILS • Davis’s Crossbar Ranch provides scenic and challenging ATV trails. 14 DIAMONDS IN THE ROUGH • Blue Diamond Attachments makes a variety of must haves. 18 20 WHO IS PANAMA JONES • Winston Rice has always enjoyed taking on big projects .

24 FROM THE DINNER TABLE • Some of our summer time recipe ideas.

CHURCH CAMP IN THE ARCTIC • Christ’s love warms hearts in the coldest of climates . 27 31 KUBOTA SVL OVERVIEW • Tips and info on the SVL series compact track loader.

WHAT IS BALE GRAZING • Find out tips and techniques for this productive method.

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20 www.greatplainsliving.com

“While I know myself as a creation of God, I am also obligated to realize and remember that everyone else and everything else are also God’s creation.”

– Maya Angelou GREAT PLAINS LIVING 3

GREAT PLAINS LIVING IS NOW ONLINE!

www.greatplainsliving.com

Magazines today aren’t complete without an online edition? We are now on the web, so if you missed last months issue visit www.greatplainsliving.com to read our archives, and view pictures that didn’t make it in the magazine. Connect with us by sharing your stories or photographs. Simply visit the Contact Us page and give us your input. We hope to hear from you!

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GREAT PLAINS LIVING 4

From The Editor

Are these Great Plains or What?

It is nice to have the first issue out of the way. It was sort of like ripping off a Band-Aid. I just I had to do it. Since that was my first entire magazine to put together from start to finish we were all a little worried how our audience would react. I have to say however, we have heard nothing but good things about the magazine, and we humbly appreciate our readers. We received comments on the quality of the articles and layout, as well as products we carry. We achieved our goals in offering a magazine that gave insight to our company, entertaining stories about our areas of living and informative articles that could be put to use.

This is a really exciting issue for us. There is fun reading and helpful ideas that we hope you enjoy and utilize. At this point you might wonder why we publish a 32 page magazine four times a year. Yes, it would easier to publish online as an electronic newsletter but it wouldn’t be tangible. People say print is dead. I say don’t put too much stock in what is posted online. There is plenty of factual

sources and good reading online but at least a magazine will never spread a virus throughout your coffee table.

At Great Plains we are always looking for better ways to connect and interact with our customers. As a growing company you will find us on the front line of customer services with a wide range of products. This makes our dealerships a one stop shop with a can do attitude. A good example of this is our new Great Plains Lubricants which are available in UDT and 15W40. Our lubricants perform under the same specifications as other manufacturers but at competitive price. We’ve also done this with pasture sprayers. Great Plains Spray-All sprayers are comparable to other pasture sprayers but again at a better value.

I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again, I am proud to be a part of a company who’s mission is complete customer satisfaction. Great Plains paves the way for innovative sales practices for a positive customer experience. It all starts with a solid handshake. My personal mission is to create an enjoyable magazine for our audience that will connect us with our customers and readers.

Reed Boettcher - Editor

www.greatplainsliving.com

STEP UP STEP UP

work-all-day-in-comfort kind of room. So step up, because like every Kubota, the reliable and efficient M135GX works hard today and holds its value tomorrow. Ready to take the next step?

See your local Kubota dealership to learn more.

Step up to the driver’s suite: Kubota’s new M135GX. Crowned with the largest Kubota cab ever built, and one of the largest available in its class. You’ll enjoy the panoramic view from the ergonomically designed operator’s platform, with more headroom, more legroom — more Step up to the driver’s suite: Kubota’s new M135GX. Crowned with the largest Kubota cab work-all-day-in-comfort kind of room. So step up, because like every Kubota, the reliable and ever built, and one of the largest available in its class. You’ll enjoy the panoramic view from efficient M135GX works hard today and holds its value tomorrow. Ready to take the next step? the ergonomically designed operator’s platform, with more headroom, more legroom — more See your local Kubota dealership to learn more. work-all-day-in-comfort kind of room. So step up, because like every Kubota, the reliable and efficient M135GX works hard today and holds its value tomorrow. Ready to take the next step?

See your local Kubota dealership to learn more.

ADA 1212 N. Broadway

www.greatplainskubota.com

855-4KUBOTA www.kubota.com www.kubota.com Optional equipment may be shown. © Kubota Tractor Corporation 2012 Optional equipment may be shown.

www.kubota.com

© Kubota Tractor Corporation 2012

Optional equipment may be shown.

DUNCAN 3445 N. Hwy. 81

Great Plains

“Ride With The Brand”

1212 N. Broadway Ada / 3445 N. Hwy. 81 Duncan 855-4KUBOTA / www.greatplainskubota.com

By Bill Clark

What is Bale Grazing?

Minimize feeding efforts with a method that offers multiple benefits to livestock and land.

Photo By: Bill Clark

W

hat in the world is this all about? Simply put, bale grazing means that you stack hay during summer in a position that allows you to feed cows a controlled amount of hay by simply moving a few feet of electric fence.

My family operates a small cow/calf operation near Roff, OK. My wife Betty, our son Garrett and I do most of the work on the ranch. We all have “town jobs” so most of our work is done in the evenings or on weekends. Consequently we are always looking for ways to cut down labor, especially time spent feeding. During the winter it’s usually dark by the time we get home or if we feed in the morning it seems there’s always something that makes us late for work.

While visiting with Hugh Aljoe, Consultation Program Manager for the Noble Foundation, about minimizing inputs on the ranch he suggested that bale grazing might work well for our operation, and introduced me to the concept. We’ve been bale grazing for the past five years (except for last year when we didn’t make any hay) and have learned a lot from our mistakes and successes. We prefer to leave grass standing and have the cows do the harvesting, but for those years that we have been fortunate enough to make some hay bale grazing has worked well. I would like to share with you what our experience has been.

Benefits we have found: • Labor is greatly reduced. We have to haul the hay out of the field anyway so positioning the bales to graze doesn’t take much longer than stacking them in a hay pen. The real labor savings comes during the winter. We can give our cows another row of hay in less than ten minutes. Since we usually let them have three to four days supply we spend about 30 minutes a week haying our cows.

• Tractor wear and tear is reduced. Probably one of the hardest jobs your tractor has is getting started on those cold days to only run for a few minutes. If we

Turner Ranch near Sulphur, OK once told me the vast majority of calf health problems are caused by poor sanitation. Calves that lay in mud and manure and nurse dirty udders are much more likely to get sick. Dr. Easley said calf scours were virtually nonexistent on the ranch he was raised in New Mexico because cows were widely dispersed with a stocking rate of a dozen cows to the section. In net wrap our bales, we will use a tractor to turn the bales on their end addition, calves can walk under once a month. Turning the bales on the single electric wire and lie in a end makes it easier to get the wrap clean area while using the bales as windbreaks on cold days. off but we wait until we are ready So how do you get started? Site to feed them since they shed water selection would be a good place to better on their side.

• Land fertility is improved. I’ve begin. Concentrating cows means there will be a concentration of always been told that baling your hay is mining your nutrients. Bale nutrients. Pick a well-drained site that is shallow, rocky or just is not grazing is an inexpensive way to put those nutrients back to work in producing much forage for lack of fertility or organic matter. We have an area on your ranch that needs fed on a really thin soiled rocky hill them the most. If done properly for two years in a row. It is now you will see vast improvements in covered with Bermuda grass and fertility and production of the site produces several times more than it where bales are fed. Research has shown that carbon can be increased ever has, (when it rains that is).

We probably made our biggest three fold in the top one foot of soil mistakes while learning how to poin just a few years of bale grazing.

• Sanitation is improved. Instead sition the bales. Placing the bales of feeding in the same muddy spot, too close together causes many problems. It gets muddier and the cows are feeding on a clean area each time they are allowed to have cows back into the fence on the next row while backing out of feedanother row of bales. The late Dr. ers. It seems they are more likely G. T. Easley, who was the long to break into the next row if bales time veterinarian on the famed Top Right: The tools of the trade. Pictured are the tools you’ll need to make bale grazing possible. They are: a quality solar charger, a few step in posts and a poly wire reel. If done properly bale grazing can be a great way to minimize your feeding efforts while providing nutrients to the land and quality bedding for calves.

Top Left: Calves seek shelter by hay bales during a light drizzle.

Photos By: Bill Clark

GREAT PLAINS LIVING 8

are too close together. As long as you are improving your place you should spread them out as much as you practically can. Placing the bales about 25 to 30 feet apart and positioning rows every 35 to 40 feet seems to work for us. Our bale trailer hauls eight four foot bales so we put eight bales in each row and try to dump them as close as possible to where they will be placed. Getting the rows straight really helps with fencing so we usually take a little extra time placing the bales. The best trick for getting them straight is mowing the area you plan to feed on before you dump the bales. You can use your mower to skip a place that shows where your bales should go. A 15 foot batwing works really well as you can mow two strips and then skip a foot as a marker.

Should you use string or net?

We have done both. The easiest feeding year we had was when we baled our hay with sisal twine. It doesn’t need to be removed as it seems to just disappear when the cows eat the bale but there is a drawback. If you set a sisal twine bale down for a month or two you are committed to leaving it there because the twine begins to rot quickly and the bale will fall apart if you try to move it. Net is a little more work because it needs to be removed. However it protects www.greatplainsliving.com

the hay better and you can come back and pick up the bales later if needed.

Learning how much hay to give the cows and when to open up a new row determines how much waste you will have. We try to not give the cows more than three to four days supply of which the last day they go a little hungry. This makes them clean up as much hay as possible. The longer it takes for them to clean up a bale, the more waste there will be. If you have time to move the wire every other day and your cow to bale ratio is right, you will have very little waste. Based upon our experience a four by five foot bale for every 20 cows seems to be about right. At that ratio, if she eats 30 pounds a day, they will eat most of the bale the first day and clean up on the second. So if you have 40 cows, make your rows two bales wide. Of course, how much they consume has a lot to do with the quality of the hay and the weather.

If possible, stack your hay to give your cows the least quality hay early in the feeding season and save the best for the worst part of winter.

Lastly, setting up your electric fence properly is the key to this methods success. The last thing you want to do is drive up to your bale grazing site and find your www.greatplainsliving.com

cows tearing up the whole hay stack. It’s important to have a quality charger and to take a little time to train your cows to electric fence. You don’t want to turn loose your entire hungry herd in a pasture with just a single strand of poly wire separating them from your year’s hay supply if they aren’t accustomed to electric fencing.

Spend a little extra money and get a brand name low impedance solar charger. We usually start with an existing barbwire fence down one side and an electric fence down the other. We drive t-posts down the long side in the middle of each row of bales about 20 feet away from the hay. Then we use an electric fence reel with poly wire to reel the fence up to the next t-post and another reel to block the end to keep the cows out of the next row.

While giving the cows another row we usually feed them a little to bait them away from the hay. Unhook the charger and move it to the next t-post, reel up the fence on the long side to the next t-post and move the gate wire on the end to the next row. If you have trouble keeping the cows out of the stack while moving the gate wire use two gate reels and put up another gate wire on the next row. Do this before you take the gate wire down next to the last row. Finally, put step in posts on the gate wire every 20 to

Top Left: Depending on how you dispense your bales will determine how well the cattle clean up the hay. Giving them no more than three to four days supply forces the cattle to clean up the bales creating little waste. A Kubota SVL90 Skid Steer loader is a fast and precise way to position hay bales.

Top Right: One of the most beneficial aspects of bale grazing is calves have a nice clean place to lie which can be a huge factor in their overall health.Photos By: Bill and Betty Clark

25 feet as this is where the fence will get pressure. We have had good luck sticking the posts in the next row of bales where it is too rocky to get a post in the ground.

Since we use bale feeders, the last step is to cut the net off and roll the feeders down the hill 30 to 40 feet to the next bale. It takes us less than 10 minutes to feed a row of hay and our tractor is still in the barn.

If your time is short in the winter or you are simply looking for a way to decrease costs in your operation, give bale grazing a try.

I recommend that you start small the first year while perfecting your own methods that will work best on your ranch.

For more information or questions about bale grazing feel free to contact me at our Ada dealership.

Email me at bclark@greatplainskubota.com or call 580-427-9000.

GREAT PLAINS LIVING 9

By Reed Boettcher & Tommy Goodman

Protecting Your Polaris P

Preventative Maintenance in Extreme Conditions

olaris is one of the world’s leaders in extreme machine manufacturing, offering consumers all terrain vehicles such as the Polaris Sportsman 850 and the RZR XP 4 900. Extreme is even in their trademark names.

The “XP” behind some of their models stands for extreme performance. So it goes without saying, even though I’m saying it now, their vehicles are made for extreme conditions. After all Polaris got its start in the arctic regions making snow machines.

Even though Polaris machines are designed for harsh environments operator misuse can still cause damage . Our summer months are notoriously sweltering hot so depending on how long and where you’re going to ride you should consider extra maintenance before and after riding.

One of our Polaris Technicians, Tommy Goodman, says, “Maintenance is key to these machines.

They will last a long time even if you ride hard, but you have to keep them up. If something breaks it’s not going to get better. Small problems seem to turn into big problems.”

There are several easy things you can do when riding this summer that could prevent issues. Washing and cleaning your machine after every ride is simple to do yet if not done could lead to complex problems. For example, if mud were left around a seal, it could possibly GREAT PLAINS LIVING 10

tear open, exposing a gearbox to water and other detrimental elements. Another practice you might do is to service your machine before its scheduled maintenance.

Above Top: High and dry temperatures cause dust, especially in sandy conditions. The RZRs was designed for this but maintenance goes along way.

Photo Courtesy of: Polaris Industries Above Bottom: Tommy Goodman, Great Plains Polaris Tech. covers several check points.

Photo By: Reed Boettcher

Every machine has its own maintenance schedule. It is important to know when to service your machine. Consider early service as

way to prevent a forgotten service, especially if you ride for long periods of time in extreme conditions.

“There are certain little things I like to do when caring for my bike.

Of course these are not mentioned or recommended by our manufacturers. I put a little bit of grease around most seals to prevent any particles that might try to break through. I also use electric contact grease around the spark plug.

Again these are just things I do,” Goodman says.

Obvious things a rider should do during the summer months include checking the air filter often, and making sure radiator fins aren’t getting closed by anything. Fluids should be checked more often, making sure they are at the appropriate levels. One technique Goodman uses is shining a light behind the radiator to check the clarity and amount of fluid. Another important part to keep your eye on is the CV axle boots. Make sure they don’t get torn or ripped.

Safety can not be overstated.

Most importantly know your machine. Understand it’s mechanics and limits. Polaris ATV and SXS’s are built to push the limits, but with speeds reaching 80 mph the role bars can only do so much when multiple flips are involved. If you practice safe and preventative riding your Polaris will bring you years of fun in the 100 degree sun.

www.greatplainsliving.com

XTREME PERFORMANCE ON THE HUNT FEATURES:

• Powerful 77 HP 850 Twin Cylinder EFI in a Sportsman to the RANGER XP 800 Twin Cylinder EFI • On-Demand True All-Wheel Drive (AWD) • Electronic power steering (EPS) available in both models • Customized details with hundreds of rugged reliable Pure Polaris accessories

NEW! 2012 SPORTSMAN XP 850 H.O. -Most Power in it’s Class

2012 RANGER XP 800 -Class-leading 50 HP

Great Plains Polaris Ride with the Brand 1212 North Broadway Ada / 3445 N. Hwy 81 Duncan 855-4POLARIS www.greatplainspolaris.com Vehicles shown with optional accessories. Avoid operating Polaris RANGERs on paved surfaces or public roads. Riders and passengers should always wear helmets, eye protection, protective clothing, and seat belts. Always use cab nets. Drivers of RANGER vehicles must be at least 16 years old with a valid driver's license. Warning: ATV's can be hazardous to operate. For your safety: Avoid operating Polaris ATV's on paved surfaces or public roads. Riders and passengers should wearer helmets, eye protection, protective clothing and seat belts. Polaris adult ATV models are for riders aged 16 and older. Be sure to take a safety training course. For safety training information in the U.S., call the SVIA at (800) 887-2887, see your dealer, or call Polaris at (800) 342-3764. In Canada, see your local dealer. 2011 Polaris Industries Inc.

efficient M135GX works hard today and holds its value tomorrow. Ready to take the next step?

See your local Kubota dealership to learn more.

Kubota News Kubota News The Impressively Bigger Grand X Cab Kubota’s Growing In All Aspects

By Reed Boettcher

K

ubota’s new Grand X, M Series tractors may give insight to consumers on the what directions Kubota is taking.

At Great Plains we “Ride With The Brand”, but Kubota is growing their brand. Kubota is well known as a leading manufacturer of compact tractors. Through new marketing techniques they are using their existing notoriety to position themselves in the larger horsepower market. In all, they are increasing their marketing, tractor size, and brand.

The new Grand X Series is a perfect example of Kubota’s aggressive growth. As always Kubota keeps ergonomics as a staple in their design. To prove the new cab’s spacious size, you can barely reach for the door from the driver’s seat, but all controls are still accessible. The cab looks as if it was designed for humans that have 360 degree eye sight. There is almost nothing obstructing the driver’s view. Even the ROPS creatively hide the exhaust system.

Highlighting the features of the new cab gives a better perspective Overall Height (indoor) Overall Width (indoor) Overall Length (indoor) Height X Width X Length

GREAT PLAINS LIVING 12

on how much it has improved. The interior has grown 13% taller and 19% wider than previous models, giving it the largest interior of its class. The improved instructor’s seat is now outfitted with a retractable backrest. The unobstructed field of view is due to the four pillar design and wide tinted panes of glass along with a sloping hood for added forward visibility. The air conditioner unit is located under the seat to increase serviceability and overall headroom. In fact the seat has been raised four inches making it easier to check surrounding conditions. The roof hatch with ventilation comes standard, which enables operators to stay seated while checking roof clearance during indoor work.

Other aspects that add operational comfort and functionality are the tilt and telescopic steering wheel with hydraulic shuttle lever and turn signal. The steering wheel features both up and down tilt function as well as an in and out telescopic function.

Kubota John Deere New Holland Grand X Series 7530 T6080 in.

61.4 Optional equipment 60.8may be shown. 59.8 Corporation 2012 in.

65.6 © Kubota Tractor 59.8 65.8 in.

63.4 60.8 62.2 ft3 148.3 127.1 141.3

TAKE NOTE THAT...

• Kubota is increasing their marketing, and positioning themselves in the larger tractor market • The new Grand X, M series tractors are a hint of the larger things to come • Kubota offers Competitive Power at a Competitive Price • The new cab system is bigger, but still ergonomically designed for the driver

Above: The new cabs offer high visibility and more room with convenient controlling.

Photo Courtesy of: Kubota Tractor Corp.

www.kubota.com

Above: Service Manager, Michael Palmer, demonstrates Kubota’s easy maintenance.

Photo By: Reed Boettcher

www.greatplainsliving.com

Located within easy reach, the shuttle lever can be operated without ever letting go of the steering wheel giving loader operations enhanced precision and ease.

Another standard feature is the air suspension seat that swivels both left and right. The innovative and multifunctional design of the right armrest incorporates all the major operating switches giving the operator functionality at his or her finger tips. As a result the appropriate switch c an be ope rated even when undertaking jobs that require swivelling the seat to check conditions to the rear or the sides.

Kubota has always taken ser-

viceability into consideration in their design concepts. As mentioned earlier the air conditioning system of the cab is located through the floor space making it easily maintained. Keeping a cab clean of debris and dust is essential

for optimal performance. Other designs with service in mind that put Kubota at the front of the pack include an up-front battery, slide out coolers for oil, air conditioning and hydraulic heat exchangers.

As a whole the new design of the Grand X cab incorporates spaciousness, comfort, a wide range of interior features, superior all-around visibility, convenient layout, a wider door for easier access and an easy serviceable layout making it the finest cab available in its class.

It doesn’t take much to see that Kubota is taking the steps to put the Above: Filthy cab conditions can destroy company ahead of the rest in the an A/C condenser. tractor models currently offered.

Photo By: Cole Harwood

CONTROL TECHNOLOGY

New Intelli-shift 8 with Auto-mode Mulit-Stage Gearshift F24/R24

The main shift retains the eight speed powershift, which is the largest number of speeds in its class. However, the range shift has been increased to three, Lo/Mid/Hi. The result is an easier to use, multi-speed transmission. In addition the travel speed is finely adjusted and thereby contributes to the enhancement of operational efficiency, lower fuel consumption and smoother shifting.

Main Gears Range Shift Total Speed* Auto-Mode

John Deere 6430 Kubota Grand X Series + Power Quad Plus 8 4 3 6 F24/R24 F24/R24 OPT. (Auto Quad Plus) Standard

New Holland T6070 Plus 4 4 F16/R16 Optional

Case

Maxxum 140 Pro

4 4 F16/R16 Standard

COMPARE MODELS GREAT PLAINS LIVING 13

The Crossbar Ranch

Happy Trails On

By Reed Boettcher

I

have always loved the Arbuckle Mountains. Even though they are mere foothills when compared to their Rocky and Appalachian cousins, I find them just as captivating. Their rustic beauty defined the landscapes where I went hunting and fishing while growing up. Perhaps that is why I am drawn to them. The Arbuckles have always provided a quick escape from daily life simply because they are so close to home.

It wasn’t until I traveled to the Crossbar Ranch, ATV and RV Park to try out their trails that I became aware of how close to home the Arbuckles really were.

My mother used to talk about growing up on “The Ranch”, located a few miles west of Davis, OK in the heart of the Arbuckles. As

GREAT PLAINS LIVING 14

I prepared for this story, I did not, at first, realize that “The Ranch” and the Crossbar Ranch were one and the same. I also learned the Crossbar was formerly the Butterly Ranch. My grandfather, Buddy Mulkey, started working for the Butterlys after he graduated high school, earning $80 a month plus room and board. He eventually leased the Butterly Ranch for his own cattle operation. During the mid sixties, he moved my grandmother and their three children to reside on the ranch property in the main house. This was their home for the next half decade.

Things look different now.

There is a camp ground with restroom facilities and RV hookups along with a small gift shop that offers concessions. There

isn’t much cattle to be found, and there are no horses to be shoed only the occasional flat from one of their ATV rentals. The ranch house where my mother lived for a memorable period of her childhood still remains. Gone are the maids house, bunk house, and corrals that my grandfather used.

Today the house serves as lodging for Gary Taylor, Ranch Foreman for the last four years. He maintains the trails, tends to the property and probably knows the trails better than anyone. He was gracious enough to show me some of the trails even though the temperature was in the triple digits.

www.greatplainsliving.com

Opposite Page: A cactus bakes in the sun at the northern overlook on the Red Trail. The Red Trail is the longest and most difficult of the two trails currently offered.

Left: Riders face dramatic changes throughout the trails but frequently encounter the ups and downs of rocky hillsides.

Photos By: Reed Boettcher

As I first entered the park and crossed a low water bridge , I didn’t really know what was going to be waiting at the end of the two mile drive up the mountain. The information I had gathered along with my personal connection to the Crossbar was making this trip more exciting. I topped a hill and saw the main building, but I wasn’t really sure if the place was open. Turns out I was the only person foolish enough to go ATV riding that day.

Summer is the park’s slow season, with only four or five riders on a good day. The obvious cause is Oklahoma’s unforgivable heat. However, during the spring and autumn months, the park may have 90 plus riders a day. Taylor commented on the park’s typical rider.

“There are a few big groups that regularly come to ride. We get a lot of traffic from Texas. In fact most of the riders that come here are not locals. What we are seeing more and more are side by side vehicles and those are mostly Polaris RZRs. Side by sides seem to handle the terrain and trail widths just fine, but with the growing popularity and variety of SXS’s I will probably start widening the trails.”

The Crossbar Ranch has a variety of terrain to both skilled and novice riders. There are two trails from which to choose, the blue and red. The blue trail is easier and is mostly flat but the rider still knows they’re in the Arbuckle Mountains. I experienced some of the Red trail which offers the best views and provides riders more of a challenge. I realize challenge can be a subjective word for seasoned riders, but there was one descent that put me on edge. I basically had to ride the brake and negotiate the ATV to keep as much tire contact with the rocks as possible hoping to not topple forward. To call me seasoned or even a frequent ATV rider would be stretching it, but I spent three days riding in the Big Horn Mountains of Wyoming as well as riding trails in Alaska and Arkansas. I would say the Crossbar’s trails were just as intense. Taylor made the comment that some riders say the Red Trail is harder than trails they ride in Colorado.

The Crossbar’s trails are a great alternative to the sandy bottoms of the Washita and Canadian Rivers www.greatplainsliving.com

GREAT PLAINS LIVING 15

Pictured: Rolling hills and dense cedar are found throughout the park.

Photo By: Reed Boettcher

which seem to be a favorite destination for local off road enthusiasts. Riders will enjoy both scenery and trail variety different from than long flat endurance rides of the nearby river bottoms. One minute you could be climbing a steep rock incline and the next you could be bogging through a creek into a soft packed timber trail.

The Crossbar Ranch was bought by the city of Davis in 1996 for campground expansion of the Turner Falls Park. The conversion of the 6,800 acre property to an ATV and RV park didn’t begin until 2004. It now features over 52 miles of riding trails and spacious campgrounds with 28 electrical

hookups for RV camping. There are also a few events hosted every year including a race held by the Oklahoma Cross Country Racing Association.

With so much beautiful acreage, the park would like to offer other attractions. Tom Graham, Turner Falls and Crossbar Park Manger, commented on the possibility of adding more attractions in the future.

“Some things we would like to add are horseback riding. However this would be difficult because we don’t have a great water source.

We would need a better water supply for this to be a reality. There is also talk of organized hunts where

Pictured: The main entrance of the park gives riders an idea of the terrain they will encounter.

Photo By: Reed Boettcher

GREAT PLAINS LIVING 16

hunters could draw in by lottery.

This is a challenge too because the ranch is in Davis city limits. There could even be package deals where consumers could enjoy attractions at both parks. Again, none of this is certain, and we are really just throwing the ideas around.”

With or without these ideas, the Crossbar Ranch and the Arbuckles in general are a great way to spend free time. They might not be the mountains they once were, but for some, a small adventure can be found around every bend in the trail. For me I am glad to know the Arbuckles are always close to home.

Pictured: The trails are designed for ATV’s but most side by sides will fit.

Photo By: Reed Boettcher

www.greatplainsliving.com

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than the appropriate number of passengers. Do not allow operation on public roads (unless designated for off-highway vehicle use)—collision with cars and trucks can occur. Avoid excessive speeds/sharp turns, being particularly careful on difficult must 16 years older with valid driver’s license.allPassenger must be 12 years old, tall enoughand to grasp hand holds plant feet on floor.

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Diamonds in the Rough

Blue Diamond Attachments is a third generation family owned business that provides high quality attachments for construction and farm machinery. Their dedication to meeting the customer’s needs is shown in their design and manufacturing procedures that are based on “in the trenches reality.” Offering some of the best warranties in the industry means providing a product that will withstand the rigors of everyday use and give customers the peace of mind they need.

Located in the heart of the Tennessee Valley, Blue Diamond provides the leading edge in technology of their products. They are also a company that hasn’t forgotten the importance of personal service. Customers will get a live person to answer their call. Dealing with the experienced sales staff you will discover why they are one of the fastest growing attachment companies. The Blue Diamond Trademark is becoming a well recognized name among contractors and they are dedicated to maintaining the high level of respect they have earned. Their huge inventory allows them to offer some of the fastest delivery times in the industry. Shipments arrive in one to two days for almost all of the eastern United States on standard items.

Since 1994 they have been providing top quality attachments for skid steers, compact track loaders and tractors. Their experienced, knowledgeable and friendly staff provide the highest level of customer GREAT PLAINS LIVING 18

service in the industry. Matching the right attachment to the right machine is critical for optimal performance and their staff as well as the sales and service professionals at Great Plains have extensive knowledge of skid steer specifications.

The universal quick-attach used on skid steer loaders and compact tractors has made these machines into very useful tool carriers. Blue Diamond has a lineup of tried and proven attachment designs for these machines that can be relied on in the most severe applications. They also manufacture attachments for forklift and telehandlers (reach forklifts) and thumbs for compact excavators.

Blue Diamond knows that you make your living with these attachments, and they strive to give customers the best product and product support possible.

Their motto is “Quality, Dependability & Integrity” and they are serious about it! Find out why Blue Diamond Attachments is one of the fastest growing skid steer attachment manufacturers in the US by visiting Great Plains or go online to: www.bluediamondattachments.com.

As your local Blue Diamond Dealer Great Plains keeps a number of attachments in stock such as: Tree Shears, Root Grapples, Pallet Forks, Hay Spikes, and Brush Cutters. For more information on attachment pricing and availability go to www.greatplainskubota. com or call at 855-4KUBOTA. www.greatplainsliving.com

Ride with the Brand

3445 N. Hwy 81 Duncan 580•255•1117 www.greatplainskubota.com

Panama Jones

By Reed Boettcher

& The Town Of Clarita

N

estled in the farmland of Coal County is the quiet town of Clarita. For many, the town is known for hosting the Amish School auction every September, but for Winston Rice it’s known as home.

It’s said home is where the heart is. This must be true, for Rice has spent the last couple of decades pouring his heart and soul into restoring his hometown. Some might see Clarita as the town time forgot. After all, it isn’t uncommon to see a horse drawn carriage when passing through the area. As for Rice, he sees Clarita as a town rich in culture with the capacity of sustaining independent businesses.

Winston Rice is a nostalgic visionary who isn’t afraid of tackling big projects. Looking for adventure, Rice followed in his father’s footsteps and joined the military. While in the Army, Rice went to Jump School and Parachute Rigger School where he became a Paratrooper. After being stationed in France and Germany he re-enlisted and was assigned to an airborne unit in Panama. Rice served three tours of duty in Panama as a Paratrooper. In his off time he sought out adventures such as: scuba diving, trekking across the isthmus, fishing, searching for artifacts, and exploring the many nooks and crannies of Panama.

During such explorations is where he first met the Embera Indians of the Darien Region. His intrigue with the culture and love of the climate would later result in his establishment of an adventure tourism company in Panama.

December 22, 1972 Rice set a world record parachute jump. He and eight others performed nine way jump formations on the Panama Atlantic and Pacific coasts within two hours. At the age of 23, Rice earned a Master FAA Parachute Rigger license making him the youngest person to GREAT PLAINS LIVING 20

achieve this rating at the time.

With over 600 jumps to his resume, Rice finally ended his military career as an Army newspaper editor at Fort Richardson near Anchorage, Alaska.

While in Alaska he learned the trade of cabinet making and met his wife, Linda.

The cold climate couldn’t have been more of an opposite to the warmths of Panama. After several winters and a severe case of cabin fever Rice and his family moved to his hometown of Clarita where they set up shop and started developing their Panama tourism business.

At first their tourism business started off slow so Rice sought further education in tourism and computer technology to enhance their business. During this time Rice became aware of the importance of the internet medium. Even though the world wide web was in its infancy, Rice and his family developed and bought www.panamacanal.com which impacted their business tremendously. Imagine the frustrations this caused the Panama tourism development officials. The newly marketed website generated so much business that it became necessary to establish an office in Panama to receive their tourists. Rice and a few of his long time friends worked together to develop a tourism program that encompassed historic Panama locations as well as native inhabited rainforests. Rice began working with the Embera Indians on the Chagres River where he was at the forefront of incorporating the natives into Panama tours. His long standing relationship with the local Indians brought prosperity to the tribes and a authentic touch to the tours.

After several attempts to register the company’s name Rice and others eventually decided to name the www.greatplainsliving.com

Opposite Page: Rice stands in front of the renovated Church of Christ building now built to look like an old school house. The building is a future site for retreats, workshops, seminars and even weddings.

Right: Rice takes time to pet his loyal companion in front of Schmelzer’s which is home to Velma’s Kitchen. Dinner is served here every Friday night, by reservations only. Schmelzer’s was the local Blacksmith Shop and Garage in the 30’s.

Photos By: Reed Boettcher

business after his nickname. In 1997 Panama Jones was official and running on autopilot. This allowed Rice to begin his ongoing labor of love to restore and develop the town of Clarita.

For Rice the development and marketing of a town that has no draw for consumers is based on the area’s cultural and historical richness. Rice’s love of antiquities and preservation of the past has played a key role in the developing of the current vendors and services offered at Clarita. His vision of a “Mayberry like” community, where retail business offer unique products in a family friendly setting, is different than commercialized tourist traps such as Branson, Missouri. Rice commented on his overall vision and concepts for his beloved home town.

“In a lot of ways the development of Clarita has been harder to get started than the Panama touring business. The first step was a labor intensive clean up of the properties I was purchasing. Then, for it to really work I was going to need community involvement. It’s one thing to restore and market a building in a way that attracts people to the area and it’s another to convey my concepts where people will understand and want to be involved. In many aspects getting others involved is my main objective. Getting the locals involved and excited about the possibilities of creating independent money is key to these project’s success. My biggest supporters in developing Clarita economically have been members of the local Amish community.”

Rice has restored and rebuilt several structures in the town which were the stepping stones for obtaining is overall goal. Rice purchased the “Moore House” in 2005 which he restored and furnished to its original design.

Built in 1909 by the town’s barber, this historic home is now available for guests to enjoy for $75 a night. Three years of restoration is evidenced in Rice’s attention to details.

Another current and completed project is Schmelzer’s, home to Velma’s Kitchen offering all you can eat country style dinners every Friday night, by reservation only. Velma’s Kitchen also caters private parties at Schmelzer’s and other locations. Schmelzer’s has also been host to many special events including fund raisers, family reunions, weddings, civic group meetings, www.greatplainsliving.com

Above Top: The Moore house was built in 1909 by the towns barber, Cecil Kitchens. In 1923 the house was purchased by John and Opal Moore. Win and Linda Rice purchased the property in 2005 and began a three-year labor of love restoring the house. This historic house is now available for guests to enjoy.

Above Bottom: General Mule” Waveren was a scout for General Custer. He lived and died in the small cabin near Clarita. Recently Rice acquired the cabin and moved it to town for restoration as a monument to Waveren. He was not a General only a scout. General was his first name.

Photos By: Reed Boettcher

GREAT PLAINS LIVING 21

and church organization meetings. Another business that was started at Schmelzer’s is Got Grub. Operated

by Ronda Sharp, she prepares lunches for delivery throughout Coal County. Currently, Saturday night dinners are in the works for two entrepreneurs that will alternate BB-Q and catfish dinners.

“Schmelzer’s has a lot of potential so I have never wanted to be tied down to making it strictly a restaurant. Right now it serves as an incubator to those looking to break out in the restaurant business. Offering people of this community a chance to provide their services not only makes me happy, but plays a key role in getting others involved,” says Rice.

Other ongoing projects include the restoration and remodeling of Clarita’s Church of Christ building.

This large building has been restored to look like a period school house where retreats, workshops, seminars and even weddings can take place. The school house is built using quality craftsmanship and an antique touch while still offering all the modern day technologies to accommodate large business meetings.

Rice recently acquired another piece of Clarita history, an old cabin owned by General “Mule” Waveren who was a scout for General Custer. Fortunately Waveren wasn’t present the day of the “Little Bighorn Massacre”. Unfortunately he did lose his arm shortly Above: Rice shows after in another small battle. The cabin where Wasome custom trim veren lived was relocated by a team of mules from the work he has done nearby woods to Clarita’s main street where it will be for his restoration restored for public display. projects. He also For Winston Rice, taking on big projects is just restores period furaway of life. Whether he’s breaking sky diving reniture such as the cords, or spending hours landscaping on his Kubota, headboard above. he knows that some things start with a leap of faith.

Photo By: Reed To find out more information about Clarita or Boettcher Panama Canal tours email Winston Rice at claritaok@ gmail.com or info@panamacanal.com.

GREAT PLAINS LIVING 22

Above: Winston uses his Kubota B7800 lawn tractor on every job at Clarita. His Kubota has been a crucial tool in many of his restoration projects, especially in the exterior landscaping of the buildings. He comments on how useful it is, and that he would be lost without it.

Photos By: Reed Boettcher

www.greatplainsliving.com

www.greatplainskubota.com ADA 1212 N. Broadway

855-4KUBOTA

DUNCAN 3445 N. Hwy. 81

A Mid Summer Meal Roast Beef On The Grill

Recipes

Fire Up The Grill For An Alternative Cooking Method to this Classic Cut 1 Eye of Round Roast Large Bottle of Wishbone Italian Dressing 1 Stick of Butter

1. Marinate eye of round roast in Italian Dressing overnight 2. Prepare the grill for a low and slow cook 3. Sear the roast on all sides to lock in juices 4. Cook closed yet vented for 45 min 5. Take roast off and rub with butter cover and let rest for five to ten min (Should Turn Out Medium)

Squash Casserole From The Boettcher Garden, A Great Recipe For Excess Produce 2 Cups of Cooked Squash 2 Eggs, Beaten 2 Oz. Jar Pimentos 1 Cup Shredded Cheddar Cheese 2 T Sugar 1/4 Cup Butter, Melted 1/2 Cup Milk 1 Cup Cracker Crumbs 1/4 t salt

1. To cook squash steam or boil in water on stove top 2. Beat 2 eggs thoroughly 3. Drain Pimentos 4. Shred Cheddar cheese 5. Melt butter 6. Crumble up saltine crackers 7. Carefully combine in a large greased Casserole dish 8. Bake at 300 degrees for 30 minutes

Orange Stuff A light and fluffy way to enjoy and incorporate fruit and dairy to a meal 12 Oz. Large Curd Cottage Cheese 1 Can Crushed or Chunk Pineapple, Drained 1 Can Mandarin Orange Sections 1 Large Carton of Cool Whip 1 Small Box of Orange Jello

1.

2.

3. or

Mix Cottage Cheese, Fruit and Cool Whip Sprinkle Dry Jello and blend well Chill in Refrigerator Overnight at least a good five hours

Share the joy of your family’s kitchen with Great Plains Living!

Submit your recipes by email or mail to: rboettcher@greatplainskubota.com or P.O. Box 876 Ada, OK 74821 GREAT PLAINS LIVING 24

www.greatplainsliving.com

Great Plains

“Ride With The Brand”

1212 N. Broadway Ada / 3445 N. Hwy. 81 Duncan 855-4KUBOTA / www.greatplainskubota.com

By Reed Boettcher

From Fitzhugh to Kotzebue

H

ow do you span the countless miles from Fitzhugh, Oklahoma to Kotzebue, Alaska?

The preferred method is flying for but some members of the Fitzhugh Baptist Church it’s a walk of faith. Great Plains Living got a chance to interview Daniel Wilburn, Sunday School Director at Fitzhugh Baptist Church about his involvement with the Freedom Camp, which is held for native youths from villages near Kotzebue, Alaska. Through the mission efforts of Fitzhugh Baptist Church, Wilburn unselfishly gives his time by doing anything from leading small group Bible studies to cleaning portable toilets at this primitive camp. Wilburn gave Great Plains Living insight to the much needed missionary work that took place in the Arctic Circle this July.

Q: How did the Freedom Camp get started?

A: It started four years ago with Zane and Kandy Newton along www.greatplainsliving.com

with Lance Kramer, a missionary from Kotzebue Alaska at Super Summer Oklahoma. Super Summer is a training opportunity for youth ministers to bring Christian people together who are interested in advancing their personal spiritual growth. We got involved because they were commenting on their need for a cook for this camp near Kotzebue. My father, Steve Wilburn who’s the Pastor at Fitzhugh Baptist, commented that he had experience cooking for youth at Falls Creek.

Q: Why Kotzebue?

A: Kotzebue is Kramer’s hometown. There’s also a real need for missionary work there due to the high suicide rates among young people. In fact the rates are well over the national average in these remotely rural towns with over half of the suicides being committed by native kids and teenagers.

Q: What was the overall mission?

A: Reaching out to the kids was

the main objective. There seems to be no hope among the young people. Society roles have changed because their way of life has been altered by westernization. These people have survived by the males of the family providing their needs in an extremely harsh environment.

With outsiders of the western world basic needs became cash. This created a big shift in what was essential to survive. It seems the people who have adapted to this the most are the women. As a result women are becoming heads of the households. Altogether it has created a depressed and altered culture which results in high amounts of alcoholism and other negative behaviors.

What we want to do is reach out to the kids of these tiny communities and let them know there is hope.

Q: How was the camp able to achieve this?

A: We wanted the young people of the communities to understand that you can find refuge and solace GREAT PLAINS LIVING 27

through the love of Christ.

Q: Did you make any personal connections with members of the camp?

A: Yes, I was in charge of a small group of about six guys and there was this one kid that really opened up to me, and shared the hardships he has endured growing up. Despite what he has been through he always has a positive outlook, and he always wears a smile. Over the three trips I’ve taken there I have seen change in him. He wasn’t always positive but you can tell he has hope now. We are good friends and we stay in touch. His outlook on life lets me know things are working well, and the messages we preach are reaching our kids.

Q: What are some of the camp activities?

A: We have worship and chapel times during the day. We also hike.

We are 45 miles away from any civilization and we have a two-hour boat ride to get to our camp so everything we do keeps us busy. We also have archery. Most of all we just hang out, which some of these kids don’t get to do regularly. It’s a place where they can relax and let their guards down long enough to just hang out with no worries.

Q: Were there any places to eat besides the food you cooked at camp?

A: There were little stores where you could get hamburgers for about $14.

Q: What were some of the highlights for you?

A: Seeing kids leave with hope when they felt there was none.

They can go home and be the change that could positively impact their generation.

Q: How long did you stay?

A: We stayed ten days. The Fitzhugh Baptist Church gave us great support. They packed flat rate boxes full of food and mailed them to Kotzebue where they were www.greatplainsliving.com

sent by boat to the isolated camp.

Q: What cultural challenges were you faced with?

A: At first it was hard just getting them to talk.

They are really quiet people. They often communicate through Above: Don’t Get wet! Daniel Wilburn gives Chandler Smith a piggy back ride through the water. facial expressions, not Previous Page: Pictured in the tent are Katie Johnson, words. While eating spaDaniel Wilburn, Sean Corser and Jessica Penner. Posing ghetti during one particuon the beach is Daniel Wilburn, Jessica Penner, Chuck lar trip, I asked a kid if he Lotter, and Carter Smith, Chandler Smith liked his food. He gave and Dana Smith. no response and I finally Photos Submitted By: Danna Smith realized by his expreshad several kids that have come sion he was saying yes. Over the back year after year, and we notice years I feel we’ve gotten over those positive changes every time. boundaries because they have reQ: How has all this impacted your ally opened up to us. life?

Q: What were some of the difficulA: It makes me grateful for what ties you had? we have here, and it has given me A: A major issue was trying to get a whole new perspective on life. I the kids to go to sleep. During the really appreciate things I have. To summer they stay up until four or see that some of the kids have acfive in the morning because it basicepted Christ as their savior and to cally stays light all night. The first see the change in their lives over year we tried to make breakfast at the years really lifts my soul. nine. That didn’t work because we Q: As Sunday School Director could not wake them up. So this how do you get others involved? year we cooked breakfast at eleven.

A: It all starts with sharing. I I noticed kids walking around town share the stories and what I’ve at three or four in the morning. seen. It seems to get people interYou see that in Ada and you think ested and more involved with what the kids are up to no good, but in we are doing.

Kotzebue I think they are just tryQ: If you could do the trip over toing get away or find some sort of day, what would you do different? peace on the streets.

A: When I was there I didn’t hold Q: Do they integrate their native anything back. I didn’t want any culture in their worship? what if issues coming up. After all A: The natives have a long Chrisits not like you can hop in the car tian background, but it has gone and go back. down hill over the years. Their The teachings of Christ, which culture is a part of everything they guide Wilburn through his life are do. I did notice they sing hymns in the foundations of providing hope their native language of Iñupiaq. for those who desperately need it.

Q: What would you like to see His work at the camp proves that come from this camp in the future?

Christ’s love transcends cultural A: We would like to see a camp differences and can make change in that does not need us, and we are the harshest conditions and smallseeing this as a reality. We have est of communities.

GREAT PLAINS LIVING 29

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SVL SVL OVERVIEW OVERVIEW PRODUCTIVITY

DURABILITY

VERSATILITY

By Reed Boettcher

K

SVL Tech Tips

By Jamie Anderson

1. Check track tension often & keep debris free 2. Keep em’ clean inside & out 3. Check air filter often in harsh conditions 4. Check hydraulic fluid often 5. Always check engine oil on a regular basis 6. Know and use the maintenance schedule 7. Keep pivot points lubricated 8. Check coolant level often 9. Inspect for leaking cylinders periodically 10. Maximize A/C efficiency by blowing out condenser and radiator. Make sure fan belt is tight and in good condition & keep cab clean.

ubota’s SVL75 and SVL90 compact track load- always be a consideration when comparing models. ers were designed to handle a wide range of The SVL makes maintenance and inspections faster tasks while keeping operator comfort in mind. and safer with a tilt up cab capable of reaching a 72 The exceptionally comfortable cab features degree angle. Here hydraulic pumps, valves, lines and a wide entrance for easy mounting and dismountthe hydraulic tank can be reached. Daily or routine ing along with plenty of leg room to reduce operator checks can be performed by opening the bonnet. The fatigue. Models equipped with a pressurized cab offer slide and tilt radiator also enhance easy maintenance. protection from the elements and an excellent air conA key factor to the durability of this series is its ditioning system. The easy outstanding crawler perforopen, sliding front window mance. Using the technolallows the operator to get in ogy of their mini excavators or out of the loader regardKubota has proven their less of attachment position track systems give longby sliding up and into the life and high performance. cab.

The undercarriage forms The wide variety of atan integral part of the main tachments available for use frame for maximum duraAbove: Kubota SVL’s are frequently used in dairy operations. on the SVL series make it The maneuverability and size make certain mowing applica- bility. These factors coma versatile, multi-tasking bined show the impressive tions easier to complete. machine. Their best in class Photo Available By: Kubota Tractor Corporation strength of the Kubota SVL four cylinder, turbo charged series. engines provide great fuel economy and unmatched The Kubota SVL series provides high levels of performance. Also, the vertical lift design and low productivity giving operators hours of comfort and the center of gravity deliver exceptional stability while ability to handle dynamic applications with a variety loading materials and leveling surfaces. of attachments. The serviceability and longevity of SVL uses include: brush hogging, post hole and these machines make them desirable in the construcditch digging, sweeping, breaking and grappling rock, tion market as well as the agricultural markets. tree shearing, material handling and even seeding.

Mostly used in construction, the SVL is ideal for farming and agricultural functions. Garrett Clark, Store Manager at Great Plains, comments on the SVL90 usage at his family’s farm.

SVL75 SVL90 “We use it for as many jobs as we can, but mostly Bucket Breakout Force: 6204 lbs 7961 lbs for moving dirt and hay and lots of tree removal. It Arm Breakout Force: 4766 lbs 6742 lbs is amazing how fast you can get a job done. I can do Lifting Capacity: 4881 lbs 5869 lbs three months worth of work in three days. It really Tipping Load: 6570 lbs 8600 lbs saves us time.”

Serviceability on hard worked machines should www.greatplainsliving.com GREAT PLAINS LIVING 31

CHECK THE SPECS

GREAT PLAINS living

Great Plains P.O. Box 876 Ada, OK 74821 855 - 4KUBOTA www.greatplainsliving.com

1212 N. Broadway Ada • 3445 N. Hwy 81 Duncan www.greatplainskubota.com 855-4KUBOTA

PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID POST MASTERZ