My first week: Cows, Alfalfa, and a dog named Dammit

HARRINGTON - If my first week in Lincoln County has taught me anything, it's that farm life is equal parts adventure, hilarity and hard work.

Between nearly tumbling off a pickup truck, meeting cows that could double as small buses, and needing help picking hay out of my hair, this week has been one for the books.

It all started at Seven Springs Ranch, just outside Harrington, where Dalton, a kind and endlessly patient farmer, invited me to experience a day on the farm.

My first challenge? Mastering the art of jumping onto the back of a slow-moving pickup truck.

While Dalton made it look effortless, my first attempt was more "climb and scramble" than "graceful leap." By my third try, I was starting to get the hang of it - and just in time to feed the cows.

As we rode through the pasture, I balanced on the truck bed, kicking hay bales off the back. Feeling pretty proud of myself for staying upright, I decided it was the perfect time to ask a critical question.

"What exactly is in this hay?" Dalton replied that some of it included alfalfa.

Naturally, I said, "Wait, like The Little Rascals? The kid with the hair that sticks up in the middle?" I heard a slight chuckle with a quick "sure," he said.

After narrowly avoiding a fall off the truck while kicking a particularly stubborn bale, I caught my breath.

The clouds broke, revealing a stunning landscape that made the bumps and scrapes worth it. The day didn't end there. I got to ride in one of Dalton's farm rigs, an equally thrilling and humbling experience. Whether it was the pickup or the machine used to lift hay bales, I felt like a kid at a country fair.

Along the way, I met Dalton's two farm dogs, Diesel and Dammit.

Yes, Dammit.

I wasn't sure whether to laugh or pretend it was normal. But after watching Dammit gleefully cause chaos, the name made perfect sense.

Winnie, my miniature dachshund, came along for the ride, adding to the hilarity. At just 11 pounds, she looked like a toy compared to Diesel, Dammit and massive cows. Winnie wasn't fazed - if anything, she seemed to think she was in charge.

The highlight of the day was a visit to an old creek that runs through the ranch. Dalton shared how his family had dug out a natural refrigerator alongside the creek over a century ago, taking advantage of the water's constant cool temperature when the farm operated as a dairy farm.

As someone who relies on modern appliances, I was impressed by the ingenuity.

Standing by the creek, listening to Dalton's stories, I felt a connection to the history and hard work that define this land. When I left, I was covered in hay, muck, and cow patties and laughing at myself.

Dalton even had to help me pick hay out of my hair before I drove back to work for the remainder of the day.

But as I looked back on the day, I realized it was one of the most memorable experiences I've ever had.

Lincoln County, you've taught me a lot this week - about farming, about humor, and about life. And I can't wait to learn more.

- Olivia Harnack is the Lincoln County Record-Times managing editor and is learning the ropes of rural life, one hay bale and farm dog at a time. You can reach her at 509-725-0101.