Sweet Corn & Pronghorns

We were recently reminded that fall is on it’s way. There has been a familiar coolness in the air, along with the blackbirds beginning to flock. The latest additions to the Canada geese families now match their parents, size for size. The garden produce begins to overflow the fridge. Ever so slightly touting the end of summer’s hot days. This household carefully counts down the days until the beginning of another fall activity, hunting season. It seems the planning starts earlier each year. The excitement of where to hunt, what to pursue and when the timing is best, begins building in May. The conversations become more intense as the seasons change. Even the littlest cowboy, Mr. C, can feel the excitement.

We were given the opportunity to share in the adventure of a pronghorn hunt. A friend had persistently put in for the pronghorn hunting tag for 8 years. This year, he successfully drew the tag near the ranch. We enjoy watching the local wildlife all year around. As we spread cow mineral, checking livestock pastures, we often stop to take in the sight of Mule deer and pronghorns. Certain ones become minor celebrities, frequenting the same locations. There is a Mule deer doe with twin fawns near the lake, that one pronghorn doe that wears a tracking collar. It makes us elated to see the new fawns venture out in the spring. We watch the young bucks slowly grow each year. Starting with such small antlers, progressing to noticeable size, finally able to claim their own herd. We understand there is a successful cycle to maintaining a healthy wildlife population. One of the key components is a well managed hunting season. This helps to assure sufficient feed, rotates herd genetics and tracks the movements and migrations of game animals.

When we received the news of the long awaited pronghorn hunting tag, the boys took action. Everywhere we went, the binoculars and spotting scope were in tow. Our conversations mentioned any latest pronghorn buck sitings. There was the one that frequented the hayfield, one that was near the edge of the resevoir and that one that mysteriously appeared early mornings along the highway. They watched videos on field judging pronghorns, to better guess trophy size qualities. To say we were excited, was an under statement. Finally the day before the opening of pronghorn season, the hunters arrived. They promptly set up camp near the barn. Nate and Big W then began the unraveling of tales, noting the locations of the local pronghorn population. After two days, the hunters had successfully taken the buck of their choice. The weeks of scouting have now evolved into a focus on fall cattle work preparation.

Fresh sweet corn is a summer delight to anyone’s menu. The warm ears dripping in butter, being strategically eaten direct from the cob. The list of fresh corn salads and salsas is exhausting. I have even seen the addition of fresh kernels to a rich vanilla custard ice cream. Corn is a staple during the hot months here, with the opportunity to indulge at various corn stands set up along the local highways. Most of my life, we have preserved the beloved fresh corn by freezing bags for year around enjoyment. Some methods were better than others. Some years we preserved too many ears, other years not enough to last until the following year’s crop. At times it was only my mom & I prepping the corn, other times multiple families gathered. One thing was constant, the annual ritual of freezing corn.

This year, the pronghorn hunters brought a bounty of fresh produce to share. When you live in a remote area, this is like Christmas in August. The little cowboys were elated as the hunters unloaded the plethora of garden goodness. Watermelon, cantaloupe, fresh onions and dozens of sweet corn. Mr. C spyed the melons sitting on the counter. He quickly instructed me, “Mom, chop, chop!”. Cutting up ripe melons with a knife wielding two year old should qualify as a timed event. I hurried to keep a piece in front of him to chop, while strategically placing others in a covered bowl. When Mr. C chops, it resembles just that. The juice ran everywhere as he enjoyed tasting every other bite. Big W was a huge help with the prepping of the sweet corn. He can shuck an ear of corn as fast as I can. Big W was also very helpful with the cutting off of the kernels. This is the first year he got to help with that part. He quickly discovered the perfect knife angle to smoothly seperate the kernels from cob. I am so thankful we are able to include the little cowboys in our daily tasks. They are amazing “big” helpers!

I am including the recipe I have used to briefly blanche the corn before freezing. It helps the corn taste fresh from the cob, even after being frozen. The recipe belongs to a sweet Irish lady originally from Wisconsin, named Capp Rueth. She is close to 90 years old now and still has a sparkle in her eye. She is a hard worker, having raised 10 kids on a dairy farm. My family has been blessed to have known her family for 3 generations. She is quite the “corker”.