Derek

Nephew Derek Repairing the Tractor

Doug’s youngest nephew Derek is here at the Double Circle Ranch visiting and working. He originally came for 3 weeks, but we talked his parents into leaving him an extra month. As a 15-year old city kid, he is by no means an experienced hand. BUT what he lacks in experience he sure makes up for in attitude.

Everything we have had him do he has done without complaining. He has to be shown –once- and picks things up right away. We are so far behind on what Doug calls the XXX work that Derek hasn’t gotten to do the fun stuff like herding cattle and riding horses yet. He has been changing oil, greasing equipment, stacking hay, pulling water pipe, repairing leaks, hauling and unloading materials, replacing diesel motors with solar well pumps, patching old fence, etc.

He has learned to use caulk guns, grease guns, wrenches, screwdrivers, hammers, and saws and can now drive a tractor and a straight stick pick up. All these skills are sadly absent in most teenage city kids – ranch kids have to learn all these and more skills early.

I need Derek to help with cattle too – so I hope Doug can spare him soon. It sure is good to have an extra set of hands here at the Double Circle Ranch! Hope Derek returns next summer.