Day 110

As tender as antlers

July 14th, 2010



77 Comments

  1. Karen Too says:

    The name Descheemaeker seemed a bit unusual, so I went in search for information on it. Imagine my surprise when I found an article about this very ranch. Is there nothing that is not on the Internet?

    http://www.theprairiestar.com/articles/2007/03/18/ag_news/livestock/cattle02.txt

    I wonder, too, about the meaning of the “E” and the “6” on the sign. That’s probably their brand, but I wonder why it was chosen.

    • Candice in Alabama says:

      I found that article quite interesting. I didn’t realize how much work/tech/science/genetics went into getting “tender beef”. That is amazing.

    • Patty says:

      Wondering also about the E-6 brand (assume it’s the brand they use on their cattle anyway!). According to the article, the family has been cattle ranching for 3 generations and started developing the “Tendermax” breeding program only six years ago. Logically that leads me to believe the ranch could have been named the Descheemaeker Cattle Ranch before 2004…there are six “E”s in “Descheemaeker Cattle Ranch” so there’s a possibility that’s where the brand E-6 came from.

  2. jerry's kid says:

    Yikes, I could read that article but I didn’t really understand it! I grew up a rural kid and am living in a rural farming area again but farming & ranching have been high tech for some time now. What the heck is a terminal sire? And do I REALLY want to know? Is that similar to what happens with a black widow and her mate???? :o)

  3. I. M. Nero says:

    Genetix, quotha? Bull, I think they use more prosaic methods, such as the Comfy Chair E6 or the Rack 101, time tested solutions warranted to soften up even the toughest meats and hardened flesh. But they can also prepare cold cuts in brine, smoked or just plain dried on scaffolding. Moreover, there’re rigorous quality controls to ensure no artificial additives are added to their preparations and potations. See?

  4. Candice in Alabama says:

    Matt – You’re back! Woohoo!

  5. Flavia says:

    it’s good to see you posting again Matt! Glad you are safe!

    • Gentle Giant says:

      Yes very glad your safe Matt and its good to see you posting again. MT is a very big state Matt so have fun out there and you will meet some interesting people on your way.

  6. katzien in austin says:

    I can be somewhat of a fanatic when it comes to things like recycling, non-Monsanto seeds and local ’causes.’ For this reason, I won’t let myself watch Food Inc or read articles about mass-produced food/meats. I also won’t read that article on tender beef. Would there be anything left for me to eat? I’ve got a freezer full of chicken, pork, beef, goat and lamb that I just can’t throw out.

    • Don in Tennessee says:

      Katzien

      We can have a HOBO NATION celebration and I am sure we can help you take care of you freezer vittles. Not much on lamb or goat but the chicken, pork and beef sound good.

      I wish we did not have some many additviesin our food-I really think a lot of our cancer issues are caused by these additives!

    • Candice In Alabama says:

      I have been a fanatic about recycling as well Katzien. I’ve had to give it up somewhat since the city stopped curbside pickup. There was some rumer about a “plasma” plant perhaps coming to our area. Now that would be great, if plasma plants can do what they say they can do. Convert ALL garbage to energy with no emissions.

      • Candice In Alabama says:

        oops – cows on my mind too much – rumer should be RUMOR.

      • katzien in austin says:

        They stopped recycling?? Criminal. Write your city council and give them an earful!

        • In the city where I live they stopped curbside recycling but have bins by our city hall for us to take our recyclables to. It’s very nice and is always full. This way we don’t pay for curbside service but it is still available to use. And this city uses it big time. Contact your city Candice and see what alternatives are available.

        • Candice In Alabama says:

          They only stopped the once weekly curbside pickup and established “drop off” points for every other Saturday. I still take my stuff to a local recycler – at MY convenience. I’m just not as fanatical,because of space requirements, about separating EVERTHING LITTLE RECYCLABLE THING. I would love for our city to get a Plasma plant!

    • Dan says:

      Try working directly with a rancher – one who specializes in grass fed beef. See http://www.eatwild.com/products/texas.html as an example of what alternatives are out there.

    • Laurenis says:

      Oh my goodness, I know. I watched Food Inc and i swear it was traumatizing… but so so eye openning. It makes me wonder if enough people watch it, could change be brought about?

      • katzien in austin says:

        I have a few freinds who “cow-pool.” They go halves on a grass fed cow and get all kinds of steaks and cuts. I’d love to do that too. I’m also a member of a CSA (www.urbanpatchwork.com) and get some weekly veggies and eggs, but I still need to buy veggies at my local grocery store. Other friendly meats can be found at local farmers’ markets, but always for twice the price per pound. It’s enough to make me go vegetarian out of budgetary necessity. ;-)

  7. Dennis in So Cal says:

    Welcome back Matt! The Hobo Nation is whole again!

  8. Welcome back Matt, we have all missed you! I must say your pics are the highlight of my day. It really breaks up the work day dulldrums. Thanks Matt!! Thanks to the lovely family that hosted you.

  9. Michael in Atlanta says:

    Can you imagine the pressure for the cows? They must be just anxiety ridden beasts. WILL I BE TENDER ENOUGH!?!?!? Do you get a fork stuck in you before slaughter to test? OUCH! Get ’em some zanax and let ’em graze!

  10. GardenStater says:

    I was missing Matt the last few days, but I figured he might be somewhere with no cell reception.

    An old friend of mine calls places like that “Out where God lost His shoes.”

  11. Gina Seattle says:

    So glad to see new posts! I was getting worried! At this pace you’ll be in Washington pretty soon. :)

  12. deanna valenti meyer says:

    Ahhh….I just love the Hobo Nation! The spunky comments are a great addition to the awesome posts Matt puts up. Always, always, always a highlight to my day. Thank you Matt…thank you to the families that take good care of you along the way and thanks to everyone out there who contribute in this great way. It’s epic people…just epic!

    :)

  13. Julie in Cincinnati says:

    He’s back!!!!! I checked in while I’m at work and this just made my day!! Finally my withdrawals are over! :-D Glad to hear you’re safe Matt and I’m so glad you had a place to stay last night to take a break from the tent.

  14. Candice In Alabama says:

    Matt – may be passing by – Hope the 10 minute interval image captures “capture” Matt! Matt estimated 11:15 Mountain time to be passing the station: http://rwis.mdt.mt.gov/scanweb/SWFrame.asp?Pageid=Camera&Units=English&Groupid=&Siteid=268005&Senid=&WxId=2685&DisplayClass=Java&SenType=All&SenStatus=&Camera=1

  15. Candice In Alabama says:

    I just saw Matt at the Weather Station! – 11:16 AM!

  16. Don in Tennessee says:

    Matt

    I did not know that ants had tender lil ers!

    I keep learning new things everyday-what a great world we live in.

    Glad you are back with us and thinks for the e-mail report last night for me to give the HOBO NATION. I went to bed at 11:00 PM last night and did not get the message until this morning after almost everyone else had found you again.

    Tell your Mom and Dad we apprecaite them sharing with us info. about how they know you are safe each night.

    Heel Toe, Heel Toe – keep walkin’ my dear Matt – keep walkin’

  17. Don in Tennessee says:

    I saw Matt too!!!.

    He even waved at me.

    Did he wave at anyone else?

  18. Candice In Alabama says:

    Thank you Matt for pausing long enough to be “captured” by the Lewistown weather tower camera – and thanks for putting up with all my emails about it – I’ll leave you in peace NOW! :) Thanks again for sharing your journey, your humor and your good naturedness. Best wishes and safe travels! I’m still VICARIOUSLY enjoying YOUR journey!

  19. Karen Too says:

    I missed him live, but saw him on the loop. Very cool. Thanks for the link, Candace.

  20. Saun in Ohio says:

    I missed him live too, but saw him on the loop. pretty cool

  21. David says:

    Anyone else notice that he apparently started the trip off the coast of Ghana according to the little map now?

    • Michael in Atlanta says:

      A Homerian Odyssey. In two thousand and ten, Matt Green did strongly swim, from Gham to Far Rockaway. Now he’s walking the rest of the day until he reaches yon other Rockaway….
      Beach.
      Amen.

      • Michael in Atlanta says:

        Ghana, even. Gham is different.

      • David says:

        lol, besides seeing Matt update again, that beautiful passage made my day. Considering the time he’s been making, though, he might as well walk back and then swim to Ghana anyways. Ya know, just to prove how BA he is.

  22. Jeff says:

    I never get a live feed…just the stop and loop thing

    • Candice In Alabama says:

      That’s all it was – a stop and loop thing. Matt sat still long enought for his picture to be taken. But still – IT DID CAPTURE HIM – that one brief moment in time!

  23. Jim in AR via MN says:

    Didn’t see him…or was he the one hitching a ride on the back of that truck hauling a tractor???…course I didn’t get to look until 2:20 CDT…well, okay…I may have missed him…but I’m still not sure he wasn’t waving at me from the back of the tractor…whadaya think???

  24. Jeff says:

    anyone looking for a screen shot curtousey of Candice (phenias and Ferb love thier sister candice) email me at mattwalkingpool@yahoo and I will send you the shot I got. T-shirts are 20 bucks….coffee mugs 5….Wave from Matt…priceless.

  25. Christine says:

    Matt will hopefully be in Lewiston soon. I still have a sleeping bag and fishing pole I bought there 14 years ago. I suggest you get yourself a weekend fishing license and relax and do some fishing while you are there.

    • Dan says:

      I agree with that, Christine – good fishing around Lewistown.

      • Christine says:

        I can’t believe I mispelled Lewistown. I guess my mind spelled it the way it sounds, the way they pronounce it. It took me a while to get that right while I was there. We would go to Lewistown for groceries and other items. They have rodeos there quite often too. Matt needs to take more breaks, especially before the mountains. This is a good place to spend a few days. Hopefully someone is watching and will take him fishing and put him up for a good rest. Peace

  26. Craig (Yeah..in NC!) says:

    If your gonna cattle rustle, might as well make sure they worth eating.
    heh

  27. Jeff says:

    I have emailed the shot to all who have asked. Just remember it might come into span folders….but it is there. Sent it at about 7:30pm eastern time

  28. Kheavner says:

    Glad to see you safe and posting! Thanks for keeping all of us updated! Love logging on to see your adventures. I learn something new everyday! God, keep Matt safe!

  29. Scott Descheemaeker says:

    That Tendermax Beef sign belongs to my brother. Love the comments and I thought I would help with some of the questions raised in the comments– the brand is called “walking E hanging 6” and it has been in the family for many years. People who liked the movie Food Inc. should really like what my brother is doing. He is committed to raising all natural beef without the aid of any antibiotics or hormones. The Piedmontese breed of cattle carry a natural tenderness gene and my brother is selecting for this characteristic in the cattle he is raising.

    I’m glad Matt had a chance to see this part of Montana– most people that visit Montana just see it from the Interstate Highway. I now live in California but enjoy every opportunity I have to visit the ranch!

    • Christine says:

      Awesome. Thanks for sharing. You should tell your brother to give a coupon code for Hobo Nation! I would order.

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