blackfoot-valley

genetic program which breeds the registered animals. Mike also handles mar- keting the bulls, as well as their semen for breeding purposes. Other perma- nent ranch hands are Fred Bessette and Pete Chavez, both of whom live with their families on the Wales Ranch. A cook is employed to run the bunkhouse kitchen, where everyone converges at precisely 12 noon, the daily get-to- gether of all hands. Dick Mandeville, who as previously noted maintains and runs the sporting-clay course, commutes to the Ranch from his home at Seely Lake. Altogether there are usually at least 8 to 10 employees at the Ranch itself, with several more during the summer high season. The temporary and seasonal employees include irrigators in the sum- mer, of whom a veteran is Carl Kidwell, plus some student workers during their summer recess. Also, one or two groundskeepers at the headquarters complex such as Carl’s wife Dawn, may help the cook keep facilities such as the “Hotel” shipshape for guests, as well as the tastefully restored “Big House”, where owner Bob Meyer and his wife Britt stay during their visits and which on special occasions may also be used for overflow guest accommoda- tions. Management gives the total number of employees on the Ranch’s pay- roll, permanent and temporary (not necessarily working at a given time) as 170