There are some rules to a happy sledding experience.
Sledding seems easy— climb to the top of the hill, hop on your sled and let gravity do the rest. But when I was a kid, there was a trick to sledding properly at our farm. You had to know how and when to bail at the bottom of the steep hill.
If you didn’t, you’d hit a sliver of a straightaway in the snow the width of a tractor path, then go sailing over the edge of a steep drop-off into a ditch below. Worse, you might fly over the bank and into the road. In those days, there was little to collide with on the dirt road, but we didn’t want to risk it. So we practiced the art of bailing as often as we could in winter.
When the snow fell, we kids could hardly wait to go sledding in our bulging snowsuits. The hill we used was in a field that was farmed, so the snow had to be deep enough to cover the ruts. Otherwise, the sled would get stuck on the way down, which was no fun. Deep snow, though, made the climb back up the hill even harder, especially when weighed down by our sleds.
This story is from the December/January 2018 edition of Farm & Ranch Living.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the December/January 2018 edition of Farm & Ranch Living.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Fresh Air and Fireflies
Fresh Air and Fireflies
Teens Grow Greens
A Milwaukee high school returns to its roots to give kids hands-on farming experience.
Home Is Where the Herd Is
A sanctuary for surrendered animals has grown into a business that brings families to the farm year-round.
The Apple Doesn't Fall Far From The Tree
This Pennsylvania farm family tends its orchard with love and joy.
My Favorite Time of Year
Every season brings its own blessings — a blanket of fresh snow, a gentle spring rain, warming sunshine of summer, blazing colors of autumn. We held a contest for the best photos and stories based on each of the seasons. Here are the best of the bunch! Thousands of entries came from across the United States, and so did our winners. We were thrilled to be able to celebrate winter in Wyoming and autumn in New York with our readers. Our wonderful entries describe a country full of natural wonders, and the fortunate people who get to live and work around them.
A Lasting Legacy
Struck by tragedy in the winter of 1937, this family formed a Christmas tradition.
Holy (And Faithful) Cow!
Their first meeting was a shock, but in time Helga and her new family learned to love one another.
The Mysterious Blanket Caper
Someone or something was out to cause trouble on this horse farm.
Worth A Mint
An Oregon farmer keeps tradition alive with fresh holiday treats.
A Belated Christmas Gift
After almost 40 years, a family tractor shines anew