Toadstool Geologic Park is a collection of badlands formations found in the Oglala National Grassland of Nebraska. The rock formations found in this park formed 38-24 million years ago and are related to the same rocks in South Dakota’s Badlands National Park. These parks also share many fossil animals, like ancient dogs, horses, and rhinoceroses. Many of these fossil animals went extinct and do not have modern analogues. Perhaps one of the most exciting preservations in Toadstool Geologic Park is the .75 mile-long trackway that reveals an ancient pursuit of hungry entelodonts chasing two species of rhinoceros down a stream channel. (Information from NPS site – I couldn’t remember all that!)Replica of a sod house built here in 1930.Inside of the sod house. This replica was rebuilt in 1984.
This is one of those quirky roadside attractions you see across the US. Obviously a takeoff on Stonehenge, this site has actually become one of the top things to see in Nebraska according to many travel sites.Sunflower field outside Alliance NE.Sunflowers
Scotts Bluff was another significant landmark on the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails, as well as for Indians in the centuries before American settlers came to the area. The bluffs are situated 800 feet over the North Platte River.Overlooking the city of Scottsbluff NE from the top of the bluffs.This trail leads to a cave.The view of the bluffs from a golf community in the city.This is a sugar beet processing plant in Scottsbluff.These are sugar beets.
Chimney Rock was one of the most famous and recognizable landmarks for the pioneers travelling west through Nebraska on the Oregon, California and Mormon Trails. The sky was smoky the morning when we got there.The sun went in and out while we were there, making different looks that were cool to see.Here, the sun is out over the top tower.Then the sun is on the slopes but not the tower.Pretty much full sun.I did not see any, but I was aware!A different angle, from the north as we left.
One of Mary Jean’s best friends in Nebraska took us through the Oshkosh Heifer Development lot. There are tens of thousands of dairy cattle here!
They come in as young heifers, 350-425 lbs., mostly from Wisconsin dairymen.
Their diets are mostly high-protein forage (triticale, alfalfa, sorghum, grasses). This feed is to grow, not fatten, the heifers.
Just before Artificially Inseminating (AI) them, they are put to stand in the stanchions so they are already stanchion-broke when they return to Wisconsin.
When they are yearlings(+) they are AI’ed with all female-sexed semen – they want cows, not bulls, to replace the milking cows.
They are bred to produce gallons of milk per day, to be milked for 4-5 years, 3 times a day.
About 60 days ahead of calving they are sent back to Wisconsin to birth their calves and start being milked.
Quite an extensive process! Now you know where your milk comes from!Holsteins (in stanchions).JerseySimmentalBlack AngusBrown SwissI was very surprised to see Pronghorn Antelope grazing in the field! 4 females with one male.The male became curious of me taking pictures so he came a little closer.And closer still.Mary Jean and her good friend Gwen.These are wild sunflowers – considered weeds.
