Last Stretch

The day to build the last stretch of fence this summer, final arrived. Not much really, 150’ or so. Compound that with some August sun, and I was happy to be done. Let’s take a looksee. 

This stretch went from the barn to the pivot point. 

Before we could start to build, we had to take down the temporary fence we had in place. 

While we had the farmhand down there, we brushhogged the weeds. Then stretched a straight line wire for our posts. 

Then got to pounding. 

That’s about when Hank showed up to give us a lesson on setting steel posts. 

Spacing is crucial. We’ve found that four paces (12’) makes for a nice distance. Not too close, but not so far away that you need a stay. 

Depending on your height and strength, sometimes you want to put the pounder on the post before standing it upright. Regardless, put the point of the post right next to your straight line. 

Then get to whacking. I prefer this style of pounder, it lets your hands slide down once contact with the post has been made. Takes away the jar. Two things: First, don’t lift the pounder too high as your whacking. You pull that bad boy off the post in the middle of your thumping, some part of your body is going to the pay the price. Second, let the pounder do the work, but don’t just let it fall in the post. Drive the post! Pull the pounder through the posts, and let your hands slide by. Then you’ll get something done. 

Figure out the height you want your posts. When you’ve got your first post set at that height, then mark where the pounder lands on your body. Then you can happily pound without getting out your tape measure every time. Bottom of my sternum made for a 51” post. Just right. 

Fences by the road I like to line up nice. A quick hit with the level doesn’t hurt. 

Money. 

After we strung out our last roll of old hog wire, we stretched it tight with White Horse’s winch. 

Every once in a while, I come across a leftover roll of barb wire. The ole bar through the spool trick works well. Be careful walking backwards. 

This hog wire was a bit shorter. So we went 48” with the top wire. The three knob's down, three again, the two, before the top of the hog wire. Worked. 

I will fence no more forever!

For the rest of this summer, at least. I’ve got all the wire fence done that I wanted to build this year, thanks be to God. I like to do things right, especially building fence. I’ve always said that you can tell a lot about a person’s place by the condition of their fences. Ours are now tall, tight, and straight. New posts, with good reused wire. Not sure where that rates us on the ranching scale. But I can tell you one thing, the sheriff won’t be calling us to say we have cows on the highway. Let’s ranch!