Issue link: http://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/932507
72 | SignatureMT Another early-on improvement was a backstop of poles made to give the hay a beer shape and to improve the compression of the hay. Next, wings that folded forward when the beaverslide was transported and then turned back when the beaverslide was in operation further improved the compression and shape because sides gave the stack a more defined rectangular shape. "It is amazing, but we can pull off the first layer of brown hay that has been frozen over several winters, and the hay below is still fresh and green," said Tracy Beck. For that reason, the Becks also feed hay stacks that have been le over from previous years. When they add a new stack, they side it up with a previous year's stack. Consequently, they don't have wings on their beaverslide, but instead use backstops. "If we have some rainy weather during hay season, we have other work to do. Usually we build the corrals around the new stacks," said Beck. e Rocking W Ranch's meadows are located from their ranch buildings to the town of Avon. e railroad and Highway 12 sometimes provide boundaries. e Lile Blackfoot River meanders here and there through the meadows and provides for flood irrigation. e Becks find the highest spot, such as a knoll, to place stacks, out of range of irrigation. When the wild grass comes to head, the families on six ranches in the Avon area know it's time to check if their beaverslides need The next improvement was to build wings attached to the side of the beaverslide to better yet shape and compress the haystack. The wings turned forward during transportation. Photo courtesy of Al Kajin. Stackers are riding the basket down. Bill Carroll said that this was dangerous and was never allowed where he worked during haying season. For certain, the workers threw their pitchforks to the ground before descending on the basket. Photo courtesy of Al Kajin.