It’s hard to believe October is here. Wasn’t it just summer five minutes ago? The days keep flying by as we’re busy on our ranch harvesting, moving hay home, weaning and working calves, pregnancy-checking cows and winterizing the ranch before the snow flies.

It seems there are never enough hours in the day to get everything accomplished; yet, this time of year is my favorite. We welcome the hard work knowing payday for our spring-born calves is just around the corner. Plus, with the season’s rich, bold colors and crisp fall air, there’s an abundance of beauty to enjoy while getting mud on your boots and getting things done on the ranch.

This month, we’re celebrating the hard work that cattle ranching entails with a photo contest. The theme is “Ranch work, ranch life,” and we’re seeking images that showcase ranching families enjoy country life, getting their hands dirty, wearing their favorite worn-in boots, tackling tough jobs and working around the livestock and the land we love.

And after a hard day’s work, there’s nothing like slipping into a pair of comfortable moccasins. The contest is sponsored by Twisted X Boots, and the reader who submits the winning photo will be able to do just that in a pair of Twisted X driving moccasins.

We’re big fans of Twisted X boots. They’re like wearing pillows on your feet while being tough and durable to withstand the laborious tasks required of ranching. I have no doubt their moccasins are no different. Check out the complete Twisted X collection here.

To enter the contest, simply email your best photo, along with your name, address and a title/description of the image, to me at [email protected] by noon on Oct. 12. We’ll create a gallery of readers’ images, which will be updated daily, so swing by the site often to check out the contest entries.

For complete contest rules, click here. 

Not only will our champion photographer receive a pair of Twisted X driving moccasins, but the reserve champion photograph will take home a $50 VISA gift card. Plus, we’re giving three lucky voters a copy of Max Armstrong’s book, Stories from the Heartland, autographed by Max. Stay tuned; it’s going to be a lot of fun, and you’re not going to want to miss it!

I can’t wait to see what you guys come up with! Thanks in advance for your participation. Your images are always a treat to view, and the BEEF photo contests are one of my favorite parts of writing this blog. Happy fall!

The opinions of Amanda Radke are not necessarily those of beefmagazine.com or Farm Progress.