What was growing up on a Nebraska Sandhills Ranch in the 1940s and 50s like?
If you have ever wondered what life was like for a young male on a Nebraska Sandhills cattle ranch in the 1940s and 1950s, this book will answer many of your questions. What was it like to live through a blizzard often considered as the Blizzard of the Century, producing drifts as deep as 50 feet in some locations? What was it like to attend a country grade school in an old house that had none of the modern conveniences? How did the teacher and students deal with darkness in the schoolroom on cloudy, dreary days that made reading almost impossible? What was it like to begin working in the hayfield at age 6? How did the family cope with the lack of electricity that often occurred on calm days when the wind charger did not produce enough electricity for light bulbs to be functional at night? What did a ranch family do for fun when free time was occasionally available? What was it like to leave home at age 13 years and 3 months to attend an agricultural-oriented high school (232 miles from home) that had boarding facilities for Nebraska’s rural students? What was calving season like for the rancher and his (her) family? This book will provide answers to these and many other questions you may have about ranching in the 1940s and 1950s in the Sandhills of Nebraska. Most young people living on cattle ranches during this era did not give the above-mentioned topics much thought because that is just the way it was—and in some cases, still is.
Blizzards to Branding: Growing Up on a Nebraska Sandhills Ranch by Zane Quible is a captivating and heartfelt story of ranch life in Nebraska’s Sandhills. Quible’s vivid storytelling and authentic experiences bring the region and its people to life. Once you start reading, you won’t want to put it down. Joyce Sherrer
Blizzards to Branding is a literary treat of genealogy, history, and love of the land. Experiencing first hand the perils and joy of growing up on a ranch in Nebraska during the 1940’s – 1960’s. A simpler time where community was everything, and you had to rely on your wits and grit to survive. Should be required reading for today’s younger generation. Carolyn Gang
