Mud, Sweat, and Cheers at The Pietsch Place

Our place in Warda, affectionately known as "The Pietsch Place," is where we take our Wagyu calves when we wean them off their mothers. Recently, we were thankful for some much-needed rain, but we noticed that the main tank was very low and had been taken over by American Lotus plants, leaving little water for the calves. Over time, the water in the tank becomes filled with mud and silt, and this particular tank is over 50 years old.

Shout out to 5D Land Services. Give Dustin a Call if you need your tank cleaned. (979) 540-6157.

Mud, silt and poop with only a foot of water remained in the main tank at Weise Farms - The Pietsch Place.

Currently, there are only 11 calves at The Pietsch Place, so the second tank at the back of the property is sufficient while we work to get the old tank cleaned up. The excess mud makes it difficult for the calves to access water and prevents rainwater from collecting.

Max and John are always eager to work with their dad, and we love it when they work at Weise Farms!

Family Teamwork in Action

Recognizing the urgency, we hired our son-in-law to help clean out the mud. He used a bulldozer to drain any remaining water and push the mud, while our grandson Max, who is almost 13, operated the skid steer. Together, they began the arduous process of clearing out the muddy mess.

We also have another tank on the back side of the property that my dad had made when he bought the place in the early 1980s. It’s a deep, 10-foot conical shape that never dries up and always has water—especially after a good rain. So, while the old tank gets an overhaul, our animals still have access to fresh water from the other tank.

Dustin pushed mud with the dozer and Max scooped mud and hauled it out with the skid steer.

It truly was a family affair! I have pictures of Dustin in the dozer, Max (almost 13 years old) working in the skid steer, and our youngest grandson John, just seven years old, proudly driving the truck around. These moments remind us that caring for the land and animals is a shared effort, full of hard work and family bonding. When young men are given big jobs, they learn strong work ethic.

John was tasked with driving the truck to bring drinks to everyone on this hot day.

Investing in the Future

Once the rain fills up the cleaned tank, we plan to build partition fencing, ensuring there is a fresh water tank in each section. This will allow us to start rotational grazing at The Pietsch Place, which is a sustainable cattle farming practice that benefits both the land and our Wagyu cattle herd.

Investing in these improvements will help us continue to provide healthy, pasture-raised, grain finished Texas Wagyu beef and keep up with the growth of Weise Farms. We’re committed to sustainable farming and to nourishing families with the best local beef.

If you’d like to learn more about our Wagyu beef or follow our journey, be sure to subscribe to our blog or contact us for more information!