How much land do you own? (This is actually quite an impolite question to ask a farmer or rancher — it’s like asking how much money a person makes). 

But, I will tell you that our ranch is two sections, which is 1280 acres. The driveway you come up is the section line. Our ranch extends from where you turn onto our driveway at our Singing Cowboy/Harvest Host sign, to two miles west and one mile wide. 

How many cattle do you own? This question is equally impolite and usually follows the land question. But, we have about 200 cows, which means we have around 200 cows and about 200 of their calves, as well as 10-12 bulls to "cover" them (this is ranch-speak for breeding the cows).

Do you grow anything? We are ranchers, not farmers. Ranchers do not raise crops, though we do mow and bale our own hay. In the wintertime, the campground is filled with hay bales that weigh up to 1600 pounds. We have to have 800-1,000 bales put up to feed our cattle and horses over the winter. 

Our cattle are not like beef cattle. Corrientes are easy to raise. Their calves weigh 32-50 pounds, while a beef calf will weigh between 65 to 90 pounds. Corrientes cows may live and produce for 20 years, whereas beef cows raise calves for 6-12 years. Corriente cows may weigh up to 800 pounds. Beef cows weigh from 1,000-1,300 pounds.

Because they are smaller and leaner, they are fast. This is what makes them good for rodeo. 

What are the Camp Store hours? The camp store is always open. It is in the older fifth-wheel camper with Camp Store written on the front and by the door. 

Please do not let Bob the Cat inside the camp store. He likes to sneak in and sleep on the bed. He has a perfectly good cat house under the camper neck. He has his own picnic table with his place setting - complete with china and a charger under it. He has a water goblet and a whiskey glass (he broke his wine glass—evidently he prefers whiskey). Also, be warned, Bob the Cat will sit at your steps—I think he is "casing the joint" for Fred the (Thieving) Dog. 

What’s the scoop on the dog? Fred the Dog is very friendly and loves to be petted. He arrived at Diamond A Cattle Ranch around 2023. His mother is half Maremma, a quarter Great Pyrenees, a quarter Anatolian Shepherd—and his dad is a purebred Great Pyrenees. So yes, Fred's built for ranch work... in theory. One of Fred’s jobs is to guard the gate when we are feeding the cattle. He is supposed to keep the cows in the pen, but he often has other things on his mind and leaves his post, letting the cows out of their pen. 

Fred serves as one of our official campground greeters—his co-host being the ever-refined Bob the Cat. But let’s be honest: Fred mostly greets guests so he can case their campers. He’s a known kleptomaniac, having helped himself to an impressive collection of loot including soccer balls, Crocs, bicycle helmets, water dishes, chew toys, and even a sandwich or two. We’ve had to put up signs warning guests to lock up their belongings—or risk becoming part of Fred's ever-growing stash.

What You’ll See Around the Campground

The 1940s Tourist Cabin was located in Chamberlain along the Missouri River. Crystal bought it at auction for $90. She was bidding against a little old lady who used to clean the Swanson Cabins where this cabin was located. In the 1990s, Tucker hauled the cabin here with his hay mover. It was first used for horse people transporting their horses down I-90. Later, when horse people got trailers with living quarters, the cabin became a VRBO rental. Harvest Host and Hipcamps guests can visit the cabin if it is not occupied. 

The White Schoolhouse was built about 1902. Guests are invited to explore during daylight hours. Crystal's mother, Evelyn, started teaching school when she was 17, earning her degree by going to school during the summer. She went to summer schools with both Crystal and her younger daughter Alice. She finally graduated from college with Alice. Crystal's dad Raymond, an antique dealer, bought this schoolhouse at a farm sale and gave it to Evelyn as a Christmas gift. Many generations of family members and Pukwana residents spent many happy hours playing in the building. Crystal eventually inherited the schoolhouse. Again, Tucker employed the hay mover to bring it to the ranch. Today, many grandchildren, nieces, nephews and guests continue to enjoy the old country schoolhouse and its treasures.  

The Tiny House was moved to the ranch in 2024 to be used as a VRBO. Harvest Host and Hipcamp guests may take a peek if it is not occupied. 

The Shower House is open for guest use. For those who partake, a contribution to help pay for water and electric is gratefully received. There are travel size products available in the shower house. Towels and other necessities are available for sale at the campstore. The shower house has a luminary on the outside. There are also two benches and a wooden bear outside. Please leave the outside light off. It draws bugs at night, making it uncomfortable to get inside. 

 

The Cowboy Camper is used as a VRBO. It was bought from friends who used to take their horses to Arizona during the winter. It features western and cowboy decor. 

The Indoor Roping Arena is the large building that sits to the north and west of the campground. We use it in the wintertime when neighbors come to practice roping on our Corriente steers. We tell them it has to be over 20 degrees before we practice rope, but neighbors have been known to show up when it was 10 or 15 degrees. We have hosted barrel racing, team roping, team penning, cowboy mounted shooting, and bull riding at the arenas. 

The Roping Arena next to the campground is used mostly for barrel racing. There are nine new horse pens that Tucker built in 2024 (when he was 80 years old). We use the outdoor arena and the pens for people traveling down I-90 who need a safe place to overnight their horses.