Ketchum – Page 17

January 16, 2013December 10, 2018

Are Ewe My Maa-Maa?

The new lambs and kids will be arriving soon! Of course, the ewes knew which little bundle of cuteness belongs to them, but do you?

As children, one of our favorite Dr. Seuss books was “Are You My Mother?” A baby bird hatches while the mother bird is away from the nest and spends the rest of the book running around asking various animals, “are you my mother?” Our Mom always used different voices for each of the characters, probably why we liked ths story so much! Today I’m picturing a flock of lambs all baa-ing for their Mama!

At Ketchum, we manufacture several small metal ear tags that are perfect for little ears. The #314 Tambra https://www.ketchummfg.com/c32/c117/Tambra-Ear-Wing-Tags-Brass-Numbered-p437.html, is a small brass tag, measuring 3/4″ long by 3/16″ wide with a tamper proof locking button. The tags are sequentially numbered on one side and can be personalize with up to six characters on the other side. These same tags are also available in aluminum.

Our #312 Kemco https://www.ketchummfg.com/c32/Kemco-Aluminum-Ear-Tags-c116.html , is slightly larger, made from aluminum and measures 1-1/4″ long by 1/4″ wide. The Kemco can be personalized with up to nine characters in one or two lines.

You may prefer or require a tags that is visible from a distance, Ketchum carries plastic ear tags. We recommend the #404 and #405 plastic tags for sheep and goat ears https://www.ketchummfg.com/Plastic-Ear-Tags-c87.html

If you prefer to tattoo the ears as a means of identification we carry a full line of tattoo equipment https://www.ketchummfg.com/Tattoo-Equipment-Animal-c120.html, including pliers, digits, inks and pastes.

Order your ear tags Today at https://www.ketchummfg.com/ so you’ll be ready to identify which lamb belongs to which ewe as soon as they’re born.

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January 3, 2013

New Year’s Resolutions

Now that we’ve all made our New Year’s Resolutions, how are we going to keep them? Let’s get our pets involved! I saw a little clip on television that suggested ways to get your pets to help you keep your resolutions.

Like most people, I want to become more physically fit by exercising more and eating healthy. Also the doctor seems to think my cholesterol number is too high, I suggested it was from Thanksgiving Dinner, he’s not buying it.

My dogs love to go for walks. All I need to say in front of the dogs is the word “walk” and I have their full attention. They go crazy, tails wagging, running back and forth to the door with some howling thrown in the mix! Their energy and excitement makes going for a walk enjoyable. We all get the benefit of exercise and fresh air.

The dogs may also be helpful when it comes to eating healthy. They like to hang around the kitchen while I’m cooking. After I’ve finished cutting up carrots or apples I always give them a couple of pieces. Of course they can’t have chocolate and I don’t like to give them baked goods, I don’t want them to get overweight, it’s not good for them. Hey, it’s not good for me either! If I won’t give it to the dogs, I shouldn’t be eating it myself.

Getting organized is another one of my usual resolutions. I’m not sure enlisting the pets to help with this one will work out as well. One of our cats tries to keep the counter and table clutter free. I’m not fond of his methods as he throws everything on the floor. New Years Day he sent a bottle of black glitter nail polish crashing on to the tile floor. Yes, of course it broke and traveled across the tile. I was able to get the black polish off the floor, however, we still have some glitter in the grout. My daughter says not to worry about that, after all princesses live here!

I’m hoping my pets will help me stay on track. What tips do you have for keeping our New Year’s Resolutions?

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December 31, 2012

Blessings

The following is written by Nancy, one of our wonderful employees! Thank you, Nancy, we feel the same about you. What a way to start the New Year – all teary eyed.

When I am asked where I work, I usually have to explain what Ketchum Mfg. is. I always describe it as a family owned business that makes animal identification tags and then qualify that statement as not my family owned business. The reality of that statement though is Ketchum is family to the employees that work here. I have been fortunate to have worked with two generations of the Powers family and many of the employees have worked with three generations. Perhaps it’s because of the longevity of the employees of Ketchum that we feel like family or more likely it because of Lisa and Gary, like generations before them, go above and beyond to treat you like they would their family. My fondest memory of their Dad, Jay, is when I had to bring my car to the garage unexpectedly for repairs and as he was leaving for the day he asked if I had the money to pay for my car. I have been fortunate to have some great bosses over time, but that was the first time an employer offered to float me a loan and I’m sure if I had needed the money Jay would have been happy with me paying it off $5 a week if need be. Many of us have had family emergencies and no matter how busy they are, how short handed they are the first words out of Lisa and Gary’s mouths are, “go, take whatever time you need” Ketchum employees are not the only ones to be treated like family, many people in the community are afforded the same generosity. Tools in the shop, Gary’s expertise, the shipping department, fax machine etc. have been shared willingly, although you may jokingly be called a user, they are always happy to help out whatever the need. I am truly grateful to be able to work at a job where I am treated like family and in times of need, Lisa and Gary were right there offering help and support.

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December 7, 2012December 10, 2018

Structure Fire

“The building collapsed with four firefighters inside!” Our customer, Travis, called to tell us how well his fire company’s accountability system worked.

There were 27 volunteer fire companies at the working structure fire. I’m sure you can imagine how easily a fire scene can become confusing. The trucks are loud, there are fire fighters from different companies and the adrenaline is running high. Four fire fighters, including Travis, were inside the building and the building collapsed, thankfully, all four men were able to escape unharmed. A firefighter from one of the other companies was shouting that there was still a man inside. The safety officer assured him that everyone was out. He was correct and all of the firefighters were out of the building.

The fire company in charge of the fire scene has established an accountability system. Travis is our contact and he orders the 421-FF accountability tags from us. They use a two tag system, one tag stays on the fire fighter’s gear and the second tag is given to the safety officer when the fire fighter enters the building and is retrieved when he exits the building.

We are very proud to have our tags involved in programs to keep our firefighters safe. The design, implementation and consistent use of the accountability system is very important. The team needs to understand the routine and to use it every time at every scene.

Travis has had three of the volunteer companies that were at the structure fire contact him to help with the design of their accountability programs. He assures us they will be ordering their accountability tags from Ketchum!

Thank you, Travis, and all your fellow firefighters, for the dedication and time you spend training so that when we call, you are able to come to our rescue.

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December 4, 2012May 6, 2014

Color Coding Chickens

These free range hens are easy to tell apart and possibly all have names. On a larger farm identification bands are helpful in keeping track of the flock. Our poultry leg bands are available in a variety of colors to help track hatch dates and breeding pedigrees.

We also have customers that use these bands as tamper evident container seals and law enforcement agencies are using them as evidence tags.

Our 3 hole adjustable poultry leg band, catalog number 346, is available in plain aluminum, colored aluminum and brass. The overall band is 3-1/4″ long, the three holes provide three sizes in one band.

The leg band material arrives is thin coils. The colored aluminum is painted on both sides, we get a different color on each side, increasing the color choices available. When we get an order, the requested metal coil is placed on a large turntable and the material is threaded into the press.

Our customers can have up to three lines of custom information stamped onto the leg bands. The press operator selects the required pieces of metal type, which are very small, and sets them into the type holder. The type holder is then securely bolted into the top of the press bed. The automated number head is also mounted into the top of the press bed, the requested start number is selected.

The safety gate closes and the press is started. The material goes through several station in the press, transforming coils of aluminum or brass into customized poultry identification bands.

The personalized information is stamped into the metal
The required serial number is embossed
The sealing button is drawn up
The holes are punched out
The band is trimmed to length

Our leg bands do require the use of our sealing plier, catalog number 347, to get a proper seal.

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