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ILLUSTRATION BY YUNYI DAI \/ NEXTGENRADIO<\/small><\/p>\n
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[\/et_pb_text][et_pb_divider color=”#ed4441″ divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”3px” disabled_on=”off|off|off%22″ admin_label=”Divider: : DO NOT EDIT” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”150px” height=”false” custom_margin=”30px|||” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”top” animation_delay=”100ms” animation_intensity_slide=”10%” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][et_pb_text admin_label=”Sub Title” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Roboto||||” text_text_color=”#1a1a1a” text_font_size=”24px” text_line_height=”1.4em” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”450px” custom_padding=”30px|||” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”top” animation_delay=”200ms” animation_intensity_slide=”10%” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
In this project we are highlighting the experiences of people whose lives are being affected by climate change.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n <\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”1_2″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_video src=”https:\/\/youtu.be\/cA0zhGMZzFs” image_src=”https:\/\/cpr2022.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2022\/08\/NextGen_ClimateChange.png” play_icon_color=”#ffffff” admin_label=”Reporter Standup Video” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” animation_style=”zoom” animation_direction=”bottom” animation_intensity_zoom=”6%” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_video][et_pb_text _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Roboto||||” text_font_size=”18px” background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” max_width=”523px” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”||60px|” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”top” animation_delay=”400ms” animation_intensity_slide=”4%” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Isaac Vargas speaks with Karen Kaehler, a hobby farmer, about her concerns regarding the impact of climate change on her donkeys and horses. Having enough grass to graze is just one of the many issues climate change has presented on her farm. Kaehler, who lives in Strasburg, Colorado, must consider the rising costs of hay and water consumption as drought persists and temperatures rise. She is worried about the future of her four-legged family.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section: Headline Area” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” parallax=”on” custom_padding=”50px||10px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_post_title meta=”off” featured_image=”off” admin_label=”Headline: : DO NOT EDIT HERE” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Oswald|700|||||||” title_text_align=”left” title_font_size=”60px” title_line_height=”1.2em” meta_font=”|600|||||||” meta_text_color=”#E02B20″ meta_font_size=”24px” meta_line_height=”2em” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_post_title title=”off” comments=”off” featured_image=”off” admin_label=”Byline: : DO NOT EDIT HERE” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” title_font=”Oswald|700|||||||” title_text_align=”left” title_font_size=”60px” meta_font=”|600|||||||” meta_text_color=”#E02B20″ meta_font_size=”24px” meta_line_height=”2em” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_post_title][et_pb_audio audio=”https:\/\/cpr2022.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2022\/08\/NGR_2022_CPR_IsaacVargas_MASTER.mp3″ title=”Donkeys and drought: How climate change affects a hobby farmer in Colorado” artist_name=”Isaac Vargas” album_name=”Next Generation Radio, Colorado Public Radio | August 2022″ admin_label=”Audio Player” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” use_background_color_gradient=”on” background_image=”https:\/\/cpr2022.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2022\/08\/Waveform_2.png” custom_padding=”20px||20px||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_audio][et_pb_toggle title=”Click here for audio transcript” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Karen Kaehler: <\/strong>(Sound of donkey bray, kind of a series of honks, with big breaths in and out)\u00a0When they bray, it’s sort of like a cat purring. It\u2019s just, it’s just their emotions coming out. [\/et_pb_toggle][et_pb_divider color=”#ed4441″ divider_position=”center” divider_weight=”3px” disabled_on=”off|off|off%22″ admin_label=”Divider: : DO NOT EDIT” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” max_width=”150px” module_alignment=”center” height=”false” custom_margin=”||||false|false” custom_padding=”50px||||false|false” animation_style=”slide” animation_direction=”top” animation_delay=”100ms” animation_intensity_slide=”10%” locked=”off” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_divider][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][\/et_pb_section][et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section: Story Area” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” custom_padding=”10px||||false|false” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Story Text” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Arial||||||||” text_text_color=”#353535″ text_font_size=”18px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n For livestock in the arid West, drought is a looming disaster. A group of horses and donkeys in eastern Colorado is running out of grass to graze, and for their owners the cost of their hay is going up.<\/p>\n Karen Kaehler of Strasburg first noticed the impact climate change had on her herd when the drought stunted the hay she grows for them.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s when we realized we were not going to be able to self-sustain our animals,\u201d she said. The cost of a bale of hay is now at $250 per bale, up from $185 just a year ago.<\/p>\n Kaehler works as a corporate chef for Red Robin. But in her personal life, she runs a boarding stable known as Chamor Stables. \u201cChamor\u201d is Hebrew for donkey.<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/cpr2022.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2022\/08\/Chamor01.jpg” alt=”Four donkeys graze an open field on a cloudy Colorado day.” title_text=”Chamor01″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”CAPTION TEXT” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Donkeys that Karen Kaehler adopted, most from a local rescue shelter in Bennett, Colorado, graze one of the fields on her property, Chamor Stables, in Strasburg, Colorado. Kaehler says the amount of grazable land has decreased over the years.<\/p>\n ISAAC VARGAS \/ NEXTGENRADIO<\/small><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Story Text” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Arial||||||||” text_text_color=”#353535″ text_font_size=”18px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n \u201cI worry about the future of my animals,\u201d she said. \u201cThese guys really do need shelter. They need clean water sources. They need grass they can actually graze on\u2026there’s so much drought and that means we’re gonna have to start supplementing their diets with grain and buy even more hay.\u201d<\/p>\n Climate change in Colorado means less forage for Kaehler\u2019s animals, which means greater competition for what\u2019s left between other livestock and wildlife. Kaehler said drought and climate change have made providing enough food, water and shelter difficult. As she described the challenges, Rumble, a large paint horse and the alpha of the group, and Pebbles, a gentle quarter horse, snuck into the hay room and helped themselves to seconds.<\/p>\n \u201cThey know where the good hay is,\u201d Karen\u2019s husband, Brian Kaehler, said. He\u2019s a native Coloradan and works as a mechanic for United Airlines.<\/p>\n The Kaehlers’ barn, which is decorated in colorful wooden plaques of each animal they\u2019ve cared for over the years, smells like horse manure, grassy and grainy.<\/p>\n \u201cIt doesn\u2019t smell bad,\u201d Kaehler said, \u201cIt\u2019s sweet.\u201d<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/cpr2022.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2022\/08\/Chamor_03-scaled.jpg” alt=”Hand of equine farmer feeding a horse and donkey.” title_text=”Chamor_03″ admin_label=”Image” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”CAPTION TEXT” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Karen Kaehler feeds Rumble the horse and Cassie the donkey at Chamor Stables. Kaehler regularly doles out treats by hand to each of the equine animals on her farm.<\/p>\n ISAAC VARGAS \/ NEXTGENRADIO<\/small><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][et_pb_text admin_label=”Story Text” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” text_font=”Arial||||||||” text_text_color=”#353535″ text_font_size=”18px” global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n She moved like a mother navigating her kids\u2019 playroom as she gave a tour of her farm. Surrounded by curious horses, donkeys, dogs and Charlie the barn cat, Kaehler talked about how her horse, Samson, developed skin cancer on \u201chis carrot,\u201d referring to his genitalia.<\/p>\n Equines run the risk of skin cancer resulting from extreme sun exposure. Since donkeys are desert animals, winter weather shelter has been the priority for donkey owners. However, Kaehler began thinking about ways to provide shade for her animals in the summer due to rising temperatures caused by climate change.<\/p>\n She and her husband built an indoor horse riding arena in 2020. As a professional chef, Kaehler said people are taken aback when they see the simple kitchen in her home. She chuckled and recounted her mother-in-law telling her: \u201cYou know, dear, I probably would’ve redone the kitchen before I built an indoor riding arena.\u201d<\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][\/et_pb_row][et_pb_row column_structure=”3_5,2_5″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”3_5″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/cpr2022.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2022\/08\/Chamor_08-scaled.jpg” alt=”Two paint horses inside of a barn poke their heads through a white fence. Wooden plaques with the names of horses are affixed to a board overhead.” title_text=”Chamor_08″ admin_label=”Image” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”CAPTION TEXT” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n Rumble, left, and Pebbles, take shelter in the barn at Chamor Stables on an August day. Above them are wooden plaques for all of the equine that Karen and Brian Kaehler have cared for over the years.<\/p>\n ISAAC VARGAS \/ NEXTGENRADIO<\/small><\/p>\n [\/et_pb_text][\/et_pb_column][et_pb_column type=”2_5″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_image src=”https:\/\/cpr2022.nextgenradio.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/57\/2022\/08\/Chamor_05-scaled.jpg” alt=”Female equine farmer shows her hat with a drawing of her horse and donkey.” title_text=”Chamor_05″ _builder_version=”4.17.4″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][\/et_pb_image][et_pb_text admin_label=”CAPTION TEXT” _builder_version=”4.17.4″ global_colors_info=”{}”]<\/p>\n
Hi, I’m Karen Kaehler. In my professional life, I am a corporate chef for Red Robin restaurants. In my personal life, I have a boarding stable in Strasburg, Colorado. It’s called Chamor Stables. \u201cChamor\u201d means donkey in Hebrew.
Right now we’re sitting in a barn and it smells like, kind of, maybe, spent grains because they do eat grains. Horse manure really doesn’t smell bad. It’s not a bad smell. It’s a sweet smell.
Sammy is the classic handsome, dark-brown donkey, and he is the most photogenic animal on the property.
I’m rubbing inside her ears. That’s a place she can’t get to and see how she’s lowering her head. She’s, like, very submissive and that just feels super good to her.
(Sound of Kaehler rubbing donkey\u2019s ears)
Every August we get one big delivery of hay that will suffice for the whole year. Last year, these bales cost us about $185 apiece. This year because of the drought, we’re looking at about $250. So that’s one way the climate and the drought has really affected us. You definitely do without other comforts when those kind of expenses happen.
I worry about the future for my animals as far as the climate goes, not just my animals, but all of the animals, you know, throughout the country, really.
In the winter we have an automatic horse waterer. It continually fills up as they drink.But in the summer we supplement it with this 70-gallon Rubbermaid waterer and each day at least 35 gallons have been drunk down. It just gives you an idea how water they do need. These guys really do need shelter. They need clean water sources. And they need grass they can actually graze on. And I do worry about that.
They can go wherever they want. Beyond this fence, which is probably a hundred yards from us, we have another 35 acres in the back. Unfortunately, there isn’t a lot of grass to regrow this year, but we do move them from field to field. If there’s so much drought that we’re not getting grazable land, that means we’re gonna have to start supplementing their diets with grain, and we’re gonna have to buy even more hay if they can’t be grazing at home.
Quiet time with the horses and donkeys is, um, it, it’s spiritually and emotionally nurturing. See, I’m starting to tear up.
I’ve had a very, uh, personally challenging couple of years. I just don’t know how I would, how I would’ve coped, uh, if it weren’t for them.
So of course I worry about what their future’s gonna be like in my lifetime and beyond.
Just know that these are noble beasts who have literally built our country and they deserve our attention\u2026and our love.
(Sound of donkey bray)<\/p>\n