The Best of the Best (so far)

As promised, the Suite101.com Ranching Web site awards are here. I know, it looks like I've been lazy this month, since there are no new links up. But let me tell you -- revisiting the top-ranking sites in each category was pretty time-consuming work. And deciding which sites were the best in their category was downright grueling.

But decisions were made, and a handful of sites will be receiving e-mails letting them know how cool they are. You will notice that the winners listed below have been moved out of their previous categories and listed together under "**Favorites**."

Keep in mind -- more links are added to this page each month, so when I issue awards again in six months, the list may be completely different (and hopefully longer). But for now, here's my "Best of the Best" list.

For Breeding, the best site is Cowman's Choice. It's good-looking and thorough, has a wealth of information and it's easy to navigate.

Cattleco wins in the Cattle in General category. This site offers a LOT, including Web design and agricultural domain names for sale. This site has clearly grown since my first visit, and it's a model for what the Internet can do for the ranching industry.

Among Dairy-Related Sites, Dairyman.com is the clear winner. The site is still undergoing a face-lift, so I'll have to check back in the future. But even now, it's about the most thorough dairy site I've seen.

Two winners were chosen in the Ecological Ranching category because I just couldn't make up my mind which was better -- Ranchwest or Pasturemanagement.com. Both sites are extremely informative and easy to understand, and they take a look at ranching in its ecological and social context, which should probably be done more often by more people.

For Feed/Nutrition, Feeders Digest wins. In comparison, Feeders Digest is far and away the best site for feedyard information, and there's information available on other industry-related topics.

I also had to pick two top sites for Goats in General: Alpine Haus Goat Supply and Cyber Goats. Alpine Haus just stays with you; there are great graphics and tons of information. It's extremely practical, professionally-designed and just a joy to visit. Cyber Goats has too much information for anyone to ignore. And it's one of those sites that encourages a sense of online community. The future is here, and it is: Cyber Goats. For Hardware, Tractor Supply Co. wins hands down. Since there are so many ranching equipment sites out there that don't let you order online, Tractor Supply has an edge. The sheer volume of stuff available, along with the fact that they're not too proud to ignore links to FFA and other agricultural organizations, puts Tractor Supply Co. over the top.

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