Grant, the oldest boy, didn't learn to read until he was almost nine years old, but when he did, he went at it full-force. The impetus was that he wanted to read to learn more about Indians, because he had discovered some ancient burial mounds on their mountain. Garth, the youngest son, joined the family as a baby, after they began homesteading. The homestead and its work provided learning opportunities galore. Measuring wood, observing wild animals, growing a garden, raising, breeding, and selling their own livestock, building their home, erecting and finishing a guest house on the property, repairing machinery, interacting with people in the community, and just living life provided them with a very full education.
Some chapters go into detail about their livestock program.
The boys learned how to assist in the births of their sheep and goats. They also built thelivestock pens, administered medications, and sold the offspring. The Colfaxes led a life that revolved around the seasons and their animals, even going so far as to sleep with them when they were in labor. The boys won many 4-H awards for their livestock. Oftentimes, they wrote about funny events or major calamities or their interests.