The Answer Man

Howdy, folks! The Answer Man here. As the ground thaws out and we start moving livestock around this spring, you might notice that winter wasn’t exactly kind to your perimeter. Whether a heavy snow limb brought down a line or a stubborn bull decided the neighbor’s grass looked greener, a leaning or broken fence is a headache that won’t fix itself.

Fencing is one of those jobs where having the right tools makes the difference between a quick fix and a long, miserable day in the sun. Let’s walk through the basics of getting your lines tight and your posts upright.

1. The Anchor of it All: Replacing Posts

If you’ve got a post that’s snapped at the ground level or rotted out, the integrity of your whole fence line is at risk.

• The Pull: Removing an old wooden post can be a backbreaker. Use a high-lift jack and a heavy chain to pop it out of the ground like a cork.
• Setting the New One: If you’re using wood, make sure it’s pressure-treated for ground contact. For T-posts, make sure you’re driving them in deep enough that the “anchor plate” is completely buried.
• The Secret to Stability: When tamping dirt back around a wooden post, do it in 3-inch layers. Pack it tight with a tamping bar before adding the next layer of dirt. If you just fill the hole and stomp on it, that post will be leaning by next month.

Answer Man Tip: If you’re tired of digging, come see us about a T-post driver. It’ll save your shoulders and get the job done in half the time.

2. Mending the Wire

A break in your high-tensile or barbed wire doesn’t mean you need to rerun the whole length. You just need a solid splice.

• The Western Union Splice: This is the old-school way—wrapping the wires around each other. It’s tried and true, but it can be tough on the fingers.
• Crimp Sleeves: For a faster, professional-grade fix, use a crimping tool and sleeves. It creates a joint that’s often stronger than the wire itself.
• Taking up the Slack: Over time, wire stretches. Use a daisy wheeler or an inline strainer to crank that tension back up without having to cut the wire.

3. Essential Fencing Toolkit

Don’t head out to the back forty without these essentials from our tool department:

• Fencing Pliers: The “Swiss Army Knife” of the farm. They can cut wire, pull staples, hammer, and crimp.
• Wire Stretchers: You can’t get a fence tight enough by hand. A good set of stretchers is worth its weight in gold.
• Post Hole Digger or Auger: For those wooden corner posts.
• T-Post Clips & Twister: To keep your wire secured to your steel posts.

4. Safety First

I’ve seen enough “fencing scars” to last a lifetime. When you’re working with wire—especially barbed wire—make sure you’re geared up:

• Heavy Leather Gloves: Essential for handling wire and prevent “barb-wire bites.”
• Eye Protection: Wire under tension can snap back. Don’t risk it.
• Long Sleeves: Trust me, your forearms will thank you after a day of wrestling with a roll of fencing.

Visit C&C Farm and Home

Whether you’re patching a small gap or fencing in a whole new pasture, we’ve got the supplies to help you hold the line. We carry everything from rolls of barbed and woven wire to heavy-duty gates and all the hardware in between.

Swing by our Bolivar or Lebanon locations today. The Answer Man is here to help you pick out the right gauge of wire and the toughest posts for the job!