Backyard Drinks, Barn Style: Keep the Setup Simple

A container is not automatically a cooler

A suitable bucket can hold ice around sealed cans or bottles, but an ordinary barn bucket is not an insulated cooler. Expect ice to melt and plan for water, surface protection and a stable place to set the container.

Keep drinks separate from working-barn equipment

• Use a clean container dedicated to the gathering.
• Do not reuse equipment that has held manure, pesticides, fuel, paint or other contaminants.
• Keep cans and bottles sealed; do not treat a feed-container listing as approval for serving loose drinks or edible ice.
• Keep the filled container away from electrical equipment and paths where spills could cause slips.
• Use a food-contact-rated vessel when food or drink will directly contact its surface.

Leave accessories to their intended jobs

The KD-122 Feed Saver Ring is an add-on for a compatible feed tub. It is not a universal bucket lid, a cooler seal or a guarantee that ice will stay put. A dog bowl, rope can or storage stool should not be assumed watertight or insulated simply because it has storage space.

Pick the equipment for the gathering

For keeping drinks cold for an extended time, a proper cooler is the straightforward choice. K&D buckets and totes can still help organize suitable supplies without making claims that they replace every picnic accessory.

When the party is over

Empty, clean and dry dedicated gear before storing it. Keep the celebration supplies separate from the next morning’s animal-feeding equipment.