Modern Machinery Still Better
“The days of tossing four small square hay bales out the south hay mow door to the bunk are gone.” Morning feeding chores would be finished by pitching two more bales down the chute to the barn manger.
Optimism For Better Days
Cold weather rapidly multiplies problems on the ranch. Exactly how much is too complex to figure for one who barely passed his college algebra course. But some people say it doesn’t have anything to do with algebra, rather it’s a math equation, add, subtract, multiply, divide. Whatever, freezing temperatures day after day add up to […]
Writers Have Their Dilemmas
“A writer is a person, who has to expose their deepest thoughts and bare their soul before unknown people.” Somebody else said that, but it is the truth filed away among vast reference information compiled throughout a lifetime.
Collecting Toy Horses Hobby
“Another model horse has been added to the collection started more than 65 years ago.” It was a pleasant surprise receiving a palomino toy horse as a retirement gift from the Extension Board.
Cattle Management Complex Business
“What kind of mineral do you feed your cattle?” “We don’t feed any,” responded the naïve high school agriculture senior interning at Charles Cowsert’s Monarch Charolais Ranch.
Portable Corral Eases Workload
Moving panels from pasture to pasture for penning cattle is a physically demanding task for ranchers. Looking back seven decades and longer ago, cattle owners did not have steel panels for corrals. Most ranchers cobbled together catch pens in their pastures with wooden posts, woven wire fencing, and homemade wooden gates.
Changes In Horse Business
“Raising horses for profit is a complex business endeavor.” For a grocery store carryout boy, there were many opportunities, foremost the vast friendships. Knowing everybody in town came from twice daily free home delivery of groceries. Youth life couldn’t have been better except there was always the desire to be a cowboy with a horse. […]
The Weather Will Change
“Farmers and ranchers are never satisfied with weather conditions.” During record dry days, conversations are always about the severe need for moisture. Possible ways to provide water for livestock and home use are discussed as wells, streams, springs, and ponds go dry.
“Eat, Exercise, And Sleep”
“Never the hardest working person, laziness has increased in recent months.” For more than 60 years, days started at 6 o’clock and went full steam ahead until 10 o’clock.
Fewer Hours On Horseback
Maturity takes its toll on a wannabe cowboy’s horseback riding enthusiasm and already limited abilities. Never a world class horseman, ample ambition and plenty of guts brought success training young horses.