Cycle of Seasons
Sulfur
October 17, 2006
The Brindle Cow posing with her second newborn calf on this weblog signals a cycle of seasons for “our perspectives from the ranch.” Recognizable, she is a reminder from where our cattle have come over a period of forty years: Hereford background influenced by Beefmaster. No beauty queen, she remains in the cowherd because of her fertility and her ability to raise a calf.
Likewise, we hope to continue to produce new and insightful perspectives. Thus far it has been fun and, at times, addictive to share what we do with you. Much like the perfection we never achieve on the ranch, our journal has become snapshots of what we see and think in this ever-changing business as we attempt to maximize our harvest of grass over the longer term. Primarily dictated by weather and terrain, it must be remembered that ours is not the only way of doing things, as most of the rest of the West calves in the spring.
Because Robbin and I believe in the lasting values inherent to the ranching culture, survival skills on every level, we hope that we might enhance a public and contemporary understanding of the community at-large. Too boring, I fear, for box office attractions, the culture clings to its word and individual dependability, to hard work and repetitive responsibility, and most often with the deed to the ranch at risk. It can be a commitment that becomes one’s whole life, almost like religion.
We begin again and wait for rain.