DRY CRIK Journal

Once again we're here to choose one man,
Picked to hold our banner high.
He's a tried and tested cattleman,
Watching close as the years roll by.

He's seen the good and bad years,
As he's ridden along the way.
He's shed laughter and some sad tears,
When his friends were called away.

But through it all he's kept his goals,
While culling his cow herd deep.
With replacement heifers that he controls,
That were tagged as the ones to keep.

With cows like his, havin' early calves,
Who as weaners may top the sales.
With steers weighin' eight and their heifer mates,
They'll sure as hell mash down the scales.

His Granddad came to this ranching game,
about four generations back.
Then came his Dad who rode this range,
And his son never lost the knack.

Now the fourth generation is coming in view,
And he's startin' to pick up the reins.
This is what we’re about, this is what cowmen do,
We're the ones left protecting the range.

Well it's time to divulge who this welcomed choice is,
This man wasn't selected by chance.
Lately we roamed together ore' this great place of his,
My most memorable part of his ranch.

May he keep up the good fight and up the hill climb,
And his future with cattle climb higher.
The recipient cattleman of two thousand nine
Is none other than John Dofflemyer.

                              - Earl A. Mckee, October 16, 2009

Earl McKee & Plenty Valentine
February 28, 2008
http://www.bar-o-ranch.com/history.html

Quite an honor and quite a surprise to be introduced with a poem by Earl at the Tulare County Cattlemens' Fall Banquet last Friday night.

[see the September 30, 2009 poem "Greasy Creek" in 'Recent Posts']