Working Ranch Blog
Pampered by Brett Haas
Aug. 9 2010, 11:08 PM
Aug. 9 2010, 11:08 PM
Ah, yes, it's Fair week! Good because Fairs are always fun, and bad because that means I'll probably have late nights all week long. That and it's really, really, really hot out if you haven't noticed. We got all our hay rolled up, which is always a good thing to get done before Fair week. All we have left now is to get my neverending, couple day (I'll explain this part later) fencing project done, clip some pastures, fix some more fence, have our L.C.B.I.A. field day, move some Fall cows and heifers (oh goody!) this year to calving pastures, calve out the Fall herd, brand the Fall herd, and somewheres in there find time to wean. Yeah, that's the good part about ranching; there's always something to do. You're never bored. That's good, 'cause I grew up in a home where the words "I'm bored" got you a job cultivating soybeans with a roto-tiller.
Anywho, I've been reading other's blogs and it appears that Fair week is on all over the country. Of course, as always, the animal welfare issues come up. I read an article on passed along on Twitter, where some dairy cow got loose at a Fair and had to be put down. And, of course, the Twit wanted us all to believe that incidents like these are par for the course at Fairs. Let me tell you what. There ain't nothing more pampered than show cattle. They're halter broke, groomed, given the best feed, groomed some more, washed, air-dried, cooled off with fans, and loved by the best folks in the world: 4-H kids.
Anywho, I've been reading other's blogs and it appears that Fair week is on all over the country. Of course, as always, the animal welfare issues come up. I read an article on passed along on Twitter, where some dairy cow got loose at a Fair and had to be put down. And, of course, the Twit wanted us all to believe that incidents like these are par for the course at Fairs. Let me tell you what. There ain't nothing more pampered than show cattle. They're halter broke, groomed, given the best feed, groomed some more, washed, air-dried, cooled off with fans, and loved by the best folks in the world: 4-H kids.
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Someday there'll be a new sherriff in town and he'll want a hoss to go with his fancy pistoleros. I guess he better learn how to use a roto-tiller.
Now, my kids aren't quite the age for me to join in the fun, but they soon will be. Today, I took my oldest with me to work the L.C.B.I.A. booth at the horse show. Boy did I hear all about the fun I will get to have in the coming years. "Dad, I can get a horse for my birthday, right?" "Dad, what color of horse do you think I should buy?" "Dad, can I get a horse now and it'll be for my birthday?" "Dad, can I have a saddle with that much silver on it." Oh geesh! I'm gonna need five jobs and a clone.
I did get a taste a few weeks back. We've got these yearling bulls for sale. I noticed some pink eye coming on, so Kirk decided that we should load 'em up and haul 'em over to headquarters for a little T.L.C. And boy did they get the first class treatment. We've feed these fellas out of a bucket since they were weaned last year, all winter long. So, needless to say, they're perty used to folks being around 'em and therefore, easy to handle.
I did get a taste a few weeks back. We've got these yearling bulls for sale. I noticed some pink eye coming on, so Kirk decided that we should load 'em up and haul 'em over to headquarters for a little T.L.C. And boy did they get the first class treatment. We've feed these fellas out of a bucket since they were weaned last year, all winter long. So, needless to say, they're perty used to folks being around 'em and therefore, easy to handle.
If this ain't a happy and content bull, I don't know what is.
We doctored the couple that needed antibiotics for the pinkeye. They all got some fly treatment and we even went and brushed them down to help get a little of that extra hair off so they'd stay nice and cool during the dog days of a Kansas August. As we were combing them down, I was kidding with Kirk and saying that I could post this story and make everyone think we pulled all our cattle in and combed them down and pampered them like this. Now, who'd go and do something dishonest like that?
How's your Fair week going? Did you get through another year or gearing up right now? Tell me at thekansascowboy36@gmail.com. You can also friend me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.
How's your Fair week going? Did you get through another year or gearing up right now? Tell me at thekansascowboy36@gmail.com. You can also friend me on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.
