Just Talkin' Texas

“Dragging cannons here and there over the Plains in pursuit of hostile Indians,” wrote U.S. Army scout, Billy Dixon, “was about as feasible as hitting a hummingbird with a brickbat.”

The Cowboy Ecologist

The owner of the ranch told me, “I love this ranch and I hate this ranch.” I wonder how common that sentiment is among today’s ranch owners? It was the raw truth and an honest admission that there are many hardships, challenges and setbacks encountered when trying to run a ranch.

Cartoon

Oil About Ranching

Baker Hughes reported that 598 drilling rigs were at work in the U.S. on October 2. That is one less than the previous week and 49 more than a year ago. Canada had 216 working rigs, eight more than last week and 26 more than this time last year.

It's The Pitts

I know who's to blame for the lack of interest in the cattle business shown by young people today. It's the county fairs that have "steered" 4-H and FFA members to want to become anything but a rancher.

Unregistered Bull

Choice gleanings from 45-plus years of Unregistered Bull.            When it comes to forecasting the cattle market, Pat Goggins, publisher of the Western Livestock Reporter in Billings, is about as consistently optimistic as anybody around.

The Cowboy Ecologist

Grass on steroids. That is what I observed recently on a ranch in Central Texas. The majority of the ranch had average looking grass, but in one particular area of about 10-acres, the grass looked different and much more vigorous and productive.

It's The Pitts

I have what linguists call a tin ear; an inability to hear the little nuances of how people speak. For example, if it weren't for the fact that they say "eh" a lot, I couldn't tell the difference between a Canadian and a cowboy from Wyoming.

Good Horsekeeping

Probably the best analogy of a green rider riding a green horse would be the blind leading the blind. Most experienced horseman would probably agree that the combination is not a good idea.

Unregistered Bull

Choice gleanings from 45-plus years of Unregistered Bull.            Many a stockman and farmer must have sighed with envy the other day upon reading about the plight of the big oil companies.