I am not much of a marketer of my stuff. While in the horse industry it seemed to me that it was more about the marketing than the horsemanship. I never sold one piece of training equipment. I did write a book and made some videos but I never marketed them; nor did I take any profit from them. It was always a challenge for me to give folks their money’s worth in a clinic.
My favorite thing to do has always been demonstrations. Whether it was starting a colt, roping, horsemanship, or cattle handling, it was a short time for someone to hear and see my point of view. If they did not like it they could leave or criticize it to anyone they wanted to tell.
Hopefully this blog will serve the same purpose. I have had so many great learning experiences from my childhood and onward – some from mentors, some from paying people to learn from them, and many more from making mistakes and learning from them.
One skill that is a must is the ability to communicate effectively. I have always felt at ease and confident in live demonstrations. Only time will tell on how I communicate through written words.
So here we go. My goal is to provoke thought and to hopefully improve quality of life for humans, animals, and the environment. I will present positive thoughts and ideas that have worked for me, and you can take them or leave them. If something offends you I apologize, but to be honest it’s on your shoulders. Because in the end, it is simply my opinion, and it will probably change in time anyway. I truly hope you find it worthwhile.
This was what I wrote in my first blog, which I later renamed “Scoop Loop.” I feel like I have kept my word and added even more to it. I never once tried to sell anything to anyone except ideas to think about.
I added Monday Morning Photos and Friday feel-good music. It was real fun for me to do and hopefully enjoyable for you.
The reason I started writing was to promote NCBA’s Stockmanship and Stewardship program and the ideas I promote . I am not sure I did that, but I sure put ideas I believe in out there.
If you have been reading these posts you know I am an avid environmentalist who is passionate about grazing animals being used to improve the environment and consume excess production from farming. I like animals and people and feel they need to be treated properly.
Honesty is such an important thing in this life. Most important to yourself and then to others.
I am going to stop writing on the Scoop Loop for a while. I thank you for letting me throw my opinion at you. I hope it got you thinking. I thank Jesse Bussard for making me look like I paid better attention in school, and for doing more than she was paid for.
~ Curt Pate
Curt Pate Stockmanship 
I’ll miss your blogs and hope you find the inspiration write again in the future.
Your efforts have been appreciated here!!
I enjoyed reading “most” of your ideas ! LOL …. Thanks for sharing 🙂
Sad to see you signing off amigo but I understand these blogs can be time consuming. You shared some great ideas, provoked thought, and reminded me of many fond memories. Hope we cross paths somewhere, it’s been too long.
Mr. Pate,
Like the other comments above, I too am disappointed in seeing the blog go. Many of your posts have kept me focused on learning/researching better stockmanship. I loathe complacency and your blog helped keep this at bay. A big ‘thanks’ from me, my crew, and our animals.
Enjoyed reading your blog Curt. I’ll check back to see if you start up again.
No, don’t stop the blog. This is the only one I read. It is because you do not market or sell anything but ideas, that makes it worth looking at.
Well, best of luck.
Curt,
You have done a bunch of good for a lot of folks for a long time. The Scoop Loop is just another chapter in that selfless contribution to others. No doubt it took loads of energy, time, enthusiasm, thought… and several dollars to make it happen each week. We thank you.
So… we’ll read you when you come back, but if the Scoop Loop ends here, just know it has benefited others. And I’m betting that was your goal from the beginning.
Take care,
Todd
Curt!
I echo Todd! Thanks for all you have done and will do for the cause. I have benefited immensely from your thoughts and words. I know my moral compass and cows are healthier because of your influence. Take care Amigo! Dean
Thank you so much for the kind words. It has been a great experience for me and I am proud of the work I do and the way I feel people, animals, and the environment should be treated. You all have made me feel real good about what I do, and I can’t tell you how much that means to me.
I will echo the others above and I’m hoping you’ll find the time, lust and energy to write again sometime, to the bennefit of the animals we as readers handle each day. Thank’s so much, you solid cowboy!
Thanks Curt, I appreciate your thoughts and your desire to help us all improve.