Finishing my trip that started in Wisconsin then California, then North Dakota, then Nebraska. Good trip with lots of people with lots of cattle presented too. I also heard lots of speakers.

When I read or listen to some people in the private world, that are trying to sell you something they have, often times they criticize Extension folks and corporate representatives, and condescendingly call them “the smart people”. This is their right and may be what they need to do to get the thing they are selling sold, but I think sometimes they are only looking at it from their own point of view, and are not fair to the people that are giving so much to agriculture.

The extension and corporate reps I have dealt with have been great and doing the best they can to help producers do a better job. Are they experts on every part of it? No, but they sure cover the basics and it’s up to us to figure out what to do with it. They give us the idea, we have to expand on it.

The state BQA coordinators that I have gotten to work with are just great. They have taken it to the next level using technology and common sense. Our industry is so much better because of them. The consumer is so much better off because of them(and they don’t even know it), and the animals we are in care of have benefited greatly.

ROB EIRICH ENJOYING A LITTLE FUN HUMOR FROM LISA PEDERSON

I have worked with lots of these folks over the past 10 years, as well as many businesses representatives and have really learned so much from their knowledge.  Rob, Lisa, Gant, Libby, Travis, Jill, Tracy, Ashley, Marcy, Phil, Jerry are just a few names that pop into my head of some I have worked with, that should be very proud of what they are doing. So much to do, so little time and money to do it with.

I have been presenting with Ron Gill for lots of years now. I don’t understand how a person can have the time to get as much knowledge in ones head and practical experience as Ron has. He knows a lot about a lot. He has dedicated himself to educating producers in what he believes in. He is the most common sense, education and science based, with real strong morals, smart guy I know. On top of that he is lots of fun and makes life better for animals and people he comes in contact with. I have truly enjoyed all the time we have spent learning from each other, and sharing knowledge with the folks we get to present too.

RON GILL AND I AT KING RANCH

So to all you “Smart People” who are unselfishly giving us your all, thank you for what you are doing. Don’t get discouraged by people that aren’t quite as smart as they think.

In flight from North Dakota to Nebraska. Cows and cow people are suffering from the drought in our country. Some worse than others, and not because of the lack of moisture, but the lack of preparation. They have just gone through a real tough winter, and now a real tough growing season. I am convinced that you need a extra years feed stored and available in this tough country. You need to know how much standing and stored feed you have, and an inventory of what you have that needs to consume it. If you have to much to do in normal moisture conditions, how are you going to do even more work that drought always creates? We should probably have our stocking rates set for between normal and drought conditions and manage our work load for an 8 hour day so we can add to it if it’s extreme circumstances. When we are not in a drought, we manage like there will never be one. We should do just the opposite. If you have prepared when times are good, when times are tough you have the ability to prepare and take advantage of the good times ahead. You would be ahead of the movement rather than behind it.

Just an observation from outside the ring.

Two real good days of programs covering drought management, using dart guns for treating animals, and I got to work live cattle one day, and rope to tag and doctor the second day. I really like North Dakota and North Dakota people. I would move their in a minute. The three North Dakota Extension shield maidens for agriculture (I’ve been watching “Vikings” again)Lisa Peterson, Nichole Wardner, and Katie Wirt are to much fun and do a very good job helping producers produce. Dr Stuckka is a guy that I really enjoy how he presents his knowledge, combing science with a whole bunch of plain old fashioned common sense. We also got to eat what has become my favorite steak, the “flat iron” both days, thanks to North Dakota Beef.

I also got to help 4H youth with their projects. We worked with pigs, goats, beef and dairy cattle the first day. I really have to say I enjoy working with kids and seeing how good they will understand proper pressure if given the proper pressure to learn. The pigs were the same. They worked just great and I really enjoyed it.
The next day we had steers and lambs. Same deal. Real dedicated parents and kids.

I have gotten to work with several different 4H and FFA groups this year with horse and livestock. As my hero Temple says “Animals make us human” and I sure think that’s right. The commitment, dedication, and emotions learned from a young person working with animals is a valuable life preparation lesson and I feel sorry for young people that miss this in life.

Headed to Lincoln, Nebraska for stop two of NCBA’s Regional Stockmanship and Stewardship event.

We just completed our first of five Regional Stockmanship and Stewardship events with NCBA in California. I am on a plane to Bismarck, North Dakota for a couple days, then on to Lincoln, Nebraska for stop number two of NCBA’s S and S tour.

A tip of the Greeley Hat to NCBA, California Beef Council, and the folks at Davis for a good event.

The weather was real hot. Ron Gill and I presented live cattle handling on horseback and afoot. Bill Dale brought us horses, and I really enjoyed working with mine, and got along pretty good. The cattle were good to work and we had to be real careful not to overheat them.

After we were done they had a great prime rib dinner and good music. I was hot and didn’t feel real good but I figured it was just the heat. We hung around and visited with the real good mix of students and cow people, and I was so impressed with the young folks conversation and good manners. (Edith, last time I saw Jacob he was eating a big piece of prime and surrounded by pretty girls so he is doing very well acquiring his higher education).

By the time we got back to the room I was not feeling good at all. A terrible headache and by morning I was speaking to the toilet Gods in a loud voice. Ron brought me some pain killer and Bill dropped off some stuff for me. They both kept checking on me. Friends.

We didn’t have to present, but we’re supposed to hang around an answer questions and visit with attendees. I couldn’t do it. We had visited with Adam Cline the day before about looking at a feedlot he was involved with, and I made myself get up and go. At some point you have to just take control and make yourself better by doing something.

Adam had his kids with him and they were fun, outgoing ranch kids that act like ranch kids should. The feedyard was great and they were putting in a Danials alley and Ron and I gave our opinions on how to set it up.

We talked about lots of things. The cattle they were dealing with were Hawaiian calves they were buying and shipping over. I asked if I could step in and work them a little. They responded like Hawaii calves and I worked with them as I have learned to work them. It was hot and I was getting light headed but I got a little handle on them and hoped I had demonstrated to the guys what I felt they could do to help settle these calves. I’m glad I went and saw the operation and got to know Adam and his kids better. He will help our world become a better place with his desire to produce food and kids that are top quality.

When I get sick I have some strange dreams and some strange thinking moments. When I had just really thrown up and was laying in bed shivering kind of delirious,
I was wondering what the heck I did this for. All the traveling and packing around my saddle and trying to eat right and missing home.

After we got back from the feedlot and I was laying there thinking, and I thought out that same question when I could think better.

My honest answer to myself and to you is because of the animals. I love working with them, and I love taking care of them and making their lives better. I don’t know if you can understand what this means to me, but it is very important that I try to learn for myself to make life better for the animals I am in contact with, and all the animals.

We all have opinions and ideas on how animals should be cared for and handled. I am really trying to understand how to truly look at things from the animals point of view, and how to fit that to our human needs to make it best for everyone.

So it is worth it to me to get criticized by other people that don’t think what I am doing is as good as what they do. It is worth it to me to fly and stay in motel rooms. I get to do what I really love, and that is interact with, and help people and animals. That’s why I do what I do and I will never do anything else, if it does not involve improving life for animals.

It’s good to get a little delirious once in a while to get some answers for yourself.

I love animals. That’s all I’ve got to say about that.