I’m glad I ran out of time on my last loop thrown.  It gave me time to reflect back a little more on the past twenty years.  

One day in Madison, Wisconsin at the Mid-West horse fair a fellow came up and visited me while I was eating lunch in the stands.  He told me he was getting on the Amtrak train in the morning and taking a few days to get to the west coast, I think it was Seattle, Washington.  When I asked him what for, he told me to get a hamburger.

I laughed and told him I’d buy him one right here, as I was eating one.  He said it wasn’t about the hamburger, but the journey.  

Well, I have been on one heck of a ride for the last twenty years and it’s been a great journey.  

All the great times working in Sweden, the horse fairs, the clinics, and miles of travel have been the greatest.  The people I have worked for/with have been the real deal, and a real bunch of characters.

From the movie stars and celebrities on the Horse Whisperer, my old friend Sven from Sweden, who really helped me transition from a hick cowboy to being able to get along anywhere.  Darrell Burnett that really saw value in what we were doing and got us paid for it, and then showed me how to spend it on good music, food and having a good time.  All the beef folks that I have worked with in the past few years making sure that fellow making the trip had a good burger.

The folks that have been the conductors on the train I’ve been riding have allowed me to see so many things, meet so many good people, and work with so many great animals.  

Wife Tammy was pretty emotional on our recent trip.  That’s understandable as she cries when someone wins on the “Wheel of Fortune”.  She has been a big part of the journey.  

I didn’t get emotional or really even think about it as I was to busy doing what I had to do.  I am just glad it all came together like it did, and I got to see who I got to see and do what I got to do, and I’m not talking about last week, but the whole ride.  I’m still not eating my hamburger, I’m just getting on another train.

I guess contentment from good memories and the endorphin release you get from those memories is emotion, so if you happened to be a part of my little train ride, thanks for the memories!

I am so glad that fellow interrupted my lunch and told me the train story.  I really think it was one of those moments in life that changed the way I looked at things and really added to my quality of life.  I hope sharing the story does the same for you.

The next loop I throw is going to be about our days in Texas and that may be a big loop!

What a great Trip on my last big run of work(if you can call it that).

I could not have picked and scripted it any better.  Most everything I have done in the past twenty years was represented in the last ten days.

It started in Tulare, California with the NCBA’s first dairy based stockmanship and Stewardship program.  I have worked with lots of dairy cattle and producers in the past years and enjoy them both, admire the level of professionalism of the dairy industry, and really believe cattlehandling can have a very positive impact on dairy production.

I got to work with my long time friend and presenter Ron Gill, and the California Beef council has always been great to work for.  Jill Scofield lights up the room (maybe the whole state)with her passion for promoting all things Beef.  My very good friend Bill Dale, head of the California Beef Council was there and as a real bonus, his Daughter Kendall came with him and it was so much fun seeing our little girl has grown up to be a very fun and beautiful young lady.

Got on a plane in Fresno and arrived in Springfield, Missouri about midnight.  I’ve been to Ozark fairgrounds before at horse fairs and farm shows.  I’ve been going to and demonstrating at these things for well over twenty years.  I’ve seen lots of things and met lots of people at em.  Purina and Priefert were at lots of them, and in Springfield I was in a Priefert roundpen, and Ernie Rodena of Purina fame was there just like old times.

When I was in the prime of the colt starting demo days there were lots of weeks I’d be demonstrating starting five or more colts a week.  It was a great time in my life.  I love taking a colt and making real nice changes in a couple hours that will effect the horse the rest of his life.  It was so much like riding bucking horses when I was rodeoing. You didn’t know what you might be getting on and what might happen.  I was never scared to throw my leg over anything.  Probably lucky I survived it with no injuries.

I got to start a colt in Springfield.  He was a four year old roan gelding that had been handled just right.  My first demo was in the big arena, and I had Mike Burris help me on his saddle horse.  I got him saddled pretty easy and when I turned him loose he bucked pretty good and moved out pretty fast with the saddle.  

I got him ready to get on and had Mike go in front and we got him carrying my weight and moving out without getting to bothered.  It was a real good first ride and I’m glad I didn’t have to start him in the round pen.  The next three sessions were in the round pen and then I used him for my last cattle handling session in the arena.  

I had so much fun and felt real good about how the colt turned out, and how I used the colt starting to help folks understand horsemanship and cattle handling.  I am so glad I got to do it on the last big run as so much of the past twenty years was spent putting the first ride on a horse.

I was very fortunate to end up right in the middle of the biggest horse “bubble” ever.  It was so amazing for a guy like me that grew up only seeing ranch type horses and rodeo horses, to witness all the different ways people use horses.  

To be a part of all of it and to get to do a book with Western Horseman, videos and demonstrations with the American Quarter Horse association and work for great company’s like Purina and Priefert, was something I never would have imagined.  

In all honesty I don’t think it would have happened if it wasn’t for Buck Brannaman and him getting me involved with the “Horse Whisperer” movie.

I saw so many people thinking they wanted to be in the world of the horse, and I saw a lot of extreme things that maybe didn’t fit the horse or the people.  When the bubble burst no one saw it coming and it really changed things.  I think it is much better as I don’t see all the hype and extremes like it was when there was so much money everyone was out there trying to grab.  Horses and people are better off when common sense and true knowledge is the driver rather than money and ego.

Wife Tammy flew in to Springfield on Sunday afternoon and we got to have supper and spend time with our old friend and partner Michael Richardson.

He was doing demos as well and I watched when I could and he was as amazing to me as ever.  If you get to feeling sorry for your self, go spend a day with Michael and try to stay in his wheel tracks.  He has more try and heart that anyone I know.

Monday morning we went to Agape Boarding School in Stockton, Missouri.  I went last year and rode for the Brothers and with the boys.  Greatest experience ever and we had a day so I wanted to spend some time.  Of course Tammy fell in love with all of these great kids and wanted to take them all home with us.  All I know is horses and cows are much better than drugs and abuse and with the guidance of some great people these boys are getting the chance to be and live cowboy and learn that in the world of horses and cows they don’t lie and they don’t cheat and they don’t judge, but give back what you give them.  I love the place, the boys and the people that are dedicated to helping them.  

They are having a horse sale June 15 that the boys sell the horse they have worked with.  Look it up online.  If you can come see what “Agape” means and is all about.

 Next stop, a couple hours up the road we met a group at the “Square B” ranch.

Eric Grant is a fellow that I have been working with and learning from for several years.  We worked on video projects for the National Cattleman’s Beef Association, and when he worked for Angus we did several TV episodes.  When Eric quit working for Angus we had supper one night and he said he had ideas and wanted me to be a part of them.  I didn’t ask what they were or what he wanted, I just said I was in for anything he wanted me to be a part of.

[Erics Work]

They have put together a very talented bunch of people and we went and visited with some of them sharing ideas.  I still don’t know and don’t care what he has in mind, but I’m in.  It was a fun day and we might have seen one of the  nicest, well run ranches in the country.  Stay tuned.

We then headed to Olathe, Kansas and had supper with the Trabon Family.  Tim Trabon was one of my real good friends and he left us a few years ago.  I have really enjoyed seeing how they went on and are moving forward and doing things better than Tim ever did.  He would be very proud of all of them.  It was so much fun laughing and telling stories, and to hearing the things they have done and are going to get done.  Patti keeps it all together as she always has.

Tim and I were pulling into his driveway one night and it was a tight fit with his truck and trailer.  Patti had moved the garbage bins to the other side of the road knowing we would be pulling in.  Tim made me aware of how smart and observant his wife was and he really appreciated her.  Great family.

[Tim Trabon and John Ballweg]

Of course we didn’t want to leave so we ended up not getting to Salina, Kansas until midnight and then I had to work pretty early the next morning.  We were at the  Mid America farm show and I did a horsemanship demo in the morning and a cattlehandling demo in the afternoon.  I’ve been there a few years in a row so I know some and met some knew people.  I was tired and a little off so I didn’t work the cattle as well as I could have, and was a little disappointed in that, but felt good about the way I presented to the folks in attendance.

Headed south for six hours and got to McAlester, Oklahoma about nine that night.  We set up a portable tub system and some panels at 8 AM and was presenting to the crowd by about 9:15.  It was the OSU cow calf producers “Bootcamp”.  We had a fun little bunch of calves to work and I had fun presenting to the real receptive cattle and crowd.  I felt much better about how I worked the cattle than the day before.

I am writing this recap on my flights home to Bozeman, Montana.  We just landed so I am going to wrap this part up.  United Airlines added to my positive experience by giving me an upgrade to first class from Denver to Bozeman!

When I get caught up I’ll tell you about my experience in Fort Worth, Texas and give you some thoughts on the last twenty plus years working in the greatest industry with the very special people and animals I have come in contact with.

I am so exited to get moved and to work on my knew challenge, running a great ranch.

Over the years it’s always amazed me at how every once in a while a long string of events line up to make a great run.  I am starting one now, and with my new job responsibilities it will be last “big run”.   

It’s going to be great as I have a  very diverse set of demonstrations in front of me and pretty much covers everything I’ve done for the past twenty years.  

First stop, Tulare California today and tomorrow for a dairy based NCBA stockmanship and stewardship program.  Next, fly to Springfield, Missouri tomorrow night late(very late) to Ozark Spring Roundup to do colt starting and cattlehandling demos for three days.  Wife Tammy joins me  Sunday afternoon and we head to Agape Boarding School in Stockton, Missouri (I had a couple days to fill, and this is a great place to spend time).

We are meeting with Eric Grant and company on Tuesday to visit about a new project he is working on that I hope we get to be a part of.  I’ve worked with Eric on lots of great projects and always have had good experiences and created something of value for people.

I have to be in Salina, Kansas on Wednesday for the Mid-American farm show to do horsemanship and cattlehandling demos for the day.  Then we head back south to Mcalester, Oklahoma for a cattle meeting on Thursday morning, and then on to the next one that evening in Fort Worth, Texas for the Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Convention.

I fly back home Sunday night and Tammy flys to Yuma, Arizona to help my Mother drive home to Montana.

Now, how could you plan a run like that?  It just kind of lined up and I’ve had it happen lots of times over the years.  The nice thing about this run is that it includes everything all the different disciplines of livestock handling I do.  Colt starting to dairy handling is a pretty big range, and I’m glad I have the opportunity and ability to do them all.

Last week when I was on my plane I sat with a guy that was going to interview an old highschool buddy and former business partner, Dean Folkvord.  I told him a few things about Dean that he could use that not everyone new about, and I’m pretty sure Dean might of just as soon nobody new about. It got me to thinking.

Dean and his wife Hope have really done great in business and life.  I remember several years ago Dean and Hope invited Tammy and Myself out to Dinner.  It had to be a restaurant that served “Wheat Montana Bread” as that was the company the Folkvord family was so successful in starting.

The conversation got around to the what I was doing, and I was just starting to do some local horse clinics. At that time I was trying to talk myself out of doing them and was coming up with lots of excuses.  I told Dean that I thought there were way to many people doing horse clinics and it would be hard to make a living.  He never even hesitated and said there were lots of people making bread, but he didn’t let that stop him.

[Back when I was getting started and learning so much from horses like this great one we called “Major”.]

I’m really glad that I sat with the fellow and he sparked some memories.  Thinking of all the great things that have happened since that supper and now I’m sure glad I went on and did what I have done.  I’ve never talked to Tammy about it and don’t know if she even remembers, but she was the one that really got it started with putting together clinics and demos.  I would still be riding colts for the public and trying to pay for a ranch if it wasn’t for her.

So this trip ends the big travel chapter of my life.  It has been a great trip.  Now I get the best of all of it for me.  I get to manage a great ranch, I get to help folks enjoy the ranch, I get to spend more time with my animals, and I still get to do a limited number of days doing what I have been doing.  It couldn’t get any better.

[Our new ranch setting]

If had lots of people ask me over the years how to get started doing demos and clinics.  I don’t really know what to tell them.  I’ve seen lots of folks come onto the scene and over sell there abilities and they never last very long.

Just like Deans Wheat Montana Bread.  If you are trying to sell yourself or a product you have got to get someone to try it and give them a reason to keep using it.  If you don’t keep improving your product someone else will create a more desirable one.  That’s why we get better, to stay ahead of the competition, and I have found the best person to compete with is yourself.

The funny thing is I never really understood or cared about any of this, is just kind of happened.  As I look back I can see how it shaped up.  I had a real good work ethic, was never satisfied or thought I couldn’t be much better than I was(still feel that way)and always had the freedom to do what I needed and wanted to do, and gave the people that hired me what they and their customers wanted.

So a little reminiscing or reflection never hurts.  Hopefully the bread story will inspire you to go for what you want to do in life. 

I don’t know how many motel rooms and restaurants meals I’ve eaten or how many miles I have flown or driven in the past twenty years, and I don’t even care.  What I do remember is all the great people and animals I’ve gotten to work with And that is what really has made the trip special.

Looking back I realize I’ve been on a twenty year paid vacation!