Went to Calgary last week to Cattlemen’s young leaders.  It is a group of 16 young people in Canadian Beef production that have competed to be in program.  They then are assigned “mentors” and participate in different activities to help develop them into leaders in the cattle industry in Canada and the world.  I spent quite a lot of time with the group and again am inspired by the young folks I am around.

They had a banquet after our sessions at the feed yard and all the sponsors of the program got up and spoke .  I was there because of my friend and mentor Melodie Chan, head vet for Zoetis, Canada recommending me to present stockmanship.  Mel didn’t grow up in agriculture, but learned to love it and is  a   great ambassador and promoter of doing animal agriculture right.

The first big cattle handling demonstration put on at National Cattlemen’s Beef Association was in Denver, close to ten years ago,  with myself working cattle horseback, Joel Hamm working on foot, and Charlie Trayer working dogs.

Zoetis was the sponsor and we all went to supper the night before.  A fellow named Julian Garcia represented Zoetis and gave a real positive speech of why they were involved and why they felt stockmanship and stewardship was important.  This was way back before it was as accepted as now, and Julian got it.  I was inspired as to the importance of what we were trying to do for the industry, and just as importantly, the animals we are working with.

Julian has moved to be the lead for Zoetis Canada.  We see each other quite a bit now, and I feel comfortable enough to give him a bad time, I really admire how dedicated he is to the cattle business, and like the fact that he was one of the first to step up and support what I felt was so important.

The young leaders program is funded by corporate sponsorship.  I was real proud of the fact that I had worked quite extensively for Zoetis, United Farmers of Alberta(UFA) as well as Cargill, just a few of the major funders of the program.

We all need to share and spend more effort in mentoring our young people that have the desire to improve themselves and the world.  Instead of complaining about how bad kids are these days and how tough they have it, maybe we should step up and help do something about it.  That’s what the Canadian Cattlemen’s Association, Emily Ritchie (program coordinator) and lots of corporate people that believe are doing.

Next stop, Sacramento and my friend, and lead cowboy for California Beef Council, Bill Dales place.  We went to watch his daughter Kendall practice roping.  She has been a real light in my life in the past, but I have not seen her for quite a long time and because of family circumstances have not been in contact with her.  It was so great to see how she had grown up so much, but still had that beautiful smile and personality.  Kids get drug into adult lives sometimes, and it amazes me how they stay so good.  I just wish when adults can’t get along, they at least overcome the ego to help the young ones involved.

WE USED TO ROPE FOR SKITTLES SO I BROUGHT SOME TO KENDALL

She made my week with her “Uncle Curt” and a hug.

Speaking of Mentors, Ryan Fowler from Skyline silversmiths was helping a bunch of young ropers.  He was so positive and in tune with really helping each kid to be safe and have a winning experience.  It was really an enjoyable time seeing all the activities and the nice place they had created to create winners, not only in the arena, but in the other things in life as well.  Work ethic, manners, safety, and respect for others was some of the lessons I saw presented.

Spent rest of day at Bill and his partner Lisa’s place. They had a little family get together and a California style meal.  Good food, good people, good time.

Bill drove us down to the Fresno area and we participated in the first part of California Beef councils “Pasture to Plate program”.  I got to ride a real nice horse, work some real nice cattle on a real nice ranch, the “.7”with some of the best people you would ever want to be around, and do it to promote the lifestyle and business that I love to the people and businesses that prepare and sell beef to the customer.  Can it get any better than that?

THE DOT SEVEN RANCH AND THE BEHLENS AND ME PRESENTING BEEF

Yep, it can.  When we finished, we headed up to the yard and all sat down to my absolute favorite American meal.  Tri tip Californio style.  We enjoyed food, drink, conversation, and a young Bronc rider by the name of Justin picking and singing some real “cowboy barbecue music”.  I can’t tell you how nice of an evening it was.

CHECK OUT THE BLOG-MEET YOUR BEEF

I did get some life changing advice this week.  At the roping practice I noticed free weights and Ryan’s wife Sophie was in real good shape.  I asked her about her thought on health and nutrition.  She said she was on a high carb Paleo diet, which seems to be somewhat of an oxymoron.  She felt the two important things in life were to make sure your body can recover from stress quickly, and keep your legs strong.

The first is obvious, but  I have never really looked at it that way, but it is so important to be healthy enough to recover.  The second is kinda funny but real true.  To be independent in life and not depend on others, she felt your legs must be strong enough to get on and off the toilet.  Now that is thinking way ahead, but she is right.  You never know what your going to learn and where your going to learn it.

I saddled my horse early this morning(got on an airplane) and am long trotting (flying)to Nebraska to work for 4 days amongst lots of cattle and feed.  Long days in the pens at Gottsch Feeders, and I am looking forward to it.  I’ll learn something to share.

We had this album when I was a kid.  I know every song and this was my favorite.

I don’t quite have 160 acres, but I have 40 and it is a great “little ranch”.  Thanks for all the encouragement to hang the sign.

Heres some of the things that make this the 40 acres in the valley that I love.

I am glad to get back on aplane and headed to work so I can rest.  

Last week I received two packages that I was very much looking forward to getting.  The first was a vest from the “Fort Worth Herd”.  As some of you might have noticed I like wearing vests.  I am especially happy  of this one as it represents a heritage I am so proud of, from an industry and a family history in the the great state of Texas.  A big thank you to Kristin Jaworski for making it happen.  If you get a chance, head to the Stockyards and enjoy the “clacking of the horns” as the drovers trail em up and down the the bricks of Exchange Avenue.  Check them out on the internet at the FortWorth.com and click on the herd.

The next shipment was a little bigger.  While at the Texas and Southwest Cattle Raisers Convention I purchased a automatic gate for the entrance to our place.

I had been trying to figure out a good solution for the end of our lane.  A cattle guard would work, but I always worry about something getting stuck in it, and with some of the athletic animals we have they can jump it pretty easily.

I feel it is good stockmanship to keep animals and humans safe and contained and off the public roads.  I also have always liked a nice entrance into a place and feel it is like a good cowboy hat, it has an important purpose but also shows the style of the person displaying it.

I could have also purchased one of the gates that Tom Dorrance designed but his idea is now being sold for lots of money, and that’s not my style.  (It wasn’t his either as he gave the idea away).

So when I saw the Ozautogate on display in the demo area at TSCRA, and was able to watch and think about it for three days, I decided it was perfect and I bought one.  It takes no electricity or power.  It opens from weight of vehicle and goes down 15 seconds later.  Double H Products sells them.

I used some old sidewalk that wife Tammy had taken out before for the concrete work, so that was lots of work getting set and level.  Then we had a big pile of utility poles that had been sitting on the place for years, so I sorted through them trying to get the perfect one for the cap gate I had seen and wanted to put in.  Then I laid it out on ground and pre made it, hoping it all line up when I got it in the holes we dug.

I went to it and my good neighbors came and helped me some.  It was lots of work and took some thinking and engineering to get it all set up.  I got it all set except for the top pole of the cap gate.  We got the first one up with a rope/pulley and ladder.  I’d sure like to get the top one on by hand but may have to get a machine with lots of lift.  I wanted to get it all done, but I ran out of time before I had to head out on my next trip and try to replace the money I spent on our new gate.  

My dilemma is the sign.  Tammy’s Grandfather made us a sign many years ago when we had a ranch in the Helena Valley.  It was a big enough place and we ran enough cattle to call it a ranch.  The place we are on is 40 acres and not a ranch, but the sign says “The Pate Ranch”.  It is such a nice sign and beings it was made by Grandpa Eddy, it should be up and seen.  I have it hanging at the entrance to my pens, but not many see it.  

Even though it’s a small place, we try to do things pretty ranchy.  We do everything horseback, don’t have a four wheeler or side by side.  We don’t put up hay, but manage the grazing on the irrigated pasture.  I have an old Case Uniloader that I use to move purchased hay and build fence.

We have had bucking bulls and cows on our place but they all headed to Oklahoma.  I bought some tiny cows last winter that are real ranchy looking.

I’m not sure what to do with them, but they are fun to work and with them being so small I can run twice as many.  So we may not be a “Ranch” but we act and run it more like a ranch than lots of so called ranches that I call farms with cows.

So I guess I’d like some opinions on what you think is right. Put the sign up or not.  Either way if you are going through Ryegate, Montana stop in and see our new gate and have a visit.  It’s easy to find.  At the flashing yellow light turn south, go strait past Peter’s Inc elevator until you hit T, go left for about a quarter of a mile and you will see our new gate.  Pull up and drive on ramp slowly and check out how it opens and closes automatically.  Welcome to the Pate Ranch, sorta.