Farm & Ranch

Mike Lee: World Champion Bull Rider

Published

4 years ago

June 2, 2020

NTFR

By Dani Blackburn

On a hot spring day down a county road in Whitesboro, Texas, bulls are bucking and cowboys are flying like ragdolls. The majority end up in the dirt before the buzzer sounds. Amidst the bustle of the day while no one is watching, a 5’9” cowboy in the far chute lowers himself onto a gray spotted bull. Soon all eyes are turned to him and the arena falls quiet for the first time all day as world champion bull rider Mike Lee emerges from the chute atop the beast.

While fans held their breath in anticipation of each ride all afternoon, the arena almost has a calming presence as Lee seems to effortlessly ride the full eight seconds. For a bull rider, anything else would mean failure. The 36-year-old turns right back around for another eight second ride, this time on a black bull, in a display to all there why he is considered one of the best and most consistent bull riders in the history of the sport.

Bull Rider and a Man of Faith

Bull riding is a feat few dare to attempt, and one that seems to require a drive from within that only those who do it understand.

“I think if you ride bulls, it has a lot to do with your background that you grew up in. Then again, I have known some city people who have done it, too. I guess it is the curiosity and the adrenaline rush,” Lee said. “For me, it is more once I get in the chute, my mind kind of shuts down and it is just me and the bull. It feels like freedom.”

To read more pick up a copy of the June 2020 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.

Farm & Ranch

Hazards of Backyard Poultry

Published

4 days ago

April 21, 2024

NTFR

By Barry Whitworth, DVM

Having backyard poultry is a popular agriculture enterprise. According to the United States Department of Agriculture, 0.8 percent of all households in the United States have chickens. People keep chickens for a variety of reasons with table eggs being one of the more common reasons.

Unfortunately, some of these poultry producers are not aware of the hazards that come with keeping poultry because many times they carry pathogens but appear healthy.
Chickens are carriers of several zoonotic diseases. These are diseases that can be passed from animals to humans. According to a recent survey in Pennsylvania, a majority of backyard poultry producers were aware of the dangers of avian influenza. However, this study also revealed that far fewer producers were aware of the risk of possible exposure to Salmonella and Campylobacter.

The lack of knowledge about the hazards of raising poultry likely contributes to the continued issues of Salmonella outbreaks associated with backyard poultry. In 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported 1,072 illnesses of Salmonella linked to backyard poultry, and 272 of those patients required hospitalization. Oklahoma reported 43 individuals with the disease.

To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.