Country Lifestyles
January 2017 profile: Shawn Hays — Training with Dedication
By Jessica Crabtree
People start any endeavor with an intention, a goal. Some stay true to the course of the path, never wavering, while others embark on new trails. In the equine industry, when trying to place your mark in any of the disciplines, one must work hard and dedicate oneself, no matter the start or background.
Many equine-related activities were derived from necessity, what the working cowboy uses on a regular basis on the ranch. Some events date back to historical meaning, like the tactics of the vaqueros from centuries ago.
Reined cow horse trainer Shawn Hays has trained professionally 12 years. His resume is impressive, but started out very different. Hays was born and raised in the rural West Texas town of Snyder. Hays’ influence of horses started with his grandmother, Judy Hays. Judy trained horses herself on the ranch, first rope horses, then cutting horses and later in her years, halter horses. Judy saw great success in each event, even gaining the World Champion Heeler title in 1956.
That influence and presence allowed Hays to compete in horse events as a youth, showing in all-around western pleasure events. After high school a young Hays made the commitment to training horses and started first as a western pleasure trainer. Doing so for a few years, at 20 he moved home and was introduced to roping. “I started heading with Mickey Gomez. Then when I was 24 I moved to Colorado to work for rope horse trainer J.D. Yates,” Hays said.
To read more pick up a copy of the January 2017 NTFR issue.
The Hays family, left to right— Hunter, seven, Tammy, Shawn and Bryce, 10.(Photo courtesy of Tammy Hays, by Jackie Jean Photography)
Hays practicing fence work on a four-year-old gelding named Hez The Cats Meow. (Photo by Jessica Crabtree)
By: Martha Crump
Most cattle producers can tell you quite a lot about balancing cattle diets for energy, protein, vitamins, and minerals based on the specific needs for their herd and type of operation.
A key factor, and one that is often overlooked, is that how your animals perform is also directly affected by their water intake.
Now many of you may already be thinking “well of course water is necessary, anybody knows that!”
In many years, as September marches into October, we are beginning to experience some return of rainfall. But as many of us know, that is not always the case. Often we are still experiencing hot and dry weather, and water supplies are dwindling.
When we find ourselves experiencing those types of fall conditions, it is critical to not only understand the daily water requirements for cattle, but also the impact that the quality of water can have on herd health and development.
To read more, pick up a copy of the October edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By: Annette Bridges
A friend and I were recently talking about our husbands. She made a comment that I felt also perfectly described me and my hubby.
“He slows me and I hurry him. I’m sure that is why we do well together,” she said.
“Precisely!” I thought. Why?
Because when two different worlds collide, it can be magical.
No matter what those two different worlds are- a man and a woman with very different personalities, beliefs, or backgrounds, two partners with contrasting passions, strengths, or talents, or when a country boy marries a city girl.
To read more, pick up a copy of the October edition of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available digitally and in print. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
Watauga, Texas, a suburb of Fort Worth, is known for its rich history as a railroad stop, but over the course of the last year, one teen girl has put it on the map for agriculture as well. Emma Harvey has lived in Tarrant County her entire life. Despite being highly involved in her local 4-H chapter, she still felt there was more she could do. In the spring of 2023, she stepped up to the plate to take over the title of Tarrant County Teen Miss Agriculture USA.
“It all started when I put in an application for the teen title here in Tarrant County,” explained Harvey.
The Miss Agriculture USA program is a national non-profit, age-inclusive pageant program that offers both competition and non-competition titles to women dedicated to the promotion of agriculture.
Read more in the October issue of North Texas Farm & Ranch magazine, available online and in print. Subscribe to our newsletter to receive NTFR in your inbox each week.
Photo by Hannah Claxton.
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