Country Lifestyles
April 2017 Profile – Ben Baldus : Setting Specific Goals
By Jessica Crabtree
In the southwest region of Michigan is the town of Paw Paw. “Town so nice, they named it twice,” former resident Ben Baldus said laughing. Named after the Indian tribe, Paw Paw Indians, Michigan is not readily known for its Native American Culture. It was there that Baldus and his brother and sister were born and raised, “My family was in farming. My grandpa on both sides farmed, had cows, hogs and horses.” As a youth, Baldus was brought up in a rural setting and introduced to 4-H. “I got involved in 4-H and loved it! It was a family-oriented lifestyle. I even was 4-H president once,” Baldus recalled.
Early on Baldus became interested in horses and less engaged in farming, “The older I got, I liked driving tractors less and less.” Baldus had the foresight that if he one day would be a cowboy and ride horses, he needed to learn from renowned horse trainers such as John Lyons and Monty Roberts, “My parents were helpful getting me into horses. I got VHS tapes of both trainers and clinicians, John Lyons and Monty Roberts. I watched them over and over, learning all I could from them,” Baldus explained. At the young age of 12, Baldus’ parents allowed the young boy to start riding horses for the public. “My dad helped me set up a round pen with lights, and I rode after school.”
That following year, a pivotal occurrence happened. Monty Roberts traveled to the Michigan State Fair. “He was the clinician at the fair. My parents took me to see him. It was a neat experience to watch him, then meet him,” Baldus said. At the time Baldus remembers either wanting to train horses or be a cowboy and ride bulls.
His decision was training horses, a better incentive of stable money. Seeing their son studied horsemanship and training methods, Baldus’ parents leased their son his first show horse when he was 14. “I started showing the horse in 4-H horse programs,” he said. By 16 Baldus was working for a trainer in Michigan, cleaning stalls in exchange for lessons.
To read more pick up a copy of the April 2017 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
Ben alongside his wife, Cameron. (Courtesy photo)
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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