Country Lifestyles
Cowboy Culture – Grabbling
By Clay Reid
Poacher: A person who, to most people, ranks right up there with cow thieves and people who slap their mama. As I grow older, I guess I can say I kind of lean towards that way of thinking, but at the same time I think about all the poachers I know, and how on many occasion I was unknowingly lead into poaching. This is where I have the conflict.
I will explain by giving a few examples. The first time I was led astray, I just happened to be over at my aunt’s house and she was married to an outlaw named Randy.
I was sitting on the porch enjoying a Dr Pepper when Randy said, “Hey, boy, you wanna go fishing tonight?” To which I replied, “You bet… I love to fish.”
Then old Randy tells me to meet him here at midnight, and we would head on out. Man I was excited and was counting the minutes for midnight to get there.
At midnight I came walking up, and as I did I noticed that Randy’s dad, Rolo and a friend of his named Homer was there, and I thought, “Well good; we’ll have a grand old time just me and the big boys.” Boy, if I only knew.
You see, as I was standing there, I was watching them load up beer and other stuff into the boat, but I noticed they had not loaded any fishing poles into the little 14-foot john boat. I thought well that’s strange, but I figured oh well they must have the poles at a lake cabin or something, then I never gave it another thought.
Soon we found ourselves pulling up to the boat ramp at Lake Kickapoo, west of Wichita Falls. Still no poles, and I was getting a little concerned, but I was committed so I got in the boat, and we sailed our butt to the backside of the lake in the pitch black dark.
After arriving to the backside, we pulled into a little cove and everybody jumped out into the water except for my little, skinny butt. I was thinking what in the h-e-double-hockey sticks are these fellars doing?
To read more pick up a copy of the October 2018 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.
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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