Country Lifestyles
Steer Roper Jarrett Blessing
By Dani Blackburn
How does one balance the steer roping lifestyle that takes you across the United States in pursuit of earning a spot at the National Finals Steer Roping with a family and full-time teaching career? According to Jarrett Blessing, it takes careful planning, hard work and the help of family and friends. From early-morning school bells to late night practice sessions alongside his two children, with a few quick plane rides to rodeos across the country thrown in between, this steer roper proves you really can have it all.
Blessing was born and raised in Paradise, Texas, where he attended school from kindergarten through graduation. He was one of two children born to Tommy and Glenda Blessing, both teachers. Tommy began his teaching career at Boyd and would wrap it up at Bridgeport after almost 30 years, while his mom taught in Bridgeport 24 years. Their son would eventually follow in their footsteps, but first he found a love for roping.
Steer Roper
“My grandma said I always roped her banana plants. It would knock them off and make her mad,” Blessing laughed. “I guess I was always swinging ropes. My dad roped, and that’s really what we did at night. He worked all the time, then we would rope.”
Blessing also witnessed his dad train steer roping horses, and later, the pair would train horses together.
By Dal Houston
I am terribly saddened by all the argumentative discourse that seems to be going on in today’s world. It seems as though it is no longer enough just to disagree on certain issues. We are expected to classify someone as an enemy if they do not always agree with us on all issues, lest we be considered weak.
To make things even worse, because those who disagree with you are now considered enemies, the sentiment seems to be that it is only fair and proper to destroy them, because they are the enemy, again with the fear of ridicule for being weak if we do not fight.
With all that said, and seemingly unrelated, I am a big John Wayne fan. From watching him dive into his role as a cowboy, to marveling at his time portraying a soldier or appreciating his acting gig as a sailor, there is seldom a week that goes by without me watching at least one
To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Martha Crump
That old adage, “What you don’t know won’t hurt you.,” may have some basis in truth when applied to minor situations. However, when what you don’t know is presented in the form of a “Trojan Horse” and is what amounts to an incredible attempt to fleece American property rights, it becomes a different story altogether.
To put this unbelievable tale together, we need to step back to Joe Biden’s 2021 Executive Order which pledged commitment to help restore balance on public lands and waters, to create jobs, and to provide a path to align the management of America’s public lands and waters with our nation’s climate, conservation, and clean energy goals.
To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
By Lacey Vilhauer
Ingredients:
1 whole lemon, seeded and roughly chopped
2 cups sugar
2 pounds strawberries, hulled
Juice of 1 to 2 lemons
¼ cup water
Directions:
Place the chopped lemon and sugar in a food processor and pulse until combined. Transfer to a large bowl. Puree the strawberries in a food processor and add to the lemon mixture along with juice of one lemon and water. Taste and add more juice as desired.
To read more, pick up a copy of the April issue of NTFR magazine. To subscribe by mail, call 940-872-5922.
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