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Country Lifestyles

Bit and Spur Maker: Troy Flaharty

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By Dani Blackburn

Bits and spurs are a functional part of a horseman’s everyday gear, but they start out as just a simple piece of metal. However, when that steel gets into the hands of bit and spur maker Troy Flaharty, it becomes a work of art.

Flaharty was born into a family of horse trainers in Pennsylvania, giving him firsthand knowledge of the value of a good bit and pair of spurs. At 18, he moved to Kansas to attend college on a rodeo scholarship in timed events as a team roper, calf roper and steer wrestler. His horsemanship plays an important part in the quality of work he produces.

“The elementary horsemanship is the fundamentals of a bit. If you don’t have elementary horsemanship, I don’t know how you can make them. You have to know what will work and won’t work,” Flaharty explained.

It was in college where he was first introduced to bit and spur making. He learned the fundamentals and continued the craft as a part-time gig, until he decided to go all in.

To read more pick up a copy of the May 2021 NTFR issue. To subscribe call 940-872-5922.

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Country Lifestyles

Wichita Falls Area Cattlewomen

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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.

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Country Lifestyles

When A Girl Goes Country: When Two Different Worlds Collide

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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.

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Country Lifestyles

Emma Harvey- Miss USA Agriculture

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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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