My dad's newspaper column for March 6, 2010

[Soapweed]

#336 FRIENDS AND FANCIES

by Bob Moreland

The weather moderated enough this week that I would almost like to be ranching again but, on second thought, I think I have probably traveled enough horseback miles, gotten up enough nights checking cows, pulled enough calves, put up enough hay, worked on as many windmills, fixed enough fence, bought enough vaccine, paid as many bills, faced as many blizzards, survived as much drought, attended as many meetings, paid as many taxes, bought as many repairs, did enough bookwork, broke as many horses, broken in as many hired men, harnessed as many horses, worried about the price of cattle, purchased as many bulls, planted as many trees, lost enough on futures and blamed as many politicians to satisfy my whims and desires for one lifetime so I just believe, even though spring is in the air making it terrifically difficult to suppress a feeling of energetic optimism and a positive attitude, I’ll do my best to do so.

Grandson Brock, if you ever should read this , I probably should tell the rest of the story, paint the other side of the picture, tell the facts as they are lest you set out on a different venture.

To those of you who don’t know Brock, at this time I will give him an introduction. Brock has just turned 21 years old and has a parallel situation to mine at the same age in that he has a start in the cattle business of 50 bred 2- year- old heifers just as I had at 21. But, that is about as far as the parallel goes. Brock already has a beautiful wife. I didn’t get mine until I was 27. Brock has a car. I didn’t have one until I was 24. Brock has some acres of Sandhill land. I didn’t have any until I was 23. Brock is 6’3 with a spectacular personality. I was 5’ 12 ½ and not very personable. Brock is excited and enthusiastic about his lot in life as I was at his age. I don’t think either of us ever had any other occupation in mind other than raising cattle in the Sandhills of Nebraska.

Now, Brock, in my opening paragraph you found out why I don’t plan to ranch anymore but I forgot to mention the main reason is that I am 66 years your senior. If I were 21 again I would give you a run for your money!

Brock, I had some advantages in having a start of 50 heifers at the age of 21 in 1944 over your start of the same number at the same age in 2010 and you have some advantages. I will list some of my advantages: Expenses weren’t nearly as high when I was getting started. Everything was worth about 10% of what they are now. I paid $81.50 apiece for my heifers but I had to dicker Fred Tuchenhagen down from $100. You probably have over $815 into yours, depending on your dickering ability. I kept my heifers for the work I did based on $75 for my monthly wage and $1.50 per month for keep on the heifers. I didn’t have a car so didn’t have to buy any gas or pay for any utilities. I grew up in the depression and hadn’t yet, at that time, acquired the habit of spending much money. I have since! The first land that I bought was in 1946 for $20 per acre. I am guessing that you will be able to buy land for $200 an acre in the future. I got 15 cents a pound for my first crop from the heifers. I hope that you will get not far under $1.50 for yours.

Here are some of your advantages, Brock. You are already established in a nice home with nice furniture. I had that all ahead of me. Technology has developed on animal care much superior to what was available in my early career. I lost more than one half my calf crop to Brucellosis one year and many calves, through the years, to scours, whereas, those problems have been taken care of by vaccine. You have a permanent base of operation where I had to move around with my herd until Dad and I bought the Green Valley Ranch in 1947 when I was 24.

Congratulations, Brock! You are on the road to becoming a successful rancher. Not to try and influence you one way or another but I attribute much of my success to the cooperation of my family! Did I say I wasn’t trying to influence you along that line? I might have to retract that statement. Kids like to ranch at an early age. It is great and wonderful to be able to eliminate hired help as kid help becomes available. Kids are wonderful!

[nortexsook]

>> I am guessing that you will be able to buy land for $200 an acre in the future<<

Where is this at?

[Soapweed]

[nortexsook]

He could be right. I actually hope so.

[Bob M]

I put in for a new message to tell that the story Soapweed entered was about a parallel of Kosmo's starting in the cattle business npw and my start at the same age 66iyears earlier. I didn't do something right as it doesn't have the subject on my message. which should be "Kosmo's start in the cattle business."

[garn]

[Blkbuckaroo]

Good article,to bad more kids can't get a start like that.

[John SD]

Bob, thank you for writing this article, and for sharing the insight you have gained in your years of ranching experience. Some things change, and some things stay the same throughout each generation.

IMO, the most important lesson to be learned you summed up in your last paragraph. Success in family ranching requires cooperation of family. You set the example that continues with Soapweed and his family.

The majority of pictures that Soapweed posts here feature his family working together daily to accomplish the task at hand. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree, and now Brock is set to carry on for the next generation.

Hat's off to you sir, for setting an example not only for your own family, but for the rest of the ranchers.net family here!

[Soapweed]

Thanks for the kind words, John SD.

I hope Shortgrass is alright. He's AWOL this morning, and I miss his words of wisdom.

[John SD]

Soap, I enjoyed when your Dad sat down with me and some other folks at a table at Deadwood and showed us his picture albums with mostly pictures of family working together. I thought at the time, this is a family that works together, and a family that takes a lot of pictures!

I'm missing my Sunday message fix too. I hope everything is well at the Shortgrass household. Perhaps Shortgrass is sleeping in after a long night calving? I watched Charles Stanley on TV this morning. Dr Stanley is good, but he is not Shortgrass.

[nortexsook]

I always appreciate and try to learn a little something from both Soap and his Dad.

[gcreekrch]

Thanks Bob and Soapweed, you folks have a lot to be prideful of. Your shared insights and opinions are the kind others charge money to recieve.

Too bad we are so far apart as it would be nice to visit with you personally.