Soapweed
Well-known member
#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!
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!
