Sitting through what must have been the 15th Zoom meeting this month already, I tried hard to concentrate on what was being shared. Brothers in Christ were sharing, teaching, and encouraging one another during our weekly Building My Footprint for God small group study. Although this is a beta class, the learning is very real. Read More >
Every six to eight weeks, Bubba and Ryan, our farriers, come out to inspect the hooves on our donkeys, Magic and Elpis. When Magic, the “old man” of the duo, requires trimming, he gives his feet to them easily and enjoys a comfortable pedicure. Trimming Elpis, who is new to this whole process, is not Read More >
Last week, I introduced y’all to my friend Ms. Kelsey Shetler. This week brings, as Mr. Paul Harvey used to say, “the rest of the story.” Seeing young people like Ms. Kelsey make a positive difference in this world and honoring God encourages me. To see the results of the love and devotion poured into Read More >
For the next two weeks, I am honored to share my blog with a wonderful young lady who I’m proud to call both friend and a sister in Christ. Miss Kelsey Shetler owns the KLS Cattle Company nearby, producing high-performing commercial cattle and breeding stock. With her extensive knowledge of breeding and artificial insemination (AI) Read More >
If you ask someone to explain it, you’ll get as many answers as the people you ask. I suspect few of you have ever heard this phrase; it’s one I hold very dear. We are nearing weaning time for the first calves bred, born, and raised here on the Cross-Dubya ranch; and for me (its Read More >
With all the challenges our nation and world is facing, I decided that today I wanted to make someone smile. Here’s my attempt. There’s been so much rhetoric, hatred, self-loathing, and sincere insincerity of late I wanted us to just take a break from it for just a few minutes. Moving hay from the field Read More >
Recently, the son of one of my all-time favorite entertainers released a song that seemed tailor-made for me and our little Cross-Dubya ranch. Ned LeDoux wrote this song as a tribute to his grandfather, a Wyoming cattle rancher named Mr. Bud Rhoads. The song, titled “Worth It”, spoke to me the first time I heard Read More >
On April 30, 2017, God blessed our little ranch with the first calf born on this property. We named the beautiful little gal “Uno”, Italian for one. As you might imagine, I was one nervous fella waiting for my first-time heifer to deliver. I had my vet on call, texting him throughout the day. I Read More >
He stands at the far western edge of the ranch; solemn, alone, a stalwart watchman. As I enter the pasture to feed this morning, all the cattle have gathered for the feast—but for one. “Mavric” is my herd bull. Soon to be four years old, he is a registered Red Angus weighing in at almost Read More >
When April rolls around and days are warmer, they emerge; fleas, flies, ticks, gnats, skeeters, bark scorpions, snakes, and yes No See Ums. Smaller even than most midges, No See Ums are microscopic little blood-sucking biting flies (technically a midge) that pack a mean punch. While only the females bite you, it’s disconcerting when you Read More >