July 13, 2018 — These days when the call comes asking if a group can come tour the farm, my answer is always yes. I find tremendous satisfaction in being able to shake hands, look in a person's eyes and answer their questions about farming in a real-life conversation.
July 13, 2018 — Long after my 4-H days were over I judged demonstration days, special foods contests, dress revues and a myriad of project areas. Armed with degrees in home economics and French, the home ec came in handy while judging. Home ec is now called family and
July 13, 2018 — Folks, I'm not big on "bucket lists" of things I want to do or accomplish in the remainder of my lifetime, but I'm on the cusp of checking off one of the items on my very short "bucket list." I've always thought it would be
July 13, 2018 — If the obituary of our country is ever written, this is how it might read: United States of America, July 4, 1776 – Nov. 4, 2046, 270 years of age. The last of the great super powers died quietly at home surrounded by 350 million
July 13, 2018 — When you hear the word uncivilized, what mental picture do you form? A grizzled trapper? Atilla the Hun burning and pillaging eastern Europe? American Indians before the Puritans and the Spaniards? And when you hear the word civilized, what comes to mind? English barristers wearing
July 6, 2018 — Good morning out there in America land. Well, gentle readers, the weather girl says maybe 104 for Denver today. I'm a good 85 miles from Denver and a little higher where I live so I don't expect it to get that hot. I can already
July 6, 2018 — Weather alert! Winter's coming. The days are beginning to get shorter, so don't forget where you stored your long johns. ••• I hadn't heard from my Iowa sheep shearing buddy, ol' Nick deHyde, in quite awhile, so I gave him a call recently. Naturally, he
July 6, 2018 — Talk about takin' a beating. I stood on the porch at Dale's horse farm and soaked up the view. It was deep springtime in west Tennessee. The grass was so green it hurt your eyes. The dogwoods were in bloom and two sleek and shiny
July 6, 2018 — I've read countless articles written by farm advisers and college professors on how to determine if you should raise your own hay or purchase it. Usually these include a formula or internet calculator where you plug in all sorts of numbers like depreciation, variable costs,
July 6, 2018 — Western Writers of America is a misnomer these days since there are members around the world, yet the word "writers" encompasses writers of books, magazine articles, movie scripts, songs and poetry. WWA recently held the annual convention, this time in Billings, Mont. I enjoyed the
June 29, 2018 — Last week was pretty wild here in Greeley, Colo. On Monday, the fire alarm went off here in the office and we spent about 45 minutes outside waiting for the fire trucks to arrive. Turned out there was no fire but it was a scare
June 29, 2018 — LYONS, Neb. – The Senate Agriculture Committee passed its version of the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, commonly known as the farm bill. In response, Center for Rural Affairs Senior Policy Associate Anna Johnson applauds the Senate for its bipartisan work, but says there still
June 29, 2018 — Agnes and Alice, two over-the-hill cowgirls, were reminiscing one summer afternoon about their long-ago younger days before their tresses turned snowy. Not that they had seen their own natural-color hair in 40 or more years. They've never given up coloring their crowning glories. Agnes had
June 29, 2018 — You have heard, "We should have had the grandchildren first." Although impossible to do, it is true. And here is why. When your own children are growing up and doing fun (or naughty) things, you are so busy with life, you don't really have time
June 29, 2018 — The weekly Saffordville Old Boar's Breakfast Club (SOBBC) — formally known as the Saffordville Gentle Men's Club — is a reliable source of fresh column material. Last week someone mentioned that they'd been to an auction or flea market and saw a small stack of
June 29, 2018 — As I make the drive into our little burg of Wellington, Colo., by way of county roads I see a lot of folks that display "Old Glory" and it makes me happy. It makes me proud to live where many of my neighbors are proud
June 29, 2018 — I've been in some form of the auction business for 45 years and have viewed auctions from all perspectives, from buyer, consignor, ring man, auctioneer, clerk, sale manager, etc. So I speak from some experience when I say there are some folks we'd just as
June 29, 2018 — With your permission I would like to indulge in a little naked patriotism. The United States of America, during my lifetime has become a nation like none other on earth. Not because it is the most powerful nation on earth, but because we, more times
June 22, 2018 — How tough do cowboys have to be gentle readers? Well, Baxter Black says the toughest man he ever met was a cowboy who was bucked off and came down on a "bob" wire fence. It slit him from his crotch right up to his chin.
