Almost means not quite.
Not quite means not right.
Not right means wrong. Wrong
means the opportunity to
start again and get it right.
~Dan Zadra~

My trail last month proved to be a bit bumpy; I managed to trip and fall on more than one curve. I was concentrating so hard on making our first Wagyu issue relevant and significant that I managed in more than one spot to misspell “Wagyu.” This gaffe falls squarely on my shoulders with no one else in the room to shoulder the blame, and it is with that confession on the table that I want to issue a sincere apology to all of the Wagyu breeders that were a part of this special issue, and those who read and I hope enjoyed it. I would like to think that this is one mistake that I won’t be repeating again, but one of the things I’ve learned over the years is to, “never say never.”

I want to thank all of the Wagyu breeders that called and e-mailed me regarding my spelling blunder for your generosity of spirit and unwavering wit. More often than not my past stumbles in the magazine have left me with me some serious rear-in reductions, so your kindness and humor are much appreciated. By the way the few “Waygu” breeders in the nation called, they appreciated the publicity (just kidding!!).

Falling and getting back up have been something I’ve been getting good at these last few weeks. I know that I shared stories with our readers about beloved pets, and on more than one occasion shred a few tears as well when readers have called to let me know about their own stories and losses. Just last week my little dog that has been my constant companion for sixteen years, although she is blind and diabetic, was not her normal self. I rushed her to the veterinarian and the diagnosis was not good, she had a large tumor in her stomach cavity that had to be removed immediately. Surgery wasn’t going to be easy and whether she would actually make it through the operation was going to be dicey.

I stewed in the waiting room for the three hour surgery, feeling better with every passing minute that if she had gotten this far she could keep going. We were fortunate that she survived the surgery and that the four plus pound tumor removed from her body appears to be benign. Although we’re far from being out of the woods yet, as I sit outside with her on my visits to the veterinary hospital, I’m continually reminded of how much this little dog’s spirit and determination have taught me throughout these sixteen years. Our pets and the animals that we care for daily all have something that they can teach us. If its just patience when trying to move cattle, or hope when delivering precarious new calves into the world, these are the lessons that make getting up easier when we do fall down.

We didn’t falter this month when pulling the stories and articles together for April. We know that the bulls in your operation are important, and in that vein we’ve brought you a refresher course at how to keep them working at their best, see the article by Heather Smith Thomas titled “Optimum Fertility.” Are you finding a whole new breed of weeds in the pasture, check out our pasture management piece for some sound advice on their removal. We’ve balanced out the issue with a bit of jesting from Hooter and a smile or two on the Bull Board.

I’ve just about got the dust brushed off from my last tumble on the trail and I’m looking forward to getting my faithful sidekick back my by side so I’ll be ready to forge whatever the next trail reveals. Take a moment to enjoy the spring, as it passes into summer all too quickly, settle in with a good book (ours), and put your feet up for a spell.

Hug your spouse, pet your dog and stop to enjoy the wild flowers for just the moment. Happy Trails…..