“Each time you are honest and conduct yourself with integrity, a success force will drive you toward greater success. Each time you lie and your actions are bereft of honor, there are strong forces pushing you toward failure.”
~Joseph Sugarman~

I just returned home a few days ago from the National Western Stock Show in Denver. I was with my families Angus string of cattle being shown on the hill. Ten days in Denver at the show, plus the days preparing to leave for a show of this caliber have left me struggling to regain my usual energy level and playing catch-up with just about every area of my life. The weather is conspiring against me as well, the rain hasn’t let up in three days and this morning while feeding and doing chores the wet wind helped me distribute hay everywhere but where it needed to be. Oh well, it’s still true that there is no place like home.

One of the best things to come out of my stay in Denver at the Stock Show was the occasion to meet so many of you that read this magazine and column. It was a great experience to put names to faces and have the opportunity to hear your thoughts and ideas first hand. I want to thank everyone who took the trouble to look me up and introduce themselves. Something else this long absence from the office taught me was this magazine can be produced without my constant presence. I want to thank Jason Sabourin for stepping in and keeping this issue on track and looking good. Maybe I should consider a real vacation next.

Once again this month we bring it on with a diverse set of articles that will open up new doors, answer that question you’ve wondered about forever, and provide some light-hearted humor into the mix. The article titled “Leading the Way with Wagyu” gives you a glimpse into this amazing breed that produces the very heralded “Kobe Beef” that is appearing on the menus of all the finest restaurants. “Hard Labor” is an excellent piece that explores what it takes to keep good employees and you’ll be surprised to learn that money isn’t always the key.

It seems that there is always some type of new antibiotic coming out for cattle, if you’re like me and have a hard time keeping them straight, and what they work best for, you’ll appreciate the commentary “Antibiotics for Beef Cattle”. Are you taking a load of cattle to your local market next week? If so, you won’t want to miss reading “At the Auction” Some of the top auction managers in the West gave us their thoughts on what you can do to get the top price when you drop those cattle off at their gates. We will have another installation of this piece in late spring as well.

Take a moment this month to spend some time on the trail to cuddle up with your favorite Valentine. Stay warm, stay safe, and keep it sweet. Happy Trails...