Commitment is the stuff character is made of; the power to change the face of things. It is the daily triumph of integrity over skepticism.
~Unknown~

This will be the first time since the inception of this magazine that we didn’t surpass the number of pages of last year’s Big Bull Book or hold our own, but in times like these we are simply thankful to still be hugging the trail on the curves. As we assembled this year’s magazine we’ve had the chance to listen to our advertisers and readers tell us about their own daunting stories and how the economy has altered their lives. We here at Western Cowman want to assure all of our readers and advertisers that with all the buzz swirling around regarding magazines and newspapers failing that we are here for the long haul.

We are celebrating 30 years of being in the livestock industry this year and looking forward to at least another good 25, so you can count on us hanging in their with you. My, “What the hell,” kicks in every day as I try to understand and make sense of what is taking place in this country. I’m baffled by the double-talk and am lost in a sea of media hype most of the time. Taking all of that into account, we are bringing you the headlines of our industry in articles that are straightforward and insightful in this year’s 2009 Big Bull Book.

This year’s Pacer 2009 will include articles that hit on many facets of our industry, we will bring you the what, where and why of events and what they’ll mean to our business in the future. We take the plunge of offering up some alternative ways at looking at our industry today and impart some new tools that you might consider down the trail. Many folks in the West are familiar with Lucy Rechel of Snyder Livestock Company in Yerington, Nevada. What many of you might not know about are the giant strides in feed efficiency she has made at her Snyder Livestock Feedlot. We have an excellent article on Lucy titled, “Raising the Stakes,” that I believe you’ll find riveting.

In the piece, “Cougars, Coyotes and Bears Oh My,” we take a tough look at the predator issue facing so many ranchers today. Getting tough on predators in a society that has made the predators into cuddly characters can get pretty tricky. This is a must read. Hooter is back and this month’s story is sure to coax a smile from you, along with the ever popular Bull Board.

Difficult years tend to test the mettle of even the toughest folks, so when you get the opportunity to work with a resilient group, you don’t want to miss the chance to slow down on the trail to say thanks. Our office posse isn’t large for all that we do but what we lack in numbers we make up in fortitude. My sincere thanks to Sheila Stamnas for keeping us all on track and online, her talents are unlimited. To Jason Sabourin for not only his creative flair but also his amazing organizational skills, and to Steve Martinez for his imaginative mind and always keeping our websites up and rolling. Last but not least is my publisher/spouse, for the many hours he spends on the phone 24/7 working at keeping this magazine solid. We would not be here without him in the saddle.

As always the most important thing in any magazine is what you read and to that we’re extremely fortunate to have some of the best in the business. Wes Ishmael has guided us and been important part of our landscape since the inception of this magazine. Kindra Gordon has contributed so many important pieces along the trail and Heather Smith Thomas has always been a reader favorite as well for so many years. My thanks goes out to each of them for staying the trail with us through thick and thin.

I expect that the trail won’t get gentle for some time, but at least I’m adjusting to the curves and bumps along the way. A special thanks to our advertisers who hung in there with us and a nod of thanks to those past advertisers who couldn’t make it work this year, just remember we’ll keep a stall waiting for you next year. I can’t get down the trail without expressing a few heartfelt thoughts about our readers. Even in this taxing year our circulation and subscription numbers have continued to climb, so I thank each and every one of you for your support and belief in the Western Cowman.

I wish that I had a map for the trail we’re heading down. It would be nice to know how long it’s going to take to get around “Hopeful Bend,” just how many months we might have to spend in “Keeping the Faith” Gap, and just how long it’s going to take to climb out of “Bale Out Canyon”. I’d like to just know how long it’s going to take to make it over to “Smooth Sailing Ridge.” What the Hell! Remember, the dust always settles, the winds always calm, and the trail always levels out……Happy Trails