“Philosophers have argued for centuries about how many angels can dance on the head of a pin, but materialists have always known it depends on whether they are jitterbugging or dancing cheek to cheek.”
~Tim Robbins~

There is not much in my life right now that is not heating up. The temperature outside has soared to almost record temperatures for this time of year and the workload around home and in this office have shifted into overload. Not only are we beginning work on our July/August Big Bull Book, we’re also kicking it up about 10 notches to get ready to celebrate this magazine’s tenth anniversary with the July/August issue. Of course what’s a celebration if we can’t get everyone involved. To that end we are going to have a very unique survey on our website for everyone to fill out and send our way. And just for taking a few moments to fill out the survey we in turn will send you one of our very distinctive Western Cowman 10th Anniversary caps; just for answering a few questions so that we get to know you better and get a enhanced picture of what we can improve on for our readership as we move towards our 20th Anniversary.

The Pacer Awards will return once again giving you a sweep of articles on what’s happening in this industry, why its happening, as well as insight to the folks that are key players in the future of our business. Once again we’ll have some breaking health industry news; along with those articles that will give you pause for thought as well as the items that just invoke a smile or two. It’s going to be a special book, one I promise you’ll have a hard time setting down. We plan to take a step back with a “Retrospective Look” at what’s taken place in this industry and our lives over the past ten years. You’d be surprised if you stopped and looked back at even your own lives at how much has changed in a ten year span. On a personal level I was amazed; it’s just staggering to note all of the significant occurrences that can take place in such a short span of time.

Getting back to the here and now and the May/June issue that your currently holding, you’re going to find a wealth of knowledge throughout the articles. The pieces titled “The Behavior Gene” and “Tough Steaks Start at Home” go hand in hand and I believe you’ll see the correlation between finding those bulls with the right dispositions to marketing cattle that can go into feedlots and make those important gains while avoiding dark cutters. Communities and states are finding that bonding together and creating strong marketing coalitions is one way to keep the dollars in our own pockets. Be sure and read “Coalition Power” for some insight to what folks in Montana are creating.

So sit down on the porch with that glass of something cool and spend some time with us. Also don’t forget that come July you’re going to need to get on your computer and head over to the Western Cowman website and take just a few minutes to fill out our survey and we’ll send you that Western Cowman cap to keep the sun off your brow. Take care on your own trails this month and watch for that special 10th Anniversary issue when it blazes into your mailbox in July. Stay cool, stay steady and keep it real.

Happy Trails……