As I pen this column, the month of September is speeding to a close at such a rapid rate that I feel before I even have a chance to search for Halloween pumpkins we’ll be setting the table for Thanksgiving. I continue to avoid looking at my October calendar, for the number of nights on planes and hotel rooms out number those that I’m going to get sleeping in my own bed. Once again this year, it looks like my plans for planting bulbs and taking the opportunity to capture the change of seasons with my camera are going to have to take a backseat. I’m going to be lucky just to get the vaccinating, fence repair, and deadlines accomplished.

I know that my life is not unlike so many of yours in our reading audience. It seems that between keeping the ranch work caught up, the record keeping, family obligations and the number of surprises that awaits you in a day when dealing with livestock, time itself just becomes something of an elusive concept. Would I change it up for anything? There are those moments when I would give anything to work an eight hour day and leave the job behind as I left my desk; head home for an uninterrupted evening of whatever other folks do. Would I last long at it? Fat chance!

Like all of you out there, multi-tasking is what I do best; office, ranch, cowherd, marketing, doctoring, writing, cooking and laundry, all get done together as I tear through the day. Which is why as we ride up on our deadline of the 2006 Western Cowman Photo Contest, I’m so amazed and impressed at the many numbers and quality of entries we’ve received, and we still have a few days yet to go. Where did you all find the time? Opening each and every envelope that arrives in our office for the photo contest is one of the perks of this job. I never quit being astonished at the aptitude that the photos display and I’m always a sucker for the “puppy” shots, and yes, there are those occasional ones that just get the “quizzical stare.”

What I take pleasure in the most are some of the notes and letters that accompany your entries; telling me how the photos may have come about or what impels you to find the time to capture such special moments and scenes. I want to encourage everyone in our reading audience to take a moment in your busy day and stop in at our website (www.westerncowman .com) to vote for your favorite photo in the “People’s Choice” category, and of course we’ll have all of the winners on display in the November issue.

The October issue that you’re holding is chock full of some very good material! While feet problems are usually easy to treat, they can really set your bulls back in getting their work accomplished. Stop in at the article titled, “Hurting Hooves” for some common sense tips and solutions. Preconditioning calves works for some and not others, be sure and read the article, “Getting Ahead of the Game” for some valuable guidelines. This is one of those issues that has something for everyone.

Heading back in from checking cows the other night at dusk I was treated to a gorgeous sunset. The purples and oranges were brilliant. Then I realized that the smoke from the many fires burning around us was responsible for the glorious hues. The magnificent view it presented was a signal of our West’s most dangerous season. This is a strong reminder of the fire danger so many ranches face every fall. Our thoughts and prayers are with those whose ranches and homes that are on the battle lines of the fires in our Western states. While the smoke sends us mixed signals and our mornings send us back in after a sweatshirt, try and find a spot in your day to spend some time with this issue. You know; at stoplights, in traffic, while you’re cooking, and by all means when you’re nodding off. I’m taking off at a gallop down my October trail, and hopefully I’ll get to the end of it with more treats then tricks in my saddle bags.

Happy Trails…