Before the trail starts to get rocky I want to thank all of the readers that sent letters, e-mailed and called us with your positive remarks and comments regarding our July/August Big Bull Book issue. It is gratifying to hear that the articles resonated with your lives and provided you the information that matters most. It is our goal to bring you the information that affects your lives in a succinct and straight forward manner, we strive to impart to you topics that have substance and application in your everyday lives.

Unfortunately as it goes there always seems to be a flip side to the coin, among all the terrific praise received, we had one letter arrive that served to cloud not only my day but my week. Had the letter in question contained constructive criticism, I would have welcomed it, had the letter writer left a return address or signed their full name in a legible manner I would have done my best to contact them and discuss their grievance with them, unfortunately that wasn’t the case. This is where the trail gets shaky, because there is something very unsettling to receive a dark piece of diatribe that is impossible to respond to, which is why I’m choosing this trail to defend my direction.

The letter writer wrote me a note to inform me that he trashed his July/August issues because he thought the cover was sexually provocative, and that the young lady was disturbingly provocative. Well, I’m going to tell you that it hit a sensitive nerve because the young lady in question just happens to be my daughter. Why I certainly can be accused of nepotism I do not believe for one minute that the photo in question is in the least way provocative or in any way sexual, what I do question is just what gutter the letter writer’s brain is dwelling. He also goes on to say that “agriculture businesses are the last stand for principals and truth”, I suppose in a perfect world we could hope for that to be the case, but the human condition being what it is, I daresay that expectation is one not really based in reality.

In closing the “letter writer” urged that I use better judgment in the future. I sat and stared at that cover for hours, questioned everyone I knew and some folks I didn’t if I was missing something and the cover was in some way provocative or sexual and no one thought so in the slightest way. So…Mr. (oh yes I do know it was a man because he signed it a concerned Husband, Father and Lover of Correct Principals) letter writer let me inform you that in no way was my judgment misguided, and to be perfectly blunt with you, your letter was particularly creepy and if you can’t sign your full name in a legible manner along with your address, please keep your disturbing opinions to yourself.

Whew….thanks for letting me vent, and now on to what is going on in this special September issue. We all know what a special asset a good stock dog is to the ranch, in this issue we’ve brought you a special piece on how to take care of their special needs when the weather is warm. Wes Ishmael has another special segment of “Them Against Us” that I guarantee you’ll find interesting, and here is another way you may find another use for the land you own in the article titled “Archaeology on Your Ranch”. Hooter is here to assure a smile or two as well.

So take a moment from the absurdities life tosses at you, grab a concoction of your choice, and ease into fall with this exceptional issue. I know at the end of day when the trail has tripped me up, the only thing to do is pick yourself up, dust off, pack up your pride and carry on……………Happy Trails