The only function
of economic
forecasting is to
make astrology
look respectable.
~John Kenneth Galbraith~




I don’t know how other folks are coping with everything going on around us. It seems that our government has lost all sense of control, the financial markets flip back and forth on an almost hourly basis and the news around the country seems pretty bleak.

In order to cope, I’ve started just hiding my head in the sand. It’s gotten where I won’t turn the news on, because it seems like society has taken several steps backward in so many ways. I’m not sure when humanity lost its social conscience, but I’m starting to question how crowds in England can gather and burn there own neighborhoods, or how does a gunman in Norway methodically slain over sixty unarmed youth.

I’ll be honest I can no longer stand to listen to President Obama when he speaks, he has lost any shred of leadership he might have had going for him. During is initial campaign for the presidency the one thing he did say that resonated with me was his stance on bringing jobs back from over seas and preventing corporations from taking jobs out of the country, much like his promised healthcare plan, both seem to be lost in the mire of politics. There are so many families that have been left homeless and so many that can’t find work.

I’ve already watched carefully the gang of republicans that have thrown their hats in the ring to run for president and to be perfectly frank there seem to be only a couple that have any leadership qualities at all, and one has to wonder how long it will take our liberal media to dissect them. If it seems like I’m devoid of hope, I’m not, I’m just sad for the road we seem to be going down. I am usually a pretty optimistic individual, but the opportunities lately for optimism have been few and far between. The values that the country once stood for are as cloudy as our financial picture.

Where I’m extremely fortunate is the industry that I live and work within, the folks I interact with on a daily basis, appreciate the value of a hard days work, we live in an industry that has known it’s share of hardships in the financial markets, and we’ve continued to persevere. We respect the land and the animals in our care, as well as one another. In those respects I’m pretty darn lucky.

Speaking of industry, this month’s edition of the Western Cowman will not be one you’ll want to shy away from. We’ve got some remarkable articles that will contribute support to you in many faucets of your program. Many of you are going to be searching for bulls this month and we’ve provided a piece on how to assess “Bull Breeding Ability”. Also included is the “Genetics of Behavior” article that takes into account that all important trait. The one that I found most interesting is the “Two-Step Weaning with Nose Flaps” expose. Since weaning is one of those ranch tasks I really don’t like, I like the idea of weaning being easier on the calf, the cow and the people. We don’t stop there, the rest of the articles and regulars really shine this month. So as the evenings begin to darken a bit quicker and the air takes on the qualities of fall, gather yourself up a cold one and settle into that easy chair with this issue of Western Cowman.

As for myself I’m going to take some time to stay off the main trails, and take in the solitude the back trails provide, while searching for a way to make a difference….. Happy Trails