October 2021 - Note from the Saddle Bench

Photo credit: Barney Nelson

 

Well, the morning air has that "Fall-ish" feeling to it. Low to mid 50's for the low the last week or so. It has sure dried up after all the good summer rains that were scattered over the summer months. Some folks grew a ton of grass and some places didn't grow much at all. 

The hunters have hit town and are gunning for elk and aoudad. Hope they take plenty of aoudad, we need to thin them out.

My good friend Joel Nelson is set to receive the Ranching Heritage Center's "Working Cowboy Award" in conjunction with the "Golden Spur Award" the 16th of October in Lubbock. Joel is sure a deserving cowpuncher. He has helped so many up and coming cowboys over the years and he really made a big difference in how ranches work their cattle in this part of the world. When I moved here in '71, there wasn't one place dragging calves. They either mugged them or used a meat press... I mean calf table... Joel proved you could do a better, faster job dragging them to the fire. You just need good cowboys to start with. My hat's off to him and to Monty Cluck, the recipient of the Golden Spur Award.

A couple of big ranches have traded hands in the last couple of months. Hope they have the cows on them.

The illegal aliens still remain a problem. It's not going away. We hear stories off the ranches in this area and elsewhere all the time. They caught 7 here on our fence line this week. Don't know how long they'd been there, but our dogs sure raised cane all morning.

Don't forget the WRCA World Championships are coming up November 11-14th in Amarillo. It's always a good time! Hope to see you there!

Gary Dunshee 10/10/2021

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