Tuesday morning we got a little rain and even a little hail, but the moisture is very much appreciated. (And we are hoping for more rain.) I was loading cattle when it started, and within a few minutes my shirt was drenched, but I like it.
Our country can look pretty good when it rains, but you would never want to sell your ranch in our area when it is dry.
I just checked the cattle futures, and to my pleasant surprise, cattle feeder futures for the fall months were up $4 per hundredweight.
After the fires that went through our area a couple of months ago, I decided that me and my boys would rebuild the fence. That idea was mostly to teach the younger two sons how to build fence. Of course, I had some so-called friends that said to me, “Do you know how?”
There is definitely an art to building a good fence. I want every fence double cornered, and I want it straight and posts exactly the same distance apart. That’s kind of amazing to be picky in some areas and others say a slob in other areas. At the sale last week, one neighbor hollered over at me and sarcastically said, “Since the Nine boys are into fence building, should I put my name on the list?” I said, “No, we are booked up until 2026. We have one more mile to build.”
I was sorting 2-year-old pairs yesterday. I’m not sure who is the dumbest, them or me? One mother let a baby nurse, so I put her in a pen by herself. Then she bawled a little so I put the second baby in there and took out the first. She let it nurse. Then another small calf seemed convinced her mother was not in the pen left with a few mothers so I put her in there, and both of them were happy so the No. 2 calf came out.
My older sister said to be sure and sign up for Medicare as she said her knee replacement cost $37,000. I said, I think that was because they couldn’t find a mold to work. I’m just trying to be nice and explain why it could be that expensive.
I told a friend, after looking in the mirror, “I am going to get a face lift.” He said, “I wouldn’t bother with just getting only the face lifted.” Well, what is that supposed to mean? With friends like mine you don’t need enemies.
Editor’s note: The views expressed here are the author’s own and do not represent the view of High Plains Journal. Jerry Nine, Woodward, Oklahoma, is a lifetime cattleman who grew up on his family’s ranch near Slapout, Oklahoma.
