I’m very thankful for the moisture. Our livelihood as farmers and ranchers depends so much on moisture. I am glad that it rains on the just and unjust alike.
Wouldn’t it be embarrassing if it only rained on the land of the people who were living up to par? Then, all your neighbors would be trying to figure out what you had been doing wrong. That could be an interesting scenario, wondering why your neighbor just drove by your house. Anyway, most in northwest Oklahoma received 1.7 inches to 2.75 inches with some spots across the state receiving more and, of course, some places a lot less.
It’s calf weaning time in our area—at least for some while others will wait a little later. Some think the health will stay better on a weaning calf after it freezes. Others are waiting for fewer temperature swings from very hot to freezing.
I’m like a Brahma calf as I get cold easily. Last week at the sale they had the fans above going strong so after about 15 minutes I walked over to the other side and attempted to turn off the fans. The other buyers were giving me a hard time as I was trying to figure which knob turned them off. I said, “Give me a break. I only owned the sale for 23 years.” Evidently a guy that was more like a Galloway called the secretary, and she came back in and started the fans again. Probably that Galloway also was about ready for slaughter out of the feedlot, so I went and got a sweater.
These rains should increase demand for these calves. Planting this late will be marginal, whether we can get winter wheat pasture in my immediate area where others south and east may be right on time.
Last week at the sale a buyer asked me where Fred was as he hadn’t seen him working all day.
I said, “Fred is in the hospital.” He said, “That surely isn’t right because I saw him dancing last night with a very good-looking woman.” I said, “Yeah, but so did his wife.”
Homer’s wife wanted the two of them to repeat their vows. Homer thought that was stupid but just to get her to shut up he finally said he would. The church was full with all the women listening to every word. Most of the men were asleep or looking around. One husband in the congregation told his wife, “Don’t get any ideas.” The preacher said, “Homer, I’m going to have you first repeat your vows.” Homer said, “AEIOU.” Homer died from blunt force.
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.
