President’s Perspective
I had a black horse here at the ranch named Token. He was a true “War Horse” in my opinion. I rode him at the Bob Feist Invitational Team Roping, Reno Rodeo, Jordan Valley Big Loop, Elko Fair, Eureka Fair, and just about everywhere you could think of where money was up for grabs. He wasn’t just a “town horse” though. I picked up bucking horses and drug bulls out of the arena on him at most of the High School rodeos at the same time that my kids used him in the rodeo. If you had a tough ranch job to do he was the one you relied on. Foot Rot cows to doctor, calves to brand or a bull to get out of the willows, he was your best mount. There never was a circle too big or a job you couldn’t count on him for. He never let me down. He is now semi-retired and lives the easy life in Texas with my oldest daughter doing a little team roping now and then. He earned it!
When he went on to retirement, I realized what a hole he left in my string of horses. I now have a lot of green colts that are really not prepared to go do some of the jobs that they are going to have to do. To tell you the truth I’m a little annoyed at myself for not spending more time to prepare them. Always in a hurry, knowing the job I was going to do was going be challenging and wanting to just “get it done” I would rely on my old standby thinking “I’ll get to the young ones later”. Lots of time to educate the colts later. Later is here and I haven’t done my job to get the young one prepared. Fact of it is, some of the colts have tons of ability and talent, I just haven’t made the necessary investments to cultivate them. They’re going to have to step up now for “on the job” learning because there is no other choice. I am going to have to invest in these young ones future, both time and money to catch them up. Too much time has passed relying on the War Horses to get the tough jobs done.
As you read this you may have had the fleeting thought that I may not be just talking about horses. You may think that in my own witty way I just might be using this as a metaphoric parable to invoke thought about some random Cattlemen’s Association and the status of their membership. Let me assure you that I would do no such thing 🙂 !
Oh, I almost forgot to mention that Anthony Barnes (youngest son of Tom and Kelly Barnes, Grandson of Harvey and Susie Barnes) is going to write the President’s Perspective article next month. As Co-Chair of Nevada Cattlemen’s Legislative Affairs Committee he is attending the NCBA’s (National Cattlemen’s Beef Association) Legislative conference in Washington DC on our behalf along with Martin Paris, Dave Baker and Marlow Dahl. I look forward to his article. With that, I better go, I have some colts to ride!
Cheers!
Hanes Holman
President, NCA