Theodore Roosevelt quote...

Theodore Roosevelt once said, “I do not believe there was ever a life more attractive than life on a cattle farm.” It’s amazing how this one sentence perfectly describes how the cattle producers feel about raising cattle. Farmers and ranchers take pride in their work, and live a more attractive life than most could imagine.

Its hard work, but worth the sweat, blood, and tears. At the end of the day cattle producers can go to bed knowing that they built that herd that everyone in town is talking about. They went to sale barns and spent long hours searching for the right heifers and bulls that would throw that calf that is show, breeding, or carcass quality. It didn’t happen in one day, or overnight but when it was all done they had the privilege to smile as they placed their brand on those cattle.

Cattle farmers and ranchers help feed an ever growing population as well as provide essential byproducts for many of our everyday goods. They do this all without expecting a simple thank you. Also, dealing with people that are agriculturally lacking, and always picking a fight. Cattle producers don’t let this get them down though. They are always looking at the bigger picture, and know that what they are doing is important and does matter. It puts money in their pockets and food on their tables to feed their families.

It’s a family tradition for some. Some of these cattle producers grew up on a farm and watched their grandpa and dad keep the farm or ranch managed. They watched their family’s maintain that farm better than some politicians manage their own campaigns. It’s always amazing to see those third or even fourth generation farmers keep their great great grandpas farm up and helping his legacy live on. Farming and ranching for some, is just a family tradition that can’t be broken. A tradition that sometimes helps other families start their own traditions.

Cattle producers produce cattle for not only their selves, but others as well. Show animals are usually bought from someone that spends a lot of time and knows about what the stock show world is looking for. The cattle breeder gets the opportunity to help that kid have a great show season. They get to watch how that kid choses that animal that is best suited for them and begin working hard on preparing for a Grand Champion. For some, that show animal makes a positive impact on their life. They may even decide to become cattle producers themselves one day. Showing cattle is something that teaches you some of the best life lessons.

Cattle farms and ranches are the best way to learn about life. You watch life happen in the field, and sometimes end. You were the one that pulled that calf and the one that took care of it when its mother died. You nursed that calf back to health and watched it grow and become a mother. The circle of life can best be explained by working with cattle.

You learned to be selfless and take care of your herd better than you took care of yourself. You learned about how to use time and money management to the best of your abilities. An added bonus was the cattle farms and ranches also helped a lot of parents get out of having the talk about where babies come from.

The cattle farm helps kids mature at a faster rate than most. It’s something that more kids should go through. The people that get the opportunity to be cattle producers, are the luckiest people of all. They truly live an attractive life.