I don’t know you but I know that hat. I wore a hat just like it. Back in the days when men were men. You bet the pot and played to win And if you lost you tried again. You bet your life I know that hat.

Last November 11, I was in Red Deer, Alberta, during Remembrance Day. It coincided with Veterans Day in the U.S., Remembrance Day in Australia and also in England. This day is singled out to honor all the men and women who have served in the armed forces of these countries.

One of the most difficult questions every Christmas for horse lovers is what to get for that family member that brings you the most joy, is always there when you need him and understands you better than anyone … No, not your horse clinician, barista or Pilates personal trainer. It is Equus domesticus propios, your horse. This is not to diminish your affection for your hubby or ex-hubby, children, parents or gal pals – but in those relationships it is you who gives the most. You calm their fears, rub their necks, let them cry on your shoulder, lend them your ear and you are always there, a cornerstone in their lives.

Three giant lobby groups from an alternative time warp are engaged in a furious hissy fit whose purpose is raising money to pay lawyers. “Send money so we can litigate, pay company executives and solicit more funds!” “Animals are overrunning government property,” they exclaimed, “… and endangering the environment. These are domestic animals that have been turned loose to fend for themselves and have multiplied exponentially!” Sound familiar? Yes, the lobby groups are the usual suspects: Sierra Club, Audubon Society and the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS).

The Fort Worth Stock Show is a mecca for a lot of purebred breeders. Many, many thousands have made the trip over the years, often overcoming daunting obstacles. But Galen’s journey from Illinois takes the cake!

While sitting next to a 20-something young woman on the airplane, I shook a handful of peanut butter M&M’s into my palm. She said, “I wish I’d bought some of those, too.” I offered her one, but she declined, “Oh, no,” she sighed, “I’ve got these.”

The Ft. Worth Stock Show is a mecca for a lot of purebred breeders. Many, many thousands have made the trip over the years, often overcoming daunting obstacles. But Galen’s journey from Illinois takes the cake! He and his cow-partner, Dave, loaded their prize Hereford bull in Galen’s gooseneck stock trailer (G1), being pulled with Dave’s new Dodge V-10 diesel (D1).

A retired Ohio farmer named Phil told me this story of the best coon dog he’d ever seen. I believe it, of course! The dog was a blue tick hound that his father had trained. His dad was such an excellent trainer that he didn’t even have to go hunting with Blue; the dog would go by himself!

Darrie took a likin’ to Hangin’ Tree cow dogs. They are slick, short-haired and promoted for their endurance and stamina. They have that hound-dog look and come in various colors. Darrie bought her pup out of Missouri and brought her to Arizona. It was female, so she named her Billie.

It helps to know a little about a lot of things. It gives you a broad perspective. It also allows you to make a fool of yourself in many different areas. In my column, readers may notice that I appear to have an opinion on almost everything in agriculture. It might impress some, but real authorities in certain areas can easily see how thin my expertise is spread. For instance, I worked in a sheep parasitology lab during ag school. I tell people casually that I helped work out the life cycles of Thysanosoma actinoides, Stephanofilaria tylisi and Elophora schneideri.