If there exists a chink in my armor, a crack in my carefully curated veneer of manliness, it is sentimentality. Truth be told, it’s less a chink and more a gaping hole that leaves all my vital organs unprotected.

If you were brought up in the ag industry, there have likely been several “yes, you can” moments from trusted mentors along the way. If you are bringing someone along to follow in your footsteps and take their place in the agricultural community, there is a high probability you’ve had a “yes, you can” opportunity.

I write this editorial huddled in a hotel room in front of my A/C unit, seeking respite from the humid convection oven that is Texas in August.

“Just a second. Just be patient,” is a phrase I find myself often repeating to my 2-year-old, and might I add very determined daughter.

Here’s a confession that hopefully doesn’t alienate me too much from you serious cattlemen and women out there: Whenever I get my hands on a sire directory from one of the semen sales companies, I flip straight to the club calf section. 

To me, June is the most hopeful month of summer. If I had a magic eight ball, it would say “Outlook good” in June.

Every month has days to observe and celebrate. Obviously, some are more universal and carry a lot of hype like Halloween and New Year’s. But have you ever heard of the lesser-known ones like National Donut Day or World Chocolate Day?

I have a major bone to pick with the American blue jean industry. Seriously, have you gone shopping for jeans lately? It’s not uncommon to find price tags ranging from $29.99 all the way up past the century mark, all on the same shelf.