I remember the day our son said he didn’t want to ride horses. We couldn’t blame him because he is allergic to them, and his allergies weren’t getting any better. Yet it wasn’t just the allergies that made him want to stop.

When I was dating my cowboy years ago, he worked for a man named Ray. Ray wore the signs of a hard cowboy life: twisted fingers from multiple broken bones, bowlegged, hunched over, skin as tough as leather.

Our country is highly divided right now. There’s an us-versus-them mentality that seems to be strong on both sides. And whatever side you’re on, it’s the right side and the other side is wrong.

As we begin another year, I’m grateful for fresh beginnings. Although, I have to say, every new year that comes I personally don’t feel new – and I don’t sense that my life has changed. Yet, that change of the calendar often brings a sense of rebirth and renewal.

I used to get up early and go to town for Black Friday shopping, trying to get deals on family presents. I love giving gifts, and it was fun to look for what I knew family members would enjoy while also getting a good deal.

Be proud that you’re a first-generation rancher. We need you. The industry needs you.

We are entering autumn – harvest season and “get everything done on the list before winter comes” season. This season is impacted by the weather, so we check the forecast regularly. (Let’s be honest, at our age, we check it at least once a day, anyway.)

One of our daughters recently graduated from college. She had three options for places to live after graduation, so a trip was planned to check out two of them. I was ecstatic when she invited me along. I didn’t even have to beg or hint!