Have you ever met a Cowboy? If you have or know one personally, you know they are one of the hardest working and deep down, the most caring individuals, and we’re definitely in need of more people like that in this world. I had a grandpa that did his fair share of cowboying, rodeo clowning and raising Brahma bulls. My dad, as well, has survived his cowboy and rodeo days and now he just rides a few times a year to herd his cattle. It’s not the most glamorous and most of the time, not the highest paying, but it requires a great deal of knowledge, integrity, strength, endurance, and stamina.

After having to move to this incredibly rural area because of unfortunate luck finding a job, we made the best of the situation, actually found decent jobs, and realized it was the best place to raise our children. Some of the most caring, honest, and helpful people live around this area. Most are ranchers or cowboys. Their integrity is admirable, the love for their animals is something no one understands unless they have experienced the true grit it takes to make it successful. For most, it is there living, and for some it’s a side job. My dad owns a mechanic business and mostly does mechanic work for peoples AG equipment . He also raises about 30 head of cattle with the help of my family and my siblings families. It’s mostly for another source of income with the hopes the market is at good rates. Just with our small herd I realize how intense a herd of hundreds would be. With brandings, immunizations, and calving seasons, it turns into immense amounts of work. A lot of these people raise hay fields as well, some sell and others use it to just feed there own herd, like my dad does. My dad will put in 10-12 hour days during the spring and summer and still come home to feed, work fields, cut fields, bale fields, pick up bales and stack them into the barn. It simply amazes me the amount of time and effort that goes into work like this. I don’t think anyone could truly understand unless they have experienced it.

My son is fascinated with this kind of work, he loves to work, thrives on being able to make his own money, and he’s only 13. He has been raised in this environment since he was 18 months old and I realize now that if we had ever moved back to the city he would have gotten lost in the system, he needs this type of environment, it is his personality. I used to have to try and put up barricades to keep him out of stuff, but he climbed them, every time. When he was two I caught him playing in the middle of the bull pin. When he was three, he took the training wheels off his bike, by himself, and taught himself to ride without them. When he was five he was riding motorcycles and horses. He has never had any fear, not one stitch, ever. For the past two years he has participated in the 4-H horse club and now is interested in joining the junior rodeo. He constantly practices his roping skills, even trying to laaso his sisters in the house, which you can imagine leads to some loud arguments. Once a week, sometimes twice he works with our younger mare, training and desensetizing. He’s not afraid to put in the effort it takes to improve his skills, so I’m confident in his ability to make this successful.

Honestly Mamas, let your babies grow up to be what their passion is, what makes them happy is what is going to make them successful.