My grandpa, Leland Rincker, on his farm in Shelbyville, Illinois.
On my flight from Denver back to New York City after the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (“NCBA”) Annual Convention and Trade Show, I found a great piece in the Shorthorn Country by Patrick Wall, the Director of Genetic Improvement and Eastern Regional Director for the American Shorthorn Association (don’t tell my dad, but I have always loved fuzzy Shorthorn cattle). The article is found on page 28 of the February 2011 issue titled “The Pedigree of a Stockman.”
In this blog, I wrote about balance of technology and tradition in agriculture. I think Patrick Wall’s article compliments this post because he notes the values that are so important to the agriculture industry.
“The face of agriculture has certainly changed, but the heart of a stockman never will.”
I really loved how Patrick Wall described the inherit desire to continue the food production business in farm and ranch families across the country and how each of them care so much about what they do.
“My sire, grandsire, and maternal grandsire are or were all stockmen, and I’m certain previous generations were too. It’s a dominant gene I no doubt inherited, and a major reason I get out of bed each day. It’s the gene that causes me to lose sleep when a calf dies, but also the one that finds comfort leaning on a gate listening to livestock communicate with their young.”
I'm petting a baby calf at my grandpa's farm
Additionally, Wall commented on how more experienced livestock producers typically take the time to teach younger generations. This type of instruction is invaluable to help ensure prosperity of the family farm.
“Science and advertising have made the process of raising cattle so complex that we often forget the simple things mastered by our elders.”
The younger generation also has to be sensitive to retiring farmers and ranchers and their desire to stay involved in the family business.
“The stockman I knew never really retired; he just sold his tractors.”
Great piece by Patrick Wall reminding all of us why we love this industry so dearly.
Comments 1
This really hits the mark on what an older cattleman’s commented to me years ago, “cattle are more addicting than ‘drugs’, and you will never be able to find a greater pleasure anything else in life”. I see this and observe this in my life daily. Good thread of thought, reflections and feelings about life of a stockman.