Introduction
Almost everything I know, as in really know, I learned from cattle. I'm not talking about large grandiose herds of longhorns. Small time drugstore cowboying cattle tending is as big a teacher as any. My intermediate schooling was an escape that my dear old dad called the "Ranch." We had maybe twenty at the most head mostly of Sta Gertrudis running at any time.
There are some universal truths a young man needs to learn; and the best schoolroom just happens to be still any little or big farm. Our 120 acres just outside of Ledbetter, this side of Giddings was a place you had to know how to get there to find it again. Even then, cousins and friends needed a guide to meet them at the Feed and Antique General Store in Ledbetter. It was on the gravel road that ends up at Lake Somerville.
Our first three cows were two heifers, and a bull. Ferdinand was the bull who was no less fierce than the butterflies he chased all day. Fierce was left up to Gertrude and Beatrice who kept order at the hay bail or water trough, as needed.
In three seasons this three purebred beauties triplicated themselves as if they were punching time cards. It turns out Ferdinand is a real heifer's man. He somehow managed to get the job done no matter how bossy the two leaders were. Once the calves started to dot the fields, Gertrude made sure you respected her area. Ferdinand was always off about half a field quietly minding his own business. He rather liked the sociable side of greeting as he would saunter up to me and I would grab his horn, and he would shake his head side to side. Always a gentle sort.
No comments:
Post a Comment