This is my oldest son Ross and his 2014 crossbred show steer “Champ”.  I had the wonderful opportunity to follow them around for an afternoon to document Ross’

commitment to this living breathing creature, and in return his loyalty and trust in my son.  This is my tribute to their sacred bond that only a showman could possibly

ever understand.

What you do EVERY DAY matters more than what you do Once In Awhile. ~Gretchen Rubin

“Just A Cow”

From time to time people tell me, “Lighten up, it’s just a cow” or “That’s a lot of money for “just a cow.”  They don’t understand the distance traveled, the time spent, or the cost

involved for “just a cow.”  Some of my proudest moments have come with being around “just a cow.”  Many hours have passed and my only company was “just a cow”, but I did

not once feel slighted.  Some of my saddest moments have been brought around by “just a cow”, and in the days of darkness the gentle touch of “just a cow” gave me comfort and

reason to over come the day.  If you too, think it’s “just a cow”, then you will probably understand phrases like “just a friend”, “just a sunrise”, or “just a promise”.  “Just a cow”

brings into my life the very essence of friendship, trust, and pure unbridled joy.  “Just a cow” brings out the compassion and patience that makes me a better person.  Because of

“just a cow”, I will rise early, and stay in the barn for hours and look longingly into the future.  So for me and folks like me it’s not “just a cow” but an embodiement of the hopes

and dreams of the future, the fond memories of the past and the pure enjoyment of the moment.  “Just a cow” brings out what’s good in me and diverts my thoughts away from

myself and the worries of the day.  I hope that someday they can understand that it’s not “just a cow”, but the thing that gives me humanity and keeps me from being “just a

human”.  So next time you hear someone say, “just a cow”, just smile, because they just don’t understand.  ~Anonymous

As a child I learned compassion, respect, and responsibility by caring for my livestock.