The Cowgirl Shall Return...
Things are rolling along. My time lately has been divided by work, farm work, church, and the park district. Life has been keeping me busy.
We had another calf yesterday on the farm. This one was all white. We named her 'Pearl'. Dad, Mom and I have been working hard on cleaning pens, game planning, fence mending, and working with the cattle. It kind of disappoints me because now, we are at a point where we are having calves with ease and we have excellent genetics but we can't afford to keep the anymore.
So far the two calves we have had, arrived without any assistance from us humans, and the mothers have been fantastic in the babies care. The only thing we have to do is make sure they have pens to rest in. Both calves are females and they are thick, and stout, which is the way beef breeders want their cattle. This tells us, not only do we have excellent calves and mothers but the bull I choose was an excellent investment. Unfortunately, we have to cut our losses and sell all the cattle or lose everything.
Mom and Dad have been house shopping and haven't found a suitable replacement to move to. They kind of don't want to move from the farm. However, in order to stay here, we have to reinsulate the upstairs, put in a new furnace, and redo the roof. There is a possibility that even the windows need re-done. Which, in order to sell the place and get your money's worth you need to do all that stuff anyway. So what is the point of moving if you have those expenses plus moving costs, and bank costs? You might actually be losing money. So I don't know what is going to happen on that front but something inside me doesn't want to see the farm completely go. The cows are hard enough but it's understandable and manageable. We can always go back to it in the future if I get my hands on the farm.
As we are going through the process of selling out, I can see the major mistakes which my parents have made with the cattle in the past. For one, we didn't have a sustainable business plan. I can see right now how I would plan one out and change things. Second, my parents didn't adversities the way they should have. Sure they made contacts but they didn't know how to present their products properly and 'sell' the animal. Third, they are too emotionally attached to the animals. They are cows, not pets. Sure I understand how there is a connection between animal and owner, however it's not the same as a dog, cat, or horse. Fourth, my father is a wonderful person and very nice guy but he's too nice. He gives more than he takes and that give gets him into trouble as a sales man. There is a lot, I would change and take charge of if I owned the place. However, I don't and my hands are tied. All I can do is help mom and dad sell of the cattle as best we can and try to have them keep the place. That involves me getting a better job and getting myself in better health, which with this new gig with the park district I think that will eventually happen if I can do well there. I plan on making a steady routine for myself and getting more sleep, eating better and working exercise into my life more.
As I reflect on all of these things, I come to realize that every trial in my life, good and bad, has been a test for me. I can say without any doubt in my mind that I am being build up for something better. Whether it is my reward in heaven or just a better life in the long run, I'm growing and becoming stronger inside. I do know what I want in the long run and it's to get back into cattle someday. The time will come for me again when I am called to work in the beef industry, and whether it's with a husband at my side, a group of friends/partners, or on my own (frankly I doubt the last one but you never know). I will get there, with hard work and perseverance. I will talk more about this later but right now, I need to rest. I've been working hard and I need my sleep. So until next time...
Cowluver80