“Just a Cowboy”
Over the past 20-plus years, my family and I have been fortunate to work on ranches from Nevada to Florida and from Montana to Mexico. I have gained an appreciation for good stockmen in all parts of the country and have learned much from the way they care for their livestock and the range.
In many discussions with these men and women, I have heard a common, self-effacing phrase. “I’m just a cowboy,” they say, in a manner that sells themselves short of their true role and abilities. My purpose in writing this article is to help all of us who care for livestock on the ranch or farm reflect on the value of our daily duties and expound on the great good that our complex efforts produce.
There are three aspects of sustainability that must be considered to assure the future of a livestock operation: namely ecological, financial and social.