Grace and the Cornfield Grace and the Cornfield

By: Dr. Doug, PAC, & Dr. Greg Quakenbush, Geissler Corp

By: Dr. Doug, PAC, & Dr. Greg Quakenbush, Geissler Corp

By: Dr. Doug Ford, Production Animal Consultation, PAC, & Dr. Greg Quakenbush, Geissler Corp

Last winter I was called by one of my dearest friends and his teenage son to examine a slobbering, bloated calf running on a large pivot with various sources of forage. In addition to the forage several areas had abundant piles of beet tailings or beet tops. As you would likely guess, the diagnosis was beet choke.

Last winter I was called by one of my dearest friends and his teenage son to examine a slobbering, bloated calf running on a large pivot with various sources of forage. In addition to the forage several areas had abundant piles of beet tailings or beet tops. As you would likely guess, the diagnosis was beet choke.

Last winter I was called by one of my dearest friends and his teenage son to examine a slobbering, bloated calf running on a large pivot with various sources of forage. In addition to the forage several areas had abundant piles of beet tailings or beet tops. As you would likely guess, the diagnosis was beet choke.

The next question, how do we deal with this situation? I felt confident because I was with trusted friends who are quite handy with livestock. Luckily the steer was close to the water tank. The plan involved me pulling the 1-ton Dodge dually up to the tank with Mark trapping the steer in the area between the pickup and the tank.

The next question, how do we deal with this situation? I felt confident because I was with trusted friends who are quite handy with livestock. Luckily the steer was close to the water tank. The plan involved me pulling the 1-ton Dodge dually up to the tank with Mark trapping the steer in the area between the pickup and the tank.

The next question, how do we deal with this situation? I felt confident because I was with trusted friends who are quite handy with livestock. Luckily the steer was close to the water tank. The plan involved me pulling the 1-ton Dodge dually up to the tank with Mark trapping the steer in the area between the pickup and the tank.

Mark processes cattle for several large feedyards and understands position, angle, distance and speed. He understands pressure and release and the working zone. Mark slowly and confidently worked the steer into position as I deliberately pulled the pickup into position. It became apparent that my part of the plan wasn’t coming into place.

Mark processes cattle for several large feedyards and understands position, angle, distance and speed. He understands pressure and release and the working zone. Mark slowly and confidently worked the steer into position as I deliberately pulled the pickup into position. It became apparent that my part of the plan wasn’t coming into place.

Mark processes cattle for several large feedyards and understands position, angle, distance and speed. He understands pressure and release and the working zone. Mark slowly and confidently worked the steer into position as I deliberately pulled the pickup into position. It became apparent that my part of the plan wasn’t coming into place.

The large and powerful dually wouldn’t move forward. Systematically I checked my cockpit; 4WD check, pickup in gear check, emergency brake off check, all systems go. Must need more accelerator, check. Still, no forward momentum. A glance in the rear view mirror revealed a cloud of corn stalks, mud, and two white eyeballs glaring out from under a mud covered ball cap. As I observed the rear view mirror, Mark was wiping mud from one eye, his soiled ball cap was cocked to one side, and he was trying desperately to hold on to his catch with two mud filled palms.

The large and powerful dually wouldn’t move forward. Systematically I checked my cockpit; 4WD check, pickup in gear check, emergency brake off check, all systems go. Must need more accelerator, check. Still, no forward momentum. A glance in the rear view mirror revealed a cloud of corn stalks, mud, and two white eyeballs glaring out from under a mud covered ball cap. As I observed the rear view mirror, Mark was wiping mud from one eye, his soiled ball cap was cocked to one side, and he was trying desperately to hold on to his catch with two mud filled palms.

The large and powerful dually wouldn’t move forward. Systematically I checked my cockpit; 4WD check, pickup in gear check, emergency brake off check, all systems go. Must need more accelerator, check. Still, no forward momentum. A glance in the rear view mirror revealed a cloud of corn stalks, mud, and two white eyeballs glaring out from under a mud covered ball cap. As I observed the rear view mirror, Mark was wiping mud from one eye, his soiled ball cap was cocked to one side, and he was trying desperately to hold on to his catch with two mud filled palms.

Chadron and I bailed out of the pickup to assist. We flanked the steer and when he hit the ground the beet top shot 20 feet with forward trajectory. We released the rope and a happy steer trotted off into the sunset. Next question, why was the truck stuck? Further inspection revealed the culprit. As I drove forward by the tank I had high centered the front axle on a Crystalix tub.

Chadron and I bailed out of the pickup to assist. We flanked the steer and when he hit the ground the beet top shot 20 feet with forward trajectory. We released the rope and a happy steer trotted off into the sunset. Next question, why was the truck stuck? Further inspection revealed the culprit. As I drove forward by the tank I had high centered the front axle on a Crystalix tub.

Chadron and I bailed out of the pickup to assist. We flanked the steer and when he hit the ground the beet top shot 20 feet with forward trajectory. We released the rope and a happy steer trotted off into the sunset. Next question, why was the truck stuck? Further inspection revealed the culprit. As I drove forward by the tank I had high centered the front axle on a Crystalix tub.

All I could do was hang my head in embarrassment. How stupid! I don’t do dumb stuff like this. Expecting a tart comment, words of criticism, or even worse Mark’s special brand of cutting, piercing sarcasm. Stunned, he didn’t even shake his mud-splattered head in disappointment or point his muddy rope-burned finger at me. Chadron the young teen who I think the world of, was speechless and very sober.

All I could do was hang my head in embarrassment. How stupid! I don’t do dumb stuff like this. Expecting a tart comment, words of criticism, or even worse Mark’s special brand of cutting, piercing sarcasm. Stunned, he didn’t even shake his mud-splattered head in disappointment or point his muddy rope-burned finger at me. Chadron the young teen who I think the world of, was speechless and very sober.

bed of the pickup looking for the handyman jack. Of course the jack was up under the toolbox. He patiently moved 3 shovels, 2 pitchforks, 4 50# bags of salt, a roll of barbwire, the spare tire, 2 bales of alfalfa, and a recently aborted fetus from the toolbox access. He methodically extracted the rusty jack drawing blood from the knuckles on his right hand. My shame and guilt elevated.

bed of the pickup looking for the handyman jack. Of course the jack was up under the toolbox. He patiently moved 3 shovels, 2 pitchforks, 4 50# bags of salt, a roll of barbwire, the spare tire, 2 bales of alfalfa, and a recently aborted fetus from the toolbox access. He methodically extracted the rusty jack drawing blood from the knuckles on his right hand. My shame and guilt elevated.

Through the agonizing silence Mark smiled and said, “Well, guess we better get unstuck”. He joyfully hopped into the bed of the pickup looking for the handyman jack. Of course the jack was up under the toolbox. He patiently moved 3 shovels, 2 pitchforks, 4 50# bags of salt, a roll of barbwire, the spare tire, 2 bales of alfalfa, and a recently aborted fetus from the toolbox access. He methodically extracted the rusty jack drawing blood from the knuckles on his right hand. My shame and guilt elevated.

Still smiling he threw the rusty jack overboard striking the ground, the awkward long handle dinging the side of the vessel on impact. Moving to the front of the stranded pickup, he tore a long broken shroud of black plastic out from under the bumper that broke in my mishap. He strategically placed the jack on the bumper, still smiling. He began to ratchet the long awkward handle up and down. Can it get any worse? Yes, anyone who has had the pleasure of using a handy man jack knows, they usually don’t work the first time and are a little dangerous even when you hold your mouth just right.

Still smiling he threw the rusty jack overboard striking the ground, the awkward long handle dinging the side of the vessel on impact. Moving to the front of the stranded pickup, he tore a long broken shroud of black plastic out from under the bumper that broke in my mishap. He strategically placed the jack on the bumper, still smiling. He began to ratchet the long awkward handle up and down. Can it get any worse? Yes, anyone who has had the pleasure of using a handy man jack knows, they usually don’t work the first time and are a little dangerous even when you hold your mouth just right.

Still smiling he threw the rusty jack overboard striking the ground, the awkward long handle dinging the side of the vessel on impact. Moving to the front of the stranded pickup, he tore a long broken shroud of black plastic out from under the bumper that broke in my mishap. He strategically placed the jack on the bumper, still smiling. He began to ratchet the long awkward handle up and down. Can it get any worse? Yes, anyone who has had the pleasure of using a handy man jack knows, they usually don’t work the first time and are a little dangerous even when you hold your mouth just right.

Still smiling Mark walked back to the driver’s side of the toolbox for a magical squirt of WD40. You guessed it; “Murphy’s law”. The can had rolled to the other side of the pickup. I can’t describe the shame and guilt I was feeling. “I am totally worthless”. Still smiling he bounced to the passenger side of the toolbox retrieving the greasy roadweary can.

Still smiling Mark walked back to the driver’s side of the toolbox for a magical squirt of WD40. You guessed it; “Murphy’s law”. The can had rolled to the other side of the pickup. I can’t describe the shame and guilt I was feeling. “I am totally worthless”. Still smiling he bounced to the passenger side of the toolbox retrieving the greasy roadweary can.

Still smiling Mark walked back to the driver’s side of the toolbox for a magical squirt of WD40. You guessed it; “Murphy’s law”. The can had rolled to the other side of the pickup. I can’t describe the shame and guilt I was feeling. “I am totally worthless”. Still smiling he bounced to the passenger side of the toolbox retrieving the greasy roadweary can.

With purpose in his heart he depressed the button on top of the can. All that came out was a sudden blob of lubricant resembling a farmer’s nose blow in a 30 MPH wind. He depressed the button again, nothing. Still smiling he picked up a dried sliver of cornstalk and spread the blob of WD40 on the rusty pins. Success, three of four clicks of the jack and we were free.

With purpose in his heart he depressed the button on top of the can. All that came out was a sudden blob of lubricant resembling a farmer’s nose blow in a 30 MPH wind. He depressed the button again, nothing. Still smiling he picked up a dried sliver of cornstalk and spread the blob of WD40 on the rusty pins. Success, three of four clicks of the jack and we were free.

With purpose in his heart he depressed the button on top of the can. All that came out was a sudden blob of lubricant resembling a farmer’s nose blow in a 30 MPH wind. He depressed the button again, nothing. Still smiling he picked up a dried sliver of cornstalk and spread the blob of WD40 on the rusty pins. Success, three of four clicks of the jack and we were free.

For several weeks Dr. Tom, Dr. Q and I had been talking about the definition of “Grace”. As I stood before my good friend Mark, (the Father) and Chadron (his Son) I felt totally worthless. How could I ever live this down? After all I’m supposed to be a smart person. Suddenly it occurred to me… I was the recipient of “Grace”. “Grace” is unmerited favor.

For several weeks Dr. Tom, Dr. Q and I had been talking about the definition of “Grace”. As I stood before my good friend Mark, (the Father) and Chadron (his Son) I felt totally worthless. How could I ever live this down? After all I’m supposed to be a smart person. Suddenly it occurred to me… I was the recipient of “Grace”. “Grace” is unmerited favor

For several weeks Dr. Tom, Dr. Q and I had been talking about the definition of “Grace”. As I stood before my good friend Mark, (the Father) and Chadron (his Son) I felt totally worthless. How could I ever live this down? After all I’m supposed to be a smart person. Suddenly it occurred to me… I was the recipient of “Grace”. “Grace” is unmerited favor.

Favor received for something I didn’t deserve. When I ask the Lord, he always gives me life situation answers. Looking into Mark and Chadron’s smiling, loving faces I got it. Unmerited favor… forgiveness… something I didn’t deserve.

Favor received for something I didn’t deserve. When I ask the Lord, he always gives me life situation answers. Looking into Mark and Chadron’s smiling, loving faces I got it. Unmerited favor… forgiveness… something I didn’t deserve.

Favor received for something I didn’t deserve. When I ask the Lord, he always gives me life situation answers. Looking into Mark and Chadron’s smiling, loving faces I got it. Unmerited favor… forgiveness… something I didn’t deserve.

Through the agonizing silence Mark smiled and said, “Well, guess we better get unstuck”. He joyfully hopped into the

Through the agonizing silence Mark smiled and said, “Well, guess we better get unstuck”. He joyfully hopped into the

All I could do was hang my head in embarrassment. How stupid! I don’t do dumb stuff like this. Expecting a tart comment, words of criticism, or even worse Mark’s special brand of cutting, piercing sarcasm. Stunned, he didn’t even shake his mud-splattered head in disappointment or point his muddy rope-burned finger at me. Chadron the young teen who I think the world of, was speechless and very sober.

All of a sudden I felt good, I felt forgiven, and my burden of worthlessness was gone. But my lesson wasn’t over. The next thing Mark said pierced my heart: "You know, Doug, if the hired man would have done this, we’d be pissed”.

All of a sudden I felt good, I felt forgiven, and my burden of worthlessness was gone. But my lesson wasn’t over. The next thing Mark said pierced my heart: "You know, Doug, if the hired man would have done this, we’d be pissed”.

All of a sudden I felt good, I felt forgiven, and my burden of worthlessness was gone. But my lesson wasn’t over.

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