One Sweet Shootin’ Gun

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

The first week of February I was invited by Dr. Bruss Horn to spay a large group of heifers 100 miles south of Oklahoma City. I have always heard about wheat pasture in Oklahoma and jumped at the opportunity to witness for myself this magnificent grazing system in action.

The trip was approximately 750 miles one way and when asked why you would drive that far, the obvious reply was, “I had two choices, go to Oklahoma or stay home and take down the Christmas lights.” (No brainer.) I arrived in Chickasha on a Friday evening and met Dr. Bruss for breakfast early Saturday morning.

We drove 1 hour south where we met Lee Wayne Stepp, his lovely wife Vicky, and our crew for the next 2 days. We unloaded our equipment and strategically placed my custom made spay chute in front of the alley.

I was excited when Dr. Bruss offered to wash and disinfect the KR spay instrument. I knew we would have a great time visiting about our common love: veterinary medicine and cattle.

I was surprised to learn that several junior and senior vet students who had done externships in our Colorado clinic would be driving down from OSU to spend time with us that day. It made me feel very special that they would take the time away from school to drive 2 plus hours to spend time with me, and reconnect.

I’m always amazed at the energy, friendship and laughter that happen when you co-mingle like-minded country people at a squeeze chute.

As our day came to an end, Lee Wayne and Vicky invited me to spend the night in their home, rolling out the red carpet like country folks always do. Vicky had worked all day at the chute, fixed lunch and supper, gathered our dirty plates and polished off the evening dishes with a cheerful smile on her face, insisting, “No you just sit there and rest, honey.”

After supper I was invited for a quick tour of the house and given instructions to make myself at home. As we toured the home I noticed a gun case with assorted rifles and shotguns. Our conversation turned to hunting for a brief moment, but we all just wanted to head for bed.

Six O’clock came too soon. Vicky had already been up, fixed the day’s lunch box and cooked a very nice breakfast. With Lee Wayne at the head of the table, we joined hands to return thanks.

As we ate breakfast, we shared more about our pasts and what we believed to be truth while solving the problems of this crazy world we live in. Somehow our conversation drifted back to hunting.

Lee Wayne talked about white-tail trophies, waterfowl, quail and tom turkeys. “But the real problem,” he said “is these dad gum feral hogs. They are everywhere and a real pain.” He explained how you would see thirty or so but you could only kill just one, maybe two if you were lucky. One shot and the herd was gone.

This is where the story touched my heart and what I feel is the real reason I was in Oklahoma spaying heifers 750 miles from home.

He said, “Dr. Doug do you remember that .243 rifle in the gun case? That rifle belonged to my dad. Dad was the hardest workin’ man alive. He expected the most in every situation and he wasn’t real free with a complement or an ‘Atta boy’.”

As Lee Wayne looked out the kitchen window he pointed across the section and recalled how one morning there were 30 hogs down by the pond across the fence. He described how his dad said, “Grab some shells and the .243; we’re goin hog huntin.”

“We piled in the pickup poised to put the sneak on them hogs,” Lee Wayne said. “As dad closed in on the hogs, I rolled down the passenger window, took careful aim, squeezing off my first shot, dead on. As the hogs scattered like the break in a game of pool, I took aim and squeezed off another round. It was a solid hit but it only crippled the 40# pig. My next shot finished off the wounded shoat. Three shots, three on the target.”

“My anticipation was at an all-time high, with my chest puffed out and a big Daniel Boone grin on my face. I could almost feel Dad’s large rough hand of approval squeezing my neck and shoulder saying, ‘Son you gotta be the best shot west of the Mississippi.’ Suddenly my elation turned to heart-piercing disappointment. I couldn’t believe the words coming from Dad’s mouth; “Man that’s a sweet shootin gun!”

As I listened, Lee Wayne’s story caused me to instantly have feelings of regret at missed opportunities to encourage others. Even more revealing it picked open scabs from my past that I thought were healed. Times I had expected praise and approval and had walked away feeling worthless and less than edified.

In the last issue of Protein Producers Dr. Q illustrated that the power of life and death is truly in the tongue. A greater truth has never been spoken!

A man who can bridle his tongue has control of his life. Are you the one who builds up, encourages, and is a blessing to a loved one, a friend, or a co-worker?

Negative focuses on the problems, positive always focuses on the possibilities. Stop and think; do your words speak life, truth and build others or do they tear down, discourage, destroy and cause strife or even death?

Philippians 2:3-4, (NASB) Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests, but also for the interests of others.

Ephesians 4:29, (NLT) Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.