September 22, 2018

Volume 30 Number 21 • September 22, 2018

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The Weekly News Source for Wyoming’s Ranchers, Farmers and AgriBusiness Community • www.wylr.net

A Look Inside Forage scientists from across the country look at the challenges facing forage producers....................................Page 2 Recreation near Saratoga and Encampment has long drawn visitors to the area............Page 6 Fall cattle sales are beginning across the West.............Page 11 Lee Pitts says his extensive research shows everyone looks better in a cowboy hat....Page 12

New technologies in invasives species management provide opportunity Stateline, Nev. – Western Governors’ Association members and a number of experts in biosecurity and invasive species gathered in Stateline, Nev. for a meeting highlighting invasive species management in California and Nevada.

Hosted by Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval, the work-

shop looked at management, communication and technologies in invasive species control.

Sandoval kicked off the first of four workshops for the initiative, stating, “The impacts of invasive species are staggering. The Nature Conservancy has estimated that in the United States inva-

sive species cost over $120 billion to manage every year, affect an area of more than 100 million acres – an area the size of California – and have contributed to the decline of 42 percent of threatened and endangered species.”

During the Sept. 17 meeting, Doug Johnson, California Invasive Plant Coun-

cil executive director, commented, “People have controlled weeds forever. What’s really new?”

Johnson noted better ways to kills weeds and control invasive species – including selective herbicides and biological control agents have emerged over the last Please see TECH on page 11

Quick Bits

Lamb Exports

American lamb exports continue to rebound from last year’s low totals as July volume jumped 104% from a year ago to 1,209 metric tons and value increased by 46% to $2.17 million. Through July, lamb exports increased 54% in volume and 21% in value.

While much of this growth is attributable to stronger lamb variety meat demand in Mexico, muscle cut exports trended higher to the Caribbean, the United Arab Emirates, the ASEAN region and Taiwan.

Checkoff Funds The Cattlemen’s Beef Promotion and Research Board will invest about $40.5 million into programs of beef promotion, research, consumer information, industry information, foreign marketing and producer communications during Fiscal Year 2019, subject to USDA approval.

Wyo rodeo team launches into new season with new coach

Laramie – Beau Clark jumped into the position as head coach of the University of Wyoming (UW) rodeo team with big goals in the 2018-19 season, and he says the team will focus on both education and performance in the arena.

“I’m excited to have the opportunity to work with rodeo students pursuing their bachelor’s degrees,” Clark comments. “We have opportunities both inside and outside the arena this year.”

New coach Clark came to UW in May, following the pass-

ing of long-time coach George Howard. Originally from Montana, Clark was the assistant coach at Montana State University from 2013-15 before moving to Laramie County Community College (LCCC) as head coach.

“In 2013, I started volunteering at Montana State University before I was offered the opportunity to be an assistant rodeo coach,” he explains. “After that, I spent two years at LCCC as the head coach.”

“I was really excited to have the opportunity Please see RODEO on page 4

Photo courtesy of UW College of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Hurrican Loss The North Carolina Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services is estimating preliminary livestock losses – from the storm making landfall and subsequent flooding – at 3.4 million poultry and 5,500 hogs. Officials at the agency called Florence “an unprecedented storm” that affected the top six agricultural counties in the state. Florence covered the same areas hit by Matthew in 2016.

Food Sales U.S. food sector retail sales in August posted the biggest year-over-year percentage gains since before 2016. The highlight was foodservice and drinking place sales that were up 11.3%, accelerating from increases of 9.1% and 9.5% in June and July, respectively. Grocery store sales in August were up 4.8%.

Retail sales across the entire economy were up 6.9% from a year earlier.

Wyo bull wins Colo Fair Pueblo, Colo. – The Colorado State Fair, held this year from Aug 24. to Sept. 3, brought livestock from across the region, including producers from Wyoming. Gene and Cindy Stillahn of Sticks and Stones Ranch in Cheyenne saw a big win from this year’s event. The Stillhan’s Hereford bull, GCS Humdinger 705 ET, was awarded the Colorado State Fair Supreme Champion Bull award.

After winning the show, Cindy Stillahn commented, “It was an awesome day.”

In addition to the Supreme Champion Bull, they also showed the Reserve Champion Hereford Bull at the event.

The family has seen success around the region this year, also exhibiting the Champion Hereford Cow/Calf Pair and Reserve Champion Pen of Three Bulls at the Wyoming State Fair, held in Douglas in August.

Healthy herd Hoffman: Managing vaccinations key to raising healthy calves Despite vast improvements in genetics over the last 20 years, death loss in the feedlot is still going up one-tenth of a percent a year.

Vaccinations are improving all the time, but questions remain whether all ranchers handle it properly.

Bruce Hoffman, who is a senior consultant with Elanco Animal Health, addresses how management on the ranch can impact the immune response of vaccinations.

“What we do on the ranch is extremely important to how well calves survive on the ranch,” Hoffman tells producers. “My goal is to feel like I have involved more people in animal health on the ranch.”

Focus on health Elanco keeps track of about 40 percent of the cattle on feed. What they have found is the trend in feedlots is to spend more money on health.

“Treatment costs are going up. If we were successful, death loss should be going down,” Hoffman explains.

Management and enviPlease see HERD on page 5

Cattle implants earn profits

Hot Springs, S.D. – Producers can possibly earn an extra $33 a head on their weaned calves by adding one more tool to their toolbox. Amy Pravecek, a territory manager with Zoetis, told ranchers that by implanting their suckling calves they can earn more money for them as weaned calves.

“Implants are one of the most underutilized technologies in beef production,” she told more than 100 ranchers during a monthly ranch meeting in Hot Springs, S.D. “There has been a lot of misconception about implanting suckling calves, when the fact is uninformed producers are missing value because of their misconception of implanting suckling calves.”

Education In 1995, 64.3 percent of the lots sold

through Superior Livestock Video Auction were implanted, Pravecek explained. However, fewer producers now implant their young calves, and Pravecek thinks it’s due to being uneducated about the value of implanting.

Pravecek also admitted that selling points, like sale barns, need more education about the value of implanting suckling calves.

Many producers expressed to her their worry that when the sale barn announces the calves have been implanted, they fear the price will be less for their calves because of implanting. One rancher told her during the meeting that the feedlot he sells his calves directly to asked that

periodical

Top bull – Gene and Cindy Stillahn of Sticks and Stones Ranch exhibited the bull that won Colorado State Fair’s Supreme Champion bull honors. Courtesy photo

Bruce Hoffman

periodical

Please see PROFITS on page 4

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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 30 No. 21 • September 22, 2018

Great News

I hope this year is like last year with cattle prices. Remember, all last winter, we heard that cattle prices were going sideways or dropping and they never did. Demand and exports were the drivers that kept the prices stable.

From the Now, we are hearing the same forePublisher casts as last year.

Dennis Sun

A while back, the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) sent out data compiled by the U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) that really told the story of what happened in the first half of 2018 related to beef exports.

Dan Halstrom, USMEF President and CEO, exclaimed, “It’s remarkable to think that, as recently as 2010, beef exports for the entire year totaled $4 billion, and now that milestone has been reached in just six months. This should be a source of pride for the beef industry, which has remained committed to expanding exports even when facing numerous obstacles. And with global demand hitting on all cylinders, there is plenty of room for further growth.”

The tariffs may affect exports a little, but we will just have to wait and see what happens. If it really puts the pressure on exports, that would hurt cattle producers.

But for now, 90,745 metric tons of exported beef muscle cuts set a new record in June. That is up 15 percent from a year ago. If you add variety meats, the total export volume was 115,718 metric tons, up six percent and valued at $718. 4 million. The increase in value was 19 percent over last year at this time and only slightly below the record total of $722.1 million reached in May. First half of the year exports set a record pace in both volume and value as international customers bought a larger share of U.S. beef production at higher prices, indicating strong demand. Export volume was up nine percent from a year ago to 662,875 metric tons, while export value was just over $4 billion, up 21 percent. In all of the previous years, export value never reached the $4 billion mark before August.

June exports accounted for 13.4 percent of the total U.S. beef production, up from 12.8 percent a year ago. For muscle cuts only, the percentage exported was 11.3 percent, up from just under 10 percent last year. First half of the year exports accounted for 13.5 percent of total beef production and 11 percent for muscle cuts, up from 12.8 percent and 10 percent, respectively, last year. Beef export value averaged $313.94 per head, up 18 percent. That is huge.

U.S. beef exports rose the first half of this year in Japan, Mexico, South Korea, Colombia, Chile, Peru, Guatemala, Costa Rica and Panama, but they soured in Taiwan.

Around the first of October, our Wyoming Gov. Matt Mead, the Wyoming Business Council, Wyoming ranchers and legislators will travel to Taiwan to promote Wyoming beef along with other products. We wish them well on their trip and can’t wait to hear from them when they get back.

The rising metric tonnage of U.S. beef exported just didn’t happen by chance. Thirty-two percent of the budget of the U.S. Meat Export Federation comes from beef dollars – your beef checkoff dollars. This fall when you write the check for brand inspection and the beef checkoff while shipping cattle, feel good about it. Checkoff dollars are doing the job they are supposed to. Tell those who are attacking the beef checkoff to back off.

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GUEST OPINIONS Forage Crops Don’t Get No Respect!

By J.H. Cherney, K.A. Albrecht, M.T. Berti, M. Bohle, S.C. Bosworth, K.A. Cassida, W.J. Cox, E. Creech, S.C. Fransen, M.H. Hall, D.B. Hannaway, M.A. Islam, K.D. Johnson, J.W. MacAdam, E.C. Meccage, D.H. Putnam, E.B. Rayburn, C.C. Sheaffer, G. Shewmaker, J. Solomon, R.M. Sulc and J.J. Volenec Over two-thirds of all agricultural land in the USA is grasslands, with a large economic value, as well as many ecosystem benefits. Forage crop systems enjoyed maximum popularity in the middle of the 20th century after the Dust Bowl era, with pastures and hay fields recognized for their soil conservation benefits. In those times, the land-grant college system provided significant funding, infrastructure and support for a relatively large number of forage crop scientists, but no longer.

As the U.S. population transitioned from rural to urban and suburban, federal and state support for agricultural research declined. The precipitous decline in support for forage crop research is strongly correlated with the power of commodity organizations and the perception of the commodity by the agricultural community and the public.

Forage crops generally lack any commodity status and are perceived to be the least relevant when cuts to university research, Extension programs and faculty are mandated. This problem is most striking in the northern and western U.S. states.

Value Although forage crops promote clean air and water and reduce flooding and erosion, the public is unaware of the value of the forage commodity. Perennial forages grown on land not suited to row crops contribute greatly to domestic food security. Grasslands constitute more than two-thirds of all agricultural land in the USA, with an economic value estimated at over $45 billion annually.

Forage crops can provide 50 to 100 percent of the total feed requirements of ruminants and serve as one of the primary resources that allow effective nutrient management planning.

The website of the USDA Economic Research Service, found at ers.usda.gov/topics/crops, highlights economically important U.S. crops and was updated May 8, 2018. The list of “crops” includes corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, rice, vegetables and pulses, fruit and tree nuts, and sugar and sweeteners – corn again.

The first five crops listed here are often considered the “Big Five” in the country. Alfalfa and other forages are not considered economically important and are not mentioned.

USDA’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) recently released 2017 field crop values, showing that alfalfa is now the third most valuable field crop

produced in the USA. It is also clear from the figure that research funding for alfalfa is pitiful, compared to other crops.

The number one crop in the country, corn, is valued at almost five times the value of alfalfa but has over 10 times the research funding. In 2017, alfalfa moved ahead of wheat in crop value, and while the wheat crop is valued at $1.2 billion less than alfalfa, it also receives 10 times more research funding as alfalfa.

Other value Increasingly, farmers are under the microscope for their environmental stewardship. Ecosystem services are the benefits that people obtain from natural and agro-ecosystems. These include air and water quality, soil conservation, carbon sequestration, nutrient and energy cycling and species biodiversity. The stability and resilience of an ecosystem is related to biodiversity, particularly as climate fluctuations increase.

Grasslands contribute to the biodiversity and beneficial functioning of rural ecosystems. Nitrogen fixation by forage legumes alleviates some of the environmental costs of nitrogen fertilizer production, transport and application. Perennial forages make a tremendous contribution to soil health but are rarely credited for it. Increased use of perennial forages provide pollen and nectar for pollinators and improves wildlife habitat, which can positively impact tourism, hunting and taxpayer appreciation of natural ecosystems.

Grasslands safeguard watersheds while providing scenic beauty and public goods and services. Perennial forages reduce the problem of nutrient accumulation in water bodies, which causes eutrophication, degradation of water quality and fish kills.

The New York City watershed in upstate New York provides drinking water for approximately 9 million people in the New York City area. This is the largest unfiltered drinking water supply in the USA. This high-quality water does not require treatment, in large part, due to the strategically placed perennial forage crops grown on farms in the watershed, that protect the purity of the water supply.

This is part one of a two-part articl. The second part will be published in an upcoming edition of the Roundup. In the second part, authors will discuss forage scientists, forage crop teaching and research and the future of forages.

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 30 No. 21 • September 22, 2018

NEWS BRIEFS U.S. lamb hits Taiwan

In 2016, U.S. lamb became eligible for export to Taiwan after being out of the market since 2003. During the 13-year absence, the market had access to Australian and New Zealand lamb but had forgotten about the positive attributes of American lamb, according to the American Lamb Board (ALB).

“Given U.S. lamb’s reputation for flavorful, tender meat without the gamey taste there is real potential to grow demand for U.S. lamb in Taiwan,” adds ALB. Recently, ALB worked with U.S. Meat Export Federation (USMEF) to reintroduce U.S. lamb into the Taiwanese market through a series of tasting luncheons with the theme, “Dig into the Hidden Gem in Taiwan.” Three tastings, funded by the USDA Market Access Program (MAP) and ALB, were held at the Grand Mayfull Hotel in Taipei and featured dishes from local Taiwanese, Japanese and Italian restaurants.

Cuts of U.S. lamb were on display for the journalists and food industry leaders during the tastings, and an introductory video created by ALB was shared with attendees to provide a clear overview of the U.S. lamb industry.

According to USMEF, the annual per capita consumption of lamb in Taiwan is about 2.2 pounds. USMEF is working to put U.S. lamb in front of consumers to make them aware that U.S. lamb has great flavor and superior qualities.

ALB comments, “U.S. lamb had little exposure for more than a decade, so it takes time to build up the market and establish a positive image.”

Farmers’ Market Conference set

The Wyoming Farmers’ Market Association kicks off their annual conference Sept. 28-29 at the Ag Resource and Learning Center in Casper to learn from the experts at this information-packed conference.

The program will kick off with “Foodpreneur” Marty Butts, owner of Small Potatoes, a national marketing, advocacy and consulting firm that specializes in working with small scale and start-up food product companies. Butts will discuss how to “Start, Market and Grow Your Small Scale Food Venture.”

Next, Cole Emke will present “Add Value to Your Wyoming Products,” and those interested in greenhouses can attend a “Dome Greenhouse Building Workshop.”

Saturday will also feature presentations like “Grow your online presence,” “Everything You Need to Know about Micro Greens,” “Bee and Honey Production,” “Undercover Veggies,” “Grape Growing for Novices,” “Heritage Orchard Management” and “Weed and Pest Identification and Management.” The conference will close with “The Do’s and Don’ts of Successful Grant Writing.” Lunch will be included each day, with the annual meeting held during lunch on Sept.

29.

For a full schedule and to register for the Conference, go to wyomingfarmersmarkets.org/conference-schedule or for more information contact Ted Craig at ted.craig@wyo.gov.

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Farm labor survey scheduled The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Agricultural Statistics Service (NASS) is gearing up to conduct the Agricultural Labor Survey, which is conducted twice each year. The survey will collect information about hired labor from more than 900 farmers and ranchers in the six state Mountain Region including Arizona, Colorado, Montana, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming.

“Labor is obviously critical to farming operations, and data about the use of hired workers helps administer farm labor programs,” said Bill Meyer, director of the NASS Mountain Regional Field Office. “The data farm operators and employers provide through NASS’s Agricultural Labor Survey helps leaders, associations and farmers themselves make decisions based on accurate information.”

USDA and the U.S. Department of Labor will use statistics gathered in the Agricultural Labor Survey to establish minimum wage rates for agricultural workers, administer farm labor recruitment and placement service programs and assist legislators in determining labor policies.

The survey asks participants to answer a variety of questions about hired farm labor on their operations, including total number of hired farm workers, the average hours worked and wage rates paid for the weeks of July 8-14 and Oct. 7-13. For their convenience, survey participants have the option to respond online.

ESA reforms proposed The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) announced a series of policy reforms altering how it fosters species recovery under the 1973 Endangered Species Act (ESA), to reduce conflict between species and people while enhancing species recovery.

“Under the Obama mitigation policy, companies would have to create habitat for habitat they had not destroyed, requiring ranchers to undertake species habitat activities that hurt their bottom line and made many activities unprofitable,” Public Lands Council Director Ethan Lane said.

“Under FWS’s new policy, operators on federal land should have some regulatory certainty allowing them to better understand any regulatory risks they are exposed to.”

“FWS should go even farther, however, and craft a new mitigation policy that makes sense by rewarding landowners who voluntarily undertake habitat mitigation or enhancement by providing them with specific payoffs,” said Lane.

3

UW student receives Beach Award “We are pleased to award the Gary Beach Memorial Scholarship to Catherine Winnop, an environmental systems science student at the University,” said Bobbie Frank, executive director of the Wyoming Natural Resource Foundation (WNRF).

Winnop graduated from Sheridan High School in 2016.

In addition to her studies, Winnop works for the Sheridan County Conservation District, where she assists with all field and data management activities for the water quality monitoring program in addition to other duties.

The Gary Beach scholarship was created in 2006 by the Wyoming Natural Resource Foundation in honor of Gary Beach, a long-time employee of the Department of Environmental Quality. Beach was instrumental in working with local conservation districts to establish a grassroots-driven watershed planning effort to address Wyoming’s impaired waters. Thanks to the generosity of Beach’s family, the scholarship has been continued.

WNRF offered this $1,200 Gary Beach Memorial Scholarship to University of Wyoming students enrolled at junior status or higher. For more information, visit wynaturalresourcefoundation.com.

ASI accepting nominations The American Sheep Industry Association (ASI) is now accepting nominations for yearly awards that will be presented at the 2019 Annual Convention in New Orleans.

“These awards provide the American sheep industry with an opportunity to recognize those who have greatly contributed to the success of our industry,” said ASI President Mike Corn of New Mexico. “I would encourage producers and others in the industry to nominate anyone who they feel is deserving of such an honor.”

The deadline for all award nominations is Nov. 14.

There are five awards open for nominations – the McClure Silver Ram Award, the Camptender Award, the Distinguished Producer Award, the Industry Innovation Award and the Shepherd’s Voice Award.

Meat plant study set

The Wyoming Business Council Board of Directors voted unanimously on Sept. 17 to refine a proposal to study opportunities and challenges to building USDA-inspected meat processing plants in Wyoming.

The proposal is available for review at wyomingbusiness.org/boardbook.

The board asked staff to further consider the proposal, provide more background information and industry feedback and consider public comments made during the call-in special meeting Monday. The board may consider a revised proposal at a later date.

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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 30 No. 21 • September 22, 2018

RODEO continued from page 1 to be the head coach at the University of Wyoming this year,” Clark comments.

In addition to serving as a rodeo coach in the past, he pursued a professional rodeo career before jumping into the coaching arena.

Clark’s success as a steer wrestler took him to championship titles in the Montana Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) and the Mountain States PRCA Circuit. Clark is also a two-time qualifier for the Dodge National Finals, as well as at the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (NFR).

Education focused While hired as the rodeo coach, Clark emphasizes the importance of education for members of

the UW rodeo team.

“Education has a done a lot for my family, and I’ve always wanted to be in a situation where I could encourage students to get their bachelor’s degree and even pursue a master’s degree,” he says, noting his mother has a doctorate in animal science and his sisters has a master’s degree in business. “I want to have an impact and encourage students to be lifelong learners, setting themselves up for success by getting as much education as they can.”

In his prior position, Clark says he often encouraged students to continue their education at a fouryear school. He looks forward to the chance to

2018-19 rodeo schedule The University of Wyoming cowboy and cowgirl rodeo teams will compete at rodeos throughout the fall of 2018 and spring of 2019. The following is a schedule of rodeos the team will attend.

Fall 2018 • Sept. 21-23 – Sheridan College, Sheridan • Sept. 28-30 – Central Wyoming College, Riverton • Oct. 5-7 – Lamar Community College, Lamar, Colo.

• Oct. 12-14 – Laramie County Community College, Cheyenne Spring 2019 • March 15-17 – Gillette College, Gillette • March 29-31 – Eastern Wyoming College, Torrington • April 5-7 – Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colo.

• April 19-21 – Casper College, Casper • April 26-28 – University of Wyoming, Laramie

PROFITS continued from page 1 he not implant the calves, without really giving him a reason.

These misconceptions are something she hopes to correct in the future by better educating more segments of the industry.

Data “Auction market research does not substantiate discounts associated with use of suckling calf implants,” Pravecek explained to the ranchers. “Studies demonstrate implanted calves gain an

average of 19 pounds more than non-implanted calves by weaning. At $1.77 a pound for a weaned calf, that is an extra $33 a head at sale time and a 30-to-1 return on investment.”

Pravecek tells producers with 19 pounds of additional gain over nonimplanted calves and a 30 -to 40-to-1 return on investment, it is like getting one free calf for every 30 that are implanted.

“Non-implanted calves will never catch up to their

recruit students both out of high school as freshman and from community colleges as juniors and seniors.

This year, in addition to a number of students working towards their bachelor’s degrees, two students are competing and working on their master’s degree.

“I think we’ll have an opportunity to encourage a few more to pursue a master’s degree and continue their education,” he adds.

Commitment to excellence “We want our rodeo athletes to commit to excellence,” Clark explains.

The rodeo athletes at UW start their day at 5:45 a.m. in the weight room.

“This rodeo team has the first cowboys and cowgirls out of bed every morning. They’re the first ones in the gym and training room to get stronger,” he says. “After that, our students are expected to go to every class and be present and engaged.”

After classes, students attend practice until 7 p.m.

Each practice is filmed, and students watch tapes to look for ways to improve.

Clark comments, “After practice, they go home, do their homework, go to bed and do it again the next day.”

“We hope this program is challenging. If these students can handle what we do, I hope the feeling is instilled that they can accomplish anything,” Clark explains. “We want our students to be used to pushing their limits, which hopefully will help them to succeed as individuals.”

He adds, “This year, our students are handling our program really well.”

In the arena In the rodeo arena, Clark sees depth in the timed events and a growing rough stock program.

“We have a lot of kids who rope calves, team rope and bulldog well,” he says.

“We also have good talent in rough stock, but that’s an area we’ll keep recruiting and building.”

This year, Tyler Corrington was hired as the rough stock coach for the program. Corrington is a three-time NRF qualifier in saddle bronc, and he’s looking to qualify for the Canadian finals this year.

“Tyler has already had an impact on those men and what they do,” Clark says.

During the Sept. 14-15 rodeo at Chadron State College, both the UW men’s and women’s team came out on top, winning the

Get the latest information from the University of Wyoming’s Rodeo Team at uwyo.edu/rodeo. implanted pen mates even through the finishing phase,” she states. “The cow/calf rancher is really the one in the production chain who stands to make the most from implanting.”

Benefits of implanting Pravecek showed ranchers further benefits of implanting, which can include reducing their cost of production, because it increases revenue and improves profitability.

Feed costs are the largest expense in a cow/ calf operation, she says.

By implanting calves,

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producers can make that feed and forage they utilize more efficient because implanted calves will have a better per-pound gain, she explained.

“Implanted animals will also reach their targeted end point weight faster. With live or carcass weight being the main driver of gross revenue upon transfer of ownership or sale, producers stand to gain a lot by implanting,” she stated.

Concerns Pravecek explains the three main reasons producers tell her they won’t implant calves.

When the “natural” market gained popularity several years ago, ranchers had hope of selling into the higher value market by not implanting their calves.

“Realistically, current

“I want our students to do it all. If they’re committed in the classroom, that dedication shows when they compete in the area.” – Beau Clark, University of Wyoming Rodeo rodeos.

“In rodeo, we have to have a little luck along with talent and perseverance,” Clark says. “Things went our way in Chadron. I’m optimistic about what our students can accomplish this year.”

While the Chadron rodeo went well, Clark acknowledges other competitive schools had a rough weekend, but they’re likely to come back and perform well at other rodeos.

“I tell our students that the fall rodeos are important, but it’s not a sprint.

This is a year-long event that is a marathon,” he comments. “What is important is that we continue to get better as a team. We are better now than we were in May, and we need to be better in March than in November. I encourage our team to keep getting better.”

Their growth is a testament to the team’s commitment to rodeo throughout the summer.

Clark told his team they were expected to practice throughout the summer, and they came back to Laramie demonstrating their commitment to the team.

“A lot of our kids committed to coming back to school in August better than they were in May,” he says. “I saw them at pro and amateur rodeo, and we read their names in the standings. Some of our kids went to as many as 60 rodeos to help prepare themselves to be successful when they showed up this year.”

Looking forward As he looks through this year and to the future, Clark is focused on building a brand and program that attracts talented young people, but he also says education will continue to be a top priority.

“We want to focus on building students that go to school, get a degree and are nationally competitive in the rodeo arena,” he emphasizes. “That can be a challenging goal, because a lot of times, we see a focus on just the arena. I want our students to do it all. If they’re committed in the classroom, that dedication shows when they compete in the area.”

Saige Albert is managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

estimates indicate that less than two percent of the U.S. calf crop is needed to meet the natural market demand,” Pravecek explained. “In many reallife situations, premiums for ‘natural’ programs will not compensate the ranchers for the loss they will see in performance revenue.”

“Natural markets are a moving target, and premiums often don’t justify forgoing the use of production enhancement technologies,” she expressed.

Perhaps the main concern is loss of future production.

“Ranchers have a real fear of harming future performance, despite the fact that studies have shown the stages of production are not harmed by implant use in suckling calves,” she explained.

Many ranchers fear alienating feedlot buyers who ask ranchers not to implant suckling calves so they can get all the value in the feedlot, she explains.

Ranchers also fear implanting young heifer calves because it could impact reproduction.

Pravecek says she has heard these concerns all too often.

“When used properly, implants will not harm future production in steers or heifers or the reproductive performance in heifers,” she said.

It’s a matter of using the right implant and using it according to how the company has it labeled, she added.

Gayle Smith is a correspondent for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 30 No. 21 • September 22, 2018

HERD continued from page 1

ronment work hand-in-hand.

“If calves grow up in a non-stressful environment, they typically do really well,” he explains. “When we work cattle, are we doing what they recommend? Labor is always an issue.

Do we vaccinate when the kids are home from school or when the neighbors are available to help? When it is 108 degrees outside and dusty, do we decide to work calves anyway?”

Tracing cattle When Hoffman asked a ranching group how many of them knew how their calves performed once they left the ranch, only a few hands came up.

“As an industry, we should care about how our calves do in the feedlot once they leave home,” he states. “It is not so much about the products they were given but the management of the calves and where they came from.”

Calf health starts on the ranch. Management is key, but sometimes Mother Nature delivers blows that are hard to manage. Last year, much of the Northern Plains experienced a drought, and many cows went into winter in less-than-ideal body condition.

“One rancher told me his cows lost 200 pounds over the winter. He couldn’t get to them because the snow was so deep,” Hoffman tells producers.

In many areas, wintery weather hung on longer than usual this spring causing sickness. Summer brought moisture, which spurred tall grass growth, causing pinkeye and foot rot problems in some sub-irrigated pastures.

Veterinary perspective Several Montana veterinarians were asked, when pregnancy checking cows, were they proud of how the owners handled their cattle. Veterinarians pointed out concerns like crowding calves in the corral.

Others pointed out that some ranchers just looked for a piece of hide and were not being particular enough about where the injections were administered. Other ranchers complained about having to administer too many vaccinations.

“Some ranchers didn’t care how they gave shots. They just wanted the vet slip filled out showing they gave them,” Hoffman states. “Cattle that are stressed don’t show as good of an immune response.”

Lifetime immunity is not based on whether the vaccination is a modified live or killed vaccine, but it is dependent on when it is used during the animal’s life and what is happening in the animal’s life at that time or at that point of production, Hoffman says.

“The key is how we work with vaccines and the veterinarian. If there are problems, we need to let the veterinarian know.

They want to know. We want to know what the issues are with animal health because we all want to get better,” he states.

Keep good records Hoffman reminds ranchers to keep good records.

“It is too bad we can’t cross a horse with a cow, because cows have very small lung capacity. Horses have huge lungs,” he explains. “Carcass weight in cattle has really climbed the last 20 years, but lung capacity has not kept up.”

Because of that, cattle are more susceptible to respiratory issues and brisket disease.

“I would encourage ranchers to keep records and review them year-to-year. Don’t make rash decisions in years like this when we received 30 inches of snow at once and then blame the vaccine,” he explains.

Nutrition impact Hoffman also encourages producers to evaluate their nutrition programs on the ranch.

“We need to do better about getting our feeding programs right. We don’t need to overfeed cows. They need protein and proper nutrition,” he explains.

Nutrition has been shown to impact fetal programming.

Improper nutrition has been noted to cause steer calves to have a higher prevalence of summer pneumonia and can cause heifer calves to miss that first cycle and be culled from the herd.

“If ranchers are having problems with the products, they should get help. Don’t be afraid to get a veterinarian and a nutritionist involved. Find the experts. Don’t try and be one,” Hoffman tells producers.

Hoffman spoke during a during a recent monthly rancher seminar in Hot Springs, S.D. Gayle Smith is a correspondent for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

‘Free-from’ demand grows The increasing demand for food “free from” certain items – including gluten, antibiotics, pesticides and genetic modification – is changing the way companies procure, process and package food.

Sales of such foods are poised to grow 15 percent, or $1.4 billion, in the U.S. between 2017 and 2022, according to Euromonitor data. The U.S. is the largest global growth market for the free-from trend as consumers seek to curb certain ingredients or additives in their diets.

While the food and beverage sector has grown 1.9 percent over the past year, free-from versions are growing faster, according to data from Nielsen.

Products labeled antibiotic-free saw growth rates of nearly 20 percent, followed by soy-free at 19 percent and hormone- and antibiotic-free at 15 percent.

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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 30 No. 21 • September 22, 2018

CALENDAR

Submit your events to: Editor, Wyoming Livestock Roundup, P.O. Box 850, Casper, WY, 82602, or e-mail to roundup@wylr.net.

EVENTS Sept. 22 – Oct. 31 Green Acres Corn Maze, Casper. Open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Saturday, 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday and weekdays by appointment. For more information, visit greenacrescornmaze.net or call 307-797-8796.

Sept. 28-29 Wyoming Farmers’ Market Conference, Casper, Ag Resources and Learning Center. Learm more at wyomingfarmersmarkets.org.

Sept. 28-30 Nebraska’s 15th Anniversary Junk Jaunt. Order shopper guides for $10 by mail at Nebraska’s Junk Jaunt, 1523 M St., Ste. 104, Ord, NE 68862, online at junkjaunt.com or by phone at 308-346-5151.

Oct. 3 State Loan and Investment Board Meeting, Cheyenne, Office of State Lands and Investments Teton Room, 9 a.m. Call 307-777-7331 for more information.

Oct. 9-11 Wyoming Section of the Society for Range Management Annual Meeting, Sheridan. Visit wyomingrangelands.org for more information.

Oct. 9-11 BLM National Wild Horse and Burro Committee Meeting, Salt Lake City, Utah, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Learn more at go.usa.gov/xPcdQ. Oct. 16-19 Wally Olson’s Livestock Marketing School, Claremore, Okla. Visit olsonranchllc.com, call 918-244-0654 or e-mail olsonranch@junct.com for more information.

Oct. 24-26 2018 Wyoming Water Association Annual Meeting and Education Seminar, Laramie, Holiday Inn. Visit wyomingwater.org, call 307-7061377 or e-mail radona@wyomingwater.org for more information.

SALES Sept. 16

Sugar Bars Legacy 16th Annual Horse Sale, Sheridan County Fairgrounds, Sheridan, 605-347-8120, sugarbarslegacy.com

Sept. 16

Horse Sale, Gordon Livestock Market, Gordon, Neb., 308-282-1171, 308-282-9998, gordonlivestock.dvauction.com

Sept. 17

Northern Livestock Video Auction Fall Premier Special, 866-6165035, northernlivestockvideo.com

Sept. 18

Absolute Estate Auction, 447 Crook Street, Custer, S.D., 605-6732629, bradeenauction.com

Sept. 20

Annual Replacement Ewe, Ewe Lamb and Feeder Lamb Special and Customer Appreciation BBQ, Newell Sheep Yards, Newell, S.D., 605-641-2333, 605-641-1700, 605-490-9829, stongelivestock.com

Sept. 22

Second Annual Faith Livestock Consignment Horse Sale, Faith Livestock Auction, Faith, S.D., 605-515-1535, 605-580-5878, 605-9672200, faithlivestock.com

Sept. 22

Auction, 189 Young Road, Riverton, 307-850-5506, stonesauction.com

Sept. 22

Joe and Charlotte Brummer Farm Auction, 355 Bagan Road, Chinook, Mont., 406-788-6662, ophusauctions.com

Sept. 29

Fall Extravaganza 2018 Horse Sale, Central States Fair, Rapid City, S.D., 605-848-0887, ruzsa.com, 2018catalogrequest.com

Sept. 29

Parnell Farms Auction, 21295 Highway 66, Hays, Mont., 406-7886662, ophusauctions.com

Oct. 7

Laramie Plains Club Calf Sale, Albany County Fairgrounds, Laramie, 307-760-5914, showcattlepage.com

Oct. 8

Ox Bow Ranch Complete Dispersion, at the ranch, Wolf Creek, Mont., 406-235-4281, oxbowranchangus.com

Oct. 11

Split Diamond Ranch and Malek Angus Ranch Ladies of the Rockies Sale, 82 Whitetail Road, Whitehall, Mont., 406-498-3005, 406-7336200, splitdiamond.com

Oct. 13

Fall Classic Catalog Horse Sale, Farmers and Ranchers Livestock Commission Co., Salina, Kan., 785-826-7884, 785-493-2901, 785825-0211

Oct. 14

20th Annual Fall Colt and Yearling Catalog Sale, Farmers and Ranchers Livestock Commission Co., Salina, Kan., 785-826-7884, 785-493-2901, 785-825-0211

Oct. 15

The Berry’s Herefords Annual Production Sale, at the ranch, Cheyenne, 307-634-5178, wherecowmenbuybulls.com

Oct. 23

Strang Herefords and Black Angus 39th Annual Sale, at the ranch, Meeker, Colo., 970-270-4445, 970-270-9599, strangherefords.com

POSTCARD from the Past

Compiled by Dick Perue rrichardperue@gmail.com

Capitalists in Camp Ten Days of Hunting, Fishing and Inspecting Mines Give Visitors Good Impression The fame of the Charles K. Winter, Rev. SamEncampment district is uel Blair and Rev. J.H. Murdrawing from far and near, ray. Mr. Baker and son of notables from the East, nota- Omaha were also numbered bles from the West, drawing among the party. for motives of business and It was conservatively pleasure, writes a staff cor- estimated that upwards of 200 pounds of trout were respondent.

A gay party of a baker’s taken. Sage chicks and cotton dozen were camped on the tails were much in evidence Platte at the mouth of the at the meal hour. These were Encampment. Tents were the trophies of the splenpitched, camp fires were did marksmanship of Judge lighted. Among the party Morse and Dr. Coolbaugh. were the following gentle- The evenings were joymen: George P. Waldorf, ously spent in “yarning.” A Joseph Spencer and son beautiful prize, offered by of Toledo; Dr. E.H. Cool- the party to the “biggest liar,” baugh of Kingston, Pa.; was easily won by Friend U.U. Hiskey and Judge Blair. The prize will be Morse of Salt Lake City; exhibited at Brawley’s jew-

Favorite fishing hole – Women stand on a rock fishing Dead Horse hole at the confluence of the Upper North Platte river in the far right and the Encampment River, on the left, mid-way between Saratoga and Encampment about 1920. This has been a favorite fishing hole and camping spot since the early 1880s, with many boaters stopping here to have lunch and catch big trout. From the Yoakum/Pilot family photo album in the Bob Martin/Dick Perue collection, Historical Reproductions by Perue

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elry store for the next 10 days.

Dr. Coolbaugh took two magnificent trout out of the stream on one hook, the two weighing something over six pounds. It was noted, however, that the fish were nicely cleaned when the good Doctor landed them. This feature the Doctor will not venture to explain.

Mr. Joseph Spencer was the clown of the party.

In other words, he kept the crowd in an uproar of laughter.

Mr. Spencer is said to have formerly been a member of the famous Jack Haverly minstrels, in the palmy days.

It should be remarked, however, that he is now cashier of the First National Bank of Toledo, Ohio.

When the crowd wanted to “wet up,” Mr. Waldorf was sought, that gentleman being the “eternal” revenue collector at Toledo. He was unanimously voted the “best fellow” in the lot.

After the delightful fishing and hunting trip, the party visited Dillon, the Ferris-Haggarty, Doane Rambler, Golden Edge and Standard properties. The visitors were enthusiastic in pronouncing this a great camp, one of the coming camps of America.

Encampment always has a hearty welcome for such a crowd. Gentlemen, just take the camp’s card of invitation and come early and often.

So reads a front page article in the Sept. 2, 1904 issue of the Grand Encampment Herald.

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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 30 No. 21 • September 22, 2018

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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 30 No. 21 • September 22, 2018

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 30 No. 21 • September 22, 2018

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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 30 No. 21 • September 22, 2018

Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 30 No. 21 • September 22, 2018

SALE REPORTS Northern Livestock Video Auction Fall Premier Sale Sept. 17, 2018 • Billings, Mont.

18,000 cattle • 5,000 sheep Jack and Ellen Baird from Thermopolis sold 180 head of steers weighing 425 pounds for $220.

Orsen and Loisa Cornia LLC from Evanston sold 105 head of steers weighing 500 pounds for $186.

Wild Eagle Mountain Cattle Ranch from Springdale, Mont. sold 300 head of weaned steers w e i g h ing 570 pounds for $179.50.

Newton Ranch from Billings, Mont. sold 100 head of steers weighing 630 pounds for $170.

Catlin Ranch LP from WSS, Mont. sold 120 head of steers weighing 900 pounds for $159.

Coffee Cattle from Forsyth, Mont. sold 250 head of open heifers weighing 850 pounds for $163.50.

Lee Murnion from Jordan, Mont. sold 1,200 head of feeder weighing 83 pounds for $160.50.

Miller Ranch from Harlowton, Mont. sold 1,200 head of weaned feeders weighing 80 pounds for $165.

Fred Murnion Ranch from Miles City, Mont. sold 550 head of feeders weighing 87 pounds for

TECH continued from page 1 decade and new opportunities for invasive control continue to be developed.

“Tools are getting better, but we have to consider our strategy, getting work done early and how technology enables us to do these things better, at a larger landscape and using data,” Johnson added.

Mapping and monitoring Johnson provided the example of a new weed, desert knapweed, in San Diego and Orange counties in California.

“Using technology, we are able to look at desert knapweed and ask how far it can spread,” he said. “We have climate data, as well as growth patterns of this plant in other areas, so we can apply that information and extrapolate from where it grows now to where it might grow here.”

He continued, “If the plant has the ability to grow widely, that provides a good case to use a rapid response to the early detection.”

Technologies like smartphone mapping using data from multiple users through apps like EDDMaps.

“It’s important to know

where the weeds are, and these apps provide data from hundreds of volunteers and agencies,” Johnson explained. “The Western Governors’ Association also works to integrate between agencies so we can see, at the landscape scale, where weeds are and where there are opportunities for control.”

Another source of mapping data comes through aerial imagery, added Johnson, noting that for particularly large weeds, aerial images can be used to identify the extent of infestations.

“We have been able to map 14 million acres of California’s Central Valley to look at weed populations, total acreages and land ownership,” he said.

Innovation To address invasive species, Heath Packard of Island Conservation emphasized, “We focus where the confluence of extinction and opportunity have the greatest potential impact. We’re trying to find areas of transformative innovation.”

Specifically, Island Conservation focuses on working to protect endangered

$152.50.

Olsen Agri-Livestock from Fountain Green, Utah sold 540 head of weaned feeders weighing 90 pounds for $151.

Lehfeldt Land and Livestock from Billings, Mont. sold 350 head of yearling ewes weighing 135 pounds for $225.

Northern’s next video auction is the annual Diamond Ring Sale Jan. 7, 2019 with a consignment deadline of Dec. 18.

Northern will also have monthly internet auctions in October and November.

For complete sale results and details, go to northernlivestockvideo. com. species and eliminate invasive on islands around the world, but the same technologies that work successfully on islands can also be applied across the United States effectively.

“In geographically constrained spaces, we have the ability to do interesting things,” Packard said.

“There is hope for solving invasive species issues because there have been thousands of eradications,” he added. “We have new tools every day that have implications for interior states, as well as coastal states and on islands.”

While tools are available to combat invasive species, Packard said, “It takes time, vision and exciting new technology to address these issues.”

Johnson commented, “However, if we’re doing something new, there’s likely going to be pushback. It takes time, change and good science for folks to feel comfortable about using new tools in invasive species management.”

Saige Albert is managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup and can be reached at saige@wylr. net.

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18th Annual Ranchers Quarter Horse Breeders Association Sale Aug. 26, 2018 Besler’s Cadilac Ranch, Belle Fourche, S.D. Auctioneer: Seth Weishaar Pedigrees and Analysis: John E. Johnson Top 10 Riders Avg. $8,600 Geldings Avg. $6,900 • Mares Avg. $4,128 Weanling Stallions Avg. $1,608 Weanling Mares Avg. $912 Futurity Winners Two-Year-Old Futurity Becky Amio on Harlans Yamani, Breeder: Hancock Maxon Quarter Horses, Owner: Richard Welsch Three-Year-Old Futurity Ryan Smith on Charcoal Freckles, Breeder: Joan Johnson Quarter Horses Don Brunner Memorial Yearling Futurity Yearling Filly Boons Quioxte Miss, Owner: Cecile O’Neill, Breeder: Mailloux Quarter Horses

Yearling Gelding Driften Yellow Jack, Owner: Sonya Coolahan, Breeder: Bender Ranch Yearling Stallion Boonys Skeets, Owner: Sonya Coolahan, Breeder: Shield Five Quarter Horses Top Sellers Geldings Lot 67 – Price: $15,500 Consignor: Jeremy Langdeau, Buyer: Doug and Lorraine Kissack, Spearfish, S.D. Lot 55 – Price: $11,250 Consignor: Callen Brink, Buyer: Marlon and Lois Sch-

Top seller - Lot 57, a consignment from Jeremy Langdeau, brought the sale-topping price of $15,500 during the Ranchers Quarter Horse Breeders Association Sale. Courtesy photo

lup, Douglas Lot 77 – Price: $9,750 Consignor: Lucas Rice, Buyer: Swenson Operating, Sundance Lot 75 – Price: $8,500 Consignor: Seth and Sarah Moreland, Buyer: Susan Keller, Mandan, N.D. Pony Lot 53 – Price: $4,500 Consignor: Stacey Besler Buyer: Tanner Olsen of Kildeer, N.D. Weanling Stud Colts Lot 15 – Price: $4,750 Consignor: Chaffee Herron Ranch, Buyer: Lorence Edoff.

Lot 2 – Price: $4,000 Consignor: Hancock/Maxon Quarter Horses, Buyer: Becky Amio Lot 20 – Price: $3,800 Consignor: Woods Performance Horses, Buyer: Besler Cattle Co. Weanling Fillies Lot 10 – Price: $2,800 Consignor: Long Quarter Horses, Buyer: LeAnn Bender Lot 36 – Price: $1,650 Consignor: Bender Ranch, Buyer: Aspen Larmer, Williston, N.D. Lot 40 – Price: $1,500 Consignor: Bender Ranch, Buyer: Jeremy Langdeau, Rapid City, S.D. The 19th Annual Ranchers Quarter Horse Breeders Association Sale will be held Aug. 25, 2019.

OBITUARIES

We welcome obituaries. Obituaries are printed free of charge and can be sent to roundup@wylr.net.

Shirley Joy Humphrey

A Celebration of Life for Shirley Joy (Reed) Humphrey, 81, will be held on Sept.

29 at the Cheyenne Airport Golf Course from

11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and continued at a tailgate party in Tailgate Alley at the University of Wyoming stadium in Laramie prior to the Boise State-Cowboy football game.

Family and friends are invited to the celebration to remember Shirley, who passed away at her home in Cheyenne July 17.

She died four months after the accidental death of her husband Jack. The couple had been married for nearly 60 years. Both were teachers in the agricultural field, as well as

Cheyenne area farmers and civic leaders.

She was born May 26, 1937 in Fort Morgan, Colo. but spent most of her life in the Cheyenne area. She was a graduate of Cheyenne Senior High School and the University of Wyoming and was employed at the State Department of Education for more than 20 years.

Shirley’s complete obituary appeared in the Wyoming Livestock Roundup on Aug. 4, 2018.

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Wyoming Livestock Roundup • Volume 30 No. 21 • September 22, 2018

It’s the Pitts

by Lee Pitts

Everybody Looks Better in a Cowboy Hat When I taught myself how to engrave silver conchas, I practiced on coins.

Most of it was foreign coinage, but occasionally I’d practice on U.S. coins. And yes, it’s legal as long as a person doesn’t try to defraud anyone. Turning nickels into quarters would be a good example. This is why little kids who squish pennies on railroad tracks aren’t arrested and thrown in the slammer.

Back when homeless people were called hobos, some tramps used nails to engrave on buffalo nickels and produced remarkable art they’d then trade for a meal.

Today, such coins are called “hobo nickels,” and they can be quite beautiful and very valuable.

While the hobo artists turned the faces on nickels into remarkable likenesses of Marilyn Monroe, clowns, skeletons, cats and self-portraits, I turned my nickels into cowboy coinage. You should see the look on people when I hand them one of my coins with the head of a horse where Abraham

Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson, FDR or George Washington should be. My favorite coins to engrave on are newer dimes because they haven’t been made of real silver since 1964, and if you scratch one, your mark will turn to copper and you can get remarkable two-tone effects.

In the course of turning George Washington and his cronies into cowboys, I made a rather remarkable discovery. All I had to do was engrave a cowboy hat on all the former Presidents, and every single one looked much more handsome. This was especially true of Abraham Lincoln, who, let’s be honest, had a face that could keep the crows out of 100 acres of corn.

I was mesmerized by how much better people look in cowboy hats. I gathered up all my wife’s magazines and drew cowboy hats on everyone from Queen Elizabeth to the entire Kardashian clan, and they all looked better. Even Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Nancy Pelosi,

who both need extra-large shopping carts when they shop in the beauty-aid aisle of a drugstore, looked better. And if that isn’t conclusive proof that everyone looks better in a cowboy hat, I don’t know what is.

I even went to the store and bought some magazines for men and drew cowboy hats on all the males, which were surprisingly few and far between because most male magazines are filled with photos of guns, trucks and naked women. Everyone from Snoop Dogg to Miss January looked better in a cowboy hat. And I hope

this isn’t blasphemous, but may I say that even the Pope looked better in a Stetson.

Try it for yourself. Get yourself a Sharpie® and some magazines and start drawing hats on everyone.

If you can’t draw, cut out the picture of a cowboy hat and put it atop everybody, and you, too, will see that everyone looks better in a cowboy hat. It really is an amazing transformation. Although, I must warn you to be careful because, speaking from experience, some wives get a little touchy when you defile their Vogue, Family Circle or Good Housekeeping. But

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they’ll get over it. Eventually.

I remember a few years back when the entire U.S. Olympic team was outfitted

by Ralph Lauren, and every athlete wore a cowboy hat in the opening and closing ceremonies. I don’t remember the medal count that year.

But, I clearly recall that we easily won the award for “best dressed,” and it was all because of the cowboy hats.

I think it would make a great advertising program for Stetson, Resistol or some other hat company to put one of their hats on photos of highprofile people. If they did so, they could extend their market beyond just selling hats

to cowboys, truck drivers and country western singers.

Speaking of country western singers, can we please lose the earrings and pony tails guys? Willie Nelson can get away with it, but can you imagine Johnny Cash, Tennessee Ernie Ford or George Strait wearing an earring? Although I don’t think anyone looks better in a cowboy hat than George Strait, I still can’t get the image out of my mind of him wearing a pony tail in that movie he made. Guys, take it from me, we’d look a lot more manly if fewer of us were wearing earrings, tattoos and pony tails and more were wearing cowboy hats.