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Farm & Ranch Happenings

published: October 31st 2008
by: Harvey Buehring

“ Finding Enjoyment In The Great Outdoors ”
     Trying to keep up-beat and positive is taking a bit more effort these days.  Most every thing that you hear or read  in the media is focused on politics or the economy.   Both of those topics tend to be less than up-beat, even during the best of times and “gut-wrenching” when times are not so good.  So, I intend to refrain from subjecting you loyal readers of this column to any  “negatives”, if at all possible .  In doing so, the article may be some what abbreviated, but that in itself may be positive.
    For South Texans who need some positive reenforcement,  just turn to our great out doors. We have been blessed with some gorgeous weather during most of October.  Cooler days, lower humidity, and a tint of green remaining in the landscape makes for a most enjoyable experience.  The mornings and evenings have been exceptionally nice in recent weeks.  It’s been the kind of weather that can almost make mending a fence an enjoyable task, particularly if the fence line is free of thorny brush.
    For me, watching a herd of cattle peacefully grazing across the pasture is a tranquil site.  And for those of us involved in the cattle business, that site is always more enjoyable when the pasture has an abundance of green grass.        I don’t mind spending the entire late afternoon working on an outdoor project.  In recent weeks, I have realized that missing the evening news block on TV can be some what beneficial.  Not knowing about all the calamities around the world and the constant reminders of lawlessness and tragedy that dominates the local news can actually be a source mental relief and relaxation.   
    This past month, I was reminded of just how beneficial a trip to the great outdoors can aid in maintaining a positive attitude.  It is something that those of us fortunate enough to spend most of our days outside , take for granted.    I have some cows on a place that is leased for bird hunting to a group of middle-aged guys from the Galveston and Baytown area.  Over the past five years I have gotten to know this group and was concerned about their well-being following hurricane Ike’s landfall.
     A couple of days after the storms passing,  I received a call from one of the bird hunters who lived on the back side of Galveston Bay.  He had just gotten his cell phone re-charged and was standing in a FEMA line to get a few essentials when he called to inquire about how his old camper trailer at the bird lease had made it through the storm.   I said , “ Fine, the wind never got much over 30 miles per hour over in Jim Wells County”.   He replied, “ That is great I will be down with my son tomorrow and spend a few days at the ranch.  Hope the birds are still around”.   I inquired as to how he and the others in the group made it through the storm.  He replied , “ We lost the bottom floor of our home to the tide surge! The guys from Baytown lost a few shingles and tree limbs. Gotta go.  See you soon, if all goes as planned” .   
    A few weeks later this gentleman told me how thankful he was to have a place where he and his son could go to get away from the destruction and turmoil.   He said that being out with nature, watching the cows, and sitting by the campfire helped to clear his mind of the tragedy. It allowed him time to develop a recovery plan from this catastrophe.  But more importantly it gave him some quality time with his teenage son, who had typically been more interested in hanging out with his friends and playing video games than “ruffing it” at the bird lease.  Being able to come to the ranch was truly a blessing! This experience wasn’t like winning a world championship and going to Disneyland, but for this father and his son,  few days in the brush country was - - as the TV commercial says, - -  “Priceless”
SLS