JWsPOV

  In the beginning I was not a watcher or a fan. There was a lot of talk. Chatter online. Then I decided to tune and check out all the hype. There is cattle, ranching, horses, politics, drama, and suspense. This show was a creation from the mind of a very creative horse jockey. The story is well written, the acting is superb, and the raw attitude is what brings people back each week. This show hits an audience that is hungry for real talk, real action, and real results. The bad part is it is all fiction.  The show is full of wrong information. Actions that make no sense. Calves do not jump up and start running immediately after being born. Most cattle ranches don’t take their hands and shoot them off a cliff if their employment has ended. They don’t brand their workers for show of loyalty. The good news is it is all fiction.  The characters in the show are people you either love or hate. They are characters that bring a lot of talent to the show. These people come from ma...

            I read a post on social media recently about how there is no such thing as a grade level. In school we always say a child is reading at a 3rd grade level in 2nd grade. That means they are high achievers. Or a kid is reading at a 2nd grade level in 4th grade. They are below the standard and not a high achiever. The idea seems like a good way to standardize the teaching process and make assessments on the kids. I have no problem with children or adults being graded. I have no problems with levels of achievement set forth for people to obtain. Those are the same as goals in life. You set a goal that seems far out and you work to achieve that goal.  Do we teach young people in that manner though? We currently as a nation rank very low in reading, writing, math, and science levels compared to other civilized nations. Yet we spend more as a country on education than most other countries combined. Why is that?  I do not claim to have the...

Growing up in the country most of my life was spent on 2 lane roads. There were some roads that weren’t meant to be two lanes, but ended up that way on occasion. When we went to town, the access roads to the main highways were even two lanes. Life seemed simpler. It was not as complicated with technology, 24/7 news, and so much politics. When traveling, Dad and I still like two lane roads. We like taking the back way to get somewhere. Irony is, leaving a two lane town where the streets roll up at 9 PM, only to move to a six lane town where people never sleep.  The pleasure of a two lane road is that there are normally not a lot of complications along the way. You typically come to a town, have a stop sign, maybe a light, and some businesses. There are people living their lives in peace. A slower pace and usually a really good restaurant. The funny thing is, people in a small town, with just a two lane road, are still going in opposite directions. There are people that c...

We have all heard the expression, the right place at the right time. It indicates there is a level of luck in the scenario of life. I argue there are higher powers at work. More importantly, you are in the right place at the right time, because of you. Your hard work and efforts. The other day a friend messaged me to see if I knew anyone that could haul a heifer. I don’t have a trailer or truck big enough to pull one at this time. I thought, I miss having a bigger truck. Then I realized I don’t need one hardly ever. Dad and I live in town at this time for convenience of work and other aspects of life. When I was driving to the last show to judge, I told Dad I miss living in the country. I do everyday. The choice to live where I am now is a calculated decision. One I made for many reasons. I want cattle again. I want to raise some goats and a slew of other animals. That day will come and is on my path for life goals. Not being close to some of my dearest friends is tough. I live in a...

Comfort is defined as to give strength and hope to. To ease grief or trouble of. As many people know, I am an extremely shy person and have a hard time striking up conversations. Okay, so that is a lie, I love to talk, and the gift of gab runs deep in my family. Finding comfort in life is sometimes hard to do while we find happiness in a few different places. I believe there is a difference in what makes you happy and finding comfort.  For those in the livestock industry, specifically fitters, happiness is when your animal  wins the show. There is no other feeling like it and the rush you get is a high that lasts for days or even weeks. Comfort for me is the process to get the win. Rinsing cattle and blowing that hair to make it look straight, going in the right direction, and fluffed just right. Many people can lose themselves in a set of clippers while fitting cattle. Pulling leg hair just right with one swipe of the comb or finishing that topline to perfection. Comfort is a...

  I remember growing up that it was important in life to be a bigger person. Make the responsible choices. Act accordingly when someone does you wrong. Being the bigger person is all about attitude and mentality. People who are mean, angry, and confrontational will a lot of times have a good reason to be that way. Sometimes people have wronged them, other times it’s a compilation of emotions building up over time. Either way you have to deal with those emotions in your life. Some cope by eating, others by drinking, and some by physical activity to work out their troubles in life.  I am a believer in picking your poison. Whatever vice you have that helps you cope is what you should use. The problem is we all use these to extremes. Drinking too much on a regular basis affects you in unimaginable ways. Moderation of alcohol has shown to actually be good for your body. The problem is many take it to extremes.  Food is another vice many turn too. We all have over indulged and ...

The list of items that people should stop doing is too long. The book would be larger than any pork filled bill our government could pass. What I believe we should do is stop what we can and make life better for ourselves. Most people I know do too much, especially for people who do not deserve their time. When we become selective with our time and stop or say “no”, life becomes a little better.  One thing that the last year and half has taught us, is that more people look down on others for the way they choose to live their life. I personally know people that have disdain and contempt for people they do not know because those people choose to live in a way that differs from their idea. They don’t like what food choices they make, what life choices they make, or how they speak to another person.  I know people that will interject themselves into a conversation that has nothing to do with them and only to make a point of what they know or how right they ...

Responsibility is hard. No questions about it. It is even harder when you are young, ignorant about life, or just plain lazy. Many people want to avoid responsibilities. Whether those responsibilities are work, home, or out in public, some are avoided at all costs.  When a person goes out drinking, they have to take responsibility for their actions and behavior. You can blame the alcohol all you want. You are to blame for not watching what you drink, or being prepared to find a ride. It is your responsibility to make sure you don’t get into a vehicle intoxicated and kill someone. Responsibility at work has always been a thorn in my side. Lazy people at work drive me up the wall. They are almost as bad as the ones quick to judge. There are people that want to rush to get their work done and then just play on the internet the rest of the day. Many people never take responsibility for what they did wrong. They are always finding others to blame. Just stop and fess up to yo...

Life is made up of many chapters. Some are happy, some are sad, and some are scary. Those chapters of life build you into the person you are today. I don’t remember anywhere or at any time that my very wise parents told me that life would be easy or full of only wonderful events.  Many people are posting their photos and stories of taking their kids to college. The wonderfully decorated dorm rooms, and apartments, the tears of happiness. I remember when my mom, sister, and dad dropped me off for college. That was back when freshmen at A&M didn’t have to live on campus. I lived with my aunt and uncle for 2 years. I wonder as I got older what that conversation between my parents and sister was like as they drove away. All of them had tears in their eyes. It wasn’t until I was older when I understood why. Rounding out a good chapter of life. Loss of life is horrible. Period. End of story. No matter the reason why or the cause behind it, death is a part of life that we as humans ha...

I am not sure the title of this article needs any explanation. We should know that we have a 100% chance of nothing happening in our lives, if we fear it so much, we never make an attempt. What we do not know is what will happen or change because we did make an attempt. Fear of failure is in our heads and a powerful emotion. Especially for people who hate to fail or be wrong. The only option is to do it. Years ago, an employer asked me if I was fearful of losing a job. I said no, because I will find other work. Overcoming that fear of failure usually happens after you have failed. Once you realize the world doesn’t end, things will be alright.  Lessons in life come from both success and failure. It is growth as humans. Certain predators stay away from porcupines because of fear of getting stuck by their quills. One predator of porcupines is a Fisher. They are a member of the weasel family. They will continually attack a porcupine at its head until it dies. This is to av...

As a kid, my parents told me certain things I would outgrow in life. I didn’t believe them at the time. Now, I look back at how wise they really were and still are about life.  In livestock there are trends that pop up and people snatch on to with excitement. Clubby type heifers, or heifers bred to be steers, are still popular with a lot of people. They believe it’s the only way to raise steers for show. It is not and never has been. As an industry, we need to grow out of the mindset of one type traits. Most successful producers will tell you the key to longevity is not a single trait herd. It is the well rounded aspects of the animals. Sound and functional animals with rib shape and good maternal traits are the basis for most operations. Having a herd of single trait animals does not mean you won’t raise a champion at a major show. Growing the mindset of your herd means you will probably grow multiple champions at major shows. Grow your mind into thinking long term in ...

We are all many things in life. We all carry multiple hats. Some we wear straight and well; others are a little crooked. That is okay. Working and striving to be better is all anyone can ask. Doing more than one thing in life is expected. It has been since the beginning of time. There will always be multiple roles to manage as we navigate this thing called life.  Here is a list of things I am and that matter in my life.  I am a son. Sometimes not the best, I try. I am a brother. I hope I was the best brother. I miss that role.  I am an uncle. I care for those kids as if they were my own. I am a writer who works to get better every day. I am a baker. I have a chess pie and sweet potato pie recipes that will make you slap your grandmothers.  I am a livestock judge. I love sorting animals, working with kids, and people. I am a photographer. I love taking pictures and nowhere near good yet.  I am someone who motivates. Hopefully, helping people find purp...

I have always been a big proponent of education and learning. I think a solid foundation of math, reading, and science is a great start to any child’s life. Give them an afternoon nap or recess and then a good school bus ride home. These are some basic needs that give kids a good start in life. No matter what their homelife is like, school should be a place they want to go.  Education starts at home. It begins when we hear our parents and siblings speak to us, play games with us, and even discipline us. We watch the behavior of our moms and dads and want to imitate them and be like them in life. As we grow older, we start gaining our own identity from meeting friends, travels, family, and family friends. This is called growth and it is good.  No matter what is taught in school though, the education at home is a strong bond. This is true for a number of reasons. If teachers in the classroom were as effective, we would not have certain words or phrases around anymore...

  . With the hectic world we live in, we should treat ourselves and at the same time teach our kids a few lessons. When I was growing up fast food was not an option. We ate at home with something prepared and normally not from a box. Dining out was a treat and saved for those vacation times or just a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary. Reservations were almost always needed, and we typically cleaned up well.  Every child and human should be treated to a night of fine dining. Cloth napkins, reservations required, and service that is impeccable. Not everyone gets to experience that in life. Some have never been out of their county for anything. It doesn’t make them less of a person. It also does not mean they don’t understand the world.  People should dress up for dining out. If the restaurant has cloth napkins. You should not be wearing clothes so tight we can see the type of underwear you have on. We should also talk about wearing pajama bottoms out in public...

I remember growing up in our old farmhouse. Life seemed great. We loved getting summer rain to cool things down. We had a window A/C unit in the living room and box fans everywhere. When it rained, we would open the windows and let the cool air into the house. The sound of rain and the cool off was wonderful.  I didn’t know anything else when I was growing up. Life was wonderful.  We had a party line on our telephone. That changed later. My dad worked for the telephone company and my mom at the bank. I had an older sister that picked on me constantly, yet took me to the movies and to hang out with her friends. Life was wonderful.  We had a TV that got 3 stations. Most of my time was spent outside. Cows, bikes, marbles, hot wheels, and my toy tractors were my life. My sister played basketball and dad set up a goal and net in the backyard. Life was wonderful.  In the evenings we sat outside under the shade trees where it was cooler than in the house. Mom an...

Years ago, Joes Crab Shack, a popular chain restaurant, coined the phrase, ‘Peace, Love, and Crabs’. The phrase is catchy. Mainly for the fact that deep down we all want peace and love. We can add whatever noun at the end that soothes the soul. When my nephews were showing cattle, we had, ‘Peace, Love, and Herefords’, as a theme. They even had it printed on tie dyed shirts as well. Everyone loved it and the theme carried out to other cattle breeds. We only get peace through trials, troubles, and turbulence in life. Unless you are born an old soul, it takes time to get to that part of your life where you do not care what others think about you. You have conquered most of the demons in your life. You find peace with your family, friends, work, and especially home life. This is a super important step to a wonderful life.  Love can be accomplished in many ways -  family, friends, and even animals. You need to love what you do for work in life too. We spend a minimum of 40 hours a ...

  Baseball season is in full swing. Here in Texas, we have more than a few places to participate in America’s game. I really enjoy baseball games live. Cold beer, hot dogs, and the 7 th inning stretch. As a family outing for many, baseball is a very patriotic game and should be one that continues to inspire young people to believe in the good part of life.  When my dad lived in St Louis for a spell working, he and his buddy would go to a baseball game. There would normally be a double header. They would drink a beer and eat hot dogs for a ridiculously low cost. They may have spent one dollar for the tickets and another dollar for tons of food and drinks. Life was a little simpler back then and dad always has fond memories of that time of his life.  By the time the 5 th or 6 th inning rolls around, that pitcher is probably getting tired. He is struggling to get the ball over the plate and the speed has dropped. His arm is giving out. The unique aspect of baseball is wh...

  Brittany Spears has been in the public eye for decades. She is a singer known around the world. When she did her first music video it was in a naughty schoolgirl outfit, and she was dancing around. The idea of her dressing like a naughty schoolgirl was hers. She came up with a lot of the ideas that made her a household name. She is 39 years old and has been married and divorced 2 times. One was an annulment so not technically a divorce. She has 2 kids by her second ex-husband.  There are many people out who are single moms and have a couple of kids. They come up with great ideas and ways to support their family. Many are single by choice, others are single due to no fault of their own. Then there are those that are single Mom’s due to their actions. No offense to any of them, I know plenty of single mothers that do an outstanding job of raising their kids and being a success.  If we have so many of these women who are doing a great job and making their own decisions. Wh...

If you have never heard a person order a Dewar’s on the rocks. You might be hanging out in the wrong bars. For those that do not consume alcohol, Dewar’s is a brand of blended Scotch whiskey. This brand was created by a gentleman named Thomas Dewar in Perth, Scotland, in the late 1800's. In my opinion, it is a good brand of Scotch and is continuously  rated as one of the best  in the world. I like a little water in mine.  Sitting down with a nice drink to sip and enjoy with good company is always a good experience. What is even better is sitting around with a group of people you like, admire, and consider winners in the game of life. There is nothing wrong with enjoying a good scotch, bourbon, or just a beer. Remember, the table you sit at does make a difference in life.  These types of gatherings and conversations will continually open your mind to other ideas. You are listening to stories of success, crazy ideas that produced outstanding results, or you...

Whiskey Myers is an outstanding band that has a wide range of songs from rock down to soft ballads. If you appreciate music that has words which mean something and melodies that can carry you away, this is the band for you. There is one song of theirs that always gets to the point and the words are an honest reflection of the real world. Glitter Ain’t Gold. One portion of the song goes, “Ain’t a show man I practice what I preach”. If we all lived our lives like that, it would be a whole different world.  When you listen to music and it touches you or helps put the world into perspective, that is meaningful. That is good music. It is interesting that art will mimic life or even help explain what is going on in the real world. If we take this song and compare it to the real world, social media comes to mind. Mainly because social media is not real life. Just like in the song from Whiskey Myers, Glitter Ain’t Gold.  100 years from now historians will arguably say, “So...

At no point should anyone be ashamed of who they are in life. Whether you are white, black, brown, purple, gay or lesbian, there is room on this earth for everyone to live. There is even room for everyone to live in peace.  Since the beginning of recorded history. Some people have had a different taste in their personal life. They didn’t take a liking to traditional relationships. There is nothing wrong with this as long as you are consenting adults behind closed doors. People have also had a different taste in political ideas, how to raise a family, and what foods to eat. The problem we run into in today’s society is we have to make each group special. They have to stand out and have tons of publicity. Publicity is not the problem, it’s those seeking the limelight and those who will do anything to get fame that are the problem. The problem is corporations saying they support all these groups. Yet, they do nothing to really help.  Former President Trump elected the...

It’s funny sometimes how when we need answers, we just pull out our phones and search Google. There is nothing wrong with this and I do it fairly often. Years ago, I was in a restaurant and a lady at a neighboring table said she would just GTS when she didn't know the answer. Her grandson taught her. Someone asked what GTS stood for, she replied, “Google that shit!”. We all laughed.  Imagine if you could Google God for answers to life. What if you could Google ways to lose weight, or what if you could Google what your spouse was thinking. Scratch that last one, I am not sure we want to know what is in people's minds.  In a way you can Google some of those questions. You still won't get a solid answer. Some questions we cannot Google or search on the internet. We have to live with the question.  Searching the internet will tell you what people feed cattle. It will not teach you how to feed cattle. The internet will show examples of livestock equipment to buy. I...

  Life can be compared to a game of chess. The problem is, I don’t know how to play chess. Many of you don’t either. Chess is a game where you have to be strategic in your moves. You have to protect certain parts of your life and expose others. It can all be quite scary.  The only ingredient to success is hard work. You have to work hard to learn in school, work hard in your job, and work hard to maintain a family. It can all still be fun. You can still love your life and love to read and learn. Especially love and have fun with your family. Growing up showing cattle I didn’t understand certain routines until I got a little older. I also discovered the more I practiced the more successful I became in showing cattle. Public speaking is the same as well as writing, photography, and any other passion you might have in life.  A farmer is not always going to have a bumper crop each year. Mother nature sometimes has a setting to say about that one. She might destroy your cotton...