An email came through several months back. It was from a family who was having to disperse their herd due to difficult times. Although I didn't need to be purchasing any cattle I figured it wouldn't hurt to shoot them an offer. Weeks later, and after several emails and phone calls we had struck a deal. My good friend and fellow breeder, Mike Willis, helped us make the 12 hour round trip to get the cattle. When we got to the place where the Whites had been keeping their herd and we actually saw the cattle, it became obvious they were definitely in need of a good home. The majority were in very poor shape, and although it had been a wet summer, the pasture had no grass to support them. I could not help but feel sorry for the family as it appeared they had tried every way they could to
I. LIFE STORY
"How far we come"
About two months ago I was at a Texas Rangers baseball game. It was Firefighter Appreciation Night for the members of my profession. Part of the ceremony involved having some volunteers unfurl a giant American Flag just behind center field. I happen to be one of those volunteers. I have been in the profession for going on 25 years, and had affiliations with it since the late 70's. I felt the ceremony was both an honor and privilege and I appreciate the Texas Rangers ball club for their consideration and recognition of our profession. I doesn't seem that long ago when my wife and I made a visit to the local fire training center to see if I had made the list of a very competitive process involving hundreds of applicants. The results of the list would determine if I would remain on active duty in the military and be shipped overseas, or see a new career as a public servant. Tina was pregnant at the time, and the job would help keep us together as a family. The department was only offering the job to 25 candidates, and my written score, although being in the top 25, was around a placing of about 35 when you counted like scores. I had to really excel in the physical fitness portion of the test to in order to get the job...especially with 300 people taking it.
Knowing what was laid on the line, I tried my hardest at the fitness test. About a week went by until the results came out. Tina and I went to the fire training center to view the list. I was not in the number 25 slot. My heart sank as I continued to search down the list hoping to find my name at least in the top 100. If I could just make the top 100 I had a slim chance at an interview, but my name wasn't there. I went back to the 25th position on this list and began to search up with high hopes that I had done better then I expected. I passed the 20th slot, then the 15th, then the 10th. My gut was wrenching in disappointment at every ID# I passed that wasn't mine. I got to number 5 and it began to sink in that I didn't even make the top 100. I took a quick look at the top five just to confirm my fate. I was thinking this was my first big chance to impress my wife with my ability to provide and I had failed...until my finger brushed over the number one position. That's where I found my number.....:) I was dumbfounded for about 10 seconds, then I swept Tina up in my arms and spun her around outside the building. We did it! We also knew it meant we had a future at a normal family life. Of course, after I started my career in the fire service, our life was never normal again...:)
Our first child was born in the fall of that year...during rookie school. To this day I am not sure which was harder to deal with, but I do know they both combined to give me a serious challenge. I can tell you which one has been the most rewarding though....:) Almost two years later we had our second child. For nearly 25 years now Tina and I have stayed busy making a good family environment for our kids. I think our kids had their share of fun, adventure, activities, and accomplishments, and they even turned out alright! You just hope that along the way, you also teach them some of the important things in life. As they grow up you wonder what they will do, or who they will become. You try to set a good example for them to follow, you support them when times are hard, and love them no matter what. With curiosity and patience you wait to see what the winds will blow their way and what they will choose as their focus or profession. Then one day you look around and see how far they have come.
I was holding the American flag in the center below it's canton as 25 of us walked it out behind the outfield for the commencement ceremony before the game. The crowd was cheering loudly, and it wasn't for the ball players...:) It was a moment to remember...and to share. We took a knee. I looked to my right and smiled at my nephew (and adopted brother). He was kneeling next to me, holding the flag in his firefighter uniform. I said "Brother, Uncle", then I turned to my left and smiled at my son who was also kneeling next to me holding the flag in his firefighter uniform. I said "Father, Son", then I turned to face forward and place one hand above my heart in preparation of the national anthem. My chest was bursting with pride. That's when I heard my son say "...and Grandpa"! I looked at him in shock and he laughed. I'm glad he has a sense of humor too!
The moral of the story:
Planting a seed and nourishing its growth can be done in a season, but the results last for a lifetime.
From a cattle raisers point of view:
You can raise some good cattle quickly with common sense and money, but it takes a lifetime to keep it that way.
II. INFORMATIVE
"Management by intervention"
This fall while I was busy hauling the last of my winters hay, I had some time to reflect on the years progress and where I wanted to be this time next year. Mighty Whitey was purring down the back highways doing an outstanding job handling a 38' flatbed loaded down with round bales. I missed the noise and the need to shift ol' Big Red, but it was sure nice to have a quiet cab and some quiet time to myself [Tina wasn't with me...:)]. I was thinking about what little time I spent dealing with my herd this year. I knew part of it was do to the considerable downsizing of our herd (fewer calves, pastures, and maintenance), and part was due to the weather providing plenty of water and grass this year, but I knew that one other thing had come into play...and that was fewer issues. This got my gears rolling as to whether I really managed my herd this year or did I just intervene when necessary. I almost felt guilty about my part in the broad scheme of my herd management and that I had fallen short. I did actually fall very short in my paperwork side of it....:), but what I also realized is that my previous management of the herd was also exactly why I didn't have the "issues".
I had sold, and culled with stricter criteria the past two years based on our drought conditions. Besides selling all the calves and most of the younger cows, what remained of my herd were the cows which gave me no problems and/or the cows which had me believing they probably wouldn't have the potential for problems. I know based on the commitments I had this year, it made my life allot easier. So, where I had thought I failed in managing my herd this year by very little interaction, I had actually succeeded. I had only needed to intervene when necessary, and this is the key to proper management. I was down to the easy keepers,...the efficient, functional and problem free ones. Many of them were very old and in most herds would have been the first ones to go under the circumstances (and standard culling practices), but when I can't fault a cow, and her production is still up to par then I see no need to replace her with another younger model. I think it would be foolish to sell a decade of consistent production for young replacements that are not proven just because it is a standard practice. Mother nature will tell me which animals will need to be moved and when.
Mother nature has a way of taking care of those animals. All we need to be is observant and expedite the process for her. If animals in nature are not strong, efficient, and adaptable they will not survive and their genetic base will disappear through attrition. Cows and calves won't survive on bad udders, and calving problems. Animals won't stay in production if they are not physically strong, efficient foragers, easy fleshing, and good on their legs. Inherited health problems will eventually end a genetic line. Animals will adapt to be functional or their genetic line will either cease to exists or be absorbed by the stronger genetic line. Culling practices speed up the process that mother nature has already put in place. Using proven genetic lines and selecting for desirable traits go a long way in increasing the productivity and longevity of your herd. If you manage your herd effectively and efficiently, make sound breeding selections, provide water, grass, mineral, and vaccinations, then all that leaves for management is intervention when the unexpected occurs. Intervention management makes our job allot easier and a whole lot more profitable. Just make sure you do the things up front that get your herd to point of management by intervention.
III. FARM NEWS:
Bulls for sale! We still have one nice bull for sale. Check the sale barn for details!
Thankyou Mike Mcgrath for letting Double H Farms help you find the cattle you were looking for..
Thankyou Michael Schaeffer for your recent purchase of Double H Farms cattle.
IV. CURRENT/ UPCOMING EVENTS:
TPHA State Show in Ft. Worth - November 10th and 11th.
Ft. Worth Stock Show, Junior Show - January 20th
Ft. Worth Stock Show, Bull Pen - January 26th
Ft. Worth Stock Show, Commercial Heifer Sale, Select Sale, and Social - January 27th
Ft. Worth Stock Open Show - January 28th
V. HEREFORD HIGHLIGHTS:
White Farms Cattle
Farms
The Harvey's
Tom & Tina
Double
Farms
Double
Farms
Double
Newsletter
Performance on the Hoof!
Performance on the Hoof!
Performance on the Hoof!
Fall 2007
Thanks, and keep coming back!!
Table of Contents:
Earlier this year White Farms, a small family operation, sent out a email seeking a breeder to purchase their entire herd. They had met with some difficult times and had no choice but to move their cattle. They were hoping to find a buyer that would keep the herd together. After some negotiation, Double H Farms was able to make the purchase and give these cattle a good home.
hang on to their dreams of raising their Herefords, even to they point of sacrificing their condition. Never the less, and true to my word I accepted the animals as they were. I was surprised to find Mrs. White had detailed records on all their cattle, from vaccinations, to birth, and breeding, which showed me the interest and commitment they had with their herd. She even helped Mike and I load the animals, despite her having broken arm! Once we had the cattle loaded and were ready to leave I saw her tear up. I could only imagine the memories she had made with her children and those cattle. I am sure it hurt her to see part of her family leaving, but I know she was glad to see them all going in the same trailers. Those animals are doing much better now. Some are joint owned with Iron Lakes Ranch. They are in good condition. I think the Whites children would be happy to know they were taken care of in the end.
White Farms
069
Cooper, Texas
doublehtx@gmail.com
