Oregon Senate bill 613

Oregon Senate bill 613:
sen.davidnelson@state.or.us
sen.floydprozanski@state.or.us
sen.brucestar@state.or.us
sen.brianboquist@state.or.us
sen.markhass@state.or.us

Senators in Oregon are trying to outlaw horse roping. Once again, people are legislating on something they do not understand with misinformation from the HSUS. This is getting to be enough! Please e-mail the above senators. They do not understand that roping horses is a part of heritage, training, and not an animal welfare issue!

Public Lands

BLM, Forest Service, Refuges, and State ground are all part of the Public Lands system that is rampant in the Western United States. I am as guilty as the next person of blaming the local office for the management of these lands in the area. But, when you really get to thinking about it, they are doing only what they have been directed to do by voters.

Voters? Yep, the ones who elect the officials who make decisions on appropriations, directives, and legislation. I harp on people to quit taking their frustrations out on the local level and go to where it counts. Send letters to legislators praising the programs that are necessary for the land to be sustainable and the small communities viable.

We really need to get out of our shells and educate John Q. Public about why such practices are necessary. Why timber needs to be harvested. Why cattle are beneficial. Why feral horses need to be managed. The big one- How all these effect the land, resources, and economy of areas with a public lands component.

Dogs

I was reading bits and pieces of the Micheal Vick drama and pit bull rescues etc. It is heart wrenching to think of the way people used and abused these dogs. One blogger commented on the scars, missing teeth, and limp ears. Called these dogs weapons and soldiers taught to fight not pets.

That got me to thinking about my own dogs. They have scars, missing teeth, one has a split tongue, and all the other various maladies and limps that come with being a tool, pet, and part of the family at our house.

So what is the difference? Someone could look at Pancho and be upset, but they would probably be more disturbed at his howls when it is not his day to work. We rotate our dogs so they all get used and have time off through out the week. But they hate their days off and live to work cows. Pancho has this stupid, goofy look on his face when he puts one back in the herd. You know " I did good huh, I showed that beast who is boss." Weapon? Maybe not. Tool? Definitely!

They are also part of our family.

Some People

We had a 4-H function this weekend. We were tagging steers when one escaped into our small town. It went through the high school lawn, across main street and was head out of town. As the tagging team hit main street they didn't know where the calf had went. A lady told them " the big dog headed that way."

The big dog? It was daylight, we live in an area where beef production is the number one economy. Ummm... and you don't know the difference. Wake up and smell the manure people.

Oh well, the calf was caught and returned to its rightful place. No harm, no foul. But a big dog? Could you imgaine the bite he could have taken out of someone?

Facebook Viral

BREAKING NEWS: No farms or ranches are closed due to the fridgid temperatures. Each and every rancher will be out in the blistery, cold, blowing wind tending to their livestock. They will be praying for machinery to work and non-frozen water pipes. If you know or love a rancher or farmer, say a prayer for him or her and repost so the prayer line may grow for our ranchers and farmers to be safe.

I have seen this message on the posts of many of my facebook friends. It is nice to see something supporting the ag industry going viral.

What a great way to get the message out to many people about what exactly is entailed in producing food. There are no snow days when animals are involved.

February is Beef Month

A great opportunity to tell about the benefits of beef! February is beef month. Steaks for valentine's day are always a bonus at our house. What are you going to do to celebrate a lean source of protein?

Annoyed with Oprah

Not only is Oprah an annoying sensationalist who has made billions of dollars off of people but she seems determined to undermine the livestock industry. Today, Oprah will air a show entitled- Oprah and 378 Staffers Go Vegan- The One Week Challenge
http://http://www.oprah.com/showinfo/Oprah-and-378-Staffers-Go-Vegan-The-One-Week-Challenge

The show will have special guest Micheal Pollan author of "The Ominvores Dilemna" and Kathy Freston a vegan author and spiritual advisor. Both of these will share their thoughts about what you should eat and what you should know about the foods you eat. Wow! Really? I am sure they have each taken a science class in high school and thus are able to tell how to eat. Or maybe they stayed at a Holiday Inn Express?

In addition, Lisa Ling, Oprah's investigative reporter, is taking a look inside a beef processing facility.

The comments are flying in. Maybe they should have Angelina Jolie on their to counter balance?