Smells like money!

If it’s January; in Denver; it’s the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo!  I love that smell.  I love being around farmers, ranchers, cowboys, and horse people.  I love their values: God, country, family.  I love their work ethic centered around kids, crops, and critters.  I love their commitment!

We can learn a lot from cowboy wisdom; Irish wisdom, too:

Then I remembered the Irishman's remark, that one spur was enough, because if one side of your horse went, the other would be sure to go.

George Pickett

My wife is a horse person; my younger son, his wife, and my granddaughter, too.  Coming from the Chicago suburbs, I live with a whole different “herd” now:

My husband said if I don’t sell my horses, he will leave me.  Some days I miss him.

Unknown Sage

My favorite National Western event is the draft horse competition.  On the surface, you see the power and beauty of the teams and the teamsters.  Their commitment lies below the surface.

In this 2018 picture there are (14), 6-draft-horse teams.  That’s about 84 tons of horse! And, over eight million dollars!

 Here’s my math (in 2018 dollars): 

$105,000 for tack (42 sets of harnesses, hitches, and reins x $2,500 per set; 3 pairs per team - 2 horses are the wheel team; 2 horses are the swing team; and 2 are the lead team)

14 show wagons with trailer @ $25,000 each = $350,000

14 pick-up trucks to haul the show wagon trailers @ $70,000 each = $980,000

14 tractor-trailers to haul the 84 draft horses @ $110,000 each = $1,554,000

84 draft horses @ $60,000 each (average public auction price) = $5,040,000.

All in, that’s $8,029,000!

Those millions don’t cover hay (50 pounds per horse per day x 84 horses x $5 per pound x 365 days = $7,665,000); plus grain (50 pounds of grain per day…); plus shoeing… plus veterinarian … plus fuel for the vehicles… plus, plus, plus.

The $2,500 1^st Place prize money is certainly not the reason these folks compete.

While others watch NFL playoffs on TV, these folks feed; fill water; groom; polish tack and wagons; muck manure.  While caring for their critters, they even eat their meals in the barn.  Commitment!

Western folks are committed to our U S of A, too.  During the National Western at the start of every day, as well as before each rodeo, everyone stands and “removes cover” for the singing of our National Anthem.

Yep – I love the sights, sounds, and smell of the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo!

GAP

When life gets tough we could get a helmet… or… we could leverage the peace and share the power of a positive perspective.

The National Western…

If it’s January; and it’s Denver; then it’s the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo!  Ever been?  I love being around farmers, ranchers, cowboys, and horse people.  I love their values of God, country, and family.  I love their work ethic, centered around kids, crops, and critters.  I love their commitment! 

We can learn a lot from cowboy wisdom: 

Don’t squat with your spurs on. 

Never drink downstream from the herd. 

                   Texas Bix Bender 

My wife is a horse person; my younger son, his wife, and my granddaughter, too.  Coming from the Chicago suburbs, I live with a whole different “herd” now: 

My husband said if I don’t sell my horses, he will leave me.  Some days I miss him. 

Unknown Sage 

My wife was the National Western’s embroiderer.  Over the course of a 16-day, 8am to 10pm, non-stop stretch, she would embroider 100+ champion coats for the Events Center equestrian event winners.  That along with operating her booth making personalized horse halters, dog collars and leashes… 8am to 10pm;16 straight days; non-stop.  That’s commitment! 

My favorite National Western event each year is the draft horse competition.  On the surface, the audience sees the power and beauty of the teams.  They certainly exemplify western values as written about in James P. Owen’s book, Cowboy Ethics ©: 

Ride for the brand. 

Those in the know appreciate what it takes below the surface.  Talk about commitment!  The training hours alone preparing to compete in a venue such as the National Western Stock Show & Rodeo are indescribable.  Not to mention the small fortune required. 

In this picture from 2018 there are 14, 6-draft-horse teams (That’s about 84 tons of horse!). You’re also looking at

          over           eight           million          dollars!           

Here’s my math:  $105,000 for tack (42 sets of harnesses, hitches, and reins x $2,500 per set; 3 pairs per team - 2 horses are the wheel team; 2 horses are the swing team; and 2 are the lead team, all with special fitting, matching tack); 14 show wagons with trailer @ $25,000 each = $350,000; 14 pick-up trucks to haul the show wagon trailers @ $70,000 each = $980,000; 14 tractor-trailers to haul the 84 draft horses @ $110,000 each = $1,554,000; and 84 show draft horses @ $60,000 each average public auction price = $5,040,000. All in, that’s $8, 029,000. 

Those millions don’t cover the cost of hay (50 pounds of hay per horse per day x 84 horses x $5 per pound x 365 days = $7,665,000); plus grain (50 pounds of grain per day…); plus shoeing… plus veterinarian … plus fuel for the vehicles for hauling… plus, plus, plus.  And that’s in 2018 dollars! 

The $2,500 prize money for the 1^st place team (along with two “Champion” jackets provided by the National Western Stock Show and embroidered by my wife) was certainly not the reason these folks competed. 

While others watched NFL playoffs on TV, these teamsters were filling water troughs; grooming horses; polishing tack and wagons; mucking manure.  They all know one another and enjoy visiting with fellow competitors.  While caring for their critters, they even eat their meals in the barn.  Commitment! 

Western folks are committed to our U S of A, too.  During the National Western, at the start of every day, as well as before each rodeo, everyone stands and “removes cover” for the singing of our National Anthem. 

Yep – I love the National Western Stock Show and Rodeo! 

GAP 

When life gets tough we could get a helmet… or… we could leverage the peace and share the power of a positive perspective.

We remember…

I never served in the military.  I can only imagine the commitment, self-sacrifice, and bravery our country’s veterans must have had to preserve our way of life.  It continues with those who serve today. 

Memorial Day is a “day of remembrance”.  As the struggle for our freedom continues we pause to remember those who served; who sacrificed; who died; for America; for our America; for our nation of great opportunity. 

According to Wikipedia the history of remembrance goes back over 150 years: 

In 1868, General John A. Logan of the Grand Army of the Republic called for a "Decoration Day", which was widely celebrated. By 1890, every Northern state had adopted it as a holiday. The World Wars turned it into a generalized day of remembrance, instead of just for the Civil War. 

Though we Americans are addressing many difficulties today, this is nothing new.  In the book Pickett’s Charge ©, Robert E. Lee said this in that Civil War battlefield aftermath: 

We must expect reverses, even defeats.  They are sent to teach us wisdom and prudence, to call forth greater energies, and to prevent our falling into greater disasters. 

Step-by-step, we continue to overcome our reverses.  Step-by-step, we gain wisdom and prudence from our defeats.  Step-by-step we strive to prevent greater disasters.  All while maintaining a certain sense of American humor and ingenuity: 

     Consider how far a step-by-step approach took American diplomat Charles Thayer in negotiating with a German prison director at the outbreak of World War II…

     He (the prison director) had the British vice-consul brought from his cell, and one by one I handed over items: pajamas, shirts, socks, and a toilet kit...

     I then produced a bottle of sherry, explaining that the vice-consul should have it served before his luncheon.  The director said nothing, but took the bottle submissively. 

     Next I produced a bottle of champagne which, I said, should be properly iced with the vice-consul's dinner.  The director shifted uneasily but remained silent. 

     Next came a bottle of gin, another of vermouth, and a cocktail shaker.  This, I explained, was for the vice-consul's evening martini.  “Now you take one part of vermouth.” I began, “and four parts of gin, add plenty of ice”.

     “Verdammit!” the director exploded.  “I am willing to serve sherry and champagne and even gin to this prisoner, but he can damn well mix his own martinis!”

     By taking a step-by-step approach, Thayer substantially accomplished his mission. 

William Ury 

Only in America do cultures of diversity live together so united.  Truly, we have our differences and there is plenty of strife.  Americans have much work to do in the pursuit of a more perfect union. Still, we benefit today from those who came before us.  They gave us great opportunities. 

But what are we making of our opportunities?  What opportunities (and debts) will we leave for our future generations? 

In every community, there is work to be done. 

In every nation, there are wounds to heal. 

In every heart, there is the power to do it. 

Marianne Williamson 

We will pause our work on Monday to honor the men and women of our armed forces; especially those who made the ultimate sacrifice: 

On Memorial Day let’s remember.  Then let’s go back to work Tuesday – working to overcome our difficulties; working to leverage our opportunities; working to preserve our way of life for future generations. 

Yes Marianne, “In every heart, there is the power to do it!” 

GAP 

When life gets tough we could get a helmet… or… we could leverage the peace and share the power of a positive perspective.