“Teamwork makes it easier to get the most done.”

Reminded several times in recent weeks how important it is to assist each other. Always more efficient and fun working as a team.

There was a close race for the highpoint award at a late season horseshow. Three events remaining; the opponent was entered in all of them. If the cowgirl placed in any she would be the trophy winner.

Typically team events are not participated in anymore because the old horse has his set pattern speed and becomes tired. However, this time decision was made to find a partner to run in the pair sack race.

For lay folks, that’s a competition where two mounted riders hold onto a gunny sack running around a barrel. Five decades ago the pair race was run with riders holding hands, but that was physically difficult. Holding onto the sack is tough enough and many riders are disqualified by turning lose when the stretch becomes extended.

Course is sometimes altered and this time it was barrels on the corners at the opposite end of the arena. Two big palominos were literally chomping at their bits when starting in causing riders to lose sack handholds.

Reattaching, old cowboys on their fast horses went flying through the gate breakneck speed around the pattern. The other speedier horse was on the outside pushing and crowding the entire route, stopping the clock in winning time. Excited remarks from the loudspeaker as applause arose from the entire grounds at what earlier seemed an incomprehensible feat.

“The most beautiful qualify of friendship is to understand and to be understood.”

Attending memorial services for an acquaintance of six decades reminded about the importance of friends.

While there are many kinds of friendships, all have special meaning in their own unique way.

From an early age first realization of friendship is the immediate family. They are automatically looked to for respect, security, assistance, guidance and confidence all developing friendship.

Upon starting school new friendships are formed almost immediately yet different than that of kinfolks. Youthful camaraderie is often tied to each other’s interests, thoughts and experiences developing sense of belongingness and connection. Those who want to be cowboys soon chum up with those who want to be cowboys. That might even go to the extent of secretly trading toy cap pistols during morning rug naptime.

Adult and youth friendships develop during juvenile years when those seniors acknowledge the younger generation. As a grocery store carryout boy who made twice-a-day home deliveries customers became cherished friends. Mutual admiration, respect and appreciation would truly last forever.

While becoming friends with all classmates through school years, individual friendships tighten according to various calls of life. Cowboy and farmer types enjoy being together and doing things of like interests compared to those with different concentrations.

More broad scale friendships grow during college years as acquaintances are made from larger areas of the state and nationwide. While friends with local ties from earlier years remain, it is those of maturity which become most steadfast.

“He actually turned out to be a real counterfeit.”

The evaluation wasn’t said with harsh feelings, but with sincere honesty.

A longtime cowboy friend gave his opinion when asked about a horse he’d purchased. Presented by a young rider in the auction ring, the horse performed well and was credited to be outstanding.

When the buyer got his new horse home, it wasn’t as good as he’d expected. Possibly not even of the caliber as had been touted by rider, seller and auctioneer.

Certainly there are going to be similar outcomes if and when all ballots are counted and election results announced.

No debate or question about it, there is going to be some counterfeits elected. Which is which and who is who will not be known immediately and perhaps not for a very long time.

That is always the problem with making a bid on a horse or marking the election ballot. Everybody wants to make the right choice, but fact is that just isn’t possible all of the time.

Even when there are no shenanigans, everything is said on the up and up, the facts are true. Things just don’t always turn out right, or the way expected, wanted or needed.

Having sold and purchased hundreds of horses, it is certainly a two-way street. What a horse is believed to be and has been doesn’t mean it’ll be that way another time under different circumstances. Top horses have been sold that didn’t work as well for new owners.

Unfortunately, it’s nearly impossible to know who to vote for and everyone has some pros and cons. The situation this time seems to be difficulty in deciphering exactly what one offers and another doesn’t.

Advertising for this year’s candidates are frequently senseless. It is almost impossible to know which candidate is being advertised to be elected. Opponents have spent more backbiting than informing voters why they’re the one to elect.

There are false accusations without question, yet determining what is true and not has become impossible.

Like has been heard many times in the past week, it’ll sure be good when the election is over.

Reminded of First Timothy 1:6: “The whole point is simply love uncontaminated by self-interest and counterfeit. Those who fail to keep this point soon wander off into dead ends.”

“Neosho River bottomland farmer wins 100-bushel challenge.”

That wasn’t a true newspaper headline from the 1960s, but it sure could have been.

Farmers were challenged by a major seed company to compete for prizes to grow corn that yielded 100 bushels an acre. Few Kansas farmers were planting corn 60 years ago, and yields were typically far below winning the award.

It was a national competition so likely certain farmers in prominent corn growing states like Iowa did achieve that yield. There may have even been a couple Kansas farmers with rich cropland and ample rainfall who grew some 100-bushel corn. Of course, that may have been on a selected small bottomland acreage just enough to meet contest criteria.

State records indicate corn was a Kansas farm crop a century-and-a-half ago. However, yields were typically low, at least compared to 100 bushels an acre.

With a higher percentage of uphill “gumbo” in Kansas, majority of farmers found growing milo more profitable. Sometimes referred to as “grain sorghum” in state historical data, milo would especially produce more profit in dry years.

However, in the late ’60s when the vocational agriculture teacher encouraged a hands-on crop growing effort, corn was selected. Seven acres just outside the city limits were leased on a share-basis from a friend landowner.

“Just ask Bobby McNeill he’ll be able to tell you.”

That was the response when someone wondered about weather, market prices, any information from decades gone by.

The Newton farmer had the best memory of happenings in agriculture, family and community for 90 years.

Heartfelt sadness streamed after a call that the uncle-in-law passed away.

Since death of his wife, Dolores, two years ago, Bobby remained active, first consideration for family and farming. Yet, in recent clearly written cards, he admitted loneliness, missing his spouse of 64 years.

When ailment intruded the lengthy lifetime, Bobby was intent to stay in his farm home. Six daughters and two sons, affectionately calling him “Pa,” were dedicated loving caretakers.

Growing up on his Mom’s family farm, Bobby experienced hardships of the Dirty 30s Great Depression. Actually appreciated in maturity, Bobby was expected by his grandfather to do a man’s work as a boy.

Modern technology was limited as horse and mule teams powered farm machinery. Work was done by hand – milking cows, gathering eggs, slopping hogs twice daily.

Born into a devout family, prayer was present all of Bobby’s close-knit farm life. Regardless blizzard or smoldering summer, church was every Sunday. It was a long 20-mile journey each direction for Bobby’s family with a team and carriage before automobiles. Appropriately, Bobby harnessed ponies, Trigger and Pat, to the carriage for leaving the church on personal wedding day 48 years ago.

Sisters, resembling each other, married an uncle and his nephew Bobby, making relatives on both sides of the family. When Bobby proposed to Dolores despite apparent love, her demand was saying the rosary together every day. His promise was never broken.

“There’s nothing to watch on television.”

Frequently the comment is heard in passing, and obviously that’s not true, but it might often seem that way. In reality the statement should be, “There just isn’t anything on television that I have any interest in watching.”

That can truthfully be said by whoever’s flipping channels from the recliner unable to find programming of personal interest.

Something is always on television nowadays, but that’s not the way it’s always been. Young people today even their parents and perhaps grandparents can’t imagine not having a television.

Yet six decades ago, it was almost unheard of for most households to own a television. They were considered something for rich people and unnecessary expense that could easily be done without by common folk.

However, there was always a thrill of sorts to know someone who owned a TV. It was a special privilege to be asked to their home to watch a certain program.

Those with televisions had a high antenna pole in their yard to get signals through airwaves. Everything was in black and white and typically had lots of static interrupting reception.

Before long though most families thought television was a necessity and got one of their own. That was a special occasion remembered with a big smile many years later.

While only one channel was available in most rural areas, there was “always something to watch.”

Technology advanced as programming became available “in living color,” and everybody just had to have a “color TV.”

“Just touch it and find out if the fence is working.”

Few young people working around livestock have not been encouraged to check the power on an electric fence. Once they have felt the jolt it’s a lifetime lesson learned that generally brings laughter from the knowing tempter.

Electric fences are a quick inexpensive method to pen livestock in a certain area. However, with the convenience generally come many problems.

First and most importantly “is the smooth wire hot?” For electric fence to be effective it must have power. That charge can be from an electrical outlet, or most common on farms and ranches, a truck battery.

A small gadget is available and used by most stockmen to check if the fence is working. A light flashes when there’s power to sting anything that touches the wire.

Now there are a few old timers possibly even some young bucks that will readily touch the wire to verify power flow.

Perhaps they’re trying to prove their manliness or really just aren’t that affected by the harmless electrical tickle. It really isn’t that much of a charge, but most people are a bit afraid of the instant jolt.

In most situations livestock respect a hot wire and stay in the enclosure where they’re supposed to be. Uncertain if it’s from natural instinct or having been stung by the wire that keeps them away.

Sometimes certain animals cannot be retained by an electric fence, acting like they never feel the charge. However, if the electricity goes off or battery runs out of juice, livestock know immediately.

“If you don’t use it, you don’t need it and you might as well get rid of it.”

The opinion has been expressed numerous times and repeated frequently as the tack room was being cleaned again.

A longtime friend took home a pickup load of horse paraphernalia when he came several years ago to help reorganize. This time his pickup bed was refilled with horse items, although impossible to figure out where the large accumulation originated. It doesn’t seem like there’s been much equipment acquisition recently but there were sure lots of stuff.

Heavy into collecting and often restoring Western-related trappings for his own ranch museum, every saddle caught his eye. Already with a collection of 90 saddles preserved, identified and appropriately displayed, four more went along this time.

Actually the horseman-tack collector had been contacted for a pony harness, which he brought along to trade. Somewhere, somehow, in earlier reorganizing the one here had disappeared when searching to find it for a young pony owner.

So as dozens of halters, lariats, saddle pads, winter blankets, and headstalls were being loaded, interests swayed to other pieces. Seeming important to the collector were bits and spurs, even broken ones.

“Here by the owl.”

Many people affiliated with agriculture during their lifetimes remember the advisor’s part of opening ceremonies during FFA meetings.

Yet urbanites don’t even know FFA is acronym for Future Farmers of America. However in 1988, the group for high school students enrolled in vocational agriculture “got a different moniker.”

Despite controversy the name was changed to National FFA Organization “reflecting the growing diversity in agriculture.” How anybody has any idea what FFA means is incomprehensible, but that’s beside the point.

Anyway in response to the FFA chapter vice president’s query: “Why stationed by the owl?” Mr. Morrison, agriculture instructor and FFA advisor, informed.

“The owl is a time-honored emblem of knowledge and wisdom. Being older than the rest of you, I am asked to advise you from time to time, as the need arises. I hope that my advice will always be based on true knowledge and ripened with wisdom.”

His advice then and for more than five decades since has been sought and important to many life’s decisions.

Wisdom is the ability to think and act using knowledge, experience, understanding, common sense and insight.

Reminders have come from the hoot owl in the trees south of the arena several times in the past week. Night’s sleep, not all that sound of recent anyway, has been interrupted more by Mr. Owl’s hoots. The big bird isn’t seen very often but he’s sure been around during dark hours.

“You can’t eat your cake and have it too.”

The National FFA president, a Kansas farm boy, flew in from business at the nation’s capital to present his inspirational message.

It’s been at least 30 years since he spoke at the annual ranch field day and horse auction. Yet that young agriculture leader’s statement was stuck in memory for life and has been repeated frequently.

Seemingly a vast percentage of the nation’s population didn’t understand then and many more don’t get it now. Everybody deep inside wants something for nothing or consume now but still have for another time.

Of course, many professional tools and even luxury items are to be used again and again. Once acquired, they can work a lifetime and even for future generations.

Still that young speaker’s point quoting the several century old proverbs remains most significant with a number of variations. He was emphasizing “you can’t have it both ways” and “you can’t have the best of both worlds.”

Somewhat different but all of nowadays’ recorded phone messages and the hard-to-understand personal calls always bring it to mind.

“Your debt will be forgiven,” just push button one now. Recorded messages can’t hear the response and live callers don’t understand when answering “there’s no button on this phone.” Dial phones don’t have buttons and dialing number one ends the recording or call instantly.

There’s absolutely nothing free in the world. Gifts from family or friends don’t cost the receiver but definitely have an expense somewhere.

“Cleanliness is next to Godliness.”

A common observation repeated frequently the comment takes on even more meaning with today’s worldwide health concerns.

Moms have always insisted kids wash before mealtime, afterwards and in-between doing chores and work around the ranch.

Highly educated professionals, doctors and the like, insist germs are readily spread to others in many ways. Of course that includes touching anything which another person might have been in contact with.

“Stop the continued increase of bacteria by thorough washing of hands,” health experts demand.

Those in the agriculture profession have likely been most lax in strategic spotlessness. Breakfast, dinner and supper are typically on time around all of the chores and other demanded ranch tasks.

With food on the table, family seated, hopefully a blessing, plates filled, eaten, while conversation centers on the day’s workload. Never a thought about the many places those hands have been cleaning the barn, greasing wheels, and on and on. All are locations with seriously high probability of health contamination.

Yet, notable sickness on ranches has been low compared to urban living. Not scientifically proven, being outside in the wind and sunlight is Mother Nature’s helpful cleansing.

Regardless, nowadays everybody has become conscious about keeping clean. Old timers even admit more frequently using the bar of soap. Report was once heard about a midweek trip to the tub on top of that traditional Saturday night bath.

Moms and office workers always conscientious about handwashing at mealtime and throughout the day are more scrupulous. One even rapidly quoted the recommended picture poster procedure.

If washing hands will help prevent contacting the vicious sickness of the time, it’s definitely worth the little added effort. Conversations with those who’ve become infected and seemingly recovered verify importance of every precaution.

“Who can spend the most money to have the biggest and fanciest horse trailer with living quarters?”

Questions similar to that are heard frequently from those driving by rodeo arenas.

It is legitimate observation considering how many big, shiny, obviously very expensive rigs are at most shows nowadays.

The family horse trailer investment is multiplied considerably when cost of the vehicle pulling it is added on.

“There must be more than $4-million worth of trailers at this junior rodeo,” one old school cowboy tallied. Not up on ritzy things, that calculation was likely quite close having seen horse trailer advertisements in freebie magazines.

In reality the trailer in which the horse and rider arrive and living luxuries of the family are of little importance. What counts is how well the horse and the rider can perform together at the optimum level.

Cost of the horse or its proven ability don’t matter either if the horse and rider aren’t working together. Champion horses often are not champions when the rider and horse are unable to understand each other’s expectations.

However, horses many times take care of their riders, especially notable with children on well trained old horses. Not all good horses are high priced. Many well broke horses can be purchased for little investment compared to their ability.

Even today horses coming in expensive rigs often get beat by the local cowboys hauling their horses in stock trailers.

In earlier decades, horses generally arrived in pickups or farm trucks with stock racks, maybe no sides at all. Occasionally makeshift panels were tacked on flatbed trailers to haul horses. When trailers became more common method of horse transportation they were often homemade or one used for hauling other livestock.

The family generally slept on the ground with a blanket under their trucks. When name was called, those cowboys and cowgirls on country horses still took home the top prizes.

“Youth are the future of the world.”

What children learn during their growing years is foundation for coming generations.

First responsibility goes to parents. It is so obvious to see and hear how young people grow up to be like Dad and Mom. Their home life goes far beyond immediate family.

Having been well acquainted with a number of families for several generations, their heritage becomes very apparent. Besides resemblance in looks, boys and girls most often walk, talk and have mannerisms making it obvious their family background.

Even second and third generations can frequently be recognized as members of certain families. If pedigrees of livestock production are as important to selection as proclaimed, family heritage is no different. Good characteristics carry from one generation to the next along with the undesirable traits.

An opinion or philosophy of a grandparent, some even long gone, many times continues in their distant relatives.

Beyond close family relatives, everybody around youth today has an influence on what they become and can often be traced decades later. Of course, this includes school teachers, family acquaintances and everybody they meet on the street.

Cowboys have always been personal heroes and mental pictures of many come readily to mind in a very positive reflection.

While name of every horse in the pasture can’t be remembered, those ridden by cowboy friends of years ago are easily recalled. The cowboys and their horses left a positive impact that has remained for a lifetime.

“Some of the very best times most people ever experience are their school days.”

Remembrances of classmates, teachers, and many special occasions remain throughout a lifetime.

There are a few who claim to have disliked school, but even those always admit memorable activities while getting their education.

Accelerated study met college degree requirements, so had just shy 17 years classroom setting.

Although there may have been occasional not-as-much-fun days, none come to mind. However, there are heartfelt memories of every year, teachers, classrooms, including high school and college instructors.

Almost two dozen classmates went 13 years together from kindergarten through high school graduation.

While several have gone to the great beyond, the others remain friends today although many at a distance. All can recall certain school events together some more than six decades ago bringing smiles of happy reflection.

Sure, school is to get a formal education, but it’s much more than learning. Friendships, good times and bad, working together, squabbles, bruised feelings, scratched knees and broken arms are what school’s all about.

Nothing can replace all of the beyond-the-book learning that takes place while attending school.

End of summer nears and fall school classes are set to begin. Never has there been so much controversy such indecisiveness in all levels of education.

Some schools are plunging forward this week with students in classrooms. There are different and unusual guidelines causing qualms, uneasiness, and health concerns for students, teachers, and the general public.

“Abundant summer rains have sure made lawns green up and grow along with every kind of weeds sprouting all around.”

While lawn mowers have been busier than ever with operators sometimes complaining, mowing is easier than it used to be.

Old family photos and memories of some relatives in earlier days indicate there wasn’t such a thing as lawns.

When there was lots of foot traffic from home to barnyard green growth became almost nonexistent, just raw soil pathway. A hand sickle or scythe, possibly a heavy corn knife, was used to chop away intruding weeds and the like.

Sometimes planted tame grasses but typically native prairie extended into farm yards with Mother Nature serving as landscaper.

So generations-of-a-century-past typically didn’t maintain yard grass, but wheel-powered, blade-reel-rotating push mowers were prominently used in the 1950s. Memories of a couple such mowers a grocery store carryout boy was forced to walk behind after work aren’t that pleasant.

Not only did it become a tiring task in short order, but the mowers didn’t do a very neat job of cutting the grass. They were always dull and sharpening the blades was an almost impossible duty, especially for a grade-schooler. Plus, although seemingly simple in design, the mowers were mechanical devices and for some reasons were always broke down inoperable.

“What’s right, what’s wrong, what’s true, what’s false, who can one believe, who should always be doubted?”

Never in this lifetime, possibly never in all time, have there been so many queries go through the mind.

All make such a qualm, causing migraines for those who’ve seldom experienced even a headache. Then incorporate inconsistently forever changing stories, philosophies and opinions becoming most stressfully depressing.

Primary voting concludes this week with squabbling over tallies likely to continue for days. Some will win, most will lose, but who would have a clue if outcome is actually the best?

Working in promotions of sorts professionally for half a century never has advertising been so blatantly depreciating. All the name slinging, backbiting, degrading, it’s difficult to differentiate those being criticized from the boasting holier-than-thou.

Frequently those who are being defamed have gotten more benefit, certainly higher name recognition, than the bill-paying, humiliating opposition.

Despite most having positive intentions in the voting booth, it is an intimidating time of sorts. So many names, so many different choices, many times the first one remembered will get the ballot mark.

Whatever will be, will be, general election advertising is already underway. Possibility it could be ruder and more truly crude than recent weeks is highly probable in this uniquely strange environment.

Added to political controversies in today’s different world uncertainties are serious health concerns. No discussion warranted about the broad negative impact of any illness let alone a previously unknown one with no proven cure.

Help House, Lyndon, continues to operate under guidelines to keep visitors and volunteers safe. Appointments are required for the food pantry and shopping, and also for donation drop offs. Two bags and two boxes are the limit on donations.

Two adults can now shop inside for each appointment. Masks are required and temperatures are now checked at the door. Hand sanitizer and gloves are provided inside.

To schedule an appointment for the pantry, shopping or donating, call Help House at 785-828-4888, 4-7 p.m. Monday, and 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Tuesday to Friday.

School supplies will be available by appointment also, during the week of Aug. 17-21, 2020, for students who will not be receiving supplies from their school districts. Please call Help House to schedule an appointment.

Upcoming mobile pantries times, dates and locations are:

• Carbondale – 12–1 p.m. Aug. 11, Carbondale Church of Christian Fellowship
• Burlingame – 10-11 a.m. Aug. 20, The Federated Church
• Melvern – 12:30-1:30 p.m. Aug. 20, Melvern Community Center
• Osage City – 10-11 a.m. Aug. 20, Osage City Community Building
• Lyndon – 12-1 p.m. Aug. 21, Lyndon Jones Park

For more information, contact Help House at 785-828-4888, [email protected], or 131 W. 15th St., Lyndon, Kan.

“Be in my yard with your saddle and bridle Friday morning at 4:30.”

Ranch manager ordered the old wannabe who’d shyly requested to help gather a couple double stocked pastures.

It’s Flint Hills “shipping time” and a typical assignment for cowboys is rounding up short season grazing cattle.

Actually the younger family-member cowboy had 19 straight days gathering pastures, including those he manages and assisting neighbor grass operators.

Two personal mounts, obviously dipping deep into the feed bucket, are “show horses” and don’t take much to “real work.” Of course that brings snide smirks from “real cowboys” including the one loaning a “safe horse” from his half-dozen remuda.

Fortunately and prejudicially satisfying that big gray gelding had been started personally and used for stallion services a time. He didn’t “cut the mustard” as a breeder, nor as a “top cow horse,” yet fine for routinely checking cattle.

“Ruger” also works especially well when checking fence and waiting patiently for flood gap repair. “Just perfect” as the old wannabe’s loaner-mount, who the owner had ridden hard for three previous days getting pasture counts.

A couple trailers with horses and cowboys were already at the pasture gate with another handful arriving in short order.

“There’s nothing like riding your horse over the hill in the morning as the sun’s coming up,” Puncher Cooper always contended.

Somewhat rough skinny steers of widely varied shapes and colors from Mexico had been turned out about three months earlier. Blue skyline with occasional puffy cloud backgrounding green native grassland was picturesque sufficient for a rich man’s office painting.