Since our son and his wife just purchased land in the country, Greg and his dad are planning all sorts of grandiose ventures as ranchers/herdsmen/woodsmen or gentlemen farmers. They took us on a four-wheeler tour of the property last week, and their ideas, especially my husband's, billowed as loftily as the towering cumulous clouds stretching majestically across the big sky above the rounded hills and meadowlands.
The former owner raised a smattering of long-horn cattle, so father and son hung around a corral enclosing the animals that awaited transport to a new ranch, envisioning what they would raise. Howard favored goats, but he is also considering buying a few calves to feed out and nurture on the expansive pastures. To that end, he went to a livestock sale today, with me tagging along for the experience.
Mainly a fact-gathering outing, the auctioning off of cattle held little fascination for me, other than feeling a bit sorry for the poor, dumb brutes that were paraded across a pipe-fence stock pen in front of potential buyers perched on concrete bleachers or folding chairs high above the sales arena. The animals were plaintively beautiful, staring wide-eyed and uncomprehending, legs planted solidly as they beheld the observers before the exit door opened and they hurried toward the light.
We were amazed at the prices, yet there was steady bidding from several, obviously well-heeled, cattlemen, in the gallery. Numerous cattle trucks were parked outside, either from bringing the animals to market or awaiting additions to their herds. After nearly an hour, we walked outdoors to see if there were other kinds of animals to be auctioned. Howard was hoping to see pigs, goats, or even sheep, as well. Instead, we saw vast amounts of cattle, indicating an all-day affair. My husband gave in to my prompting to go to lunch, then we headed home where he could search on the internet for smaller sales.
His sites popped up when I turned on the computer tonight, and I saw my farmer-at-heart husband had gathered information on chickens, ducks, geese, and guineas. I thought I had married a merchant-turned-preacher, but over the years I've found out his true identity, one that he might at last fulfill now that he has the time for it!
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