Average Cowboy Longevity

[Ouachita]

There is a topic here lately about cow longevity, so I got thinking it would be interesting to about cowboy and cowgirl longevity. I've only been a part of this forum for a year, and there are several regular posters that I was surprised to find out they were of the opposite sex than what I had imagined, and several I'm sure are of a younger or older age than I imagined. So if you want to participate, I'm just curious about the demographics here. I'll start................

I'm a 42 year old Dad of 6 great children. I became a Granddad in April. Been around cattle all my life, but just started on my own 5 years ago, and constantly kick myself in the arse for not asking more questions of my Granddad when he was able to answer them. Thats me. What about you?

[Caustic Burno]

There is a topic here lately about cow longevity, so I got thinking it would be interesting to about cowboy and cowgirl longevity. I've only been a part of this forum for a year, and there are several regular posters that I was surprised to find out they were of the opposite sex than what I had imagined, and several I'm sure are of a younger or older age than I imagined. So if you want to participate, I'm just curious about the demographics here. I'll start................

I'm a 42 year old Dad of 6 great children. I became a Granddad in April. Been around cattle all my life, but just started on my own 5 years ago, and constantly kick myself in the arse for not asking more questions of my Granddad when he was able to answer them. Thats me. What about you?

I am not quite as old ad Dun as they had invinted dirt when I cam along.
My Mom and Dad were born in 1914 and 15.
I didn't know you were supposed to eat beef till I was nearly grown, thought it was to sell.
If we didn't grow it or let a family member off the leash to track it down is what we ate.
I have 7 grandkids been married to the same woman for forty years.
I only knew four words until the first grade that was yes sir and no sir.
I got loaned out to which ever Uncle needed help the most growing up.
I hate Collard Green's, Push Plow's, Mule Fart's and scalding chicken's.

[Galloway2]

I will be 42 in Sept., currently run 60 mother cows. Bought my first Galloway heifer when I was 12. I have managed a 1200 head (5 breeds) purebred operation, and been assistant manager of a 2000 hd feedlot. I have 5 kids, work off the farm at a grain processsing facility. 2nd marriage has lasted twice as long as the first... current wife grew up with and loves cows.

[backhoeboogie]

I'm 52. Been around them all my life. As a teenager I swore to never own a cow. My ancestors were driving cows to new Orleans before the trails opened out of TX going north.

I still call brindle cattle brindles. Not up on all the new lingo. Just try to stay in the black.

I'm a part timer.

[Howdyjabo]

53 female
2 kids
calf backgounding,feeding and preconditioning for around 30 years. Also did chicken houses(what a disaster)

I was an Urban Yankee horse trainer that married southern 4th generation cattleman(long story and steep learning curve)
Started with nothing and managed to make a living and bought back all the original family farm land and put it back into one usable piece.
Quite proud of what we have accomplished- with the farm and the kids.

had my first salary job last year- training bomb dogs- that didn't last long. Guess I have been stuck on the farm too long.
too many people trying to run the same show- disorganization and ineptitude drives me nuts. So I have settled into the idea of farming the rest of my life(sure did like the insurance though).

[Tom in TN]

I'm an old guy, but new to this board.

I grew up farming in Ohio but left home when I was 17 years old and never really went back. Worked jobs til I was 55 then retired from making money and started farming.

I have a small cow/calf operation with 30 grade Angus cows and a registered Angus bull. Been doing this for 13 years. Also work a part-time job off the farm. Located 40 miles due south of Nashville, TN.

Tom in TN

[Bigfoot]

Age-41
Interest outside cattle-rodeo, reining mules-----I know it's different
Children-two girls, one boy
Wife-same one 17 years
Cattle-45 head------prefer ultra black and super baldy covered by Charolais, but have one of almost everything
Background-75 head per year
Spent my college savings for a down payment on a farm at 18 years old. Paddled my own canoe everyday since.
Full time off farm job-------prefer not to disclose type
Grew up on a tobacco/cattle farm

[greybeard]

62-male--4 grown kids--8 grandkids.
I like bacon, good beef, biscuits, hate doctors, snakes, and barbers..
Been with cows about 1/2 my life--chased women the other 1/2 then messed around and actually caught one that would have me.

[pdfangus]

male
64 if I live til October....
all of the past is just information from which to move forward...
still have a few cows...
but live to ride my horse.....
see avatar for summary...

[Calman]

69 years old
Born and raised on a farm in Mo.
Joined army when 17 spent a tour in Korea,one in Japan and 2 in Nam.
Got out and went to Ohio.
Worked in logging for 4 yrs and then drove a truck for the next ten and all the while playing in a band on weekends.
Left and went to Ok. and cowboyed for a while
Moved down here to Texas in 86 and worked for a company as maintenance superviser and retired in 2005.
Moved to Bowie in 2005 and been raising cattle for the owner of the company I retired from.
Couldn't be better.Love working with Cattle,have something to do everyday,a nice country home and the best part yet not a penny involved.

Cal

[lavacarancher]

Be 70 in Sept if I live that long. Third generation that I can remember and pretty much grew up on Granddads place. Built lots of fence by hand using a drop auger and cedar posts, picked cotton, chopped peanuts, baled hay, made molasses with a press turned by a mule and walked many a mile behind a pair of horses pulling a plow. Never regretted any of it but when I die it will be gone forever. Wife nor either of my kids want any part of it and sometimes I can't blame them. It does get pretty frustrating like when the baler breaks three times and you've only wrapped up 29 bales. Then the tractor breaks. Then your hired hand breaks the rake and corner posts getting into the field, then ......

We are trying to raise registered Angus influenced cattle now and I think doing a pretty good job. Sure got some pretty calves but maybe the rain has had something to do with that.

[greybeard]

chopped peanuts, baled hay, made molasses with a press turned by a mule .

We have one of those--a cane press--here. It's a 'Columbus' 2 mule variety tho we've never used--my brother is wanting to raise some ribbon cane and make some syrup before we get too old.

[Ouachita]

62-male--4 grown kids--8 grandkids.
I like bacon, good beef, biscuits, hate doctors, snakes, and barbers..
Been with cows about 1/2 my life--chased women the other 1/2 then messed around and actually caught one that would have me.

I can relate to all of that. I had to sneak up on mine from the backside Once I caught her, I changed her mind. She quit running 16 years ago and life has been an adventure ever since

[Caustic Burno]

chopped peanuts, baled hay, made molasses with a press turned by a mule .

We have one of those--a cane press--here. It's a 'Columbus' 2 mule variety tho we've never used--my brother is wanting to raise some ribbon cane and make some syrup before we get too old.

Ain't no way my grandpa used to put up 365 gallon's for the family and rest went to the needy.
Me and my cousin's had to tote those gallon can's. By the time you got to where you where supposed to take that gallon it had grown to a wash tub.
That is a lot of cane to feed the mill while smelling sweet mule fart's.
Ma used a gallon of cane syrup a day, she used it instead of sugar.
I want no part of a hog killin either, I aint talkin about killing a hog but hog's.
Alway's fun to sling the shyt out of the gut's then the women washed them. Then is kid's got to crank the handle on the grinder. You better like hog liver that day if you wanted someting to eat.

[chippie]

58, 5 kids, married 30 years, grew up outside of Houston (now it's part of the city), had all sort of critters and worked at the zoo. Started riding horses when I was 4 with my grandfather. He raised English Setters (field trial and hunting dogs) and I would ride with him when he worked his dogs. Worked a large animal veterinarian for 12 years after several years of college, was the office manager and vet tech. I was majoring in Sociology & Art, but the vet related job was offered & I went with it. I met my husband while working. He was managing a Registered Hereford ranch. I did day work for the ranch and learned to show cattle. We ended up getting married and having kids. The kids were in 4-H with market animal projects and their horses. We have been a 4-H family for 20 years and I am still in it as a club manager.
We own our own little place and have a few cattle, horses, chickens and misc. pets.

We have a cane press and made syrup out of the juice. We haven't used it for years because we no longer have a horse to run it.

This photo was taken in 2004. The horse was a grade Percheron, Annie. It shows our youngest daughter, Dot, youngest son, Joey, and my husband pressing cane one fall at our home.



The press is on a pyramid type base made out of landscape timbers so we could move it on a flat bed trailer. We used to take it to our local museum's living history festival for demonstrations.