Another old timer is calling it quits

[Nesikep]

Well, my neighbor across the river is 80some years old, and I just read in my auction flyer that he'll be selling 50 cow/calf pairs tuesday in a week.. that's gotta be close to his entire herd... he had really scattered summer grazing, so I figure he's tired of fixing other people's fences, etc, and just going to have a couple cows at home. He's got a great bunch of Hereford cattle.. the ranch has been in his family about 130 years, and it doesn't look like his kids have any farming ambitions... I'd feel good about buying cows from him, he's done it long enough he knows what it's about.

I think he's picking the right time to sell most of his herd with these prices.. I know of another guy about 60 miles away, he's darned close to 90 and still running 150 head of herefords with just 1 hired hand... I figure he may cash in too... Another one is an old lady, again in her late 80's, and does most everything around the ranch herself... I ain't gonna mess with no old folk, them's tough folk!

 

[branguscowgirl]

Geez Nesi, whats in the water up there! Your neighbors sound phenomenal still working ranches at their ages! I know that I will not make it that long. Your right, they probably has some very good cattle as long as they have been at it.

 

[Bez__]

Yeah, my buddy John out of Lacorey in Alberta is in his late 70's and running more than 600 head by himself on several thousand acres of land - mostly deeded. Never married and no family.

Out of Fairview in Alberta a good friend died last February - his 30 year old son has about 700 on the go - all by himself.

Suspect I will be in it until I die unless I go broke first

Bez

 

[Nesikep]

I think a lot of it has to do with 'what's not in the air' , rather than 'what's in the water'... they lived simple lives and ate simple food (beef, taters, butter, bread). A good friend of mine (neighbour *just* across the river who's ranch you sometimes see in my pics) is 75.. he's in treatment for prostate cancer and it's really taking it's toll on him, he has 3 sons and together I think they might do OK.. One is a mechanic, the other a good horseman, and the 3rd (the youngest) is the cattleman.. their ages are about 40-50, and they run about 90 head.

the way I already feel some mornings makes me wonder if I feel like moving 100 hand move lines every morning for another 40 years.. or if my back will handle emptying out the entire hayshed another 40 times... (112'x40')... it's a lot of hay.. who knows, maybe I will go with round bales someday. Our baler is 50 years old this year, I'm estimating it's made about 500,000 bales in it's life.. the ceramic eyelets for the twine have deep grooves cut into them, but it still chugs along.. just rebuilt it's second engine this winter.

I guess a lot can change, and a lot can stay the same

 

[GMN]

You keep working because the alternative is just being bored, have to keep your mind active or things just go to pot-

Speaking of selling out-I know this ex dairy farmer saw an auction and he and his wife are selling EVERYTHING they own, lock stock and barrel, selling the house, dividing up the land into 7 parcels, selling all his equipment, house furniture, hay in the barns-EVERYTHING
Reason they gave was because they were building a smaller house in town. This guy is maybe 60-65-he quit milking 8-10 years ago, I asked him why and he said it wasn't fun anymore, but one bad thing about him is he is a shyster-he use to sell alfalfa, he would quote you a price when you got there it would always be higher, i will be interested to see what his "EVERYTHING" goes for-hard to believe someone would give up a lifetime of work and a place in the country to live in the city-but i guess whatever flips your boat

 

[Aaron]

Just sold a bull last night to a fellow that is about 85 and is about 1/2 done calving out his 51 cows this spring. He asked what a neighbor of mine (that he bought bulls from in the past) was doing now and I said he was retired. He is 68. The old fellow was absolutely disgusted by that. 'Lazy' he said. 'Might as well start digging his own grave as that is where sloth will get you in a hurry. Only lazy people retire.' Quite the fellow to talk too.

 

[bigbull338]

well 1 thing you can say those old timers stay in till they get to old to run cattle anymore.

 

[Nesikep]

I couldn't see myself retiring into doing nothing... I'd have to retire into something... I'd probably always have a little bunch of cows around, some old equipment to restore, and most certainly would have a well equipped shop... I would be retiring from the day to day heavy work... after that, I think I would dig my own grave volontarily

 

[highgrit]

Uncle Ernie is 90 something and still runs 700 head. He has 1 part time man that helps on the weekends. And hires some local cowboy's to worm and work the cows twice a year. Last year he held back 70 pretty heifers, he's unbelievable.

 

[John SD]

I retired at 50 because of health reasons. Not because I wanted to. Don't have much desire to move to town, but that would be a wise choice because I will likely need to be closer to my medical folks in coming years. In the meantime, I have it in my contract I can live here as long as I want.

It sure doesn't take much to keep me busy. I sold the home place where I live but kept another parcel 17 miles away. I take in cattle for summer pasture and the guy takes care of the fence. Another neighbor helps me put up 200 acres of hay each year so that gives me something to do in the summer. He could do it by himself if it comes to that.

The silver lining is that now I have opportunity to travel more than I could before. The downside is my health limitations also affect my ability to travel.

I hope to repeat last year's summer trip this year with a similar one. In August I covered 4000 miles in 7 states in 21 days. Couldn't do that if I was still actively tied down to the ranch.

 

[highgrit]

John good luck with your travel plans. Health problems stink, but they sure beat the alternative.

 

[HDRider]

Some retire out of cattle, and some retire into cattle. I wish you could bottle what them old timers have learned. It is great to hear stories of folks in their 80s and 90s still being active and productive, and most of all,, happy.