Kenny,
I listen every time he speaks. There are some things I don't agree with, but I still listen. He has a cow in the pasture that he's had to help her birth every year. I'm trying my hardest to send her to the sale barn. Today I spoke with him again about her and told him that he can get a little more money for her if he sold her bred (which she is) than if she has a calf. I know what he wants, another heifer, but I was fortunate to be home for lunch when she calved back in January.
I also learned that my great-grandfather and great-greatgrandfather were both cattle owners. I was a young kid when my great-grandfather was alive, but never really got to follow him. I know very little about my great-great grandfather other than what my cousin has found some stuff on him.
Of my grandparents 14 or so grandchildren, I am the only one that has any interest in cows or keeping something in the family like this going. My grandfather and great-grandfather were never "big" cattlemen. At most they may have had a combined herd of 24 or less, if that much honestly. I think my great-great grandfather may have had many more head, but I've yet to find anything on him. I do know he had cows back when they free ranged cattle and owed a lot of property, but he was also a sugarcane farmer too. That was back when they harvest by hand and a mule pulled the cart.