Raised on the Farm: Why I Love My Cows

Love isn’t always spoken with words.

I grew up in southwest Kansas, working on my family’s farm and always around cattle. Before I was born my dad raised stockers through the winter until the end of summer when he would sell them.

As a young kid, I was always around cattle and farming. I can remember talking about my dad’s cattle while on the playground swingset in the first grade. I’ve been obsessed with cattle since I could remember. The way they move through the pasture, how they interact with each other and the way they care for their children.

I was 9-years old when I bought my first calf in the spring of 2017. She was born at a whopping 125 pounds. Her mom wasn’t wanting to take her, and so I bought her off my friend’s dad. About two months after getting her, her hooves began to peal down, her ears began to fall off and her tail started to disintegrate. After two weeks of trying to reverse these symptoms, we took her to the vet and put her down.

We had taken in two bottle calves from the Starbuck Wild Fire, about a month before my first calf passed. One of them was a Red Angus-Red Hereford Cross. She had a symmetrical baldy face and a white nose. I bought her off my parents and named her Baldy, of course.

Any time I had the chance to go to the farm I took it. I loved going to the farm, climbing on the corner posts of the pasture and sitting and watching the cattle walk and graze.

There was nothing that brought me more joy than my cattle walking up to me wanting scratched. Those big Hereford bulls were my babies. They’d yell when they saw me from the excitement of my presence. They were never one to turn down a yummy treat.

About three years ago I kept Baldy’s heifer calf, mainly because she looked just like her momma, but black instead of red. I named her Biscuit and I was so excited to finally have two cows of my own.

I look forward to having two baby calves every spring and seeing what markings they have. My girls mean everything to me. If they were in harm’s way I would drive day and night to make sure they were safe.

Yet, the best part about being around cows is the babies. Every spring, we start calving late March for weather reasons, and it is my favorite time of the year. I think it’s better than Christmas. You have young playful baby caves running around and they are always so soft and fluffy. Any time I can get the chance, I will catch a calf for cuddles. They are the sweetest things on planet Earth, and nothing can change my mind.

My next favorite part about the farm is working cattle. Most dread the task but not me. I count the days down until work day. I love the thrill of catching the cattle separating the calves from the moms and working them individually. All my years of sitting back and watching the cattle move, and seeing how they think, really helps me when we work the cattle. I can often predict their move and where to stay when pushing them in the pins.

My love for this field of work is never ending. I enjoy the weekends I get to go home and spend time with my girls and help my dad. Not only have they taught me patience, to be observant, and curious, but they taught me love isn’t through words, it’s through actions and being there unconditionally. Your cattle don’t care if you’re having a good day or a bad day, they care where you are and always what you’re bringing them for a treat.

My girls have taught me a lot and they’ll never understand how grateful I am for them.

Jordan Stimpert is a Bucklin freshman studying Graphic Arts Technology. Email her at thehutchinsoncollegian@gmail.com.

Views: 10