When I was about seven years old there was a cow that was shot on the ranch. She died leaving a brand new baby to fight for his life on his own. He was cold, he was hungry, he was dehydrated, he didn’t intake the adequate amount of colostrum to boost his immunity and give him needed proteins, and he was decreasing rapidly – he was fighting unsuccessfully. In fact, when my dad found him a few hours into his fight it looked as if we had lost him – as if he was dead. Thankfully, there is an inborn quality that comes with being a rancher. It is a quality that I see in my dad every single day. This quality is love - love for the land, love for the job, love for the environment, and love for animals - no matter the situation, no matter the odds, and no matter the possibility of a negative outcome. This love that he possess - this inborn quality that he has is what I contribute to that bull calf being brought home that day. My dad began to warm him up, give him an IV full of nutrients, proteins, and liquid, and he did began to do everything in his power to save that baby's life. A few hours in the bull calf showed a glimpse of light in his future. He showed that the efforts in his behalf might be enough to save his life.
I arrived home from school and absolute feel in love with him! I would have done anything to help that baby live. My dad and I spent all that day keeping him warm, rubbing him to keep his blood flowing, giving him doses of IV fluid, and doing everything in our power to save his life.
Throughout this day and the entire night as we fought for the calf, later known as Spot, I looked at my dad and I saw so much love and dedication - so much hope. I saw a man that would do anything to save this calf. I think this is why I wanted to save him so badly. I wanted to see our efforts and the all that my dad was doing for him work. I wanted to see him live.
Thankfully, after many days of looking past the unknown the grey area of Spot’s life disappeared. He was going to live all thanks to a man that didn’t look at the odds and didn’t look at Spot as a waste of time or as a burden.
That day Spot became my first cow. The first life that I was responsible for. That day began the start for many early mornings at the barn with a bottle, many visits with Spot to see my mom in the kitchen (her favorite visits I’m sure), many naps in the yard with the best pillow ever (Spot), many fun times in the barn with my siblings, and many, many memories I will never forget.
As spot grew older a bottle or two or three was not enough to satisfy his appetite. I began to feed him hay and then slowly I began to feed him grains and mineral (vitamins and nutrients in order to continue to help cattle stay healthy and grow). As time went on I decide he would be the perfect show steer. I entered him into 4-H because he had such long hair, crazy cool markings, and loved me too much to smash little me in the show ring. After more training (on both my ability and Spot’s) then I can even begin to put into numbers, after more feed than I could ever afford, after dedicating myself to Spot and his outcome, and after learning more about hardworking, dedication, perseverance, and love it was time for the show. I definitely think Spot was the best steer there, but I might be a little bias in that statement. Bottom line, no matter how good he was, no matter how big he had grown, no matter the obstacles we jumped over together Spot was my miracle calf. There is no logical reason or explainable for Spot living even just an hour into his life. There is not even a logical reason to why he grew to become a healthy 1500 pound delicious steer.
Calves that do not receive colostrum within 15 minutes of birth are weak, harder to breed, they have difficulty having calves, they gain weight much slower, and they get sick much easier. Spot surpassed all weight gaining goals, and health goals I ever had for him. He was strong and he was perfect.
I owe so much to him for all he taught me, all he gave me, and the great life I have been able to have because of him. He is the reason behind my immense love towards cattle and agriculture.
Spot was my baby. He won me belt buckles, and ribbons in 4-H. He taught me responsibility and dedication. He showed me that no matter what the odds miracles happen, hard work pays off, and one animal can change your life forever.
I look back on my life – my childhood – and wish with all my being that I could go back. No, not because I want to change it or make it better. Quite the opposite. I want to go back so I can live it all again. Ever since I can remember I have been surrounded by agriculture – surround by tractors, and cattle, wide open spaces, and tons of adventures. Growing up on a cattle ranch was the best way I could ever imagine to grow up. The beautiful hikes down creeks looking for cattle, thousands and thousands of horseback rides, secretly trying to hatch pigeon eggs and bottle feed baby kittens with my cousin (shhhh, don't tell my mama), running through mud, helping my dad, swimming in stalk tanks and ponds, quad rides, all of it – these are the best stories I have to tell – the best memories I have to remember – the best laughs I have to think about.
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