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| 22 Cattle Company - 3 Miniature Hereford Heifers |
Isn't it strange that as you get older you begin to enjoy history much more than when you were in school? Studying history in the livestock industry is no different. My dad, who is now 80 years old this year, absolutely loved feeding cattle. I honestly think he would still be doing it to this day if it weren't for the 1980's. An extremely tough time in the cattle industry and felt painfully hard in the Midwest. Fortunately, my father was aware of the risks and chose not to feed cattle when he could not pencil a profit. At that time, crop farming took precedent and he no longer filled his yards with cattle. In fact, the fences were eventually removed, one by one, until corn or soybean rows filled the once busy cattle feedlot. Although, his memories of feeding livestock live on to this day.
So what does that have to do with this post? Well, when I look back at my dad's or uncle's 4-H scrapbook, guess which pictures always stand out? Stop at an old stockyards or sale barn that decorate their walls with historic pictures. Which breed of cattle often catches your eye? For me, it's the pictures of the purebred Herefords with their stocky, solid build and their neatly curved horns. Fat steers weighing right at 1000# or less. Only, they weren't called miniatures back then.
No longer do I need to hear my dad say, remember when. . . I just ask him to come to the Iowa State Fair. Dad, you can relive your childhood through your grandchildren. You see, it is "SPECIAL" when there is a commonality between multiple generations all because of a breed of cattle. The Miniature Hereford has certainly connected Granpa's history to the Grandchildren's future in our family. Why not own a few yourself?
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