Blogs

The last of the evening light had long since disappeared on a moonless Nevada night when James finally pulled up to the Humboldt County fairgrounds. He’d been driving for what seemed like an hour past forever, and he felt like a well-used Oregon Trail ox when he finally reached Winnemucca, one of the crown jewel cities of Nevada’s Great Basin high-desert country.

A new acquaintance recently commented that she was looking forward to the weekend. She punches a time clock during the week and looks forward to the weekends for “down time.” During the week, she wears one hat to complete her job. She’s good at what she does, and it is rewarding to her.

The continuing discussion about making the beef cattle industry sustainable is usually focused on improving land, water, feed and cattle. But rarely does the debate focus on the industry’s most critical resource: people.

In rural America, farmers and “rural lifestylers” are often neighbors. Seeking a place to better raise their children, to retire in peace or to escape the continuing anxiety of the city, they move to the country and build a house on a 2-acre plot.

A year or two ago, I watched a documentary about a group of Yankees and Brits who’d participated in a humanitarian mission in North Korea. Their stated purpose was a medical mission.

The Fourth of July traditionally means fireworks, barbecues and rodeos – and maybe crazy Uncle Joe saying, “Hey, watch this …” or “Don’t you think we could barbecue Oreos?” Someone will likely be caught saying, “Remember the year that …” and it usually ends with hysterics.