Happy Good Day

   Happy Good Day 

  By

     Mike Capron

Things are coming right along. We got cow prices up now to where you can sell a common cow for the same price as what a fancy pick-up used to cost. And now a new fancy pick-up costs what the fanciest house in town used to cost. A gallon of regular gas cost what a good steak dinner used to cost.   I started punching cows for $125 a month right out of high school in the early 60’s.  I could take that check to town and go to the western store called “Benny’s Boot” and buy a good used saddle, a new Lee’s Blanket Lined Storm Rider jacket, several other necessities like a carton of Bull Durham, and fill my pick-up with gas to head back to the ranch. Never entered my mind that you needed more than that in life.

The drought of the fifties had tightened lots of ranchers belts.  Barry Stokes of Kent was hanging on for all he was worth. When a windmill broke down, he would rob parts from a working windmill to repair the broken one and then when his tank was full he would return the parts to the good mill he had stolen them from.  He had some hired help occasionally but they had their belts cinched up tight also as Barry would count the beans out on the table for each hand he had working there which was usually one at a time.  I remember Barry’s cows. He didn’t have many, but they were just as tough as Barry. 

I think it is just as dry now as it was in the fifties. But times have changed and we don’t have as many cattle now.  In West Texas the aoudad have picked up the slack in the stocking rate department and what ranches have to support.  These little imports are hardier than an English sparrow.  Another animal that has prospered in the dry aired west Texas is the elk herd.  I am sure these new wild additions will add to the ranch income if managed properly.  One thing about it, if times get really tough, we will have plenty of aoudad and wild hogs to eat.  I don’t think the elk will last very long.  They taste better than either hog or aoudad ……..!!!!!!