Spring is about preparing for the future and dealing with the knowns that we have in the business. It is pure, it is simple, it is free of distractions and more than anything, spring is simply about cows, horses and people.

Troy Marshall 2, BEEF Contributing Editor

April 13, 2017

2 Min Read
Why I love spring on the ranch

Spring is the most forward thinking and optimistic time of the year for our operation. We had the surge that comes from completing the bull sale, calving and bull delivery, and the promise of getting to grass and slower times. And spring also means the three wettest months of the year for us, and nothing improves attitudes like a good rain. For a whole host of reasons, spring is a special time of the year for cattlemen.

I used to think it was the new calves, the green grass, the chance to ride again as winter gave way to more hospitable weather, and the excitement and fun that was associated with making matings for the next few years.

But it dawned on me today that probably the biggest reason I love springtime is that because our operation demands so much time that I kind of disengage from all the bigger picture things. I don't follow the news faithfully and I don't even listen to sports, as the new football season is still a ways off. It is the one time of the year where I simply take the cattle market as being what it is.

Spring is about preparing for the future and dealing with the knowns that we have in the business. It is pure, it is simple, it is free of distractions and more than anything, spring is simply about cows, horses and people. That is really what drew me to this business.

I know summer will eventually take over and markets, weather, government policies, bankers, cash flow concerns and dealing with the plethora of unknowns will move back to the forefront. But spring is about the future; it is about optimism and it is about cows, family, friends and all the immediate concerns that my actions can positively influence.

Spring will forever remain my favorite time of the year. 

 

 

About the Author(s)

Troy Marshall 2

BEEF Contributing Editor

Troy Marshall is a multi-generational rancher who grew up in Wheatland, WY, and obtained an Equine Science/Animal Science degree from Colorado State University where he competed on both the livestock and World Champion Horse Judging teams. Following college, he worked as a market analyst for Cattle-Fax covering different regions of the country. Troy also worked as director of commercial marketing for two breed associations; these positions were some of the first to provide direct links tying breed associations to the commercial cow-calf industry.

A visionary with a great grasp for all segments of the industry, Troy is a regular opinion contributor to BEEF Cow-Calf Weekly. His columns are widely reprinted and provide in-depth reporting and commentary from the perspective of a producer who truly understands the economics and challenges of the different industry segments. He is also a partner/owner in Allied Genetic Resources, a company created to change the definition of customer service provided by the seedstock industry. Troy and his wife Lorna have three children. 

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