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Greetings!
If you’re anything like me and I’m
sure you are, you’re busy. When you own cows and a little bit of
land, there is always something to be done. Everyday, even
weekends, there is something that needs attention. My question
is; when did my hobby become a lifestyle? I’m not sure when it
happened but my junior project became a business somewhere along
the way. Now, I have more cows than ever before. To avoid my
father going into shock, I’m not going to mention how many head
we currently have. Let’s just say it’s more than the ten head
limit my dad had set when we bought my first heifer and now
vacations are scheduled around calving season. It’s easy to say
that over the years, our lives have changed.
I would have to say that our lives
have changed for the better but many would disagree. I have many
friends that can’t believe how much time I have to put into my
“hobby” and think I’m crazy for what I do. They just can’t
believe how much work has to be done just to have some cows. I
agree with them, it is a lot of work, but I wouldn’t have it any
other way. I’m blessed to have this lifestyle. I’ve learned that
there is nothing better than a hard day’s work, a healthy
newborn calf on the ground and the people that also share this
lifestyle. As we all know,
this industry is not easy, especially right now. Things are
tough in more ways than one. It’s not an easy lifestyle and
never will be. This is why the Angus industry has and will
persevere. It is you, me and all of our fellow breeders that
make this industry. Throughout the years the cattle trends have
changed but it’s the hard working, honest and just flat out good
people that have made it what it is, a lifestyle. Yes, some
trends as we’ve recently seen, haven’t panned out, but the same
people are still here and we will prevail.
With this, I ask that this fall,
take a moment to appreciate each other. Take the time to make it
to an Angus event, meeting, show, or sale. These events and
engagements are what make us a strong unified group and should
be cherished. Whether you like a fellow breeder or not, we are
all in this together. We are a family and I personally have been
touched by so many of you throughout the years. Genetics, shows,
and sale toppers come and go, but it’s you, my fellow breeders
that have stood the tests of the business and have stayed strong
together creating an Angus family. We make this industry, not
the cattle, not the rules, and not a Board of Directors. We keep
the cattle shows alive, we are the ones to keep the cattle
selling, we are the heart and backbone of what makes this “Angus
lifestyle” what it is…worth living.
I always say that my life would
be a whole lot easier, but ten times harder, without my Angus.
I’ll let you decipher what that means. With that said, I wish
everyone a wonderful fall and much success to those at the shows
and production sales. I would also like to make a shout out and
thank everyone for a wonderful show in Reno and let everyone
know that I am very excited to be a director for the WSAA. I
only hope to follow in the footsteps of some very great leaders
we’ve been so lucky to have.
Mercedes Danekas
WSAA Director
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