By Betty Jo Gigot Publisher
I don’t think it was dysgraphia (not knowing what to write) but more like lack of inspiration when I sat down to write this column on Saturday afternoon, July 13. I started with the quote, “It’s been a wild year this week,” and wrote about the fact that the world, my world, was moving faster than I could get a handle on.
I wrote about the French changing their minds from Tuesday to Sunday in voting parties in or out, and that the new prime minister of Great Britian moved into 10 Downing Street the day he was elected. Guess you pack before you go vote over there.
I talked about how the Chevron decision by the Supreme Court could finally decide matters like Waters of the U.S., and make changes in the new BLM ruling on multiple use of federal property.
I didn’t come up with any reason why the world seemed to be revolving faster than the saying my late husband, Dean, used about transportation and communication revolutionizing our existence. The communication part is certainly true when we know what is happening by the minute and sometimes, I think, even before it happens.
I went ahead to tell you we packed this issue with many must-reads, along with the Beef Empire Days celebration in Garden City, Kan., and the ribbon cutting at the University of Nebraska Klosterman Feedlot Innovation Center. We gathered together all kinds of tips and projections on today’s marketing options from our cadre of writers. Also in this issue, Burt Rutherford discusses the USDA Packers and Stockyards rule, and Jim Whitt gives a lesson on socialism in case we have forgotten. Will Verboven’s view of the climate change rules from Canada will make you take notice as they possibly might creep southward.
Chris McClure’s column on perceptions is a good reminder of the old words we used to use like fat and slaughter, and that the most of the world has no idea how our production cycle works, although they depend on us for their daily food. Words do count. No debate about that.
A welcome blast from the past is a salute to Baxter Black by Walt Barnhart. We will always miss Baxter’s view of the world here at CALF News. Add a “Where’s the Exceptional Beef” from Ireland and a steak pizza from the grill and you have a full package.
I finished my column and sent it off to be edited mid-afternoon Saturday and then turned on the national news to see our former president with his fist in the air and blood on his face. Those communications were working again … so here I am at 5 a.m. on Sunday, June 14, rewriting the column and hoping we can put the brakes on. Please, can’t we just slow down and shake hands and get on with life.
Coming up are two national conventions, the Olympics and what used to be called the fall run (we sell cattle all year now), and hopefully a fall without fire and weather complications. We had too many of those last year.
As we here at CALF News plan next year’s topics, we thank you all – readers and advertisers – for your support and hope we can continue to offer you information and enjoyment in the years to come. We certainly enjoy doing just that.
Personally, by the time I write the next column, we will know how well Coach Delon Sanders put together the new CU football team (sorry Nebraska), and my NASCAR driver, Martin Truex, Jr., finishes his career (and maybe who to yell for next). Any suggestions? Let’s hope that’s all I have to write about. God Bless
PS: My new image is courtesy (I did pay her) of my granddaughter who aspires to be an artist. She thinks writing for a living is too hard.
