And you are obviously correct, but the fact remains that cattle is nothing close to their primary industry as is the case in some Texas towns.

Nothing against the Jordan's, but in many Texas communities the sale barns are prominent and extremely difficult to overlook.

It makes more sense when I see it written.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

San Saba is not just another town with some pecan trees. When I was a kid, there was a HUGE banner over the main drag at the square. It said "Welcome to San Saba, Texas, Pecan Capital Of the World."

The soil conditions there are perfect for Pecans and there is an extremely high concentration of major commercial orchards.

Agriculturally the land in San Saba and to the south is hilly, rocky and brushy. It can serve as cattle land, but at a low stocking rate as compared to points east in Texas.

That same hilly, rocky, brushy country, OTOH, makes for very good hunting country. The value of that scraggly land is much higher than one would expect, almost solely based on its hunting value.

Much of the land to the north of San Saba makes better pasture land and better fields for growing feed. This makes for some cattle production, but sucks hind teat as compared to the money generated from pecans and hunting.

Yes, my grand dads place on the blanco river was a cattle ranch, but did have some very nice stands of native pecans. Native pecans have minimal commercial value. San Saba has orchard after orchard full of grafted paper shell trees of many popular varieties.

Unfortunately on my end of the state where are cattle stocking rates are drastically higher than San Saba, we can't really grow pecan trees. For them to do well requires rich top soil to a minimum level of about six feet with good soil drainage below that. The top soil on my place, although rich has clay about 14 to 18 inches deep. Making for great grass production, but won't support pecan trees.

I hope none of the cattlemen that I know don't ever hear you say that they look like a dirt farmer or a pecan farmer.

BTW, if you use the word pee-can in San Saba they won't know what you're talking about. There it's pa-con.

The last time I saw real cowboys was during the winter in Meeteetse and Cody WY. I was surveying across the overthrust and down into the Oregon Basin and would sometimes see those guys out pushing cattle from one area to another. Summer cowboys need not apply.

Yeah Bot. I moved enough cattle when I was a kid to have tremendous respect for those guys up there that have to do it so much in serious winter weather. The few times I did it in snowy weather was pure hell, with one of the most concerning reasons being that the horses just don't want to be ridden in that weather and get scarily active. We only moved and penned up cattle around twelve hundred acres, and only occasionally. Those guys move them MILES.

I am awed when looking at the paintings of cowboys riding and caring for cattle in true winter weather.

Here's an interesting perspective: Matthew McConaughey Is Right: Science Does Prove the Value of Gratitude | Mother Jones

The gratitude part wasn't as odd as his claim that god told it to him.

Does gratitude require a giver?

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Gratitude comes from the receiver of a gift and extends to the author of it.

So do the people with lots of gratitude get lots of gifts? If you don't get gifts, how can you be grateful.

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I may not have correctly understand McConaughey's somewhat rambling extemporaneous exposition on the relationship of God, science and gratitude.

My understanding was that McC followed (what he perceived to be …) God's will and he (McC) was grateful of the results.

My nearest experience to yours was moving frozen beef from my chest freezer into my fridge. The agony of chilled fingers still causes me the vapors.

I moved cattle in high school from the summer range of the largest ranch in AZ, above the Mogollon Rim near Flagstaff, to their winter range which adjoins our property. Got paid shlt but boy did I learn how to ride. I did that in the fall of my sophomore, junior and senior years.
I also helped move sheep from N. AZ to their fattening pastures on the barley stubble in the Phoenix valley. The dogs and the lead goat (yes, GOAT) did all the work on that deal, all we had to do was follow along and watch for coyotes. That was in college, when my grandparents were still trying to make money on sheep. We had Basque herders who showed up for the move. I tried to learn Basco but fortunately those guys all spoke Espanish too.

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You're a daisy if you do.
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84 Euro 240D 4spd. 220.5k sold
04 Honda Element AWD
1985 F150 XLT 4x4, 351W with 270k miles, hay hauler
1997 Suzuki Sidekick 4x4
1993 Toyota 4wd Pickup 226K and counting

I am seriously lacking in the skill of creative hermeneutics.

__________________
1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

I like these relationships where one species of animal will assist another to human's benefit. Herding dogs, herding horses, Llamas protecting sheep, etc. Very fascinating.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I had dogs and donkeys as flock protectors. As fierce as the dogs were, the donkeys were even more so.....