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Iowa is in yo-yo weather season, just don’t know where we will be, temperature up, or temperature down. It’s been a blend of warm and cold, a mixture of warm and windy, cold and windy, and just miserable windy. To really like Iowa, and enjoy Iowa, you need to be born here.

I’m writing this as my grandson Tucker is driving seventy-five miles an hour on a sixty-five mile an hour interstate. Outside chance he will make it as a fieldman, a pinch on the wild side and set for speed, two very important parts of this business.

So far, this February is bittersweet. The bitter side is the news that we lost one of the great equipment dealers in Iowa, Dean Bettis of B&B equipment. This guy was special to Livestock Plus. He has run an ad in every issue of Livestock Plus since we started. He was also the master of salesmanship, as the old saying goes, he could sell ice to Eskimos. Rest in peace Dean. I along with Heidi, Mike & Kim Ehrsam went to

Dean’s visitation and by the size of the line, he was well-respected and liked by everyone.

The sweet side to this trip is there was the opportunity to stop and eat at “Bogie’s Steak House” in Albia. Tony and Kevin never disappoint. Tony is the social butterfly, Kevin can prepare a steak to a perfection, and prepare the best fried taters ever, bad thing they only serve them on Saturday night, darn it. Anyway, we had a great visit and lots of fun. Food was great as usual, steak prepared to a perfection, and Tony just as ornery as ever. Thanks Tony and Kevin!

Now, I am in Des Moines for the Iowa Beef Expo. I guess my body/ brain can only get 7 hours of sleep, so here I am finishing my opening comment at five o’clock in the morning. Yesterday morning I was out looking at the sale cattle around eight o’clock in the morning and something was said over the PA system in the barn. I really didn’t pay much attention to it because I really couldn’t make out what they said, but then I quickly figured it out. Unlike some of our overpaid athletes, all our agriculture folks in that barn that love their country stood at perfect attention removed their hats/caps to show respect for our country as the national anthem was played. Talk about just a great feeling and very proud to be able to stand at attention for this great country. God Bless America!!

As always pray, for our law enforcement, first responders, show respect for your country, and pray for all of our military past, present, and future.

God Bless

A Cowman’s Best Friend at Calving Time!

Kathy Danner, NE - "The best thing since sliced bread! I’m in my late sixties and do all my baby calf processing alone. No more fighting off protective mamas. I wish I had our catcher decades ago. I feel 100% safe in it! And it causes very little stress on the babies and saves lots of time. Wouldn’t want to be without it, I LOVE IT!!!"