2410 N. Willow Ranch Rd. Tucson, AZ 85749 info@westernaglife.com www.westernaglife.com 520-808-1229
WESTERN AG LIFE Paul Ramirez, Publisher Paul@westernaglife.com
Renée Bidegain, Creative info@westernaglife.com Madison Ramirez, Subscriptions info@westernaglife.com SPECIAL THANKS TO THESE 2020 SPRING ISSUE CONTRIBUTORS ARTICLES
Paul Ramirez Ashtyn Carr Joel Johnson Patina Thompson Sierra Lewis Aaron Downey Kate Sanchez Dean Fish, Ph.D. Amber Morin Renée Bidegain Beau Compton Tiffany Selchow Rochell Planty Patrick Bray Jason Hershberger Mackenzie Kimbro Robert Mucci Liz Peterson Ted Harbin Joey W. Niebrugge Jim Olson PHOTOGRAPHY
Harper Smith Llano Estacado David Johnson Cruces Creatives Rocking P Photography Sierra Lewis Kate Sanchez Wystrach Family Album Paul Ramirez Emily Cox Hazel Lights Photography © WESTERN AG LIFE MEDIA LLC
While every effort has been made for the accuracy of content, those listed above are not responsible for any errors or omissions appearing within the pages of this issue.
WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH, THE TOUGH GET GOING I have heard that saying as a cliché most of my life. However, now we are about to become witnesses to that saying. We all know our world was different after 911 and it will be forever changed with Covid-19. A couple days after 9-11 we knew who our enemy was. Now months after the introduction of Covid-19 this enemy is hidden in the unknowns of a virus. Consequently, making it very difficult to plan a defense and an even longer trajectory to an offense. Let us hope and pray that a cure is found quickly! I am not sure anyone could have predicted the instability that something like this could bring to the world. America will certainly be playing economic catch up for years to come. The dichotomy of bad is good and I believe there is going to be some good that will come from these challenging times. I am hoping America will learn a lesson and want to start controlling and producing more of the essential products that this country is dependent upon such as food, fuel, pharmaceutical, biologicals, and intellectual properties.
We also have a new commonly used term “essential workers”. Most everyone in agriculture falls under the “essential workers” category. We as Americans owe a great deal of gratitude to all the essential workers. Environmentalists have now been a witness to a case study that they never could have conducted themselves. The environment has dramatically improved all over the world in the last couple months yet, we have maintained the same agriculture animal population. Hopefully, they will remove farm animals from the hypothesis going forward. They can no longer reasonably blame the CO2 on the MOO! I will end by saying goodbye to Judy Burruel of Marana, AZ. Judy was a champion for all thing’s agriculture. She tirelessly gave to so many youth agriculture associations for most of her life. Judy’s legacy is well secured with her family and friends. “Well done good and faithful servant” Matt 25:23
IN THIS ISSUE FARMING :: WEST TEXAS WINE......................................................................................................4 RESTORING SOIL BIOLOGY :: JOEL JOHNSON.......................................................................8 THE MYSTERY OF MARES :: PATINA THOMPSON................................................................ 10 WESTERN READS :: AARON DOWNEY....................................................................................... 14 THE LIFE OF A RANCH WIFE :: BE WHERE YOUR FEET ARE............................................ 16 FEATURE ARTICLE :: MIDLAND’S MARK WYSTRACH......................................................... 18 TOOLS OF THE TRADE:: SOUTHWEST BULL TEST ............................................................. 20
I LIVE THE WESTERN LIFESTYLE :: BEAU COMPTON........................................................ 26 PRODUCER HIGHLIGHT:: KILLIAN BEEF................................................................................ 28 YOUTH :: FFA BLUE & GOLD HIGHLIGHTS.............................................................................32 IN THE KITCHEN :: MACKENZIE KIMBRO............................................................................. 38 CONSERVATION:: ARIZONA LAND & WATER TRUST........................................................ 40 REAL ESTATE FEATURE:: THE DUKE .......................................................................................... 43
SPREAD THESE WESTERN STORIES
SHARE THE DIGITAL MAGAZINE ON-LINE :: #WESTERNAGLIFE COVER: Midland’s Mark Wystrach ©Harper Smith
