05/16/2026
I dropped my girl off at softball practice last night, Wednesday, and ran my errands. As I quietly unloaded all my recycling tubs, I noted a sound. Too much of it.
Thursday is sale day at our local barn.
But it shouldn’t be so loud in the lots, this time of year.
Against my better judgement, I got in my car and drove that way.
Rumors have filled the internet this week, on massive sell offs at Nebraska salebarns.
I crossed the railroad tracks and slowed down.
And then I cried.
Beautiful, fleshy cows.
Calves.
I didn’t see a cull list, ready to become your next hamburger.
I saw broken hearted rancher families, who must have unloaded and driven away, while telling themselves not to look in the rear view.
They will get a fat check at the window later today, or in tomorrow’s mail. Truth be told, I would guess a great many of them won’t sit in the ring and watch.
They don’t want to. And they are also stuck at home today, making more hard decisions.
Yes, we have record prices right now. But we have record hardship.
If you have not lived this, you cannot understand.
But I hope you will try.
