It Takes a Rope to Lead a Cow

After blogging about the difference between a farmer and a rancher, I want to tell you a little story about an incident that happened a few years back. Quite a few years back actually.  

We had a cow that was having difficulties calving and we needed to get her into the corral so we could help her.  She did not want help and there was no way she was going into the corral.  After running her around in circles, or she was running us around, I asked my Farmer if maybe we could rope her. He’s first reaction was, “What good would that do!?  Once we get a rope on her what do we do?!” We were on foot.  And honestly,  without something to tether the rope to, say the saddle horn on a horse, or say a tractor (but roping from a tractor is difficult), there is really no way to hold a wild, 1200 pound, mad at the world, in the middle of labor, cow. At this point we were ready to try anything so my Farmer gave me the go ahead to get a rope. Now remember my Farmer does not know how to throw a loop.  He is a Farmer, not a Rancher.  After watching him toss the loop quite a few times and failing to capture the cow (and getting very frustrated), I said, “Well let me try.”  My reasoning: I at least knew how to throw a loop, as my dad was a roper and he taught me.  Now granted, that was when I was 6 years old, but still, I was totally confident that I could do it.  My Farmer gave me the rope (well maybe threw me the rope, remember the frustration factor was rising) and said, “Go for it.”  You have to realize, this cow was getting extremely upset by this time. The calf’s feet were hanging out, she was obviously very uncomfortable, and she was not happy with her Farmer or his wife.  With the rope in one hand and swinging the loop with the other,  I headed towards her.  Instead of running away from me like I figured she would, she headed straight at me. Crap!  I tossed the loop, rope and all, and I ran the other direction. After I was a safe distance from her, I looked back and woohoo! I’d done it! The loop was around her neck! Damn I’m good!  Right?!   However, the rope was dragging along behind her as she ran off.  My Farmer was like, “Way to go Shirl; now what?”  The cow was now even more irritated and was ready to take on any one that came near her, as I had learned.  She did not care that we were trying to help her or that if we didn’t help her, she and the calf would die. I told my Farmer to grab the rope and it would be just fine.  After staring at me for a bit in disbelief , he did. He snuck up behind her,  grabbed the rope and my Farmer led her through the gate.  At a run! The cow was chasing my Farmer.  Blowing snot up his back, head butting him, and she actually lifted him completely off the ground a few times.  But he did it.  He stayed in front of her the whole time and didn’t once let go of the rope.  It was amazing and awesome to watch! My wonderful brother-in-law (I had called him when my Farmer first said he needed my help) said my Farmer kept on running even while in mid air.  Yep, one more story for him to share. 

We got her in the chute, pulled the calf, and all was well.  We’ve come a long way since that day.  My Farmer hasn’t led one to the corral like that since.  We’ve changed and improved our system and our facilities for helping cows in trouble. One thing that hasn’t changed is that my Farmer still can’t throw a loop.  And truthfully, I’ll confess neither can I.  We went to the National Finals Rodeo one year and seen a booth there offering roping lessons.  I offered to sign my Farmer up.  He decided if we needed some roping done, we’ll just call one of our cowboy friends that do know how to throw a loop. They’ll help us out. It’ll probably be safer that way.  After all, we are farmers that are Livin’ the Life, the Farm Life that is.