Herd Quitter™ Blog
Make Things Happen
Most people don’t make New Year’s Resolutions because they never keep them. They view them as a waste of time. On top of that, it is discouraging and depressing when they realize they failed to keep the resolutions they made. However, some people have a very...
Random Thoughts from the Corner Chair
Happy New Year to all. By Brett Pharo (January 1, 2018) It was quite a ride in 2017. Not always fun, but certainly interesting. Much of the interest has been due to it being the first year of Donald Trump’s presidency. For better or worse, whether you like him or...
Does the World Need What We Produce?
To stimulate some outside-the-box thinking, I often ask cow-calf producers who attend my speaking engagements to raise their hand if they think the world needs the beef they produce. Nearly all of the producers will raise their hand. Folks, don’t ever be deceived...
Thin Steaks
I recently read an article in the Washington Post entitled “Cattle Have Gotten So Big Restaurants and Grocery Stores Need New Ways to Cut Steaks.” Let me remind you, the Washington Post is NOT a beef industry publication. However, it is read by thousands and...
Ten Steps To Double Your Profits
If cow-calf producers want to have a prosperous future, they will need to make some major changes. The sooner they take the first step, the sooner they will reach their destination. I will review 10 steps required to get on the right road. These steps are not...
Top Ten Reason Ranch Trucks are Never Stolen
10. They only have a range of 20 miles before they break down or run out of gas. 9. Only the owner knows how to operate the door. 8. It is difficult to drive fast with all the fence tools, grease rags, ropes, chains, syringes, buckets, boots, hay, and loose papers...
The Monkey Story
This is a story I used to share in several of my presentations. It makes a point that most cattlemen need to hear. First, you start with a cage containing five monkeys. Inside the cage, hang a banana on a string and place a set of stairs under it. Before long, a...
Top Ten Reasons to Keep that Cow One More Year
10. To cull her, you’d have to catch her first. 9. She was your dad’s first 4-H project. 8. If there were an EPD for wrecking mineral feeders, she’d be a trait leader. 7. She’s been in the spring herd and the fall herd several times each — you just can’t buy that...
The Bear Track
Five-year-old Braylee Pharo talked Grammy Deanna into going for a walk in the woods near our mountain cabin. When they returned, they showed me a picture of a track in the snow. In excitement, I exclaimed, “That looks like a bear...
Seven Simple Rules to Live By
Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up your present. What others think of you is none of your business. Time heals almost everything; give it time. Don’t judge or compare yourself to others; you have no idea what their journey is all about. Stop thinking too...