The World Needs More Manly Men

The world needs manly men. Men with beards and calloused hands. Men with muscles from an honest day's work. Blue collar working men. Men who live up to promises, whose word is worth something. Men with "old fashioned" ideals and morals who cling to their roots. Men who believe a handshake is as good as a signed piece of paper. Men who respect women and will hold their door. Men who will expect their sons to live up to the same standards, and their daughters to be ladies who deserve and demand respect.

I am lucky enough to have married a manly man. A cowboy, who some may argue is the manliest kind of man. (Which is now apparently a bad thing for some reason). Cowboys live by a code of hardwork and honesty. My man's hands are rough and calloused. He rides rank horses, pulls calves, builds fence, among other things! He also has a soft word and touch for a broken heart, a sad child, or a wounded animal. He can bust a bronc or quiet a skittish colt. He is the epitome of quiet strength.

He knows when to be firm and when to offer grace. I don't know how I got so lucky, because men like him are a dying breed.

Manly men are looked down on in society because the world is all sorts of backwards. You can't argue with facts or with nature, though. He is what man was created to be. He is a God fearing, church going, hand holding, needy helping man, and I am so proud to be the one who stands beside him through this life.

That's right, beside. A real man doesn't look down on his woman. He knows she is tough and strong, and deserves respect. He knows that while men and women have different roles, they are equal partners.

The world needs more manly men to do away with the corruption we face. To teach the next generation how to be good people who contribute to society. To remind the world that God exists and that we need Him, oh so badly.

We need men who aren't afraid to stand up and tell it like it is...especially when certain folks in the world are demanding from us "political correctness" and saying people like us are the problem.

We need men who won't sit idly by when the loud mouths of the world are demanding gun control and the doing away of our basic rights. We need men who remember that this country was founded on strength and grit, and that when someone tries to be a tyrannical bully, he needs to be knocked off his high horse. We need men who aren't afraid to be tough in a world that's increasingly weak. Men who aren't afraid to tell someone to stick it where the sun don't shine, if need be. Men who don't take ANY shit.

I know you're out there, manly men. Keep doing what you're doing. Keep up all the small good deeds. Keep raising your children to be good people who are tough. You're making a difference! 

Dear City Folk

  Dear city folk who think they know what's best,
 
Please stop trying to be a judge of something you know nothing about. Stop saying cows are part of the "global warming" problem. (Which isn't even a thing...climate change has been happening naturally, well, forever.) Stop saying hunters are vile and evil people for killing animals. They actually control animal populations so none get out of hand, thus a healthy and harmonious balance. Plus they use the meat to feed their families.
Stop creating bills banning people from shooting predators like coyotes. They can be devastating to a new and helpless calf crop. Ranchers have the right to protect their own livelihood.

Stop trying to "protect the mustangs". You think you're doing a good thing, but you're really letting yet another animal population get out of control. Their numbers NEED to be kept in check however possible. There is only so much land and over running it with pesky mustangs won't help anyone. Speaking from personal experience, the studs get in with our well bred quarterhorse mares. They ruin fences. They use up valuable grazing land. I'm not saying they should all be killed off, but let's just say if you're not willing to take them all in yourself then stay out of it. You don't have to experience first hand what it's really like.

Don't be so quick to judge farmers and ranchers. We're not cruel to our animals. Branding and castrating calves is a necessary part of our lives. Roping them to doctor them isn't cruel. Rather, it is the kindest thing we can do to keep them healthy. If you think you can give a calf or cow a shot without a horse or rope, be my guest. You are certainly welcome to come and try.

I think if any of you came and spent even a few hours working on a farm or ranch, you would change your way of thinking. Possibly, you might gain a little common sense.

The few brave people in this country that are still willing to bust and occasionally lose their asses (praying for you, Nebraska) to feed YOUR COMPLAINING MOUTHS should be thanked. Please remember that without farmers and ranchers, you would be hungry, naked, and sober.

Quit looking for problems where there aren't any and mind your business. Don't you have anything better to do than pointing your fingers at everything you think we're doing wrong? If you think you could do a better job, have at it!

-Sincerely,
A fed-up rancher

Before You Date a Cowboy

Before you date a cowboy, you should know that he lives an hour from town. When you go to visit him (since he won't have time to come visit you), you might get lost the first couple times on account of the awesome directions he gave you. You're not sure where you are, and now his phone is either dead or he doesn't have service. You eventually make it there, though.
Before you date a cowboy, realize that he lives with two other cowboys and none of them grocery shop or clean. You may end up cleaning their house and cooking for them when you visit.
When you drive three hours to visit your cowboy, any plans you may have had for the two of you will most definitely go out the window. You will end up shoeing horses late into the night or pulling a calf at 3 am.
Before you date a cowboy, you should know that he will expect you to be able to saddle your own horse and keep up. He will probably send you off by yourself to "get those cows a couple draws over and kick them down to the bottom. I will go this way and meet you with more cows." Be aware that he will not show up with his cows for quite some time. Don't worry though, he ended up riding a lot farther than he told you. It's best to sit and wait with your cows so you don't lose them. Or get lost yourself.
When you all finally end up back at the truck after what was supposed to be "a quick little ride" there won't be water. You should ALWAYS bring your own. And extra for everyone else.
Don't expect to get his undivided attention when you go to work with him. He has a job to do and assumes you are there to help. Don't be offended if he yells at you. He will probably apologize later.
Before you date a cowboy, I will tell you that he dances to the beat of his own drum. If you want to be part of his life, you have to learn to be super flexible with your plans. He will not be on time for anything but a roping.
Before you date a cowboy, know that the most valuable thing he can give to you is his time. If he takes time out of his day for you, or comes along to this or that family party for you when he'd rather be at that branding he was supposed to go to this weekend, he really cares.
He will probably be afraid of his feelings, and leave you wondering. However, his actions will show you how he feels. He will pick his gentlest horse for you. He will buy you Denny's in town after a long day. He will drive to meet you halfway and take you to a movie when he gets that occasional day off.
Girl, he may not act like he notices all the little things you do, like leaving little notes when you go back home. Or washing the dishes at the bunkhouse. Or doing a little bit of grocery shopping on your way out to see him. Or not complaining at all when you're dead tired, hot, and dusty from your latest "date". Keep it up though, all those things get him thinking you might be more than girlfriend material.
Before you date a cowboy, know that you have to be tough if you want to be in it for the long run. If you stick with him long enough, you will see what an amazing man he is. You'll see that he's the sweetest person you've ever met. You'll realize how big of a heart he has and that he actually has tender feelings. Be careful with his heart and be faithful to him, and you will have a life and a love like you've never known.
These are just some of the things you should know, before you date a cowboy.