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Just a scoop full(July 15)--The temperature has been well over a 100 degrees for several weeks causing our area to go from good shape moisture-wise to dry. There are some feeder cattle moving now because of the dry weather but mostly because of the price. These feeder cattle in the feedlot need to make money for the cattle feeder. It is important for that to happen soon in order to keep the small cattle feeder buying feeders along with the big corporations. That is the only way we keep our feeder and calf market competitive. If we get to a point where two or three big outfits buy all the feeder cattle that will not be good--as there might be some weeks one outfit or another would be out of the market. I can assure you, if we get to that point I would have no interest in owning a sale barn. At that stage, not only will the feeder cattle market be controlled but also the calf market (immediately) by the control of the feeder market. I am all for these big corporations making lots of money. I am also for bankers and retailers making good money, but I want the rancher and farmer and cattle feeder to do well, also. There is room for everyone to make money unless the powerful get too greedy. Some days I feel like I am running a sale barn. Other days, I feel like I am a principal of a grade school. I am just amazed how some employees do not see the need to show up on time. I understand an emergency. I understand there are other times when something comes up. To me, showing up on time is a matter of pride of doing a good job at work. I have a very good crew and am lucky to have the employees I have. At the last sale the heat was unbearable. The temperature hit 113 degrees. For Christmas, I got each employee a belt buckle that said--"Only the tough survive." We have had several that thought they wanted to work at the sale but soon realized there was an easier way to make a living. If an employee is tough enough to work at the sale barn in the extreme heat and cold--they are probably tough enough to work anywhere.
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