by Barry Denton

Not too many years ago there was this big friendly fella around town that everyone liked. Jonah was a hit at coffee shops, the feed store, and the liars’ bench.

The man had an infectious laugh, loved to poke fun, and was consistently as good natured as you could get. I would guess him at about six foot tall and probably weighed upwards of 350 pounds. The man’s appearance was always kind of sloppy, and atop his head was a sweat stained cowboy hat that had seen better days.… Read the rest

by Barry Denton

Recently I attended a public meeting with a local tax assessor. One of the primary tenets of the assessor’s speech was for the public to report any suspicious activity that they might see their neighbors doing.

For instance if you saw your neighbor adding a window to their house, you are supposed to report it. If your neighbor replaces clapboards with aluminum siding you are supposed to report it. Heaven forbid if your neighbor added a tool shed out back.… Read the rest

by Barry Denton

Each year in December my wife and I head to Las Vegas, Nevada for the ten-day Wrangler National Finals Rodeo (WNFR). It is our break every year from a very hectic schedule.

Rodeo time is the best time to be in Las Vegas. It is full of cowboys, cowgirls, and the majority of our friends and neighbors from the ranch, farm, and horse community. Like most folks we tend to do our Christmas shopping at the “Cowboy Christmas” trade show held at the Las Vegas Convention Center.… Read the rest

by Barry Denton

I just returned home from the American Quarter Horse World Championship Show in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. Having been there for two weeks with our horses I was certainly glad to get home.

The trip this year with our cow horses was exciting as usual and I always learn a great deal more when I ride with folks that know things different than I do. I also wanted to point out the blizzard between Clines Corners and Moriarty, New Mexico.… Read the rest

by Barry Denton

Several years ago I sold one of our working cow horses to a city gal from the left coast. I will call her “Boomerang.”

The horse was a true beauty with muscles and shine everywhere. This horse had all the right Lenas in its pedigree to be a star and I counted myself lucky to have him. The horse was cut late so he looked very much like a stud with a big jaw on that pretty head.

He was a little difficult to get started, but after awhile he looked forward to his training.… Read the rest

by Barry Denton

Editor’s note: The views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not necessarily those of this publication.

The election cycle seems like it begins very early these days. It is headline news and we are still over one year away from the actual election. If I remember correctly the first primary is in February.

The first thing that comes to mind is how many of these candidates from either party own cattle?… Read the rest

by Barry Denton

Ronald Reagan used to tell this story that proclaimed that America’s most feared words were “I’m from the government and I am here to help”! As time goes on this becomes more and more evident.

In mid-August Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Administrator Gina McCarthy finally said something about the Colorado Gold King Mine wastewater spill. Ms. McCarthy said she was “deeply sorry”.

Okay, we can take her at her word, but it took several days for her to respond.… Read the rest