I Prefer Country Life Over City Life
It was a long night. Last night, well early this morning about 1 am, we hear noise in the front yard. Cows, front yard full of cows. I have ranch and hay farm. We have horses, not cows.
We woke up the ranch hands, saddled the horses and started a cattle drive, of sorts. The cows belonged to the neighbor down the road about a mile or so. By 5 this morning, we were sure we had rounded up all his cows and repaired his fence. He was aware of the damaged fence but had forgotten to fix the posts and line. But all is good.
After a quick shower is was back to bed, darn internal clock told me to get up an hour later, it's going to be a long day.
The gentleman is in good physical health, but his mind is starting to slip. His children have no interest in continuing his cattle ranch so he's on his own in that regard. I sent a couple of my ranch hands who came on this morning to go ride the fence line and make repairs if needed.
I went to the neighbors to have coffee and have a talk. A talk no one wants to have with a family member let alone a neighbor and good friend. Long story short, after several phone calls, faxing paperwork back and forth, the deal is almost done.
One of his children will be by at least once a day to check on him. I bought his ranch, cattle, home, everything (at market value, will be adjusted after appraisal if need be), I lease the land back to him at a dollar a year for as long as he wants to stay. I will be changing the duties of a few ranch hands to over see the cattle, feed/water etc. To protect the ranch, I've put the ranch into a trust for my daughter.
If he wants to (remembers) to work the cattle, great, if not, it's covered. It's sad, something no one wants to face or have to deal with. The upside, my lead ranch hand will be in charge of the cattle ranch. It's an upside because I think he has a crush on her.
It's sad his children are not interested in continuing the family ranch. I don't hold it against them, they have to live their life the way it makes them happy. I am happy because my daughter wants to take over the ranch when I retire.
Hurry and finish school girl, I'm out of here! Kidding. Thank you for letting me lighten my heart this morning
We woke up the ranch hands, saddled the horses and started a cattle drive, of sorts. The cows belonged to the neighbor down the road about a mile or so. By 5 this morning, we were sure we had rounded up all his cows and repaired his fence. He was aware of the damaged fence but had forgotten to fix the posts and line. But all is good.
After a quick shower is was back to bed, darn internal clock told me to get up an hour later, it's going to be a long day.
The gentleman is in good physical health, but his mind is starting to slip. His children have no interest in continuing his cattle ranch so he's on his own in that regard. I sent a couple of my ranch hands who came on this morning to go ride the fence line and make repairs if needed.
I went to the neighbors to have coffee and have a talk. A talk no one wants to have with a family member let alone a neighbor and good friend. Long story short, after several phone calls, faxing paperwork back and forth, the deal is almost done.
One of his children will be by at least once a day to check on him. I bought his ranch, cattle, home, everything (at market value, will be adjusted after appraisal if need be), I lease the land back to him at a dollar a year for as long as he wants to stay. I will be changing the duties of a few ranch hands to over see the cattle, feed/water etc. To protect the ranch, I've put the ranch into a trust for my daughter.
If he wants to (remembers) to work the cattle, great, if not, it's covered. It's sad, something no one wants to face or have to deal with. The upside, my lead ranch hand will be in charge of the cattle ranch. It's an upside because I think he has a crush on her.
It's sad his children are not interested in continuing the family ranch. I don't hold it against them, they have to live their life the way it makes them happy. I am happy because my daughter wants to take over the ranch when I retire.
Hurry and finish school girl, I'm out of here! Kidding. Thank you for letting me lighten my heart this morning
