About three months ago, my dad called me to let me know that one of my old show heifers, named Myrtle Bo, was getting very old and needed to come home and live out her 'retirement.'
Myrtle Bo wasn't just any ol' show heifer, she was arguably the best one of her time. Back in 1999, she was named National Champion (meaning that one year, at the National Shorthorn Show, the judge selected her as what he felt was the best female cow at the show) and in 2000, she was named Grand Champion at the National Jr. Shorthorn Show (the same concept as the National Show, but limited to exhibitors who are under 21.)
After she won so many shows, we were approached time and time again by people who wanted to buy an interest in Myrtle Bo. For non-ag people, the best way I can explain buying part of a cow is that you get to share in the profits from said cow, as well as have a part in making breeding and marketing decisions.
Eventually we did sell an interest in Myrtle Bo, to a wonderful fellow cattle breeder in Iowa. We knew that if we were going to be 'partners' with someone, it should be someone we truly liked, and our partner with Myrtle Bo was just that.
One of the terms of the arrangement was that Myrtle Bo would never have to leave our ranch here in Texas. We just couldn't bear to be parted from her. We didn't want to have to drive through a pasture and NOT see our old friend. This arrangement worked out great until about 3 years ago, when Myrtle Bo was getting older and needed special care to continue producing embryos and calves. At that point, we sent Myrtle Bo to Iowa to our partner, who is close to the best place for her to be: the state-of-the-art cattle embryo place.
We got the call that she was getting older, moving slower, and should come home, as they knew that we would want to have her here when the end came. That thought is very sad, but I am so glad that our amazing partner was sensitive to our feelings and shared that difficult news.
After the initial reaction of sadness wore off, Luke and I hit the ground running getting ready for Myrtle Bo's arrival. We were so excited! Just like little kids about to get a new puppy, we went straight to the feed store and bought the stuff we needed, and some stuff we really didn't.
We have a little 2 acre pen by our house that we got ready for her. We had to call in a few favors from friends to get it ready, and thankfully we were so blessed by people willing to help.
Our neighbors and good friends the Petrosky's came and helped us get the pen shredded and mowed for her. My grandpa and grandma helped us get a fence built to block off some of the parts of the pasture (mainly down by a steep creek bed) that might not be safe for her to get in. Our assistant Abby loaned us her truck to get the feed. And finally, our wonderful vet friend, Cody, sat and listened to our worries about caring for an 'elderly' cow, and gave us advice on things we could do to make her more comfortable.
One of my favorite finds in this journey is this old feed bucket - left over from my days of showing cattle. This bucket is probably 20 years old! V8 is the brand of my family's cattle ranch, and the C is for Catherine. We also had buckets branded with V8 and "R" for my sister, Rachel. Some just had a V8 but those weren't my favorites. I like everything monogrammed.
The first week we had Myrtle Bo here, we took pictures with the film camera of our first days with her. Three months later, I'm happy to report that Myrtle Bo is MUCH happier and healthier. She is no longer skinny and frail, and gets stronger each day. We have a special feed additive that we give her that makes it easier for her to get around.
Every day she is waiting at the gate for us at feeding time.
This is her by her little barn in her pen. The grass has been mowed since then!
She is much fatter now! We'll have to post a before/after.
Can't wait to keep you updated on my old friend, Myrtle Bo!
