I attended the Nebraska Cattlemen Midyear this last week. The meetings took place between The Prairie Club Golf Course and the Valentine High School. One of the highlights for me was listening to a panel made up of the Nebraska Stock Growers, Nebraska Livestock Feeders and Nebraska Cattlemen Presidents and EVP’s that recalled and discussed history of key events and issues from the last 125 years.
The panel might not have had as much significance for me if we weren’t also celebrating our 125th year here at Wilson Ranch. The last couple of weeks have been full of nostalgia as I’ve been looking through old photographs, listening to stories, and starting preparation for our birthday party in August. I continue to learn something new about our history on a regular basis. Today’s tidbit of information was that we originally started as a Shorthorn outfit before my ancestors started purchasing purebred Herefords in the 1930’s.
There are two sides to being part of a multigenerational operation. I’ve heard both. There are those that commend the operation for functioning through the trials and tribulations of 125 years and still being successful, than there are those such as the dingbat in Kansas this weekend (that I met for the first time, but knew Ryan) that said “You got a pretty good gig going on up there don’t cha.” Either way the stories are fascinating, the history is inspiring, and the legacy can continue on.
The moral of this blog is…we all have a history. Whether we are ranchers celebrating a milestone, associations reaching the big one, or a town (Alliance is also celebrating their 125th) that has pulled through the tough times, that history is a vital part of who we are, why we are here, and how we can continue.
At the Prairie Club on Tuesday evening, with the Governor and a who’s who of past and present Nebraska ranchers, feeders, and agriculturist, there was a commemorative panoramic photography taken. Sitting in that group looking around the circle made me choke up a little as my thoughts began to wonder to the future and what would someone think of the photo 125 years from now? Besides wondering why the heck some of us were in golf clothes, I hope they can pick out a couple faces and say that’s why my family is here now and this is the difference that that person made.