Change
No matter what you want in life, you must give up something to get it. It’s a universal law and it works like this. The greater the value of what you want the greater sacrifice you will have to make.
The truth is that it is hard and continuous dedication that brings lasting results. There are no short cuts, easy streets or detours.
Expect to pay a price if you want to make your life better. But more importantly, also expect to pay a price for just leaving things as they are.
”Choose a job you love, and you will never work a day in your life.” - Confucius
The trucks are here!
Yesterday we sold 3 loads of heifers. The buyer called the night before and said he wanted them all implanted, rewormed and branded before they got on the truck. There were also about 20 head of steers that he bought and he wanted them sorted off and loaded in a seperate compartment. Not a problem. I started gathering them around 7am. Yes, I said I, as in one person. It didn’t take an army to pen these cattle. It wasn’t very far to bring them back to the pens, but they were gathered, sorted, weighed, processed and loaded. No hot shots, sortin’ sticks or even yelling to get all these other things done, just Jack & me. The truck drivers didn’t know what to do. We told them, ”Just do NOTHING, please”! The buyer didn’t know what to do, we told him he could brand. All three trucks were loaded and headed out by 9:30am. The cattle were calm & happy and we were calm & happy! How much better can it get?!
The only reason things went this smooth is because these cattle had been worked with every day since they had arrived at our ranch. The time that people spend doctoring cattle, trying to gather a pasture (and get everything) and forcing cattle through the processing facilities or anywhere else could be spent working with the animals. That’s why I don’t have to spend much time doctoring, because cattle don’t get sick when you work with them properly. I occasionally have one that needs doctored, but if it is pulled out of the pen properly and walked to the chute properly, it will get well very quick. When the time comes for cattle to leave our ranch (which can be a few days up to several months) they have been exposed to a variety of situations in a positive manner. We have taught them that they can walk by us (not run), they can go through any gate, it doesn’t matter where the gate is or how the gate is opened. It doesn’t even matter if something is hanging on the gate. They like to go across the scale, through the processing facilities, be sorted, taken out of the pens to exercise, anything as long as it is done properly. These cattle stay healthy, they gain better and they are happy. And just as important, WE ARE HAPPY and we enjoy doing what we do, everyday.
It’s your life, ENJOY IT!
Stockmanship School Info:
We have a Stockmanship School scheduled for May 28, 2008. It will be held in Cherryvale, Kansas at our ranch. If you would like to sign up please give me a call or send me an email. We would also be happy to add one to our schedule for you. Calendar Page
Our class sizes are going to be limited to small groups, so we can do some live demonstrations with the cattle.
We are excited!
Just give me a call…
Lori Martin
620.330.0519
“To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children…to leave the world a better place… to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.”- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Laugh—it feels good and it’s good for you!
Have you laughed yet today? For most of us laughter doesn’t come very often, yet the magic it performs on our well-being can’t be denied. It helps you enjoy friends and family. It diffuses stressful situations and it allows you the opportunity to keep things in perspective. Recognize what makes you laugh and put more of it in your life. Let your sense of humor see the fun in everyday experiences.
Allow your laughter to flow. After all, laughter is the best medicine!!! 
“Proper planning prevents poor performance.” - Anonymous
Now that’s something to think about!
Have a Great Day!
THE FROGS IN THE HOLE
A group of frogs were traveling through the woods, and two of them fell into a deep pit. All the other frogs gathered around the pit. When they saw how deep the pit was, they told the two frogs that they were as good as dead. The two frogs ignored the comments and tried to jump out of the pit with all of their might. The group of frogs kept telling them to stop because they were as good as dead. Finally, one of the frogs took heed to what the other frogs were saying and gave up. He fell down and died.
The second frog continued to jump as hard as he could. Once again, the crowd of frogs yelled at him to stop the pain and just die. He jumped even harder and finally made it out. You see this frog was deaf, unable to hear what the others were saying. He thought they were encouraging him the entire time. This story teaches a lesson… There is the power of life and death in the tongue. An encouraging word to someone who is down can lift them up and help them make it through the day. A destructive word to someone who is down can be what it takes to kill them. Be careful of what you say. Speak life to those who cross your path. The power of encouraging words … can go such a long way. May your words be a blessing to someone today.
“Worry a little bit every day and in a lifetime you will lose a couple of years. If something is wrong, fix it if you can. But train yourself not to worry. Worry never fixes anything.”- Mary Hemingway
Worrying can have harmful effects on our lives. There really is no solution when you worry, it only creates more problems for yourself in the long run.
Many of us spend so much time worrying & wasting our precious time thinking and talking about things that really don’t matter. Things that don’t matter now, don’t matter next week and definitely will not matter 10 years from now. We really end up creating these problems by thinking about them. Try replacing negative thoughts with good thoughts, things that we can & will do something about. Let’s talk about the things that we are happy about, things that we are thankful for. Let’s go on & on & on about the good things.
These positive thoughts should be used with livestock, too. Be happy that you can be outside and spend time with your animals. They depend on you & they really do like it when you spend time with them teaching them new things. I know that this is true. I see it everyday with our cattle. I can tell when they are happy & I can tell when something is not right. Maybe they don’t show it in the same ways we do, but they do show us these things…if only we’d pay more attention. And if things aren’t right? Well then…it’s up to me to fix’em.
Be Positive & You Will See Positive Results!!
Have a Good’en!
His she camera shy or what??!! 
“What you anticipate, you will create.”- Bud Williams 
We had a nice crowd at the Bud Williams Stockmanship School that was held in Independence, Kansas on April 18-20, 2008. The first 2 days were spent on Stockmanship and Sunday Bud talked on Marketing, Grass Management, more Stockmanship & what I feel like is one of the most important…Having a Positive Attitude.
Jack & I answered some questions on Saturday about some of the things we do when we start calves.
We will be holding some one day schools at our ranch this summer. The class sizes are going to be limited to small groups, so we can do some live demonstrations with the cattle. If you are interested in attending, please contact me for more information.
Lori Martin jack.lori@barmbarranch.com 620-330-0519
I asked Avery what she thought about attending her first Bud Williams Stockmanship School & this was her reaction!!!!
Smile!
Are you excited because things are going well, or are things going well because you’re excited? -Anonymous
WELCOME BUD & EUNICE
Bud & Eunice Williams are in Independence, KANSAS & will be teaching the Bud Williams Stockmanship School April 18,19 & 20, 2008!
We are looking forward to meeting with almost 80 people.Tomorrow is the beginning of the 3 day event. Bud will be speaking all three days. The first two days will be on stockmanship and the third day will be on marketing, grass management & whatever the students would like his “expert” opinion on! I say “expert” because when it comes to Stockmanship he IS AN EXPERT! He has studied & done these things for years & I know that there isn’t anyone else that has “Been there, Done that” like Bud has.
I hope you didn’t miss out on this opportunity! Have a great week.
-Lori Martin 620-330-0519 jack.lori@barmbarranch.com
“You have it easily in your power to increase the sum of this world’s happiness now. How? By giving a few words of sincere appreciation to someone who is lonely or discouraged.” - Dale Carnegie
It only takes a few short seconds for you to pass along a compliment or lend a helping hand. It does not benefit you to go through days, let alone weeks, without showing others appreciation or gratitude. Here are some tips on how to begin doing so: