A beautiful Gulf Fritillary butterfly (Agraulis vanillae) rests on a colorful Lantana plant in the sunshine of a warm Texas day.
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This is a good time of year, that is for certain. Especially in regions where winter means snow and freezing temperatures. More sunshine = warmer temps. Things start to green and grow, while birds return and wildlife becomes more active.
The changing of the seasons is an automatic reminder that we can change, as well. The winters of our attitudes and moods don’t need to continue all year long. Let them warm and green and grow, along with the spring.
Living Word Devotional. Image copyright Lincoln Rogers – All rights reserved.
Grand Teton National Park (Wyoming, USA) is located just south of Yellowstone National Park. Within that area encompassing those two national parks is some of the most beautiful scenery and wildlife viewing anywhere on earth.
Some people look at all that natural beauty and think it arrived over time by accident. I can’t do that. Just like it says in the book of Job, chapter 12, the animals, the birds, the fish, the earth… everything… speaks to me of a powerful Creator and intelligent design.
I get that plenty of people don’t agree with that. We all get to choose.
My choice is to step back and appreciate the awesome beauty created by the Lord whom Job was talking about. I encourage everyone to visit that area of the USA. Whether or not you believe in an all-powerful Creator, as I do, the majestic beauty of that area will move you.
The meteorologists in Colorado are saying we are going to get hit with a big blizzard tomorrow (Weds March 13). It sounds like it is going to be about a foot of snow and 50+ mph winds. People went nuts at the stores in preparation. I heard customers at a grocery store talking about how “horrible” it was at a nearby big box store due to the mobs of people and their accompanying rudeness.
It’s just snow, right? In Colorado, we’ve seen this all before. It’s not the end of the world. In fact, if you can bend your mind around the concept, the snow is a blessing. We need the moisture and a lot of families will be able to spend time with each other, since businesses and schools have already announced they are closing for the day.
So, in honor of the beautiful white stuff we’ll see blowing through tomorrow…
Living Word Devotional. Image copyright Lincoln Rogers – All rights reserved.
Renowned Aussie horse trainer, Dan James, added some showmanship to the last slide aboard Don Magnum in the 2019 $20,000 RAM Invitational Freestyle Reining competition at the National Western Stock Show. If you will notice, James has no bit or bridle on Don Magnum for this slide, having removed them in the middle of the performance.
I was blessed to be able to sit down and have a long conversation with world famous Australian horseman Dan James, while he was at the 2019 National Western Stock Show in Denver, CO (January 2019). The Fence Post magazine published the Q&A back at the end of January. Dan James is not only an amazing horseman, he is also a great person.
I hope you enjoy reading some of the conversation as much as I enjoyed having it with Dan James.
My story (and some photos) about Dr. Temple Grandin’s speech at the 2019 Rocky Mountain Horse Expo is now online at The Fence Post’s website. The speech was a good one and I was blessed to be able to sit down afterward and have a one-on-one interview with the world-renowned speaker, author, and Colorado State University professor. Since the 1970’s, her positive impact on the beef industry has been massive and her advocacy for those with autism (like herself) is just as meaningful.
I have put together several articles for different magazines about Dr. Grandin’s speech at the horse expo, and this one focused more on her thoughts and opinions regarding horses. An article focusing more on her thoughts and opinions regarding cattle and the cattle industry will be published soon by Working Ranch Magazine.
I hope you enjoy this article in The Fence Post. God bless.
Just shooting from the hip… the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo (RMHE) has a completely different vibe than the National Western Stock Show (NWSS). While the NWSS is more western and ag in feel and presentation (along with just feeling big and important), the RMHE is a place where every aspect and discipline related to horses is in one place. Sometimes the RMHE can feel kind of jumbled (and a lot smaller), as a result, but if you are interested in horses, no matter what kind of interest, there is likely something at the RMHE for you to experience.
Morgan, riding 12-year-old Reno, took part in the youth division of the Colorado Obstacle Challenge at the 2019 Rocky Mountain Horse Expo on Saturday March 02, 2019.
Riders from the Blazing Saddles Drill Team from Elizabeth, CO took part in routines inside the Event Center at the 2019 Rocky Mountain Horse Expo in Denver, CO. The Expo held the 2nd annual Rocky Mountain Horse Expo Drill Team Showcase and Competition on Sunday March 03, 2019.
“Cricket,” a four year old gelding from Triple R Stables in Ohio, displayed his calm demeanor and excellent training inside the auction arena during the Rocky Mountain Horse Expo’s Select Sale on Saturday night (March 02, 2019). Cricket was the fifth horse in the arena and sold for $15,500.00.
The Rocky Mountain High Performance Equestrian Vaulters displayed their skills before the crowd during Saturday night’s Mane Event at the 2019 Rocky Mountain Horse Expo at the National Western Center in Denver, CO.
The high seller of the 2019 Rocky Mountain Horse Expo Select Sale was hip #21, a four year old gelding from Triple R Stables in Ohio named Lager. The beautiful and well trained palomino brought the high bid of $30,000.00 during the auction.
A big crowd of nearly 1,000 people showed up to hear Dr. Temple Grandin speak about how animals think on Sunday afternoon at the 2019 Rocky Mountain Horse Expo in the National Western Center in Denver, CO.
Stefanie Reinhardt from Crested Butte, CO showed “Doc” in a fun routine in the Mustang Days Freestyle Class at the 2019 Rocky Mountain Horse Expo. Reinhardt had Doc moving to the beat of Queen’s “You’re My Best Friend” as well as taking a bow near the end of the routine.
A horse expo “petting zoo” wouldn’t be complete without a little white pony.
Dr. Temple Grandin takes a brief pause while signing books after a well-attended speech at the 2019 Rocky Mountain Horse Expo.
Do you have a mental list of people (or maybe just a person) that you heard about/read about and wanted to meet? Dr. Temple Grandin was one of those people on my list. Years ago, after watching a movie about her life – Temple Grandin – I discovered she was a professor at Colorado State University and thought it would be awesome to meet her one day. That day arrived this past weekend when she was a featured speaker at the 2019 Rocky Mountain Horse Expo.
After she spoke to the large group and signed books afterward, as well as talked to each and every one of her many admirers at the event, I was able to sit down and have a conversation with Dr. Grandin about her thoughts and opinions regarding cattle, horses, and the progress that has been made inside the livestock industry in handling them in a more humane fashion. That conversation will be included in several upcoming articles for publication, of course, but that wasn’t the best part of being able to sit down and talk with her.
Dr. Grandin is a remarkable person. Period. Her impact upon the beef industry is gigantic, and her life story is an inspiration to those with autism, as well as to anyone who appreciates an underdog story of great achievement against all the odds.
I was blessed to have those twenty minutes one-on-one with Dr. Grandin. She was everything I hoped she would be when I originally wanted to meet her almost ten years ago.
I hope you will get to meet the person or people on your list.
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