the last cowboy
Ka-ching. Ka-ching. Ka-ching. The spurs on a cowboy’s boots, an unmistakable sound. An ancient sound, dating back to the Roman legions of Julius Caesar and beyond, that evokes feelings of awe, wonder and fear. The American Cowboy. Long days, wagons, and toughness are words used to describe the life of a cowboy to schoolchildren when they visit pioneering museums on field trips. But like the gunslingers of the Wild West, the traditional life of a cowboy is now only preserved in movies like Lonesome Dove and history books.
Or is that it? Are there real jeans?
My family and I were recently invited to attend the annual Steiner Valley Ranch Livestock Meeting in Whitney, Texas. I’ve always considered myself an “outdoorsy” guy, so I thought it would be fun to take some pictures of the kids with dusty old men in big hats. Images of Billy Crystal in “City Slickers” filled my head, but I wasn’t sure what to actually expect.
We arrived late at night after driving no less than 20 miles off the paved road. Steiner Valley Ranch, or SVR as it’s called, was established in 1849 and seemed to last forever. Our team of 12 received a warm welcome from Wanda Harris, the ranch manager’s wife and purveyor of all things good. Perhaps the kindest woman in Texas, her hospitality, generosity and cooking are legendary around here. I heard there was even a song written about her! After settling into our cottage, Mrs. Harris advised us to “get plenty of rest tonight. Jay likes to saddle up at dawn.”
When my alarm clock rang, I was sure there had been a mistake. “No one in their right mind gets up that early!” I thought. As we rubbed sleep from our eyes and drank coffee, we wondered what the new day would bring.
Ka Ching. Ka Ching. Ka Ching. Heavy, rhythmic footsteps across the front porch indicated that someone was approaching the door. “Oh my God! It’s him!” I accidentally said out loud as a lump formed in my throat.
For years, I’ve heard stories of this old-school traditional cowboy in Whitney, Texas. “Hard as nails.” “Eyes, sharp as a hawk.” There is even a story, as legend has it, of when he “sewed stitches on his own hand while leading a cattle drive.” Jay Harris, the ranch manager for the Steiner Valley Cattle Ranch…he was at our front door!
Two quick knocks, then the door opened. Time stopped and no one breathed when he entered the room. Taking off his hat, the Trail Boss quickly surveyed his new ranch hands and hoarsely said, “Good afternoon, girls. Let’s go, we’re late.” I think he smiled, but he wasn’t sure. But what he did know is that he was at least 8 feet tall and now he believed every story he heard about Jay Harris.
As we helped saddle the horses in the predawn moonlight, Jay and a crowd of other “real” cowboys gathered and discussed the game plan for the day. Hall of Fame cowboy David Merrill was even there! I never realized jobs like this still existed and I was in awe of the tough men who called this place home. The saddle leather creaked as they mounted and disappeared into the darkness as he secretly wished he was one of them.
We hear them before we see them. A few hours after sunrise, scattered across the horizon, brave men on horseback herded the first group of cattle into the corral where we patiently waited. A few switchbacks in the canyon complicated the ride, but Trail Boss directed a few of his hands to separate and go around them. The herd was carefully herded into the corral where the real work began. The purebred Angus were sprayed with a pesticide and the cows were separated from the calves. They asked me if I wanted to feel one of the cows to confirm that she was pregnant. I advised him that it was much better to leave it to professionals like them and thought I could leave that task on my “bucket list” for another day. The calves were herded into the large “rope pen” and the Trail Boss held a safety briefing while the SVR branding iron was placed on the fire. He wasn’t sure what was about to happen, but I could tell from the mood that things were about to get exciting!
When the first calf was tied up and thrown to the ground by the team of experienced cowboys, I realized the enormous amount of effort that goes into “working cattle.” No boy and very few men have the courage and toughness to call themselves a “cowboy”. These guys were professionals in anyone’s book and had obviously been doing it for a long time! Jay Harris did most of the lassoing on his old favorite horse, Amigo. Adrián Hinojosa was also a talented roper and an asset to the operation. Amber Tiwater served as the vet and administered all the vaccinations. One by one, each calf received the SVR tag and was vaccinated, tagged and castrated. His mothers protested and waited impatiently in the pasture to join their calf.
When the dust settled in the late afternoon, Jay decided to call it a day and invited us over for dinner. A mountain of Steiner Valley Ranch-raised ribs was served and every conceivable side dish and dessert was also available. I think it was the best meal ever. I was able to visit Jay and got a lot of insight into the life of a cowboy. His work is real, meaningful and important. His lives are purposeful, pure and honest. It’s not a 9 to 5 job by any means, and there are very few rich cowboys. A gardener, a veterinarian, a fence builder, a welder, a carpenter, an accountant, a plumber, and a heavy equipment mechanic are just a few of the duties a cowboy must fulfill. A day off? Not here. Jay advised that after going to church in the morning, they go back to work.
The cattle drive lasted 3 full days and we were exhausted. When the last calf received the SVR mark and was returned to pasture, I felt a sense of pride to have been surrounded by such hard-working men of honor and spirit. Real American Cowboys. I learned a lot about getting back to basics and the joy of working hard and living free. I found that happiness and fulfillment are directly proportional to the amount of dirt under your fingernails and sweat dripping onto the floor. This land was settled by brave men on horseback like Elgin and Mike Guentert and that legacy lives on in men like Jay Harris. I appreciated the time we spent with Jay and Wanda Harris and best Christian friends I had never met. I solemnly believe that my life is better after meeting them and I can’t wait to go back.
Jay Harris, The Last Cowboy? Probably not, but surely one of the best and most respected in Texas. A very special thanks to all the cowboys who help keep the spirit alive, including David Merrill, Rob Beasley, Jeff Sanders, Ronnie Doss, William Heard, Joe Hinojosa, Agustin Hinojosa, Adrian Hinojosa, Justin Moore and Bo Wohleb. My congratulations to each and every one of you. Job well done, cowboy.