State FFA President Cole Eschete FREE 2 | MARCH 2019 OKFR MARCH 2019 | 3 4 | MARCH 2019 OKFR Oklahoma Farm & Ranch OKFR Appreciate Every Season
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OKLAHOMA FARM & RANCH MarchOKFR 2019 | www.okfronline.com | Volume 4 Issue 3 THE FU T URE O F AGRICUL T URE State FFA President Cole Eschete FREE 2 | MARCH 2019 OKFR WWW.OKFRONLINE.COM MARCH 2019 | 3 4 | MARCH 2019 OKFR OKLAHOMA FARM & RANCH OKFR Appreciate Every Season... ello OKFR Readers! I don’t know about you, but I’m ready STAFF & CONTRIBUTORS Hfor Spring. PUBLISHER It doesn’t matter if the temperatures J. M. Winter have barely dipped below freezing or if I’ve skated across the sidewalk over EDITOR a layer of ice, I am always very ex- Savannah Magoteaux | [email protected] cited about spring. I attempt to keep my grouchiness to myself, but staying posi- tive during the short, dreary days can be ART DIRECTOR Kayla Jean Woods | [email protected] difficult for me. Cold air that hurts my face, grey skies, and wind dampen my spirits. Did I mention those short days? ADVERTISING EXECUTIVES It’s a beautiful day when the sun Kathy Miller | [email protected] Lana Hamblin | [email protected] finally peaks through the clouds and its Rosemary Stephens | [email protected] warm rays penetrate my skin. I wish it were spring all year long. Why is spring such a joyous occasion to me? I love the new life. I can’t help but smile BUSINESS MANAGER watching a newborn foal take its first steps on wobbly legs. The smell of fresh wet dirt just Brenda Bingham | [email protected] after a spring rain makes my soul happy. Watching the first bits of green sprout up across the pasture brings excitement I can’t describe. Maybe it’s the serotonin or just being able to enjoy the outside air for longer periods. I am not sure. I just know that I thrive on all CIRCULATION MANAGER Pamela Black | [email protected] things in the spring. Yet, even as I anticipate my favorite season, I hear a wise voice cautioning me to not wish my life away. It’s a reminder that in every season there is a reason to rejoice and an COPY EDITORS Judy Wade opportunity to do good. I received many lessons about stewardship and goodness when Krista Lucas writing and editing this month’s issue. I was blessed this month to write about two inspiring men. Cole Eschete may only be 20 years old, but as the President of Oklahoma FFA, he is inspiring future agriculturists CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jerry Gwartney across the state. His passion for the organization is evident from the moment you start to Ddee Haynes visit with him. I hope you enjoy reading about Cole in “The Future of Agriculture,” begin- Terry Hardin ning on page 30. Summer McMillen Cole’s love of his family, land, agriculture, and people in general remind me of another Garrett Metcalf, DVM Shadi Nettles great man. Long-time OKFR contributor and legendary Oklahoma rancher Ralph Chain Michael Newell passed away last year just a month shy of his 92nd birthday. Ralph left behind a legacy of Lacey Newlin goodness and stewardship that inspired everyone around him, and changed more than a Jan Sikes few lives in the process. I never got to meet Ralph, but hearing from his friends and family Judy Wade Beth Watkins makes me wish I had. He always shared his stories with us, and I’m sure he had many more Barry Whitworth to tell. I hope you enjoy reading a little bit more about this wonderful man in “Remember- ing Ralph Chain” on page 13. I expect you’ll appreciate the different stories we have for you this month. We have so CONTACT US many excellent Oklahoma writers that dedicate their time to bring wonderful and entertain- ing information to you. If you get a chance to visit with one of them, let them know what OKLAHOMA FARM & RANCH you think. As always, if you have an article topic, photo, or event you would like to submit to OKFR, OKFR email [email protected]. Follow OKFR on all social media platforms, including 200 Walnut St., Bowie, TX 76230 Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Visit www.OKFROnline.com to subscribe to the digital 940-872-2076, version of OKFR. You can also subscribe to OKFR and receive a printed copy each month www.okfronline.com by calling the office at 940-872-2076. in association with Savannah Magoteaux, Editor ON THE COVER He might say he’s “just a country boy,” but 20-year-old Cole Eschete is known across the state as the face of Oklahoma FFA. Born and raised in the southeast town of Bokchito, Eschete was elected FFA State President in 2018. He’s currently OKFR is not responsible for omissions or information that has been misrepresented to the magazine. Advertisers and its agencies assume a sophomore at Oklahoma State University. (Photo by Savannah Magoteaux) all liability for advertising content. Reproduction in whole or part without writtenWWW.OKF permission fromRONLINE. the publisherC isO prohibited.M MARCH 2019 | 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS 37 54 50 19 13 42 PROFILE Page 30 IN MEMORY Page 13 The Future of Agriculture Remembering Ralph Chain Oklahoma State University Sophomore Legendary Oklahoma rancher Ralph Chain 30 Cole Eschete is not only working left behind a legacy of faith, family, and towards his degree, he’s serving as ranching. His friends and family share the State FFA President, inspiring their memories of a man who never met youth across the state to participate in a stranger, loved his family, and did the agriculture related activities. Lord’s work. 10 Chilled Lambs 38 Livin’ the Life 13 Remembering Ralph Chain 41 Western Housewives 19 Living to Serve 42 Merle Travis 20 Spring Weed Control 44 Calendar of Events 22 Behind the Scenes 46 Code Talkers 24 Expectant Mares and New Foals 50 Tales from an Outdoorsman 26 The “Uncommon” Smiths 54 Noble Learning 27 An Introduction 56 Services 36 Jesses Jewelz 57 Classifieds 37 Lacey’s Pantry 58 Parting Shot 6 | MARCH 2019 OKFR WWW.OKFRONLINE.COM MARCH 2019 | 7 8 | MARCH 2019 OKFR FACEBOOK WALL READER SUBMISSION GOOD THINGS COME IN THREES! Jacy Dean Burrows sent in this cool picture in mid-January. She said, “We had a rare occurrence happen here in western Oklahoma last week! A momma cow had a set of triplets. It took my dad several days to figure it all out because he never thought she would have had triplets. Anyways, we thought it was a neat story to share so this was the first place we thought to share it!” The cow and calves are owned by Gary and Sandy Dean of Hammon, Okla. WWW.OKFRONLINE.COM MARCH 2019 | 9 Chilled Lambs By Barry Whitworth, DVM / Area Food/Animal Quality and Health Specialist for Eastern Oklahoma ccording to a 2011 Sheep Study conducted by the AUnited States Animal Health Monitoring System, 27.3 percent of lamb death loss is related to weather. With Okla- homa’s erratic weather patterns, lambs born in early spring may be exposed to cold, wet weather. Many studies have shown that lambs exposed to these extreme conditions may become chilled (hypothermia) and develop low blood sugar levels (hypoglyce- mia). Without proper treatment, these lambs will die. Producers must be observant and intervene early to save these cold lambs. Newborn lambs rely on brown fat reserves to survive until they ingest colostrum. If they fail to nurse, the fat stores will be deplet- ed in about five hours, which leads to lack of energy for heat produc- tion. When lambs are exposed to cold, wet weather, the fat is depleted faster. Also, during cold weather, lambs lose more heat and may become hypothermic. Hypothermia develops when (Courtesy photo) the body loses too much heat F is severe hypothermia. ewe when returning the lamb to tered. Producers should consult and/or does not produce enough Hypothermic lambs will need its mother. with their veterinarian on how to heat. Factors that might contrib- to be warmed. Producers have Hypoglycemia often accom- perform these two procedures. ute to this condition are small several methods available. A hot panies hypothermia. Cold lambs When a producer observes a lambs, lambs with thin coats, wet box is an excellent way to warm usually do not nurse, which leads newborn lamb with the charac- lambs and lambs born in drafty, lambs. The box contains a heat- to low energy levels. Therefore, teristics mentioned above, he/ moist environments. Hypother- ing source that circulates warm producers need to make sure that she will need to take the lamb’s mic lambs appear weak, gaunt air around the lamb. Hot water newborn lambs nurse as soon as temperature. This is easily accom- and hunched. In severe cases, the bottles are another way to warm possible after birth. Conditions plished with a rectal thermometer. lambs are unable to stand or lift lambs. Warm bottles are place that may interfere with nursing are If the newborn lamb has mild hy- their head up. These lambs have next to the lamb and the lamb difficult births, poor mothering, pothermia (99° to 101°F), regard- cold mouths, cold ears, and lack should be covered with a blanket. abandonment, mastitis and lambs less of age, the producer should a suckle reflex. Lambs placed on heating pads do born weak because of a reproduc- make sure the lamb is dry. Next, Normal rectal temperature of well, but the producer needs to be tive disease. the producer should feed the lamb lambs is 102° Fahrenheit (F) with careful not to allow the lamb to When dealing with hypother- colostrum/milk (preferably from a range of 101.5° to 104° F.