OKLAHOMA FARM & RANCH AugustOKFR 2020 | www.okfronline.com | Volume 5 Issue 8 FinishingSteve the Miller Story FREE 2 | AUGUST 2020 OKFR OklahOMA Farm & RANCH OKFR letter from the editor publishing contribution PUBLISHER CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Work hard; be JM Winter nice. A wise friend Andy Anderson EDITOR Everett Brazil III once shared her man- Savannah Magoteaux Ddee Haynes [email protected] tra for life with me, Summer McMillen andW the wisdom that Garrett Metcalf, DVM production Lacey Newlin comes with those ART DIRECTOR Bryan Painter four words can’t be Kayla Jean Woolf Mike Porter [email protected] Janice Russell understated. Beth Watkins advertising executives In today’s so- Barry Whitworth ciety, it feels like Rosemary Stephens [email protected] COPY EDITORS people are rewarded Judy Wade for laziness, and are Ryndi Perkins Krista Lucas [email protected] distribution celebrated for snarky comments and sly Kathy Miller MANAGER [email protected] Kayla Jean Woolf remarks. I, for one, [email protected] Sherrie Nelson am never sure how [email protected] DISTRIBUTORS to deal with people Pamala Black administration Pat Blackburn who believe it is Dylan Edwards cooler to hide from Brenda Bingham Tina Geurin [email protected] work, or believe a sarcastic word is the CONTACT US best way to handle any situation. Oklahoma Farm & Ranch magazine With all that said, I truly believe that Oklahomans are in- 200 Walnut St., Bowie, TX 76230 940-872-2076, www.okfronline.com herently hardworking and kind, and each time I see an act of kindness or an incredible display of work ethic from my fellow in association with Okies, I’m proud. Speaking of hard working, I can’t wait for you to read about the subject of this month’s profile. Steve Miller of Guthrie, Okla., grew up in as tough of an environment as one can imagine; in the logging industry of Montana. As a young OKFR and Post Oak Media are not responsible for omissions or information that has man, he loved art, but believed he was destined for a life of been misrepresented to the magazine. Advertisers and its agencies assume all liability for advertising content. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission from felling trees. Fate stepped in, and that young man became the publisher is prohibited. The views expressed by contributors do not necessarily an exceptionally successful salesman, and was finally able reflect those of the magazine or its employees. to focus on his art for the first time, ever. His sculptures and paintings tell a story, and I hope I did an adequate job sharing ON THE COVER his passion with you. As always, we have a great group of writers who submitted OKLAHOMA FARM & RANCH Art has never been his stories this month, and I can’t wait for you to read each and career, but Steve Miller has every one of them. been painting and sculpting AugustOKFR 2020 | www.okfronline.com | Volume 5 Issue 8 I’m always looking for story ideas about our great state and his entire life. Now living in the people in it. If you have something in mind that would fit Guthrie, Okla., Miller’s life in the corporate fast lane in the pages of the magazine, please don’t hesitate to reach out has slowed down enough to me. You can reach me by e-mail at editor@OKFROnline. so that he can enjoy his com. passion. (Photo by Savannah Wishing you the best this August. Magoteaux) Finishing the Story Steve Miller Savannah Magoteaux FREE Savannah Magoteaux, Editor [email protected] WWW.OKFRONLINE.COM AUGUST 2020 | 3 CONTENTS 7 12 17 29 35 Woody vs. Equine Gastric Western Get Out and Confessions Lumpy Ulcers Housewives Explore of a Hunter Woody tongue and Learn symptoms, Summer McMillen Oklahoma’s Learn how a nosey lumpy jaw are two diagnosis, and explains comparing numerous state parks cottonmouth added extra common infections in treatment of equine her love story to a provide R & R for excitement to a recent cattle. ulcers. corriente bull. everyone. bow fishing trip. pg. 10 Oklahoma’s Leaders Show Support of Upstream Flood Control Dams pg. 16 Turnip Au Gratin pg. 22 Steve Miller pg. 32 Grilled: Another Way to Cook Fish 4 | AUGUST 2020 OKFR WWW.OKFRONLINE.COM AUGUST 2020 | 5 DO NOT DELETE!!! 6 | AUGUST 2020 OKFR DO NOT DELETE!!! Actinobacillosis (Woody Tongue) and Actinomycosis (Lumpy Jaw) By Barry Whitworth, DVM / Area Food/Animal Quality and Health Specialist for Eastern Oklahoma Actinobacillosis and Actinomycosis, both of which are better known as “woody tongue” and “lumpy jaw” respectively, are two com- mon infections seen in cattle. Occasionally, Aboth of the bacteria are seen in other animals such as sheep, pig, horses, and dogs. In cattle “woody tongue” is associated with the tongue, head and neck regions of cattle. “Lumpy jaw” is manifested as a bone infection in the upper and lower jaws or other bones in the head region of cattle. On rare occasions, both organisms may be found in other areas of the body and internal organs. There is a tendency by some to lump them together as one disease, but they are two separate diseases. The bacterium that causes “woody tongue” is called Actinobacillus lignieresii. The microorganism does not survive long in the environment. It can live around five days out- (Courtesy photo) side the animal host. A. Lignieresii is part of oral tissues includes erupting teeth. iodide has been shown to cause abortion in the normal flora of the oral cavity and upper Once A. bovis gains entry to the tissues in cattle, but this is a rare occurrence. Besides gastrointestinal tract of cattle. The bacterium the oral cavity, there is a low-grade inflamma- sodium iodide, many veterinarians will use gains entrance to tissue through abrasions tory reaction. This is followed by proliferation additional antibiotics to treat both conditions. or penetrating wounds. This may occur with of scar tissue and inflammatory cells that result For the best treatment advice, producers should abrasive feeds or hays. in a tumor-like mass. This mass invades the consult with their veterinarian. Actinobacillosis has two forms. One form is bony structures of the head. The most com- Producers need to be aware that both of small circular swellings scattered in the subcu- mon sites of infection are the upper and lower these conditions require multiple treatments taneous tissue or lymph nodes around the head, jawbones of cattle. The infected area may swell to have any chance of success, and treatment jaw and neck area. These swellings enlarge and and be very hard. There may be some abscesses failures with both conditions are common. form thick walled abscesses. If they rupture, associated with the lesions. Radiographs of the Once abscesses are found in the skin on lymph white or slightly greenish pus is discharged. infection reveal a honeycomb appearance of node with A. lignieresii, prognosis is poor. Unless treated, the disease will progress and the bone. The disease is chronic and is followed In cases of “lumpy jaw” with extensive bony be fatal. The other form is the classical “woody by anorexia and weight loss. Without treatment lesions, the best outcome possible is to stop tongue.” In this form the tongue is swollen and the animal will die. the development. The animal will still have a firm when palpated. The first thing a producer Diagnosis of Actinobacillosis and Actino- swollen jaw. may notice is excessive drooling. These cattle mycosis is usually based on clinical signs and There is no vaccine for A. lignieresii or A. have difficulty chewing, which may result in physical examination. Additional laboratory bovis, so producers should follow biosecurity rapid weight loss. The tongue may protrude test may be run to confirm the diagnosis. protocols. Sick animals should be isolated from the mouth. The standard therapy for both conditions until well. All feed and water troughs should Actinomyces bovis is the bacterium re- is sodium iodide repeated at seven to 10 day be cleaned and disinfected. If several animals sponsible for the disease “lumpy jaw.” The intervals until resolution of clinical signs. If the are infected, the source of the cause of abra- bacterium is a normal inhabitant of the oral treatment is started early in “wooden tongue,” sion in the mouth should be identified and cavity, upper respiratory tract and digestive two or three treatments are usually sufficient. eliminated. tract of animals. Similar to “woody tongue” “Lumpy jaw” may require more treatments. If cattle producers would like more informa- the organism gains entry to tissue through dam- Treatments can be continued until signs of tion about “woody tongue” and “lumpy jaw,” age to the oral cavity by sharp objects such as iodide toxicity. Signs of iodide toxicity are they should contact their local veterinarian or stickers, grass awns or foreign bodies. Another excessive tear production, anorexia and dan- Oklahoma State University County Agriculture avenue for the bacterium to gain entry to the druff. Producers need to be aware that sodium Extension Educator. AUGUST 2020 | 7 What Happens Now? By Everett Brazil III For the past few seasons, Unit- ed States cotton and soybean growers have taken advantage of Xtendflex varieties, which feature Fthree herbicide-tolerant traits, in- cluding glyphosate, or RoundUp, glufosinate, marketed as Liberty, and three new formulations of dicamba, in Enginia, FeXapan and Xtendimax. Producers relying on the new dicamba formulations will now have to face alternative options for weed control, at least temporarily, as the Ninth Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals vacated registrations for those herbicides June 3, and as of July 31, are no longer available, either for sale or use in fields.