Work Ethic and Art
Lately I had one of my beliefs reinforced. I'm Jeff Keane; I'll be back in one minute to it with you. Recently Susan Allen and I had the honor and pleasure to M.C. the kick off western art show in Pendleton's Cattle Baron's Weekend. The event, "In the Company of Cowgirls" featured art and photography created by working cowgirls with an excellent bit of poetry and music thrown in. One gal buckaroo, Billie Flick, told of her choice to make her life's work involve cattle and horses. It was easy for her since she grew up on a ranch, but she related how someone from a city could follow the profession and become good at it if the attitude and try is there. This is what I have to agree with - the mental attitude and work ethic is pretty much the same anywhere for people who tend stock and are lucky enough to do that job from the back of a horse. A chore just isn't done until it's finished. Kathy Moss, one of Billie's friends told how Billie looked all afternoon and into the dark of evening to find a lost calf that she knew had not nursed all day. The cow and calf were reunited before Billie quit for the day. I don't think there is a much better feeling or payment than knowing you stayed with a job until a satisfactory outcome was achieved - knowing that you did something that maybe not everyone would take the time to complete. That's the feeling that makes all the work not seem like work, your pride of a job well done. Thanks, gals for putting that pride in the public eye. I'm Jeff Keane.
