04-14-2010, 08:00 AM
When I was 14, we had a flash flood at the ranch, and we found an orphan newborn heiffer calf two days later. She was still wet, shivering, and was badly dehydrated. My father thought she was going to die and told me that if I could save her, she would be mine to sell or breed. I named her Soggy and sat up bottle feeding her for the next two nights and days. Soggy was a pedigreed Santa Gertrudis, and she grew into a beautiful show animal. I showed her at the State Fair of Texas a year and a half later, and she took the Reserve Champion trophy.
Now at the end of the judging, there was an auction. I wasn't sure if I wanted to sell her or breed her and sell the calves, so we set a ridiculously high reserve price of $3000. To our great surprise, the bidding stopped well over that and we had to sell. It was customary for the younger winners to meet the buyers. The lady who bought Soggy was Mrs. Anthony, owner of the Hualalai Ranch of the Big Island. She was a gracious lady and told me I should use the money to go to college and then come visit the Big Island some day.
I took Mrs. Anthony's advice on both counts. She and Soggy changed my life in some very important and profound ways. Blessed be the memory of this dear lady and that wonderful Soggy. I have visited the Hualalai Ranch and seen the descendants of Soggy. The ranch and the cattle are both beautiful.
Now at the end of the judging, there was an auction. I wasn't sure if I wanted to sell her or breed her and sell the calves, so we set a ridiculously high reserve price of $3000. To our great surprise, the bidding stopped well over that and we had to sell. It was customary for the younger winners to meet the buyers. The lady who bought Soggy was Mrs. Anthony, owner of the Hualalai Ranch of the Big Island. She was a gracious lady and told me I should use the money to go to college and then come visit the Big Island some day.
I took Mrs. Anthony's advice on both counts. She and Soggy changed my life in some very important and profound ways. Blessed be the memory of this dear lady and that wonderful Soggy. I have visited the Hualalai Ranch and seen the descendants of Soggy. The ranch and the cattle are both beautiful.