Jon Angell

This month, we have another story written by Colleen Schreiber of Livestock Weekly. It features producer Buck Rich, and is a good example of why I like Colleen’s writing. She covers a lot of ground in her writing and has a knack for holding my attention till the end.

This time she tells Buck Rich’s story of building a ranching business mostly from scratch, but also gets into some production practices and many of the hurdles and diseases he went over along the way.

I enjoy this kind of feature, I’d be curious for some feedback from readers; is it too much or do you like the thoroughness?

With the New World Screwworm crossing the border, we will have yet another threat to be concerned with. Our older readers may remember a previous time when screwworms where a burden, but for the majority of us, we have no experience and little knowledge of the pest.

On page 8, you will find a story that give some perspective and history that I found helpful for knowing what we might be up against.

It also illustrates the importance of having a good working relationship with our neighbor Mexico. I’m not too fond of how Mexico is run nor the folks running it, but they will be key to driving NWS back below Panama again and to eventually reopening the border to more normalized trade.

For more thoughts on the Mexican border trade, Trent Loos has some interesting information on page 12, and a story on page 14 discusses new trade negotiations by the Trump Administration.

Before you move past page 8, don’t miss the story on China’s beef tariffs. Our international beef competition have reached their quotas in China here midway through the year. Will China resume importing American beef in the second half of the year? That would be significant.

I know several readers have opposing opinions on D.O.G.E. and Trump’s drive for efficiency and smaller government.

Page 18 has a story about USDA moving forward with “reorganizing” and pushing much of its smaller labor force out of Washington, D.C. and into the interior. Nearly any meaningful change comes with a certain degree of pain or adjustment before the benefits take hold.

I am glad (thrilled really) we have started the “reorganizing” process for a lot of reasons. The concentration of money, influence and raw power in the District of Columbia and the surrounding counties in the last few decades has been horrible. It will be a process, and adjustments will surely be required, but I look forward to the beneficial results.

Also on page 18, is a press release for a Chillicothe event honoring Jerry Litton’s legacy. Many of our young readers will have no idea who Jerry Litton was or why he was an important historic personality who was tragically lost at time when his trajectory was just launching like a rocket on to great things.

I would encourage readers to search out the documentary, “Happy Are Those Who Dream Dreams: The Jerry Litton Story with Walter Cronkite (1984). Litton was a well-known rancher with a popular television show that was broadcast statewide, and later became a Democratic U.S. Congressman.

When I say popular, I mean he won landslide elections and was widely thought to be a likely Presidential prospect by both Democrats and Republicans. Even national heavyweights such as President Jimmy Carter had publicly expressed belief in Jerry Litton as President.

One childhood memory I have from the Columbia Livestock Auction was the occasion when Jerry Litton made a campaign stop in the middle of the afternoon on a large sale day. He arrived and absolutely everything came to a halt! The help came from the back, and the Bull Pen Café emptied into the auction arena to a packed standing room audience.

The room as I remember was in heightened anticipation, and this man who “stopped the sale” was ushered into the middle of the sale ring, and from the auction block, a microphone was handed out for him to speak.

For those of you familiar with the workings of a livestock market, this just doesn’t happen, and when it did, even as I child I knew something special was happening. I wish I could remember what he said, but I remember him speaking and a hush coming over the room to hear what this man had to say. I can honestly say, I haven’t ever witnessed anything like it before or since. The man was incredibly charismatic.

The last thing I would tell you about Jerry Litton was my memories of the news of his death. It, too, was absorbed as a significant life changing event. I remember having a sinking feeling of regret and of a future that was set back to be far less than it could have been.

I had similar feelings with the Challenger disaster, the death of Charlie Kirk and others, but maybe slightly more personable because Litton was more local. Jerry was from rural Missouri, a rancher; Jerry Litton was our guy, it just hit differently.

Do you have memories of Jerry Litton? I am happy to hear that after fifty years there are still plenty of people who think of Jerry Litton and are willing to gather, recognize, and celebrate his shortened life even today.

When I saw the announcement coming up in Chillicothe on August 2, I started thinking that might be one I’d really enjoy attending. Any of you think you might go?

I’d point out that we have a couple of new advertisers and several of our ongoing long-term supporting advertisers have stepped up with some neat advertisements.

These folks are key to making our paper workable. When the time comes for their products or services, give them a chance to work with you. Maybe while in between your need for what they have to offer, it’s great when you mention seeing their ads and maybe a word of encouragement for support to a newspaper you enjoy. It’s maybe just a little thing but I can’t help but think it makes a difference.

While I’m talking about feedback to advertisers, I would also say I enjoy the feedback from readers. Most of it comes in the form of a short comment or words of encouragement written on subscription renewals. I appreciate these. Occasionally, feedback comes in the form of a phone call, which is often nice. I really enjoy the letters and notecards that occasionally show up; those are the best.

I will need to make a few changes and “restructurings” soon, so now would be a good time to send feedback; that includes what you both like and don’t like. I need to fix a few things that being busy with so many things I have kind of let go. Decisions will need to be made, my procrastinations must be addressed (some day) to make improvements. Drop me a note in the mail, and hurry before the rate goes up again!

As always, plan on spending some time in the pages of this issue; one that I think is filled with several inter-esting and helpful contributors. Thanks again for reading and along with your support of our efforts here.

Send questions, story ideas, criticism, encouragement to:
Jon Angell
Publisher CA
PO Box C
Centralia MO 65240