Pasture to Pen

As the character Beth Dutton said in the new show "Dutton Ranch," a spinoff of "Yellowstone," "Legacy is a beautiful thing, but only if it survives."

Yes, I write about legacy often. It's a word that means a lot to me and maybe even more so after I moved into my grandmother's home on our farm recently. Making sure our family legacy continues here is my goal.

I was recently looking for a photo and came upon the one accompanying this column of my Grandpa Lonnie Carrico holding an Angus bull. It really showed me a lot of my history in a small snapshot.

Angus cattle have always been a part of our farm. It's something we are very proud of. The bull in the picture is likely one that made a mark on our herd, which is a discussion I recently had with my kids about the hopes of our current herd bull. Ironically, our bull has a lot of the same characteristics as this one.

I think my kids also have many of the same characteristics as my grandparents. Being good stockmen is a devotion, a commitment and a skill that has been passed down through the generations. The love of the land, and the buildings, and caring for it all is what we learn to appreciate, especially as we age.

APPRECIATE OUR FREEDOMS

With Memorial Day approaching, I had to include my favorite photo of my grandparents during the World War II era. That photo, which also accompanies this column, also shows me so much about love, commitment and, ultimately, legacy. It sits on a table in my living room for me to be reminded of the sacrifices my grandparents made to make sure our legacy survives.

I know we are fortunate to have a homestead like we do to call home. Not just our farm, but also our country. This Memorial Day, take the time to appreciate what is around you -- your family, your farm, your animals, your friends, and mostly your freedom. We sometimes get caught up in the action of the day and forget to be thankful. I'm thankful my family found their way to this spot so many years ago, so I have a legacy to pass on. I pray my kids will see to it that it survives for many generations to come.

Jennifer Carrico can be reached at jennifer.carrico@dtn.com

Follow her on social platform X @JennCattleGal

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