b'Cowgirl With A PenROLE MODEL BY CHOICEBy Naomi LoomisPlease follow me on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook @thecirclelranchVisit our website at thecirclelranch.com and send any comments to Loomis489@yahoo.com. I would love hearing from you.A hard work; it is a guide for living that is learned from while back a couple of our neighbors askedan early age and seared into them like their brand on Cade to be on their rodeotheir calves hide. The calling teaches Cowboys and/or team. Cade who was then 15 and had never competedCowgirls how to be self-sufficient, hard-working, and on a team, said Sure, I will be on a team! The daysappreciative of the things they have and the things they before the ranch rodeo Cody and Cade could be foundcan do for others.in our arena practicing. Practicing roping. Learning the rules. Spending father-son alone time. It was a greatLiving the life of the American Cowboy is a very opportunity for both of them. rewarding lifestyle. Everyone has different reasons depending on what they do with their time but they On the day of the ranch rodeo, I was nervous and excitedall come back to their love for the lifestyle. It is a great for Cade. I mean, really how can he be old enough tomentorship. Cowboys/Cowgirls are great teachers from be in a ranch rodeo? But I was also excited because Ibraiding rawhide to leather work, to sewing wild rags to knew that he had been working so hard. Somethingrepairing machinery. Learning the trade is something else happened that day that made my eyes water too. Ithat is passed on to the little ones just starting out.witnessed a group of older Cowboys treat my son likeIt has old traditions. Even thou technology has taken their own. I didnt have to worry about a thing, all I hadover, some old traditions have been improved but it to do was sit, watch and be thankful for folks that step uphas not changed them. Technology hasn\'t changed the to be role models to our kids. spirit of the Cowboy it just helps keep them in touch. Technology has crept into the Cowboy lifestyle in many THIS IS WHAT I SAW: ways, but cowboys still prefer to minimize the reliance Confidence and Leadership. I saw a group ofon all modernity. Ranches still utilize cattle drives to Cowboys that were positive, calm, and confident in notmove cattle from place to place. They use technology to only themselves but also in those around them. share their stories, to educate, and to communicate.Uniqueness. I witnessed grown men that choose to beGreat Teachers. I saw more than just teachers.The life also requires a particular spirit of determination proud of their lives. They all have different stories butThose cowboys are learners themselves. They challengeand courage a drive to be the very best at something choose to be confident in their ways. They are not fake. and surround themselves with great people. Cade sawmany people dont even realize still exists. The "posse" of his team members being role models, teaching him toCowboys/Cowgirls is strong. They stick together. They Communication. A vital piece of being successful in astretch himself in order to be successful. have the same spirit of never giving up, of hard work, ranch rodeo is communication. Good communicationspirit and a love for animals, and a desire to make a means listening as well as talking. I witnessed greatWillingness. I saw grown Cowboys that were willing todifference. Their courage in life is unique. They are not communication between those cowboys and Cade, theymake a difference in a kids life. The willingness to helpafraid to go for their dreams. They are tough. They have all helped him understand the rules. those around you is a great trait to have. determination and courage. They have a drive in them to be the very best at something many people don\'t even Respect and Gratitude. Showing respect and gratitudeWhat I saw were true role models. Raising kids isntrealize still is around. Cowboys/Cowgirls are not going speaks volumes about how other people see you. easy by any means, but it makes it easier when youaway anytime soon!!have friends and family members that help you. I was grateful for these friends of ours that were true roleMerry Christmas and Happy New Year from our family models for my kids. They possess the qualities that weat the Circle L Ranch. all should have and will make us all better people. I saw Cade become more confident. I saw him want to become better.We often dont recognize true role models until we have noticed our own personal growth and progress. That really implies that it takes one to know one. Thus, if you are asking the question, that may mean you are well along the road to being that Cowboy/Cowgirl role model already. Dont stop now.Even though long cattle drives have almost been entirely replaced by roads, and horses and covered wagons by pickup trucks and trailers, real, honest-to-goodness Cowboys and Cowgirls are not going away anytime soon. They are still getting up before the sun even thinks about rising to do their day\'s chores, care for their animals, and to keep Western traditions alive. They don\'t have to deal with all the hustle and bustle.The life of the Cowboy persists despite most people\'s assumption that its been relegated to western films. It endures because it is not just a job that rewards a lot of 14 December 2022'