I have found myself, more often than not, knee deep in cow patties and meadow muffins this year. I’ve been tending my “herd” more closely than normal, simply because they are more costly than normal and I’ve been feeling very “cowboy” like as I’ve been mending fences, and riding the range (in my truck) while on “calf watch”. So, in the spirit of the cattleman or cattle-lady, I’d like to share my guide to the Texas cowboy. Many times people from other areas of the country or even the World have a preconceived idea of a cowboy. They think all cowboys are alike. They wear a Big hat, they ride a Big horse and they have spurs that “jingle, jangle, jingle”, but most Texans know that there are as many types of cowboys as there are types of boots that they wear. I couldn’t possibly mention them all, but here are a few of my “cowboy” favorites.

To begin, there is of course, the “Urban” cowboy. To me, they are the Big City cowboys, who have large ranches in the Dallas or Houston area. They have a lot of money and don’t necessarily like to boot scoot as you might assume. In my mind I think of JR Ewing from the show Dallas or maybe even Jerry Jones, he’s a cowboy, right? The “Rhinestone” Cowboy sometimes mistaken for the “Urban” cowboy became popular back in the seventies when Glen Campbell came out with his hit song. An example of a “Rhinestone Cowboy” that comes to mind is Porter Wagoner. Google him and you’ll get the picture. You might think that “Rhinestone” Cowboys aren’t relevant in today’s times but I went to a Houston Livestock Show a couple years ago and I have not seen so much “bling” in one place at one time! I mean, it was everywhere, literally. I was a little taken back by all the men with “bling” not only on their belts but also on their behinds. I seriously felt under dressed and a little bare bottomed. I’ve said too much, so moving on… the next two types of cowboys have similar traits and yet are very different. The first is the “Ranch” cowboy, who I would describe as the one who “walks the walk and talks the talk”. He “steps and steps in it” and I’m not referring to high cotton. They get the job done, no matter what and no matter when. They are tough and skilled and that is where the “Rodeo” cowboy and the “Ranch” cowboy find common ground. The “Rodeo” cowboys are athletes who hone their skills for competitions and most importantly to win the prize. They also are entertainers whether they think of themselves that way or not, but I guess that can be left for debate. My most favorite cowboy I have saved for last and that is the “Green hand” Cowboy. A “Green hand” cowboy can be anyone from the age of 6 to 96. (I just made that up.) They are a novice cowboy, clueless to the fate that awaits them but they are Gung Ho and willing to try. I have worked with many “Green hands” over the years and some of their most memorable moments have been burned in my memory. One memory in particular that is forever etched in my mind took place one day after working cows. One of my “Green hands” presented me with a song he wrote. This is how it went:

“I’m just an old cowhand,

I’ve got dirt in my spit,

I work for Jimmy Fleming,

And he don’t pay me…..nothin’.”

Needless to say, that made a memory! I must add, in the cowboys defense, he wasn’t destined to be an old cowhand. He WAS destined to be a Lindale High School Science teacher, he WAS destined to marry a Drama teacher and he WAS destined to dress up like Mr. Vader, Darth Vader that is, the substitute teacher each Halloween. He is my nephew and he is a cowboy…it was written in the “Stars” because everyone knows that everyone from Texas is a cowboy!