The Sage Grouse

How to run a ranch; Life’s important lessons

I was showing a rancher from Simms. Montana, around a ranch a partner and I owned for a few years, very nice fellow, likes to irrigate, fix fence and weld stuff because he enjoys the hands-on part of work.  He is educated with a dry wit and his wife is a charming school teacher.  We were talking about irrigation, grazing and oil and gas development issues, right after we serendipitously flushed about 50 sage grouse, which was very pleasing to both of us, and he said:  “You know what they say, the best cross is between a Black Angus and an oil well.”

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