COW STORIES WANTED FOR TV SPECIAL

Several years ago our company produced a film for PBS called “The Natural History of the Chicken.” It was a film that celebrated the chicken and its relationship to people. Now we have been asked to do more.

We are developing a new PBS Special that celebrates cows and the relationships they have with their owners. In particular we are looking for heartfelt stories, funny stories, sad stories, stories of our relationship to cows that give us a better understanding of these unique animals. If you know cows and know them well – please share with us. We are also hoping to meet charismatic and friendly characters who can tell these stories to us. Or perhaps you know of someone you can refer us to?

We would appreciate it if you could share these with us.  Drop us an email with your suggestions and contact information - or if you prefer just a time to call you – if that works best for you?

Mark Lewis, Producer
[email protected]

tim ohlde

http://www.ohldecattle.com

you better be prepared to ask some informed questions or i will be really disappointed.

the man was involved with angus, fleckvieh, shorthorn, maine anjou, beef friesians, i think limousin,brahman, helped start amerifax, chianina, imported several prominent bulls in the 70's from a variety of breeds. in my opinion, there are very few cattlemen who have had such an impact on the cattle industry. plus he's great to talk with and has obviously countless stories and would also be a great resource for who else to talk to.  he only uses the phone so don't use email.

be sure to ask him about the former cropland he converted to pasture.


I guess what you are really after are fair animals and anthropogneic attributions.

Keep us updated as to when and where is will air please.

Thank you for your posts. If you know of anyone that would be willing to share any stories please let them know. The more the better.

Best,

robert de baca's wife.  he wrote "courageous cattlemen" but he's dead now. she would be a good resource for some old-timers.

The MAN Behind the BULL....Part 1

also watch part 2 and 3..
great story.

Thank you so much for your responses. They've been greatly appreciated.

Best,

Mark

You can come visit me. I'm good at telling stories. Charismatic. (pop). I've built up a herd and lost it. Now I'm back. Better then ever. We finish cows on straight grass. No fertilizers or chemicals. Plans are in the works for a 300 head cow herd. I was never around a cow until 1999. It's been a fun, crazy, heartbreaking ride but I wouldn't change it for anything. 740-815-4145. I'm in Ohio.

trevorgreycattleco said:

You can come visit me. I'm good at telling stories. Charismatic. (pop). I've built up a herd and lost it. Now I'm back. Better then ever. We finish cows on straight grass. No fertilizers or chemicals. Plans are in the works for a 300 head cow herd. I was never around a cow until 1999. It's been a fun, crazy, heartbreaking ride but I wouldn't change it for anything. 740-815-4145. I'm in Ohio.

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Trevor,

Phone calls and travel may have to wait at the moment. I'm quite busy here. If you're able to email me some quick stories that would be fabulous. My email is [email protected]

Best,

Mark

Something like this?

I Am Angus: Hugh and Eleanor Ingalls and the South Dakota Blizzard
or this around 35:50

Dr. Temple Grandin - The Woman who thinks like a Cow

Do you want cattle stories or cow stories?


I guess when i first read your post i was thinking about cows that breeders based their herds on and maybe had a different way of thinking rather than basing their herd or their success on a bull.

knabe said:

Do you want cattle stories or cow stories?


I guess when i first read your post i was thinking about cows that breeders based their herds on and maybe had a different way of thinking rather than basing their herd or their success on a bull.

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I would prefer cow stories involving them and the relationship they have with their owner. I hope that makes sense, and maybe gives you some ideas.

Best,

Mark

i guess i would consider ohlde's 1019 cow and the 6807 bull as sort of a relationship.  almost his entire line-up is from that cow/bull.

i've seen the special you did with chickens, and especially the hawk/liza segment and similar one's and though i obviously have a closer relationship with ag that your stereotypical viewer does, i think you are selling the industry and yourself short by not digging deeper into what really makes ag and the relationships that producers have with their animals tick.  i think your last special was too focused on being too cute and could use some diversity in presentation and subject matter. i think the viewing public is intrigued about the animals mentioned above and how people in ag are just as creative and successful and that this is interesting and can be made "cute" with your skill.

I urge you to challenge yourself to be different.

the above is offered with "no greater love".

in your special, you had a couple of clips of polish roosters, we recently obtained one and he was a jerk, running around everywhere, attacking people, not watching the hens enough. well, one day recently a fox nailed him and drug him off.  he was big enough it was somewhat of a chore for the fox.  we chased the fox off, i kicked the rooster a little bit, and immediately he ran off towards the coop.  after that, it was a new day, he hunkered his neck down for weeks, hung around the coop, wouldn't let the hens out, stopped attacking us and the kids. now he's a little more normal, but one can tell he's a lot more leery.

I watched the chicken documentary.  In the age where the American animal producer is being attacked by such animal rights activists as PETA, and the Humane Society for production practices and by such retailers as Chipotle for our ""inhumane" practices, I am concerned how these "relationships" will be portrayed?  We need nothing that one of these do-gooders can latch onto to promote how we shouldn't be exploiting these animals for our own benefit.  It is very easy to put a fuzzy cuddly spin on these tales between a cow, heifer, calf, steer and bull but the fact remains they are there to make cattle producers money and to find an end point at a slaughterhouse.  Saying that, all of our mama's have names so does our family have a personal relationship to each of our mama cows?  You bet.  Their calves are named and I am bottle feeding a heifer right from a hard birth as the mother licks me as if to say thank you.  Caring, respecting and even becoming attached is all part the process of raising quality animals.  I felt the chicken piece was not the "history" of the chicken.  What the previous posters have shown you is what the cattle industry is.  It is not all warm fuzzy stories of the pets we make them into but the life of a cattle producer and what it takes to feed our family and for some a nation.

i agree with previous post. 


turning production livestock into cute anecdotes isn't really serving the industry so much as anthropomorphizing production livestock.


I think people would be interested in important animals, similar to how people feel about muscle cars or anything with some history instead of the endless parade of cutesy stories.  it would be nice if your industry could branch out a little more beyond your comfort zone.


here's a different perspective for some creative neurons to be turned on.  the owner of the collection is a neural surgeon.


http://simeonemuseum.org


http://www.teamshelby.com/forums/index.php/topic/54148-shelby-daytona-coupe-vs-grand-sport-corvette/

I appreciate the replies. I'm not just looking for warm and fuzzy stories. Too much of that wouldn't be good. I'm looking for "real" stories. I would love some sad and/or heartfelt stories about the relationship between an owner and their cow. I'm really just looking for great characters. Someone that shows true passion for their animal.

Sent you a pm

Did you, Bim? I checked and I don't have a message in my inbox.