by Sarah Kmon
In cow country, there is a thing called “shipping”. Just, as I’m sure, there is “shipping” in Lapland. Only we ship cows, not presents. And we don’t care if you’ve been naughty or nice.
Shipping in Montana is the release of weanling calves to their new owners by sending (or shipping) them off to their new zip code.
The first thing that happens is the separation of the appropriate type of bovine – cow from calf, or heifers from steers.
This often involves cowboys.
It’s a lot of fun.
But there is some serious work too. Like counting brands, or counting cows, or calves. But not sheep. You don’t count sheep when you’re supposed to be working.
The cowboys ride sweaty horses, (different from Lapland, where they have reindeer) and are usually supernice.
Sometimes they have painfully cute dogs that you want to take home while no-one’s looking. I’ve never seen it happen, but I suspect that the cowboys would not be so supernice if you tried it.
Anyway, back to shipping. Shipping here usually takes place in late October/early November – not December, like in Lapland. Shipping involves lots of people, not elves. And I’m pretty sure Lapland would wrap a big bow around any dog you wanted. It’s just not cool to do that here.
However, cow country is still very awesome. We like it here.
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I was born and raised on a ranch in Townsend. What a great article!! Very well said. I have to also say that what you have created in the form of your business – I SO admire you!! Well done!
i remember coming into your store while my mom went gambling across the street. i said ‘talk to me’ and you told me the story.
i like your little shipping story very much and admire you come to Montana and made something happen that employs other folks. to many outsiders come to just run up the prices and spray orange paint and post signs that never existed when i grew up out on the plains