My column this month is not going to be very informative when it comes to the cattle industry, maybe because there is really nothing else that needs to be said about this incredible market. We continue to witness encouraging signs that the demand for beef is not only domestically but also in foreign markets, as well.  I guess I could reiterate the upcoming weather forecast for this summer, but let’s face it, Brian Bledsoe does a much better job!

What I would like to talk to you about is cowboy etiquette, which I don’t believe some of you have ever learned by what I’m witnessing in your actions. Most of you probably know by now that I grew up in Llano County, graduated from Llano High School, and attended Texas A&M. I grew up in a home that was very conservative, traditional and trust me when I say, I was taught the proper and respectful ways to address people. I was also taught at a young age when you were allowed to wear a hat or cap to cover your head. First let me say, I was taught to address people by saying sir or ma’am when addressing an adult. If it was a man, I was expected to shake their hand, look them in the eye and address them in a proper way. You opened the doors to buildings and cars for women or girls and closed it afterward. I was taught to wear a hat or cap only when I was outside and respectfully removed it when I entered a building, ate a meal, spoke to a person of authority and especially when I entered a church!

On the campus of Texas A&M University, there is a building called the MSC which stands for Memorial Student Center. This building is very special to all Aggies because they know the significance of this building. It was created as a memorial to our fellow Aggies that died in WWI and WWII and to honor them for giving the ultimate sacrifice for our country. It is out of respect and honor that when students and visitors enter this memorial they are asked to remove their hats. Now, if we can expect people to do this in remembrance and honor of soldiers that have died, is it too much to ask men attending church to remove your hats and caps out of respect to the Lord?

I bring this topic up for a good reason. Last weekend, Vicki and I attended a funeral in a small church located out in the country. It was very quaint, it could hold maybe 50-60 people, just an old-fashioned country church that people dream about. I didn’t know most of the people who attended the service so I’m assuming they weren’t natives of the area. What irked me though was that many of the men did not take off their hats when they entered the church, nor at the beginning of the service and I’m not certain that they did during the prayers. What disturbed me even more was the fact that the pastor didn’t make a statement at the beginning of the service asking the men to do so. The men, and most of them were cowboys and ranchers, taught me the rules of when to wear a hat, and in a church or any other memorial facility is not considered appropriate and is not respectful to those we are honoring.

I’m sure that some of you will read this and totally disagree with me and I guess that is your choice to make. I’m just not sure how a western hat (I won’t call them a cowboy hat because most people wearing them aren’t cowboys) somehow makes you think the hat gives confidence. Let’s not forget why we go to church. It’s not so we can look like John Wayne. It is to show respect, worship, find spiritual guidance and pray to God for allowing us the opportunity to live in this wonderful world he has created.