Tough Momma Tough Country

"Tough Momma Tough Country" is a portrait of a  Hereford momma with her crossbred calf. I took the reference pictures for this piece in 2018 at the Tongue River Ranch. T J Roberts was the ranch manager at the time and he took time to explain to me why he liked the horned Hereford cows in the rough country of West Texas. He told me that their average of raising a live calf was the best percentage compared to other breeds in that country. Some of the reasons for this include fertility, ability to thrive in rough years, and good mothering instincts. I have used reference pictures from that trip in a number of my other pieces including Young Guns and Red Dust, Whitefaces and Blue Skies.

“then I will send rain on your land in its season, both autumn and spring rains, so that you may gather in your grain, new wine and olive oil. I will provide grass in the fields for your cattle, and you will eat and be satisfied.”‭‭

Deuteronomy‬ ‭11‬:‭14‬-‭15‬ ‭NIV‬‬