For ranchers and cattle feeders battling the harsh winter across the Central Plains, it's been a month-long struggle against Mother Nature. And as is always the case, she's won more than her share of the battles.

I was talked to a neighbor who was lamenting higher hay and corn prices, the inability to use corn stalks that were paid for, the shrinking of feed stores, and the downtrend in the market, and he said, "It's pretty hard to see the romance of ranching at times like these."

I couldn't help but smile. After all, winter moisture always equates to spring grass.

I wanted to end our own little pity party, so I said the first thing that came to mind, and that was: "The romance is still there; it's just more difficult to see."

Heck, I can't think of anything sexier than my wife running to open a gate so I don't have to get down off that infernal tractor once again. The romance is always there; sometimes you just have to look a little harder for it. Here in Colorado, the temperature has risen above freezing, water is running and the romance of ranching is just around the corner.
-- Troy Marshall