I’m sitting at the airport, getting ready to board a flight to Denver. What awaits me is the 2012 Young Cattlemen’s Conference. Over the next 10 days, I’ll be learning everything there is to know about the cattle industry in the United States. The National Cattlemen’s Beef Association holds this conference to help train young leaders in the beef industry. Each year, one media representative is allowed to tag along on this experience and this year, I’m it. I couldn’t be more excited.

So while I’ll be hanging out with a bunch of cowboys and cowgirls from all over the country, I’ll be leaving this little cowboy at home.

And his big brother who seems to hang out at the barn a lot taking care of his 4-H animals. (Photo by ShowChampions.com)

And this guy. . . I couldn’t be gone this long without him.

I’ll miss some things while I’m gone – like the local livestock show, T-ball games, and wheat harvest. But I’m excited. It will be a good trip. And I’m glad you’ll be following along.