My granddad was a cowboy from an earlier age who rode on some of the last great cattle drives. He ingrained in me the code of ethics that the hero known as the "American Cowboy" adhered to. Sitting in the saddle with Granddad on the bay horse we called Old Dan, I listened to stories of business transactions completed with only a handshake. I learned of the rewards of a loving family guided by principles of faith, responsibility, honesty, and integrity.

The cowboy knew that life had a purpose, which was directly linked to a relationship with his Maker. He was put here to be a caretaker of God's creation. A steward of the land, livestock, and people he loved.