Under the Wire

Many years ago I remember reading a story where the writer had asked several people, from various walks of life, what they thought was the greatest invention of all time. Answers were electricity, telephones, internal combustion engines and Dairy Queen.

I’m sure that last response came from a Texan. I remember from our years rodeoing in the Great Lone Star State, Dairy Queen signs were called “Texas Stop Signs.” Not wanting to offend our Texan friends, we always complied. Great hamburgers, by the way.

In response to that survey which did not include questioning anyone wearing spurs, I wrote an “Under the Wire” about my own nomination for the honor. That was many years ago but I remember my choice and think about it quite often. So adamant am I that I had the correct answer, here’s the 2021 version of that story.

My nomination for the greatest invention in the world so far is not Dairy Queen for which I have already given lots of free publicity, but rather (drum roll), the stock trailer.

No other invention since fire has changed the world as much as the stock trailer. Many years ago, long before my time, by the way, cattle drives began to be replaced with pickups and trucks. A nearly as impressive invention, the “Omaha Standard” fold down stock racks converted every ton and half farm truck into a cattle hauler. Whenever a herd needed moved, a convoy of trucks, stock racks rattling, showed up as all the neighbors came to load up seven or eight cows and take off rocking back and forth towards a new location. Even pickups were loaded with two or three cows, not exactly thrilled to be confined in a tiny corral that began moving down the road at 20 miles per hour.

One day, and I’m kind of making this up for lack of facts, some guy, sea sick from driving one of those lurching from side to side cow loaded trucks said, “There has to be a better way.”

From his shop emerged the first bumper pull stock trailer, probably with no top as were ours. The world of hauling cows, horses, sheep and pigs too, I suppose, changed forever. You know the rest. Goosenecks, tandem axels, three axels, torsion axels, some trailers forty feet or more. If you own a cow, chances are you also own a stock trailer. Dozens line up at every auction in the country to unload or load new purchases out. Our ranch owns three. In a weak, non-cowboy moment, we have even put a four-wheeler in one, hoping no one will see.

There you have it. The greatest invention of all time.

Go hook it up. I’ll see you at the livestock auction.