After Dad passed away, farming in our family came to an abrupt end. We had to sell his cattle and get the places more managable for mom.

Today at noon, the ole farmer's sons and neighbor at their side will load the lightweights into two blue rigs and their neighbor's made of white

Blue was Don's favorite color as evident around the farm. The corrals and Ford pickups and new Ford tractor were full of Don's blue charm.

It's fitting with the sky so blue that today we'll take with pride, his final request, his lightweight cattle will be Ole Blue's final ride.

We'll load em up with confidence and we will all prevail, for he told us, "Boys, my wife--your mother, I don't want her to worry or even have to think twice about the cattle. I don't want her breakin' ice."

"So, load em up and take em down that stretch of I-40, to El Reno, OKC West, and tell the men at your side that today with all that's going on--this is Ole Blue's final ride."

Now, the sortin' pens are all full now, the boys, they've done their best. It's time to take the 2 Ole Blues back toward the west. As the sun sinks lower and fades to dark, the boys feel pride inside. As they take the 2 ole rigs on Ole Blue's final ride.

Now, of course, the rigs will live again on another farm so grand and the lightweights will gain their fat on another farmer's land. We boys know that we could not have taken the trip without him by our side. We like to think that Dad rode along with us--on Ole Blue's final ride.

Dad, I often feel you are still riding along with me down the highway of life!

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THE GERNOT AWARDS