by Jan Fielden
Back in the day, when Spookie Utley and family had leased land where the Red Oak Ranch is now located, the Utleys built a “calf creep” feeder with a roof and feeding area for little calves to be able to get to the creep but not Momma cows or bulls. The feeder had two poles on one end and the whole thing was set up so only the calves could get to the feed. This feeder was near the Sweet Gum Grove and the roof was covered with tin on one side but not on the other side.
The first story my husband, The Colonel, told me about the calf creep feeder was that it was a corral that was set up in a hurry and taken down in a hurry when “rustlers” use to come and steal calves. I think I have mentioned at some point or other that The Colonel tends to add to stories that he likes to tell. A lot of times I am looking at him and saying, no, you are lying about that when he tells me a story. He always says when he realizes I know this or that never really happened, “well, it could have happened”. I always agree that it could have been a true story, but in reality it isn’t.
So when he told me the story about the “rustlers”, I thought it was possible. Then one day I asked him if there was ever a shoot-out when they came to rustle the cows. He says what makes you think that would happen? That’s when I knew he had “got” me which is not easy for him to do. The Colonel is an interesting story teller and fun to be with.
