Narrie Toole:  

Life Most of my adult life involved ranching and farming and most of the time I have lived in counties with less than 1500 residents. I received a degree in Art Education from K-State in Manhattan, KS. Along with the ranching I created pottery professionally for 16 years. After years of feeder cattle, I pursued an interest in developing a registered cowherd. For the next sixteen years, I personally, managed, raised, and showed a much respected and well-known herd of cattle. With my experience from feeder cattle, I selected genetics for carcass traits, bunkline conversion, docility, and maternal suitable for short grass country. As a promotion for the herd, we regularly attended National Western Stock Show with a string of cattle often winning classes and having Reserve Champion Senior Bull in 1996. They were good, honest cattle and a joy to work with. During the 20+ years of ranching, I recorded lots of scenes. Long rides on miles of pastures. Processing and doctoring the cattle. Weather. All the years gave me the excellent base to later paint these animals from. I participated in KARL Class V (Kansas Agriculture Rural Leadership), during which I moved to Fort Collins, Colorado area. KARL is an outstanding Agriculture class/group that promotes networking both in state, nationally, and internationally through a 2year class. 30 people are chosen from all aspects of agriculture. As well as Washington DC, our class had the pleasure of going ...Expand for more