RC Brown is Freedom's 82nd Honored Old Cowhand.

"It is a great honor, and I'm in good company when I look at all the past Old Cowhands..." said Brown, "well, I've worked side-by-side with many of them. It's a good place to be," he said.

Brown and his wife Phyllis live on a ranch 15 miles north of Freedom and have been married for 56 joyful years.

Her response to Rick's honor was: "Congratulations on being honored as the 2019 Old Cowhand! I'm happy for you. Our life has been rich in growing, learning, expanding and laughter. And with you, there's always teasing and joking. I'm proud of you and the life we've carved out together. Thank you for being my partner and my love."

Richard Charles Brown credits his granddad, Richard Estil Hill, for instilling his love for the land and cattle. Ranching is a way of life, he said; it can be a struggle and it has changed greatly over the last 50 years. Brown remembers being on his granddad's ranch and watching news of the man stepping on the moon on a one channel TV before he got telephone service on the ranch Ranch life has always been tough but with a good wife and good neighbors you just keep going, taking one day at a time.

The long days are the same but technology and machinery have changed and continue to change how ranch work is done.

"I remember threshing crews coming to harvest the crops and today we've got combines and harvesting outfits," Brown said.

The biggest changes that Brown notes are the changes in the market and the foreign influences. Taking the time to look up commodity markets, reading market insights on the computer and knowing what is going on in the world helps a rancher make decisions, he said.

Brown's resume includes 57 years in the ranching business. Working Brown Feed and Rick Brown Inc. has helped keep this ranch intact. His best advice includes embracing life and knowing God.

RC Brown is Freedom's 82nd Honored Old Cowhand.

"Life is full of surprises but God is my caretaker. We are a praying family and believe in miracles," he said. "Thank you, Freedom Chamber of Commerce, for giving me this honor of being your 2019 Old Cowhand."

The Old Cowhand Reunion will be held in the American Legion Hall in Freedom and will begin at 12 p.m. Saturday. The chuck wagon feed is free to attend.