The Cowboy Code
The Cowboy's culture is one steeped in the oral tradition. As a result, you won't get any two Cowboys to agree on the precise wording of any legend or protocol. They might not even use the same name for the same thing. The Cowboy Code is no exception. Some hold that the Cowboy Code and The Code of the West are the same thing. We've got the Code of the West posted as we learned it over here. The Cowboy Code was always different, because it addressed ten simple guidelines for the men who tended the stock through thick and thin. The Code of the West, on the other hand, deals with more general etiquette items.
The Cowboy Code is all-encompassing in its own way. In our modern world, it has become fashionable to run down Cowboys and their culture. We hope that you think about this code the next time you hear someone berate someone for being a "Cowboy". It might not really be a bad thing...
A Cowboy's Code of Ethics
1. Live Each Day With courage
2. Take Pride in Your Work
3. Always Finish What You Start
4. Do What Has to Be Done
5. Be Tough, But Fair
6. When You Make A Promise, Keep It
7. Ride For The Brand
8. Talk Less and Say More
9. Remember That Some Things Aren't For Sale
10. Know Where To Draw The Line
Source: Cowboy Ethics by James P. Owen
How would things be different
If our leaders all rode for the brand,
If they worked for the boss as a hand,
If they tended stock on the land?
Think of it now...wouldn't it be grand?