Only in Fort Worth does a longhorn reach the level where a news release is distributed to announce its retirement.
The Fort Worth Herd, made of up longhorns and a team of drovers, announced that James, a 1,734-pound, carrot-top longhorn is retiring after four years of strutting his stuff and delighting tourists in the historic Stockyards.
"James was one of our most mature longhorns," Fort Worth Herd trail boss Kristin Jaworski said in a news release. "He was a great mentor for new steers joining the herd and always a favorite among students and visitors."
James joined the Fort Worth Herd four years ago and took part in more than 2,400 cattle drives down East Exchange Avenue and reached more than 46,000 school children through educational programs.
The next stop for James is a ranch in Poolville owned by Hall of Fame rodeo announcer Bob Tallman.
Gypsy Boy will join the Fort Worth Herd in James' place. Gypsy Boy was donated by 10-year-old Ashlyn Holson, who cared for and showed the longhorn.
Watch for Gypsy Boy and the other longhorns on their cattle drive as it travels down East Exchange Avenue in the Fort Worth Stockyards at 11:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily.
