"Would you like to go in the cattle business with me?' The question was directed at me by my boss at the West Brothers Department Store chain. I was 29 years old and had recently taken a job there in DeRidder, La., as their head of real estate. Now I must tell you that my knowledge of cattle at that point in my life was primarily gleaned from watching shows such as "Rawhide" or "Bonanza" on television as a boy. "Yes!" I responded immediately. Move over Ben Cartwright, there's a new cattle baron in town. In truth, I was really more like Little Joe, but at age 29, my cattle future seemed endless.