Curly, the Orphan Calf was written on March 22, 2017, several

weeks after fires destroyed large parts of western Kansas,

northern Oklahoma, and Texas. The loss of cattle, homes, and

livelihood was tremendous. People from all over, and especially

those with connections to agriculture, came together to donate

cash, fencing supples and machinery, hay, labor, and even cattle.

In the following weeks, huge caravans of hay and supplies headed

west and south through Kansas. As someone who grew up in

agriculture, it was all very emotional to me. My heart broke for

their loss but was full at the outpouring of help from so many

strangers. In that mix of emotions, this book was written. May it

be a tribute to the tenacity of the people who lost so much, and

a thank you to all those who helped in their time of loss.

This is the fictional story of a calf who lost her mother in a

terrible fire. It is a story of love, hope, tenacity, and second

chances-all taught through the experiences of an orphan calf.