By Bob Welch for the 2026 Winter Ranch Record.
This colored engraving, titled, “Joseph interpreting Pharaoh’s Dream. Genesis 41:25-26” is a 19th century depiction of the famous scene.
The Biblical story of Joseph is an all-time classic. It’s a tale filled with favoritism, betrayal, deception, unjust punishment and eventually vindication and triumph. Much of the drama swirls around dreams–both the protagonist’s and the others’. Joseph is given the unique ability to interpret his own dreams and those of people around him. His release from a wrongful imprisonment came when he–through God, he’s quick to say–told Pharaoh that his dreams of skinny cows eating fat cows and blighted corn devouring healthy corn meant seven years of plenty followed by seven years of drought for Egypt.
Pharaoh saw the wisdom of Joseph, believed his prophecy and set him to work preparing the nation for the impending drought. Joseph toured the kingdom building storehouses and collecting a portion of every crop for seven years. When the drought hit, Egypt was prepared and was able to feed not only their own citizens, but the surrounding nations as well.
I recently returned from the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association’s annual convention, CattleCon, in Nashville, Tenn. While there, the same theme echoed throughout the sessions, producer education forums and trade show floor: the price of cattle has never been better. Some emphasized how necessary cattle healthcare is–after all, they’ve never been worth this much. Others urged attendees to invest in capital improvements–after all, producers may never have this much cash again. Still others solicited donations to finance pleading the ranchers’ cause in the halls of government–after all, we may never have an administration as friendly to agriculture as we do now.
One message, however, did not echo. In fact, I only happened to hear it once from the stage during the CattleFax market outlook session. After a detailed look at the factors driving the market now in on the horizon, the speaker simply said, “Save your money.” The comment sounded unscripted, but it may have been the most prescient message of the week’s offering.
Of course, neither he nor I am financial consultants or experts. Don’t base your business strategy on the ramblings of some hack writer. But in an environment that is somewhere in the metaphorical seven years of plenty, turning an eye toward preparation for the inevitable seven years of drought seems wise.
Remember how the rest of Joseph’s story unfolded? He rose to a role similar to a prime minister and when his family was droughted out in the land of Canaan, he was able to save them, restore an entire broken family and preserve a dynasty of people who remain in existence today.
Will putting some of these record profits aside bring all that to you and yours? Probably not, but imagine the ruin that would have befallen Egypt and Israel had God not revealed his plans to Joseph through Pharaoh’s dreams. In the pages of this issue there are two stories in which the Great Depression serves as a turning point for ranching families. Both Bill Huntington and Gardiner family were forced into dire straits when drought and nationwide economic ruin befall them. Through toughness, grit and determination, they persevered and remained in the business–but many were not so lucky.
Which brings us full circle back to Joseph’s story. Many would read that and notice how unlucky Joseph was in the early part of his life and how his luck turned completely around. But that’s a shallow reading. Luck was never involved. Joseph, on the whole, was obedient and faithful to God as He unfolded His plan–and it redounded to Joseph’s benefit and the benefit of many. That faithfulness and trust–not mere financial prudence–is the real lesson in the story. But what’s great about the Bible is while it teaches transcendent truths, it also teaches practical truths. So, when we find ourselves in similar situations as Biblical characters, it’s wise to learn the lesson the Word is teaching and model that behavior. None of us have been as faithful and trusting as we should, but we can start today. And if we are indeed in a time of plenty, we can take the hint and prepare for the drought.
Storm on the horizon. Photo by Adrian Hawkins, NRHC communications manager.
