“Milking Cows and Throwing Curves” was shortlisted for the 2024 Best in Rural Writing Contest by judge Dr. Chea Parton. Learn more about the contest here. * “Randy, you’ll never throw a good curveball unless you’ve milked a cow,” my dad said. I was fourteen, and we had just finished a pitching practice session in our backyard. I was taken aback. I desperately wanted to add a sharp-breaking curve to my pitching repertoire, but I knew there was little chance...
