There are no heroes, just those with a truck.
“Have truck—will travel!”
That’s not something Natalie Meeks of Cattle Mafia thought she’d be saying on the afternoon of the Smokehouse Creek Fire.
The creator and founder of Cattle Mafia isn’t even located in the Texas Panhandle, which, as I like to joke, is TRUE Texas cattle country.
Mrs. Meeks isn’t even a cattle rancher. She’s a first-generation agricultural teacher from East Texas, and she has a truck and will travel.
Natalie is like so many moms across this nation who’ve decided to take action without asking for permission.
My article today isn’t about fanfare. It’s real simple. Natalie won my heart the first time I saw her in Amarillo, Texas, at one of the first fire relief fundraisers with Michael Martin Murphy and Lyle Lovett at the Big Texan Steakhouse and Starlight Ranch.
She hugged me, and we laughed and said aloud, “Have truck—will travel.”
Now, let’s put ourselves back into the mindset of everyone during the time of the fire. When was the first time you heard about it? What was your first response? What emotions did you go through? I know most of us usually feel helpless because we want to help and be part of the solution, not the problem.
At times in life, we just have to accept that we need to GO!
And go the Cattle Mafia did. She posted on social media that she had a truck and was available to start delivering the much-needed feed and hay that would soon be donated by the tons. No trailer, just a truck.
“Have truck—will travel!”
Within several hours, Natalie had a donated trailer and a full load and struck off in the direction of the biggest wildfire in Texas history.
No manuals, no scripts. Just a mom in her truck on a mission to serve.
Last year, me and Ruffshot did a 64-day tour around the United States. We produced a podcast on the road titled “Servant Leaders” (docuseries with Crowdhealth Carnivore coming soon). In that recording, we discussed the type of person who just has to serve. Their desire in life is to give first and foremost before they receive.
I didn’t know anything about Cattle Mafia or Natalie Meeks back in the spring of 2023. Below is an introduction to Natalie and her family taken from the Cattle Mafia website:
This Is A Family Business
It all started behind the wheel on the way home from Crockett, Tx, just one of many shows Reed’s senior year with his beloved heifer Sugar. Reed expressed his love and loyalty to the show cattle industry and crushed my dream of having a game warden in the family! The words he used stuck in my head…”Mom, I am so addicted to show cattle, it is like a family, everyone works and helps and has their role ya know…well Mom…it’s like the Mafia, but in a good way.” I think I laughed so hard I nearly wrecked the truck but with that said Cattle Mafia was born!
Cattle Mafia has evolved into something much bigger and we couldn’t be more excited!
Cattle Mafia is a livestock lifestyle company promoting Family, Loyalty, Sacrifice, show cattle, and the American dream of raising cattle.
P.S. they sell cool cattle swag too!
Now, I’m the one who’s always bragging about how many miles I’ve driven and places I’ve traveled. As you can tell, Natalie and the Cattle Mafia have been canvassing Texas since the beginning of 2023. The above image depicts that Texas adventure and the towns visited. The journey includes over 30 conferences, summits, trade shows, and events she’s attended and represented. Each day pioneering awareness and never-ending support for our independent and sovereign cattlemen and cattlewomen of America.
She “Has truck—will travel.” She just has to GO, and she doesn’t ask for permission.
This is a valuable trait to possess in these days and times in which we live. There are no laws in this nation that say you can’t serve and give back to those you don’t even know. But as Reed told his mom, being part of the livestock industry/community is like family.
Isn’t this a simple fact that a nation used to believe in? We once didn’t dislike each other so much, our nation and our children had an innocence we protected. The devastation in this nation goes much broader and wider than a wildfire.
We sometimes think we have to ask for permission to follow our gut instincts and serve our children in a way that innocence and clarity speak.
Why is it that a nation can’t see what’s right in front of it but works so hard to debate situations that don’t deserve focus at all?
Why is it that a nation sometimes seems like it’s lost its backbone, its grit, its true character?
Folks, there’s a casting call being broadcast across this nation. You don’t have to ask for permission to create a new horizon for the next generation of children and livestock needed for this nation to sustain its independence and innocence.
There are generations of moms across this nation who aren’t asking for permission anymore, and they don’t care who judges them or what kind of back-biting might occur in the good ol’ boy clubs.
We’re creating a new perception when it comes to food and the cattle industry. We’re not going to ask for permission, and we have lots of trucks, trailers, and all the cattle and grass you could ever need.
These are the truths a nation and a new generation need to hear and believe.
I believe in always giving first before I ever receive. The Beef Initiative and the I Am Texas Slim Foundation is one big collaboration. Thousands are now flooding through the gates, and they’re ready to serve.
Thousands also responded during the Texas wildfires, and they’re still serving today.
Is a nation treating its next generation of cattlemen and cattlewomen like it treats the next swipe on social media?
Are there thousands of individuals tired of the status quo of complacency?
Both of these questions define our reality in the United States of America.
Is there a chart quantifying and depicting the miles Natalie has put on her truck?
Is there a medal or formal recognition?
Nope.
Just the opportunity to do it again and again.
I’m going to make sure of it. I’ve asked Natalie and the Cattle Mafia to join forces. We’re working on the details, and more will be revealed later.
This collaboration continues, and I couldn’t be happier right now because there are no scripts, no judgments, and no hesitations when it’s time to GO.
People like Natalie, Lee Wells, and everyone who’s been part of the relief and recovery efforts usually don’t ask for much permission.
They “Have truck—will travel!”
Will this nation answer the call I’m about to ask it?
Natalie and Lee wrote the book on it.
I Am Texas Slim, are you?
“Have truck—will travel!”
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