RENT A COW

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31113, 16 July 1966, Page 5

RENT A COW

'J'HERE art big ranchers on Wall Street who have never seen a coiv. And some of them don't own an acre of land, writes June Bibb, in the "Christian Science Monitor." Yes. that Wall Street investment advisor or the corner taxi-driver or the secretary at the next desk may be a cover-up for a cow-hand at heart. And that banker could have a stetson hat tucked away among his homburgs. It was for such "landless city-slickers" that Don and Charles Codding established their "Rent-a-Cow" programme four months ago. They advertise their service in the investment opportunities section of the Wall Street Journal! From their cattle research centre in Foraker, Oklahoma, the two brothers initiated what they term this "unique investment opportunity." Since then, they have had more than 5000 letters of inquiry from would-be ranchers. More than 500 cows now are being rented to a total of about 40 investors. Which all goes to prove that even Park Avenue apartment dwellers may feel "at home on the range." Customers get into the cattle business by renting registered Hereford cows from the Coddings. Each cow rents for an annual fee of £l5O. During each lease period of one year, one registered calf is guaranteed by the contract. Starting with 10 rent-a-cows for one year, the bootless rancher can have a herd of 300 in 10 years, say the Coddings. And the Oklahoma ranchers hasten to add that the calves arrive tax free. So what is the Wall Street executive or the taxdriver or the secretary going to do with baby calves? There’s a solution to this problem, too, the Coddings say. They can either move the cattle to your own ranch or Park Avenue apartment, or board them on their ranch, for a fee of £5O a year. Cattle are marketable at any time. But what's the advantage of ranching if you can't get "into the saddle" and ride the range? This, too. has been taken care of for long-distance ranchers. The customer can check up on his investments with a trip to the ranch, also fax deductible as a business "inspection trip." Here complete with boots, saddle, a golden palomino, cantering across the Oklahoma hills he can inspect his herd. If the rancher has 20 cows or more, he’s assured of over-night accommodations in the guest lodge and a steak dinner. And each rancher, no matter how large or small his investment, is given a stetson hat! Of course, there's an airstrip on the ranch for those who prefer travelling in their private planes.