Local ranchers filled the void to make the industry reasonably profitable for those who knew what they were doing and had modest expectations. Today's investment frontier may be on line instead of on hoof, but it seems that a die-off here too will leave a few profitable survivors who know the industry and keep their expectations modest. It's an old American tradition. Ross F. Collins is an associate professor in the Department of Communication, North Dakota State University in Fargo. The History News Service, an independent, nonprofit distribution service provided by professional historians to the news media, offers commentary that places current issues in their historical perspectives.
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