|
|
Article: "We are vaqueros": These Ecuadoran teens want only to be cowboys. (World).
- Article from:
- Junior Scholastic
- Article date:
- March 25, 2002
- Author:
CopyrightCOPYRIGHT 2002 Scholastic, Inc. This material is published under license from the publisher through the Gale Group, Farmington Hills, Michigan. All inquiries regarding rights should be directed to the Gale Group. (Hide copyright information)
|
"Jefferson," I said in Spanish, "why do you want to be a cowboy?'"
Jefferson Penafiel, 14, shrugged his shoulders and gave me a shy smile.
"I am a vaquero (vah-KEH-roh) because my father wants one of his sons to take over the ranch some day--after he gets too old or too sick to work. Every rancher wants his property and traditions to survive him. I am a vaquero because it also suits me. I would much rather sit on a horse than behind a desk."
Jefferson and his cousin and best friend, Anibal Castro, 14, work part-time on the cattle ranch of Wilson Leon, known to everyone as Wicho. An experienced cowboy and owner of large herds of cattle, Wicho ...