Blessed Bull at the Ranch has interesting beginnings

     Blessed Bull at the Ranch is a new business in Edna, aimed at making people’s lives easier, and sharing a little happiness along the way, and none of it would have happened if it weren’t for a wayward bovine.

     “We have the most redneck love story ever,” said owner Casey Lingo. “I come home from work one day, and somebody’s bull is in my pasture. I started asking around, because I didn’t recognize this bull.”

     Eventually, she was connected to the owner of the animal – a neighbor she didn’t know, by the name of James Lingo. He came to retrieve his animal, and while he was there, mentioned that he also worked as a farrier.

     A farrier specializes in equine hoof care.

     The rest, as the cliché goes, is history. A business relationship led to a friendship, then more. The couple became close, then engaged, then married. At their engagement party, a family member made the comment, “God bless the bull.”

     James and Casey have always been in agriculture. It’s just part of who they are. They also own and run an industrial inspection and consulting business called Lingo Inspection Services. The logo, of course, includes a bull.

     The Lingos’ most recent venture does a little bit of everything and is aimed at people just like them – people who love the country life, and also to save a little money when they can. Not everybody can shell out a few grand for a cattle trailer. Not everybody can justify the expense of purchasing a log splitter they’ll only use every now and then. For those people, there is Blessed Bull at the Ranch.

     When one walks into the shop, their immediate view is of a table decorated with home décor, some hardware, and tee-shirts with catchy slogans like, “Trust your neighbor but brand your cattle.” The clever quips just brings Casey joy, which she wants to share with everyone around her.

     The store sits right inside the Edna City Limits sign on Highway 111 South. Blessed Bull also sells round bales of hay, antiques, consignment items, and even jellies and jams. The place is an eclectic collection of all the things they love and believe in. Both indoors and out, there are pieces of equipment for rent – trailers, a hay dolly, hydraulic equipment. They even rent hand tools and other small equipment. If you need it, there is a solid chance they have it for you to use.

     “There are other people out there just like us who can’t afford to pay $3,500, but do need it,” said Casey.

     Blessed Bull at the Ranch is open on Tuesdays and Saturdays from 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. On Monday and Wednesday through Friday, they stay open until 5 p.m. They are located at 1118 S. Wells St. in Edna.

     James and Casey Lingo live in Jackson County and have one daughter.