Interesting dining experience

I got back from celebrating my grandfather's 80th birthday in Ericson. It was good to see everyone, but the highlight was the location. The Ranch Cafe is a traditional small town cafe. Decent food, friendly folks, you know the stereotype. It all fit this cafe. What was noteworthy to me was the fact that it was part of a sale barn.

If you don't know what a sale barn is, please let me enlighten you. A sale barn is a place where livestock auctions are held. There is usually an area that the livestock, like a horse or a cow, is brought into with risers all around. Think of it as a very small version of the Roman Coliseum. This allows many people to see the livestock at once. I believe this is mainly used for breeding stock, but I could very well be mistaken. There is also a place for the livestock to be held before the sale and the proper chutes and pens to hold them properly.

Now since it was part of a sale barn, standing in the parking lot outside the cafe you were greeted with the sounds and smells of the cattle waiting to be sold. Vegetarians would probably not feel very comfortable here. However; once inside the mooing was replaced by a dining room full of people, chatting away after the church service held just down the street, and the smell of fried chicken replaced any possibly offending bovine odor. I soon forgot I was even in the barn once the birthday party started up in the back room.

I can only imagine what someone not familiar with this way of life would react. To me, it seemed just a little quirky, but not completely crazy. I'd like to hear from you about your reactions to this - especially you "city slickers" out there.