Dave Vollan has always preferred the outdoors.

It became clear as a youngster when his parents began doling out family chores for three of their youngest boys on their small farm near Wilton.

The second-grader quickly snapped up the barn duties to work alongside his dad. His brothers were relegated to household chores with their mom.

"I like working outside for one thing. I could never be stuck in an office,"said Vollan, a retired truck driver, construction worker and accomplished jack of all trades.

These days Vollan, 68, spends two days a week as a penner behind the sales rings at Farmer's Livestock Exchange in Bismarck and at Kist Livestock Auction in Mandan.

"This is my hobby now," he said.

As a penner, Vollan is part of a large crew of people distributing the cows, bulls, calves and horses through a maze of alleyways and specific holding pens after buyers purchase the livestock in the ring.

Depending on the number of cattle sold through the ring each week, Vollan can work a regular eight- or nine-hour shift or something much longer.

"My first day (at Kist) was the most unforgettable day in my life. We worked until 12:30 a.m. I was so tired, I didn't think the day would ever end."

"I like cattle. I worked around them most my life. I might stick it out a couple more winters," Vollan said. "Time flies when you're old."

To check out more photos from this series, go to www.bismarcktribune.com/neighbors.