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I’m not sure about the
rest of you reading this, but I’m still trying to jump-start
myself into this New Year 2007. The holidays seemed to pass in a
very fast blur and I was left trying to catch up to this New Year.
Like many of you I was able to make it to Denver for the National
Western Stock Show in early January, besides the chilling cold,
not a whole lot ever changes at this big event. There were some
very exceptional cattle in the yards and on the hill and I really
enjoyed getting the opportunity to see some of the calves of sires
that we plan on using in the next year. The one thing that stood
out for me at this show and at the show in Louisville this past
November were both of the judges of the Angus shows parting
comments at the close of judging. Both men, Tim Fitzgerald who
judged Louisville and Jim Pipkin who was center stage in Denver
gave some very emotional addresses regarding the value of the
showring and the cattle involved. It wasn’t who was selected as
the champions in the end it was the final discourses of these
gentlemen that I took away with me from these two shows. I applaud
both of them for their passion for our breed and their talents to
convey them.
On the show road our very own Western National Angus Futurity is
going to be here before too long. This year go to
www.jdaonline.com to download your show entries and be sure
that you check out all of the deadlines. Our dates this year are
April 28th, 29th and 30th. Once again the headquarters will be
located at The Nugget in Sparks, Nevada; I highly recommend that
you make your reservations early. Once again this year the cattle
will be housed in the “big arena” as we were in 2005. If you have
any questions regarding the show please feel free to give this
office a call. As always we depend a great deal on our Western
breeders for support; if any one is interested in donating a
trophy or you just want to get your “Drawdown” number as soon as
possible, give us a ring and we’ll help out.
The days are already
starting to stay lighter longer, giving us a precious thirty
minutes more sunshine to complete chores. I find that feeding and
cleaning barns goes much easier when it is daylight, I always
dread leaving the barn in the evening when the dark as already
closed in. The temperatures in our part of California dropped into
the twenties for well over a week and kept us hopping breaking ice
on water troughs and repairing broken pipes, on the plus side of
all this freezing may help with all the eye problems that we
encountered last summer.
There are several
events taking place in all of the Western States in the next few
months, breeder’s bull sales, jackpot shows and association
sponsored shows and sales, make some time for those in your local
area. Personally I’m really looking forward to the start of spring
and of course another great show in Reno. Until next month…
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