FEATURES
• In Memoriam
• WNAF Dedicated to Larry
   Kirk
• Problems with Feeding Grain
• Reproductive Systems
• Same Old Cycle
• Trace Mineral Efficiencies
• Urinary Stones In Cattle

I originally got into this business to fill what I perceived as a need to provide a service to the industry and the dedicated persons who make it go. I was born in Colorado, and grew up living on two ranches with my parents and one brother. The first ranch was in the front range of the Rocky Mountains south of Monument, CO. This ranch today is part of the northern end of the United States Air Force Academy. During the Great Depression we moved to a ranch in eastern El Paso County between Eastonville and Peyton, CO. I graduated from high school there and joined the navy near the end of World War II, serving in China during the Chinese conversion to communism. At the conclusion of military service, I entered college and in 1952 graduated from what was then Colorado A & M College with a BS in Animal Husbandry. This institution today is Colorado State University.

A word about my ancestors and their place in the livestock industry: My grandfather was Charles M. Kirk, who along with his twin brother, was the livestock arm of the Colorado National Bank in the early 1900’s. They were also two of the 500 persons who paid $5,000 each to form the National Western Stock show in 1906. These two shares of stock have been handed down and today belong to my brother, Charles W. Kirk and myself. My father was Charles E. Kirk, who following graduation from college after World War I showed cattle for several prominent livestock firms; he then ranched from 1925 to 1945. In 1945 he became the Douglas County, CO Agricultural Extension agent serving until 1965. In 1965, he became the first full-time livestock superintendent at the National Western and served until 1978. Today my brother follows the tradition and is on the board of directors for the National Western.

When I graduated from college I became a livestock field man for the Record Stockman newspaper owned at that time by the Green family of Greeley, CO.; my territory was the state of Wyoming and the sandhills of Western Nebraska. At that time Herefords were the majority breed, and I was assigned to serve all other breeds. With the guidance of Willard Simms, who was the editor of the Record Stockman, I managed to survive. Willard went on to have an illustrious career as the manager of the National Western. In 1954, I transferred to radio station KFKA in Greeley, CO to found what was called a farm service department and was the Radio Farm Director for radio station KFKA from 1954 to 1965. During that time I married my wife Vonnie, and we had two sons—Joel the oldest lives in Carson City, NV., and Kevin lives in Roseville, CA. with our two granddaughters.

In 1965 I came to Reno to be a member of the Agricultural Communications Service, a department in the College of Agriculture at the University of Nevada. I was originally hired to be broadcast editor, but also served as the department chair for 8 years before retiring in 1990 with emeritus faculty status. The whole time I was in Greeley and at the University I continued my announcing, using annual leave and weekends. My family will tell you that attending livestock shows on vacation was not their idea of how to go on vacation.

My announcing career was started by a trial by fire. I was working the National Western office during the 1950 who and the stadium announcer became quite ill, so Mr. John T. Caine, the show manager, made me the announcer to finish out the show. My first event was the selection of the grand champion Hereford bull. I survived the experience and went on to announce the National Western beef shows for 28 years. I also was the assistant announcer for the International Livestock Exposition for 8 years, at the Cow Palace for 30 years, and numerous other livestock, and horse shows, including two years in Louisville, KY until 2000. I started with the Western National Angus Futurity in 1968, when the show was in Las Vegas for one year, and continued as announcer until 1995.

When I decided to terminate my serving as announcer, I continued on with the installation and operation of the public address systems for various livestock events. In doing so, I continued a lifelong interest in electricity. Through the help of my parents, I was a national-4H winner in electricity in 1939. While in the navy I was an electrician’s mate specializing in interior communications, and while at KFKA in addition to farm director duties was the assistant engineer. When we moved to Reno I seriously got into the public address system design and operation to establish my own sound company which was liquidated on 1 January 2009. In the meantime; I provided sound for livestock events and various other events in the western states, including Chautauqua and the Western National Angus Futurity.

One of the great joys of doing announcing and public address systems was the great variety of wonderful, dedicated people I met and with whom I worked. Once again, my sincere thanks goes out to you for allowing me to be a part of your history.