I love a fancy setup as much as the next, but the ones I really appreciate are the ones that scream functionality without the cash outlay, that even if I DID have available, i wouldnt it waste it that way unless the nest egg was so large that the amount spent was insignificant.
I agree with an above poster that Holtkamps is pretty darn cool. The old barn he remodeled with the office, and the new show barn, plus the super cool rolling pasture with the pond in the middle.
There might be fancier, but what impresses me is that Chad wasnt handed money, he started off a poor schlubb like the rest of us commoners, and to hear him tell it his homeplace was a rathole of epic proportions when he started. He just spent alot of time, sweat, and money as he had it available. His humility is evident, when you meet him, too. He would talk to the kid last in clas with the half dairy bottle calf as soon as someone with big coin to spend with him.
Tracey's setup also is beget of function over fancy. Its cool, but you can tell alot of thought and experience went into its usefulness before how cool it looked. Mr Goretska didnt become Tracey overnight and his facility wasnt erected in one fell swoop to a contractor either.
Probably the most practical barn I ever knew that certainly would never be in Brad's showcase, was a an old dairy barn that had been converted into a facility that made it possible for one person to handle dozens of calves with ease. It was the work of a talented guy of a former era who is no longer in the business, but he knew what he needed and wanted and worked with the resources he had available.
I have seen alot of names I have never heard before, show up seemingly out of nowhere (to me at least) with brand new extravagant facilities. They burst upon the scene, intent on being the one to show everyone how a good business man spends money to make money. They often arent around long. I get a kick out looking through old advertisements in The National Livestock Exhibitor through the years. Very few of the "Players" are in there year after year. There seems to be a rather consistant revolving door of comers and goers and my observation is that the common theme among the stayers is practical business sense of not overextending, and staying within their means and growing when the opportunities existed.
I personally find it rewarding that many of the Big Guys with a redneck version of MTV cribs I know are genuinely good people that I am proud to call friend. Not because of what they have today or how they are regarded, but because of what they didnt have in the beginning and that they got where they are honestly, with humility, and hard work as their persona, as they utilized their ambition and talents.
I think it should be mandatory that some of these pompous, legend in their own mind, yahoos blowing Grandpas money watch a video of a 75 year old Tyrone Hullinger washing his own calves, or have them see how Kent Habeger treated the kid in dead ass last.
Having money is good. You can do great things if it is treated right. Nice things can be wonderful if attained with honor. I too, would love to have pristine facilities and it is a never ending quest. I am more impressed with the person first. Some of my favorite people, and people I strive to be similar to, have very humble possessions and Bank accounts. Some lost it all and are starting over. Some just never had material possesions as a priority. thats ok too.
I apologise for my opine, and it certainly upon edit review took a few turns. I in no way have a negative opinion of those that "have". I want too. Ambition and success can be good. My point is that we need to be careful judging people by what we perceive they have. Someone we may view as poor may be far happier than us, and I know for a fact some of the loneliest, most bitter, unhappy people I have ever met, appear to be wildly successful by most standards.
I think we can agree that Fred Deruochey is pretty darn good cowman, with cows all would appreciate, and appears to have made made a great deal of money. Ever seen his house on the ranch in S Dakota? Clean, but it is apparent they didnt have showplace home above building one of the greatest cowherds in North America on their priority list. I respect that
