SD's Blog

Introducing 5-L Miss Black Brylor

Fort Rock 151R X PJ's Lynn 3197

PB Angus Heifer Calf Born on 3/27/2010 79 lbs.

I know that my blog isn’t on the “must read” list, so my talking about judges won’t start any international incidents. But we have run into a streak of bad ones as of late.

Now when it comes to junior show judges my first criteria is that they teach the kids something (other than there are bad judges out there). I would think that judges need to pick an ideal type of animal and then find the ones that best fit that type. Then they need to be consistent. I think most people can handle disagreeing on type but when judges are inconsistent it will lead to problems.

But worst of all is when the politics rear their ugly head. And all us adults have seen it happen. I know we personally don’t have top animals but I know those who do. And it hurts the kids when their hard work is for not because they don’t know the right people, rub elbows with judges or have parents who call judges to let them know they are bring an animal out of bull X and cow Y from breeder Z (who just happened to be the judges boss, father or brother in-law).

The politics have already or are in the process of ruining some shows. It is also having a negative impact on the number of exhibitors showing cattle (both junior and open) overall. The number one threat to cattle showing isn’t a bad economy or the price of corn but judges who play politics.

The key to good cattle shows are the judges. Plain and simple. We need good (not perfect) evaluation of the animals where the kids can learn something when its all said and done. There are good judges out there. So far they out number the bad ones. They need to start policing their fellow judges and weed the bad ones out.

Here is the question we need to ask ourselves: Are we destroying a good thing or making it better?

SD

We went Red Angus shopping over Labor Day weekend. Which means we were in eastern Kansas at the progressive Three Fires and JKC operation for their main event, Red Sunday. Jack, Kurt & Paula (and the rest of the crew) had a great set of cattle put together for all to look at. There was something for every budget. Even their famous bull Huckleberry was on display. (Just a side note on HB: If you are looking for a bull to use in a crossbreeding program, like Limflex or Red Durham, Huck is your bull)

I met fellow Planeteer, Feeder Duck and his son. What great guys they are. Plus a few Planeteers I had met before were there too.

Red Sunday is a great place for anyone who is thinking about showing Red Angus cattle. Besides the food, people and cattle, you might even rub elbows with those famous people from the MBAR Ranch (that guy knows everybody).

We have two more shows with the current show string, the Kansas State Fair and KJLS. Maybe things will slow down a bit. Scratch that! I was just informed that we need to show at the Tulsa State Fair. Sounds like fun.

SD

I hope all are having a good summer. We are in the midst of preparing for our county fair at the end of the month.

The big news is we were paid a visit by the President elect of the Braunvieh association and her family. The good thing is we didn’t have to bow in her presence or have trumpets sound as she exited her chariot. We showed them around the place and talked cattle. We even showed them the steer from the “now famous” MBar ranch. It was a great time with great Braunvieh people. It always feels good to rub elbows with the power players in the world. If you are looking for a breed that is going places, I would invite you to take a look at www.Braunvieh.org. I would also suggest that you look up http://www.davischarolais.com/braunvieh.html. Roseanne and Robert are raising great cattle in the harsh Northwest Kansas prairie and making it look easy. This associations listens to all breeders no matter their size.

For those following our adventure in ET, we now have the Braunvieh cows back from the ET tech. The calves have grown quite well. We have had a lot of good comments on these “alien” cattle. There aren’t too many Braunvieh cattle in our neck of the woods. But I have notice a few of my neighbors stopping to look at them.

We did take a trip to South Dakota for the North American Junior Red Angus show last month. We did better than I thought but couldn’t get higher than 2nd in class.

I hope to find time to get some pictures posted soon.
SD