SD’s Blog

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

It has been a while since I have posted to my blog so I thought I would let you all know what has been keeping this alien so busy.

Besides all the end of school performances and such, I have been building fence on the home place. Giving the boys the opportunity of learning how to do it has been a trying experience to say the least. But it gives us all a shared goal.

We AI’d the show heifers and still have a couple of cows to go. We are using Master Plan on the Red Angus heifers. Northern Improvement, BR Midland and Connealy Packer on the Angus heifer. Will be using Gambles Hot Rod or Connealy Thunder on the Angus cows.

For those wondering, the Braunvieh cows are implanted and just waiting to see if they have stuck. They are really great milkers and their calves are growing at break neck speed. I will update pictures when they return to the ranch.

For my parents 50th wedding anniversary, the whole clan went to South Padre Island. Went fishing in the Gulf and caught a shark. But watching my boys catch salt water fish was worth it. The ladies all stayed on the island for a trip to the day spa (Whatever that is. I see no point in going to a place that doesn’t have a big plasma screen with Sports Center on it!).

Many have asked what it is like being neighbors to the infamous MBar crew? Well……. maybe that is whole other blog entry. But T-roy did help get my generator started a few weeks ago (what a guy!). It is amazing to watch him work as he never spills a drop of his beer.

SD

Winkie

Midnight

In an earlier blog entry I talked about buying two bred Braunvieh cows that we will use as embryo recipients later. Well they have had their calves and I am impressed.

The first is a bull calf out of Double R’s Bull, Oz. He weighed 87 lbs. We named him Winkie. Which was the name of the Wicked Witch of the West’s soldiers from the Wizard of Oz. He is growing very quickly. I am so impressed with his structure that there is a very good chance we will show him as a market steer next year. It would be the first time for a Braunvieh to be shown in our county but I think he would do just fine. This calf just might out do those great steers from the famous Mbar ranch (which my son has one and he’s a good one!).

The other calf, a heifer, is out of Double R’s 50¢ bull. She weighed 69 lbs. And is named Midnight. She is a spunky calf that I think we will keep and crossbreed with some Angus bulls. Not sure if we will show her but she has the makings for a great cow.

Of course for our operation it is all about the carcass. And I have no doubt that the Braunvieh cattle will meet or exceed expectations. 

If you would like to know more about the Braunvieh association go to http://www.braunvieh.org/

On a side note, I finally had time to read the first Braunvieh World I received after joining their association. And Bam! Right there in black and white I see our very own Planeteer, Braunvieh (Roseanne) is the association board President-elect. We have royalty in our midst and didn’t even know it. 

SD

Last week we said goodbye to a good friend. Red was the soul of Steer Planet. I am sadden by her loss. I will miss her posts and emails. She truly was a unique person. May God bless her family and loved ones.

SD

My almost famous neighbor, we all know him as Mbar on the Planet, was the driving force behind (it was actually his wife) hosting a Kirk Stierwalt clipping clinic on Saturday, February 28th at our local fair grounds.

Saturday morning we woke up to a chilly 6 degrees and a wind chill of minus 18 (We will blame that on Troy). Luckily, earlier in the week we had temperatures in the 60’s, so we had washed our steer twice (the steer is from the almost famous Mbar Shorthorns herd). But there were many who showed up that hadn’t. Some who tried to wash their animals had ice hanging off them later.

Many showed up with light jackets and no heaters. And being that our county barn has no heat it was cold. Being the Boy Scout that I am, I came prepared. I should have charged rent for space in front of my propane heater.

The clinic was full of great information. We had a talk from Purina on proper feeding of show animals (if you have the money).

We also got some good information from Butler Community College Judging coach Chris Mullinix. He gave a great presentation on what a judge looks for in steers and heifers. His presentation on showmanship was not as well focused. I found his approach , start from the ground up and what is the animal for, was simple and understandable that the kids could make good use of the information. But when it came to showmanship, I came away confused.

By the time we got to Kirk it was maybe 15 degrees in the barn. I’m sure he would of liked to have a set of nice insulated gloves. But of course, Kirk’s sessions on clippers and clipping was packed full of so much good info that you need to buy one of his video’s so you can remember it all. He grabs that chalk and draws on the animal in the clipping chute giving a very visual approach to clipping cattle. In his chute that day he had a heifer that was not cooperating the best. But he continually made mention to the kids how to not startle the animal with the clippers.

There were prizes donated by Kirk’s sponsors given away. Many kids walked away with some cool and useful stuff.

All in all a great day. We avoided freezing but had some minor frostbite. When we got home that evening we just wanted to unload the steer and get inside to warm up. The heifers had other plans as they had gotten out of their pen. Needless to say, we warmed up running after them. We finally got them back in by using some alfalfa as bait.

Thanks to Sommer and Troy for their hard work. And to our local sponsor Chisholm Trail Feed Store.

SD