Very sad news.. re: Herefordfootball - Chris Cummings...

BlazinA said:

   Here is an idea as a tribute to Chris.   OlsonFamily Shorthorn mentioned  helping Chris at Jr. National next week  so I assumed Chris had been working hard to get his cattle ready.  I just checked the Hereford web site and he has 3 animals entered.    Wouldn't  it be a neat tribute to see his cattle shown at Jr. Nationals next week?  Not sure if possible but I am assuming someone would need to contact the association first to get an exception and then find someone to be responsible to get the cattle there and taken care of.  I am sure plenty of people  would help at Nationals.  I did not know Chris but felt like I knew him through all his posts.  I would be willing to contact the association to get the ball rolling  if someone would be willing to contact the family to get their appoval and  be responsible for his cattle.   Time is short since the cattle have to be in this weekend.  If someone has already thought of this great but if not my number is 515-961-2656/day or evening 5847. 

  Just a re-enforcement of what Hevemando said about talking to the Family.  I also had friends loose their daughter from a tragic accident and they said the same thing.  It really helped when someone would talk about their daughter and by name.  Also they said do not abandon them because you don't know what to say.  Remember the person by talking about them and remember the special days.     

   
 

Click to expand...

They did this at the HLSR this year for some kids that showed and were killed in a car accident. It was awesome, they stoped the show and had a moment of silence while his calf was out in the ring.

I know in previous situations (where the jr member was at teh show and then had to leave the show and go back home to attend immediate family member's funeral), they would let another jr member show the animal for them.  You'd have to call Amy Cownan with AHA.  She's actually setting up for Jr nationals now.  So I'd think it'd be possible-we'd just have to find someone to take the animals and care for them while at Jr nationals

If someone can get the calves there, I'd be glad to take care of them (I would gladly accept help from any other members that would care to do so).

  I just spoke with Joe Rickabaugh with the association to get the ball rolling and informed him of the situation and he will call  Amy Cownan.  Amy is already out there and hopefully she can get something organized to get the cattle there.  I knew someone would be available to take care of the cattle. Thanks Olson Shorthorns.  I would suggest calling the association and letting them know you would be willing to take care of the cattle if someone could get them there.  The association number is 816-842-3757.  I don't have Amy's cell but I am sure the office can get the message to her. 

Chris was a great young man, he wrote us often and spoke often with our daughter.  God bless his friends and family. He was a true blessing (angel) (angel) (angel)

TMJ Show Cattle

Now that I have had a day for this to settle into my head, I'll try to put a few thoughts down. Like many on here, I first got acquainted with Chris through PM's. He contacted me about some calves we had pictures of on here and it sort of grew from there. This past February I attended an ABS meeting and the was two young men there. As we went around the room introducing ourselves, when I said my name, the one young man got a smirky grin on his face. I was sure it had to be Chris and it was. We got to talk a few minutes and that was it. Then in April, out of the blue I received a call from him asking if I could take his heifer the the Michigan Beef Expo for him since he would be in the hospital for surgery. He and his dad brought the heifer to our place, but again just a brief time because he was tired. We spoke on the phone a few times during the next week about the expo, but not for an extended period. About a month ago I decided to call him. As we talked he told me that the tumors were back. I told him my wife was going to have back surgery. We must have talked 45 minutes that night. As he was getting ready to hang up he said, tell your wife I'll be praying for her. I think that's how I want to remember him, caring for the other person no matter how bad things were for him. One of the most caring and polite young men you would have ever wanted to meet. 

Here are a few pictures of Chris from the Hoosier Beef Congress and the LaPorte County Fair.  Sorry they are small I had to scan them.

We will still be praying for the Cummings family.  What a great tribute to Chris having his cattle at the Jr. Nationals, great idea by great friends!

Limflex said:

We will still be praying for the Cummings family.  What a great tribute to Chris having his cattle at the Jr. Nationals, great idea by great friends!

Click to expand...

If things go as planned, I'll be at the Jr. National with Chris's calves next week, please feel free to stop by and run a blower or brush on one if anyone feels like they'd like to.  I talked to Chris's father tonight, and he and all of the family really appreciate all of the thoughts and prayers.

Olson Family Shorthorns said:

Limflex said:

We will still be praying for the Cummings family.  What a great tribute to Chris having his cattle at the Jr. Nationals, great idea by great friends!

Click to expand...

If things go as planned, I'll be at the Jr. National with Chris's calves next week, please feel free to stop by and run a blower or brush on one if anyone feels like they'd like to.  I talked to Chris's father tonight, and he and all of the family really appreciate all of the thoughts and prayers.

Click to expand...

Man do I wish I lived closer, I would be right there with you!!

stangs13 said:

Olson Family Shorthorns said:

Limflex said:

We will still be praying for the Cummings family.  What a great tribute to Chris having his cattle at the Jr. Nationals, great idea by great friends!

Click to expand...

If things go as planned, I'll be at the Jr. National with Chris's calves next week, please feel free to stop by and run a blower or brush on one if anyone feels like they'd like to.  I talked to Chris's father tonight, and he and all of the family really appreciate all of the thoughts and prayers.

Click to expand...

Man do I wish I lived closer, I would be right there with you!!

Click to expand...

Same here. I will miss him so much.

Love the logo!!! Ejoyed reading Herefordfootball's posts....Prayers and Godspeed!

Hello to all Chris' forum friends.  New to the forum and have read the posts for Chris.  I see many of you only knew him on here.  Our family lives in his county and we able to share precious moments with him and his family the last few years and our hearts are broken with the loss of one of the finest young men we ever had a chance to know.  Knowing him, he downplayed the seriousness of his cancer on this formum.  There was no pity in Chris.  We would see him on and off around town and at cattle events.  First, there was ALWAYS  that little grin.  He could put a smile on everyones face when they chatted with him.  What you had to look for and could only see if you knew, was the pain he endured to pursue his passion of cattle showing.  He hid it well.  There was often a shift of his feet , a deep breath or a lean on the chute.  I would watch him carefully blow out his herfs, often from a stool, and marvel at the courage and strength he had every single day he battled this disease.  Please know he was supported well in his home county and by the looks of the post here, he had quite a fan club.  With the wonderful family he had it is no surprize this man had faith and love to share.  We talked with his dad last evening at the church and they are happy to see his herfs headed to Nationals.  So a big Thank You to those that making sure they get to the show pen.  We will be looking forward to helping any way we can at the county fair in 2 weeks.  This is Chris' 10th year.  His presense will be felt and will be a gentle reminder there are many lessons life shows us and we are thankful for the passion, strenght, and courage Chris shared with us. God Bless him and his family

Got home awhile ago from saying goodbye to Chris. We still had his feed pan and neck tie from taking his heifer to the Michigan Beef Expo and his father said to just keep it. So I' going to give the pan to my grand-daughter and tell her what a great kid it came from. She has had many surgeries in her first seven years of life and you would never know it. Not as serious as chris's but she has that same kind of spunk. The neck tie I'm just going to hang in my barn office as a reminder of what a great kid I was able to cross paths with.Good thing tears can't stain a computer.

It has been a while since I have been on and just reading this........  is a shock.  Prayers go out to Chris's family! 

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Cummings family.  Chris was a special young person who will be missed.  We all know that he and Red are chatting together in a better place. 

cowz said:

My thoughts and prayers go out to the Cummings family.  Chris was a special young person who will be missed.  We all know that he and Red are chatting together in a better place. 

Click to expand...

I thought the same thing. Walking through Heaven's pastures, "picking out the good ones!!"

FYI- Chris's steer at Hereford Jr. National placed 3rd in his class.  Steer's birthdate was 4/26/2009 and weighed 1410. Great rate of gain of 3.23
(clapping)

thanks for updating us!  that is great!!! 

BlazinA said:

FYI- Chris's steer at Hereford Jr. National placed 3rd in his class.  Steer's birthdate was 4/26/2009 and weighed 1410. Great rate of gain of 3.23
(clapping)

Click to expand...

Yep, he also had the largest ribeye and best WDA for market steers....not sure how he missed the top 10 carcass.  But he looked great and I'm glad I was able to be a part of it.