Fittin the world one calf at a time. The look back at it all!!!!

[feeder duck]

 Well I just came home from one of the tougher midwest winter preview shows. The Purdue AGR show. We did not show, because there ended up being no Red Angus heifer class. No big deal, the show is close to home so we helped family and friends. I came to a realization this week end, I am getting old. I walked through the barns on Saturday and I came upon another realization. Man there is big ego and attitude in this business. Now I realize this is nothing new, but I see it now more as I have gotten older. The money has raised the level of something. It is funny to see young guys walk around as if they are gods of the clippers. Now before everyone out there jumps my butt, I will say this. I was there at one time, just did not realize it at the time. I thought wow I am the S#!@, I just fit the Res National Champion female. Life revolved around the next show and who I was gonna fit for. I am now 41 and look at the hole thing and realize how small it all seemed. It is funny when as a young fitter you think the entire world knows your name. How wrong that is. How tough a life it is could be more true than anything. It is also funny how few young fitters even own a pair of "big clippers". A friend of mine says he has to ask guys that work for him, do you have some "big clippers"? We got a bunch of sale cattle clip and those Andis ain't gonna do it.
It is fun to be the parent now and watch your kids do something you love. I still do all my own fitting for my kids. I will admit it sure is nice when I own cattle with a good young fitter and my sore bones do not have to fit.
I realize this may seem like rambling, but it is fun to hear the wacked out stories from the road when you are young and the world is a shag hair calf waiting to be clipped.


 

 

[shortyjock89]

Jeff, I KNOW everyone knows MY name ;D

 

[feeder duck]

  Justin: dude you are a riot, I am LMAO right now. Good to see you this weekend!


  Jeff

 

[CAB]

Jeff, I KNOW everyone knows MY name ;D

Justin, yeah, but what do they call ya? LL. Brent

 

[shortyjock89]

Hey when you fit the National Champion Red Angus in a few years will you once again realize that you're the $h!^?  That Reserve National champ Shorthorn wasn't all that long ago anyhow, plenty of time to bring back all that glory and what not.

Brent: They can call me whatever they want as long as there's a cooler of beverages and I get to be in the backdrop picture

 

[ROAD WARRIOR]

I kind of have to snicker at alot of the youngsters today. They spend hours and hours on a single animal trying to "get it right". When I started out it wasn't uncommon to work a string of 20 head or more with about 4 or 5 guys doing all the work. Show day - one of you went to the ring with the first animal to show, one spent the day dragging back and forth to the ring and tending the calves that were there, and two of you stayed at the stalls and fit all day. There were many shows that I only got to see the last class of bulls and the champion drive of bulls. Today the amount of help nearly out numbers the number of calves. Ah, the good old days.....RW

 

[cdncowboy]

Seems to me, well at least up here, alot of the younger guys only want to work on the good ones.  Back when I thought I was pretty good I'd do almost anything that paid, sorry Tarentaise breeders, it just wasn't worth it. 
Good thought on the size of the crews as well,  remember dragging out 5 of my own, in two different barns plus 4 custom cattle one year - with a crew of 1, that was a busy week with 9 head in three spots.  Guess I worked during the day instead of draping the clipper cord over my next and walkin around swinging the clipper in the air like I was SOMEBODY doing something special.

 

[feeder duck]

  I know what you are saying. We had a custom fit crew of three of us on ten head at Denver.  We got farmed out to fit two pens of bulls in the yards on top of that. We could "party" any night we wanted, but our @$$ better get out of bed the next morning. You worked the wash rack at least one morning no matter what. Was not much party here my butt was draggin.

 

[OH Breeder]

Feeder Duck,
I just turned 40 a couple weeks ago.
Thanks for making me feel good about 40. seriously ;D....glad I am not the only one that noticed some of the next generations behaviors.

 

[feeder duck]

Feeder Duck,
I just turned 40 a couple weeks ago.
Thanks for making me feel good about 40. seriously ;D....glad I am not the only one that noticed some of the next generations behaviors.

  You got me beat, the trip to Denver I am talking about was when I was twenty something. Hats off on the 40 at 40. I would need a week to recover.

 

[Cowfarmer65]

Enjoyed all of the posts on this topic and couldn't agree more.....lol. Same attitude up in Canada. Most kids up here would be lost if you handed them a pair of sheep heads walked away or took the glue cans and replaced them with wax or saddle soap. Better yet. Give them a can of 3M #77 and that's all. We didn't have all this high tech glues when we first started glueing cattle. I enjoy just toddling along and gettin' the job done and watchin'.
I probably was that cocky when I was 20. I've seen the error of my ways and am content to just go about unnoticed.
As for the big strings of cattle. I did Farmfair a few years ago and the horned herf guy I was workin for had 34 herfs and 4 angus. 3 of us clipping and all over 40. After show day I headed down to the ranch and buzzed through 100 bull calves and close to that many heifers for their sale the following week. My old @## was draggin'. I flew home and went back to work for a rest.lol.
Great topic.

 

[Show Heifer]

I'm not sure if I understand this post.
I didn't know all of you "back in the day" but I knew your types.... you walked around, nose in the air, egotistical attitude, acting as if your hang over didn't hurt as you thought you were immortal. Just like that type does now. Nothing has changed in that department. 
Yes, there are new things to fit cattle with now. Different combs, different clippers, different sprays, etc. But we also have 30 foot trailers (some of you have those don't you), we now have duramax diseal trucks (I KNOW some of you have those), we have coolers (got some of those too huh?), we have every type of feed additive for hair, skin, growth (again, I KNOW most of you use those).  So why make fun of those that couldn't use "your tools back in the day", when all of you are now using the "tools of today"?  That's kinda like the arguement the anti-feed confinment people use:  "100 years ago, we fed hogs slop on the hill side and never owned a manure spreader. WE knew how to raise hogs. You kids now have all the advantages, climate control, big equipment, contracts. You kids know NOTHING about raising hogs."

That being said, maybe I'm jeoulous. I showed cattle.Picked my own stalls. Did my own chores.  Did my own fitting. Sucked at it, but had fun and paid for most of my college selling my 4-H projects and hiring out my labor for local farmers. Still don't like the "jocks" that strut around, most do not know what a pitch fork is, nor do they know what a wash rack is.  Thats fine. I have things they never will obtain.  Do I blame them? No. I blame the people who insist on hiring them for junior shows of which rules state that the junior or the family must do the work (which obviuosly doesn't get followed). So when you complain about these kids and their behavior, make sure your not part of the problem by hiring them.

Now that I am older, I do hire friends to help. They usually work for food!  If I ever hit the "big time", I might consider hiring "big time help". Maybe. Maybe not. I guess time will tell.

 

[ROAD WARRIOR]

The big difference is that "Back in the day"  the guys that were good, had a reputation as being good and worked hard to keep it, and you could go to 10 different shows in 10 different states and pretty much see the same crews at all of them. Today you if you go to a show there will be 40 "super fitters" walking around with their caps on backwards and their pants down around their knees, at the next show there will be 40 different ones walking around. Granted there are a few good ones out there today and some of them actually buy pants that fit them, but by and large I think there are a lot of Wannabe's out there today that are just trying to portay the "image". And yes maybe 30 some odd years ago we were a little cocky, but some of us are still here all of these years later. I know that when I start calling in help, the average age is probably closer to 45 than 25. RW

 

[Show Heifer]

Your right.... "back in your day" (and mine kinda) the jocks wore tight jeans (you could count things you shouldn't be counting), pointy cowboy boots and snap up shirts.
The really good ones now do not wear baggy jeans, but jeans they can bend over in....

And "a little cocky" just depends on your point of view. I would say that is like comparing oranges now, to oranges then.... its the same, but a different point of view (both now vs then,  you versus me).

 

[justme]

I know I'll make you upset...what the heck for old time sakes, but you almost sound bitter, maybe even a little jealous.  These guys are just reminiscing, you make them sound like they were jerks for heavens sakes.  Now come on, don't get mad...I know you will, but in your younger day if someone offered to pay ya, you would have clipped.  Not all jocks are the same.  I worked for some strings and worked hard and I don't think I had a "hollier than thou" attitude. 

Guys...I love the reminiscing...brings back the old days..today I turned 39 and did a lot of that watching the snow come down

 

[M Bar]

Wouldn't say that we are bitter at the kids, I think it's more bitter at getting old.  And I am a little bitter at all the neat stuff they have today that we were spared when we were younger.  I mean, heck, if 25 years ago, we would have had fitting mats and show boxes that had wheels, we might still be able to get'r'done like the old days without the tylenol in bulk form that we require today.

 

[Show Heifer]

I know I'll make you upset...what the heck for old time sakes, but you almost sound bitter, maybe even a little jealous.  These guys are just reminiscing, you make them sound like they were jerks for heavens sakes.  Now come on, don't get mad...I know you will, but in your younger day if someone offered to pay ya, you would have clipped.  Not all jocks are the same.  I worked for some strings and worked hard and I don't think I had a "hollier than thou" attitude. 

Guys...I love the reminiscing...brings back the old days..today I turned 39 and did a lot of that watching the snow come down

Actually, quite the opposite. I'm not mad at the old OR new generation. I don't like some jocks now, nor did I like some of them "back in the day".  I think some of the "old jocks" are mad at these younger jocks for taking over and "showing them a thing or two."  Like I said earlier, maybe I misunderstood the original post, but each generation is going to knock the one before... the changing of guard never is easy. (Kinda like walking up hill both ways to school!)

You're also right, not all jocks are the same.  A very good friend of mine is a clipper man, and he's the nicest guy I know.  RW is the one that stated that they had attitudes, wore bad clothing.  Some are, some aren't.  If you were to ask these "cocky jocks" if they are cocky, many would say "no"... just like if you ask the old jocks if they were cocky in their day, they would say "no. I was nice..."  But if you ask people who actually know them, or knew them when they were young, they would strongly disagree and might even call them some stonger words than "cocky" .  It is all in the point of view.

 

[jbh]

Ya know.......there's not a lot of difference between COCKINESS and CONFIDENCE......SERIOUSLY!!!  Generally it depends more on the person using the term than it does the person it's being APPLIED TO.  What most people who aren't at the top of their game (whatever game it is) don't realize is........COMPETITION IS NOT NECESSARILY A SOCIAL EVENT TO MAKE FRIENDS AT.  Yes, you make friends, and you should be friendly while there....BUT....most are there to WIN! or compete at their highest level possible.

When I was young and just starting out, I was as guilty as anyone about thinking the "big shots" were cocky (and some actually are), BUT, when you're in a zone to get everything done as good as possible, at an event out of your comfort zone, with cattle that may or may not be broke, with owners that may or may not be gonna chew your rear for anything or everything......then maybe EVERYONE ought to walk a mile in the shoes of the "COCKY"  that are generally in charge and see what it's like from the opposite perspective.

The last year I ran my fitting service I had 54 head at the Iowa Beef Expo.....4 breeds and 25 Junior cattle.  I'll guarantee you that all those owners didn't put their trust in my ability because I was just another nice young boy that liked cows and helping farmers chore......They put THEIR TRUST in me because they believed that I new what I was doing.........FOOLED THEM!!! lol 

The statement about the different generations feuding for dominance in fitting cattle SIMPLY DOES NOT EXIST.....by the time you've been doing it long enough for the next generation to give you a run......YOU'RE READY for THEM to take over because your body hurts SO BAD when you have to do it.....and don't think I'm joking!  Fitters are artists......the fitters who are good and can SEE IT......could clip one with a chain saw and make it look AWESOME....while some couldn't get it right with the latest, greatest clippers on the market!  But believe me...those old sheep shearers were dang close to a CHAINSAW and the new clippers are UNREAL compared to what we had 25 years ago.

Bottom line is.....no matter where you fit in the "show cattle food chain".....if you don't have the RIGHT ATTITUDE you're NEVER gonna have FUN and LEARN.  You've got to TRY and be the best at whatever you do...wash rack, poop scooper or fitter.....it's ALL got to be done RIGHT at some point.

 

[justme]

Well said!

 

[feeder duck]

I'm not sure if I understand this post.
I didn't know all of you "back in the day" but I knew your types.... you walked around, nose in the air, egotistical attitude, acting as if your hang over didn't hurt as you thought you were immortal. Just like that type does now. Nothing has changed in that department.  
Yes, there are new things to fit cattle with now. Different combs, different clippers, different sprays, etc. But we also have 30 foot trailers (some of you have those don't you), we now have duramax diseal trucks (I KNOW some of you have those), we have coolers (got some of those too huh?), we have every type of feed additive for hair, skin, growth (again, I KNOW most of you use those).  So why make fun of those that couldn't use "your tools back in the day", when all of you are now using the "tools of today"?  That's kinda like the arguement the anti-feed confinment people use:  "100 years ago, we fed hogs slop on the hill side and never owned a manure spreader. WE knew how to raise hogs. You kids now have all the advantages, climate control, big equipment, contracts. You kids know NOTHING about raising hogs."

That being said, maybe I'm jeoulous. I showed cattle.Picked my own stalls. Did my own chores.  Did my own fitting. Sucked at it, but had fun and paid for most of my college selling my 4-H projects and hiring out my labor for local farmers. Still don't like the "jocks" that strut around, most do not know what a pitch fork is, nor do they know what a wash rack is.  Thats fine. I have things they never will obtain.  Do I blame them? No. I blame the people who insist on hiring them for junior shows of which rules state that the junior or the family must do the work (which obviuosly doesn't get followed). So when you complain about these kids and their behavior, make sure your not part of the problem by hiring them.

Now that I am older, I do hire friends to help. They usually work for food!  If I ever hit the "big time", I might consider hiring "big time help". Maybe. Maybe not. I guess time will tell.

WOW, where do I start. First and foremost I started this post just for fun and opinion. I got just that. fun and good conversation. Brad is right at the top end these days there is a world at stake. There is a lot of money on the line. My first post was more about how much things are the same yet how they are different. When I showed as a kid I had an old garage as a show barn. A small  10 x 20 shed with a piece of plywood cut in half as stall ends with one fan to put my calf in front of.Got that fan at age 16 and it hangs in my show barn today( I am 41). My first steer came from Loyd Stone.(Boys set and chat with him a spell, the stories he could tell.) I never went to a fitting school. I cut my teeth by watching the greats that worked for Overpeck, Rod Dryer,Jeff Cagwin, Horsleys, Lawrence Grathwal and the list goes on. I showed at a few Jr Nationals and met the right people and that helped. I never had any high dollar steers or heifer. I scooped my share of crap with a pitch fork as well.  
When I was in Jr college ya I though I was the cats meow and the mack daddy, we all did. I did my work co-ops for the right people again and that paid off. For the next few years I got to fit for most of the better Shorthorn firms. I have some great friends from it.  Troy at M-Bar is one of those guys that fittin and showin has brought on as friend. Had some good times at Jr Nationals with the entire Kansas bunch.
I am not saying that either generation is better or worse. I am saying just what Troy said. I am older and maybe now see how I may have been seen in others eyes. Is showing, selling or fitting any less important to me. No, I just do not do it for a living. I have accomplished all I could have ever wanted in the cattle world. Do I think I am a player...NO! Do I think I can put out a good one now and then....YES..I have and someday may do it again. Do I have a cooler room...NO. Do I have a show barn...YES. I am proud of it and it is paid for and I expect my kids to take care of it. My trailer is steel and my truck is gas(8.1 with Allison Tranny, yah is pulls)....Sorry...but they are paid for as well. They are all I could afford!
Fitting is an art form. It is still a joy to see a great on e fit to a "T". I fit for my kids and family and friends. EVERY CALF I SELL comes with my fitting service FREE. I tell kids in state I will come to there fair if I am off but I will not take vacation to do it. I do not today and never have considered myself a jock. I was a kid that grew up looking up to many breeders I now call friend.


P.S. I can run those 20 tooth "chain saws" I got a 14 stitch scare on the end of my left index finger to prove it.  OUCH!