Wow!  What a weekend!  It was a good weekend, but I am glad it is over.  These events take a lot of effort to setup, handle and then the cleanup.  We had a large crowd at the house Sunday evening.  A large time with lots of really good food.  There were piles of crustacean carcasses left from the shrimp and crawdads.  Several people got to try Duke’s purple taters for the first time. 

     The Best of the West sale was on Monday.  It was a success.  We sold 60 head of wethers and doe kids to Oklahoma, Texas, Kanas and California.  Again, we had a really good crowd.  There were a lot of really good goats that were in the money.  The brisket dinner must have been very good as there was not any left.  It smelled good and I was told by a lot of people that it was really good.  We had a huge amount of exceptional help and as a result, the sale went very smooth.  Thanks to all that helped and to those that attended the sale.

    I’m just a little bit giddy on this fine Friday evening.  I’m not talking all stupid giggly kind of giddy.  But there is dang sure a bounce in my step and an up beat attitude.  Things just seem a little better right now.  Why, you ask?  I will gladly tell you. 

     I was going to head south to the little Fiesta deal in Angelo.  Coudn’t do it.  Just too many irons in the old proverbial fire.  I punted.  I wanted to go, but I’m also glad that I didn’t.

     I am a little amped as we have a sale on Monday.  Yes, the Best of the West sale will be Monday at the Woodward County Fairgrounds.  Lunch at 11. Sale starts at 11:30.  Tyke and Big Bill will have the way good brisket ready for lunch.  No ham sandwiches here.  The lunch will be good. REAL good.  And the goats will be even better.  There will be about 40 wethers and 10-15 doe kids.  I haven’t sold many doe kids this year, but we are  bringing a dang good 3 Amigo doe kid that has the parts.  There will be winners sold on Monday.  

     Sunday evening is shaping up as usual.  I’m sure that I will end up threatened to be on my best behavior.  I’m already resigned to the fact that I have to act right.  I can already smell Marla’s seasonings in the bawling pot with the shrimp, mudbugs, sausage, taters, corn, etc. etc. etc.  Whew!  Yes!  Look out wing dings.  Rusty might get a little wound!  Boys and girls, I, Chris Kelln, am here to tell you that there ain’t no might in that hound. Rusty WILL get wound!  We will spread some newspapers for him.  

      And now for the real reason that I am giddy.  Tammy and Duke are at Will Rogers Airport in OKC.  They are picking up a package.  And that package is our Kela.  She is now in Oklahoma and headed home to paradise.  The world traveler will be here.  YES!!  She has logged a million miles and been to continents that I have only seen on a globe.  She still has a bedroom here.  But, she no longer has a little brother.  And, I am pretty sure that Sasha won’t remember her.   

       Why was I giddy?  I’m dang sure that I am happy that we will have the Best of the West, wicked good, killer quality kind of sale on Monday.  I am AMPED to have a Marla orchestrated shrimp “bawl” on Sunday.  I love dealing with good friends and having a large time.  Always.  But, yes, I have that stupid father kind-of giddy feeling just ready to have Tammy, Kela, Duke and myself all in one place-and that place is right here at the Kelln Kompound–address paradise.  

      I hope that all of you are in the same frame of mind that I am.  If you have any questions about the sale, please call or, if you need to text.  I will reply, just give me a minute or two.  Otherwise, get in a vehicle and head to Woodward, OK on Monday.  Great lunch, better goats.  Come on!

     Some of this ought to just be deleted. However, most of it is legit.  

     First off–Bob Seger might be the most underated well-known musician.  That dude and his Silver Bullet Band has a catalog of wicked good music.  Yeah, it’s rock, but it ain’t hard, just really, really, really good.  I mean really good.  Kind of like Credence or Skynyrd.  You can feel it.  His music has been used in great movies, tv commercials and by several generations that just like to crank the tunes and roll down the road.  

     Second–A livestock photographer should not be posting on facebook/twitter or whatever, where they have been.  If you are getting paid to be there, to do a service, then you are an employee.  Do the service and then do NOT release any pics of that customer’s animals until the customer has used the pics (promotions, sales, ads,etc.).  Once, said customer gives the OK, then the photographer can put them in their gallery.  Senior pics aren’t much different.  Reputable photographers don’t post pics until 1–they are paid for and 2–permission has been granted.  These are codes that our industry needs to fall in line with.  

    Next–Why are there so many different “Flush” protocols?  Obviously, this flushing business is not an exact science.  But, one would think that there has been enough research to “iron out” the basics in the goat industry.  We are a decade plus into this flushing business.  Every flush expert (and I use that term loosely as there is no such thing as a goat flush expert) has their own protocol.  Even though, they are all much like the weather forecaster, they have mixed results.  Heck, I can give you a pretty good forecast for the next couple of days.  And if you hang around long enough, I’ll be pretty close on the next couple of days after that.  Sure, they have an idea, but they aren’t exact.  My question is why don’t they charge less for the service, but then up their fees for lots of grade 1 embryos?  That’s how it works in baseball-if you have a high batting average, well then you get paid.  If you hit home runs, hey there, you get paid a lot more.  If you strike out, ground out, fly out then you starting selling old ladies some Kenmores at Sears.  These experts can tell you that there are too many variables and that they weren’t the ones giving the shots, or providing the recips, or managing the buck, etc.  BS–I’ve taken the donors, the bucks, the recips everything to numerous experts and gotten similar results.  50/50 at best.  But the costs are all the same. I’m not picking on any one person, I have had similar results from numerous different technicians.  And I wrote a check to every one of them.  And they cashed that check, so I am allowed to have an opinion.  For that matter, the only truly successful flush that I have done was when I took the donor & recips to Schneberger.  He got 7 grade 1s and I had 7 live births.  Maybe, Jared needs to go into business programming, breeding and settling flush projects for people.  I would be like the Los Angeles Lakers and OVER pay for proven results, much in the same fashion that they are currently paying Kobe even though he is all but done.  In closing, I guess that I am the dumb ass as I keep signing up.  

     And….The real profit in agricultural equipment is selling parts.  Trust me.  If you use any kind of equipment, then you will need parts.  And they will always cost more than you think that they should and they never have what you need in stock.  At least it seems that way.  I’ve seen both sides of this deal and neither side looks very good.  It is a lot like flushing goats.  You would pay more for the ones that they have in stock and it keeps you running.  And therefore, they ought to be cheaper if they have to order it and it costs you downtime.  I don’t know, seems logical to me.  

      I know, that from time to time, people think that I am just kind of hung up on rock music.  I do like a killer good loud concert.  But I have also seen the Oak Ridge Boys (twice and complete with stories), Reba, the Great Divide, Cross Canadian Ragweed, Bob Childers, Larry Gatlin & the Gatlin Brothers, some other guy with the last name of Buffett, another dude that was the opening act in 1989 and goes by the name of Garth and several others.  While typing this, I have listened to Bob Seger, Eminem, Fleetwood Mac, the Bellamy Brothers and some dude with the first name of George.  Thanks to my mother, I know the music of Luciano Pavarotti.  Thanks to my dad, I like the tune that Willie Nelson and Julio Iglesias sang in duet back in the 80s.  The point…I like good tunes.  No matter if they are played by Metallica, LL Cool J, Alabama or the King George himself.  I can’t play it or sing it, but I know a good tune when I hear it.  

      And I wonder why or how Duke has grown so much lateley.  He just walked by me with a half gallon of milk.  Then, he returned to the trash can, only minutes later, with an empty half gallon of milk.  Go to your local grocery store and price milk.  It’s like buying feed, paying for flushes, getting parts, whatever.  It ain’t cheap.  We might have to invest in a dairy goat or two in order to afford this growing lad.  

     Here’s a cheers to all of you that keep gambling on the flushes.  Better yet, here’s to all of you that actually have success.  And I leave you with this….there has never been a character cast for TV that could NOT have been played by any more perfect actor than Michael Richards played Cosmo Kramer on Seinfeld.  Classic!

   One week from now, we will be eating shrimp, crawdads and the rest of some crazy cajun cooking.  More importantly, the favorite daughter will be home.  Can’t wait.  The favorite son wants to prove that he is now the tallest sibling–not much of a contest at this point.  

     It has been a good weekend.  The garden is still producing, which means that Tammy is still cooking and Duke and I are eating.  Our piece of paradise is getting pretty dry so the sprinklers are going.  

      Labor day brings about the Best of the West sale.  This sale has routinely produced good goats.  This set looks to be equal or better to those in the past.  The brisket lunch will be worth the drive.  The goats will be even better.  Call any of the consignors and talk to them about their offering.  

     And speaking of consignors, Rick Barnthouse is bringing a set of Blood Pressure goats.  Congrats to Rick on raising the res. grand wether at the Colorado State Fair, sired by Blood Pressure.  Rick has had a really good state fair run this season with kids sired by Blood Pressure.  Cheers! 

    Last night, I sat down at this keyboard and wrote, what I thought, was a pretty nice blog post about feeding livestock.  Then, I made the mistake of clicking over to the STD.  Yep, I went over and checked the Socially Transmitted Disease know as facebook.  And WHACK! I get hit in the eyeballs with an icepick of a picture that wasn’t quite right.  Now, when my wife and daughter helped me setup my facebook account, I was told explicity, “Do NOT write any of your crap on facebook for the world to see.  If somebody wants to read your crap, then they can read your blog.”  So, I violated my terms and conditions when I wrote the “Livestock Photoshop” facebook post.  And then, holy jeeminy, the wheels came off.  I was like a dentist doing a root canal.  I hit the nerve.  LOTS of people responded.  This is good.  We are having a purging and getting things cleaned up, already.  

     I wasn’t mad at anybody.  I’m still not mad.  I just don’t like the direction that we have been traveling.  I am not afraid to post names, but I don’t think that I need to or want to in this blog.  There is other crap being thrown about that doesn’t fit the topic.  So, here is my thoughts.  I have talked to the person that took the picture.  I have hired him before.  And more importantly, I will most likely hire him again.  Why would I hire him again?  Simply put, this kid sees livestock.  He can fit them, set them up, and photo them.  He understands angles and lighting.  He truly has a gift.  He is also really good at the computer.  That is the part that causes some issues.  But, there is true talent when it comes to dealing with livestock and a desire to do this work.  I like that.  And I want to help this deal grow.  For him and, yes, for myself as well as anybody tied to the industry.  Let us be real. There is a right way and a wrong way.  And as a whole, we need to work toward a common goal.  

     I do think that learning has taken place.  We are already seeing a correction in the marketplace.  Now, if these “young uns” can take this lesson that is being dispensed by all of the facebook community, then apply this lesson to the real world, it will be all good and good for everybody.  This lesson is cheap.  In the grand scheme of things, this is nothing more than a busted tail-light.  It seems bad at first, but it really isn’t.  Trust me.  I can tell you some real life stories that cost a pile of cash, heartache, em-bare-ass-ment (that is kind of fun to write it like that) and a bunch of other words.  This is a serious topic.  But, nobody is hurt at this point.  

     This is not a new topic for me.  I will name a name in this paragraph because it fits, even though he didn’t have anything to do with this event.  I have had numerous discussions, cussing (me mostly) and other arguments with Braden Schovanec.  He is a family friend.  This kid truly sees livestock.  He can set a goat, right, the first time, every time, all the time,  better and quicker than anybody that I have ever seen.  Ever.  Kids, bucks, does–it doesn’t matter.  He can also photo them very well.  He also understands his way around a keyboard.  I wouldn’t cuss him if I didn’t know, for a fact, that he can do all of this without blurring the lines.  There is a career if these kids want it.  I feel real safe in saying that from Glen to Jerry to Dale to Kenneth and alll of the rest of us older breeders.  We would rather pay you talented kids to do this and do it right.  We can do it.  We don’t want to.  

    Once again, I am amazed at the amount of people that facebook reaches.  This is an impressive tool.  It can help and it can hurt if not used properly.  

      And the aftermath is that I only had ONE, yes, just 1, that commented and I quote, “Awesome Blog”.  Thank you kind sir.  The great thing about this blog and the facebook posts–in a couple of  years, very few will even remember it as our minds will be filled with other stuff by then.  Good Day! 

    I watch a lot of ESPN.  Especially, Mike and Mike in the morning from 5 to whenever I move off the couch to go do chores.  I like them.  I also like the 30 for 30 series.  And I like keeping up on sports.  It doesn’t matter what sport it is, the athletes are specialized.  Football–this is a 3rd down & mid range back as he could run it or swing out & catch a pass.  Baseball–this pitcher is wicked against left handers with 2 or fewer people on base in late inning situations.  Basketball–3 point specialist or even a defensive specialist.  Whatever.  There used to be a time when a football player would play both ways.  Or a baseball player could hit & pitch.  Basically, the best players played–all of the time.  Now, they have certain players for certain situations.  Whatever.  

      We are “kind of” that way in the stock show world anymore.  Especially when it comes to livestock nutrition.  It is “kind of” specialized.  Classes like Feeds & Feeding or Livestock Nutrition used to be taught.  Now?  Why bother?  

      There was a time when you could actually mix your own ration and get a show animal fed out right.  It didn’t matter the species, you could actually buy your ingredients locally to mix a proper ration.  Work your Pearson Square, get your feed stuffs and grind/mix the ration.  Now?  Not so much.  Even if you actually still mix your own base ration, you will have to go get some additives.  Structure problems–feed this.  Need him fatter–add this.  Attitude problems–here you go.  Need to add muscle–yep, this stuff will pop ’em.  And I’m talking all legal additives. 

     And most people feeding this stuff don’t have a clue about the actual nutritional sciences behind these additives or even the feed that is in the sack.  Each additive might actually work, but in conjunction with the others–it just doesn’t balance out.  For instance.  I kind of like salty foods.  I really like foods with a bit of spicy kick to it.  But, if I get something that is really salty and wicked spicy–I’m out.  Animals are the same.  Even though this feed program is designed with the best intentions, it just doesn’t balance out.  In today’s environment, there can be too much specialization when feeding show animals. 

     I may be wrong, but I would venture to say, that in the current stock show world, there are four types of livestock feeders.  

–The first is feeding whatever is the current fad.  This is the newest additive, the best feed, whatever.  They don’t know what they are doing, but just look at all of those winners in those magazine ads.  Hey, this stuff is supposed to make them float.  I better get some of that.  They saw/heard that so-and-so was mixing this with that and it worked.  Sure–maybe it was true.  But it only worked on that ONE animal.  Feed stores LOVE this kind of feeder.  They buy EVERYTHING!  But, they also HATE this kind of feeder as they will have to stock this kind of feed, but when the feeder changes gears, they now need another type of feed and the store is stuck with the stuff in stock.  Hog feeders are the worst.  This type of feeder is good for the economy, but they can rarely be helped.  

–The second is feeding whatever they can get at their feed store of convenience.  This isn’t all bad because you might actually learn how to feed that brand of feed.  I’ve had experiences with Show Rite, Honor, Sure Fed & Special K.  I can tell you how to feed each one.  They will all work if managed right.  If you are tied to a certain brand, call somebody that has had CONTINUED success with that feed.  Call the feed rep.  If they can’t hook you up with proper directions, then you better drive a bit farther to get help from someone that can help.  

–The third type is feeding whatever they were told to feed. Exactly as they were told, even though it may not be right.  This is GOOD and BAD.   The GOOD is when the instructor/coach/jock sees them on a REAL REGULAR basis and can therefore make proper adjustments.  The BAD is when they are just FEED DUMPERS.    And when things don’t look right, they will ALWAYS have the same reply when you ask the question, “What/how much are you feeding?”   The reply will be……wait……wait…..wait for it. It will ALWAYS be, “We’re feeding what you told us to feed.”  Wait…I’m sorry but I’ve only seen 50-100 wethers since I last saw yours.  Please refresh my memory of what you were told last month.  Or, they are on full feed.  Well, that doesn’t help.  If you are trying to get one to grow, or if you are holding one, you need to know the amount of daily consumption.  That full feed deal may not be eating as much as you think.  Likewise, that limit feeding animal that is in a pen with another, just might be eating more than you thought.  They don’t all eat at the same pace.  

The good feeders will notice that they aren’t cleaning everything up.  Or they leave some certain feedstuffs in the pan.  AND then get help to correct it.  The bad ones are just dumping feed.

–The fourth is the minority.  These type prescribe to the theory of “It’s not what you feed, but how you feed it.”  They know what they are doing.  They pay attention to new additives, brands, trends, but don’t have a knee-jerk reaction to automatically try something new.  They also, most likely have a feed trial going on, somewhere, someplace dealing with some new additive or trend.  This type of feeder is not hard to find, but they are consistent, regardless of species.  They will always tell you that clean water and consistent feeding patterns are of utmost mportance.  Use proper feedstuffs.  Be careful of over-feeding additives.  Ruminants will need roughage.  Watch their daily intake and growth patterns.  Weigh on a regular schedule.  Monitor animal health.  Feed towards the genetics.  

      And no matter what kind of feeder that you are, you MUST consider the genetics as well as the phenotype of the animals.  If you feed several head, all sired similar, odds are that you can feed them similar.  Now, if you end with 8 pens of 5-8 genetically or phenotypically different animals, then you may need numerous types of feed, types of additives and/or amounts of feed intake, not to mention different exercise patterns.  This type of feeder better have lots of knowledge, lots of experience and/or proper help which usually requires a big checkbook. 

     Hunh?  Maybe, just maybe, there is still a place for Feeds and Feeding as I am pretty sure that is what was taught back in the 60s, 80s and it is still in style by those that fashion their ribbons to be the colors of blue and purple.  

       I know, I know.  Some will say that there is another kind of feeder.  Nope.  Those aren’t feeders.  That kind misses feedings, steals feed and half asses it when they do feed.  Those aren’t feeders.  But there is a special kind of place for that type.  

     The older I get, the more I realize that my job is not raising livestock or selling equipment or teaching ag.  My job is raising kids.  And I have to have help.  Those of you that know us, already know that Kela and Duke have a mom and she is “on the clock” full time.  Her job is easy.  As for me, I have to deal with said mom, that we lovingly refer to as the Dragon Lady.  Trust me, there should be hazard pay with this job for me.   This is a big fun kind of job.  

      Now, this particular monday, which is August 24, 2015, was an absolute beautiful day here in paradise.  We need a rain, but we’re okay.  Temps were great, mild breeze, no humidity and throw in the fact that all does are weaned, no goat breeding going on, nothing due to kid for a couple of months and we’ve got two weeks till the next sale–I am liking doing chores right now.  The hard part is making sure that there aren’t any drowned mice in the water troughs.  

      And on this beautiful evening, I asked my favorite son a question–“How was school?”  His reply, (think monotone and doesn’t care who he offends as he answers, which is typical of Duke)–“Not bad.”   WOW!  He has never liked school.  NOT BAD is big.  So I asked, “Do you have homework?”  His reply, “Yes.  A crap load.  But I’ve already done chores and will have it done.”  What?  Who is this kid?  

     So, his mother and I drove around on the gator, enjoying the perfect NW OK evening.  At this point, my favorite daughter texted her mother with a message about a new deal at work.  All I have to say is “Keep climbing the ladder.”  And, it is about time for her to come visit paradise.  The rest of her past travels and those to come will not be quite as fun as coming back home.  

     Big fun kind of day here in paradise.  I weighed myself at the vet clinic today. Yeah, I stepped down on the digital dog scales that almost all vets have at the front office.  I’m up to 194.8. Which I normally weigh 192, but have seen 198.  So, that says I’m fatter than normal, but not as fat as I have been.  Life is good.  Real good.  It could only get better if an elder statesman from the cornhusker state would happen to drop projects off in Oklahoma.  Wait? What? RUSM?  The mule is traveling.  I want stories.  Looking forward to KC–MY TREAT!   Of course, everybody is invited.  

     I’ve got some stuff to eat, so I need to get off here.  Enjoy your kids.  Enjoy perfect evenings at non-high travel points such as Fargo, OK.  It’s all good.  

     There are times that you are on a mission.  Things are organized in your head and you are ready to procede.  You sit down in your favorite leather office chair and prepare to dispense some info.  But then, you hear the sound, as if it it came from a loud speaker, like a loud speaker on a cop car.   “Back up!  Step away from the keyboard with your hands raised!”  

     I am slowly backing up with only one hand touching the keyboard.  jjoitruyvmnb iy,hg igff.

    Soundtracks to movies became popular back in the 70s.  One of the best was the track to Grease.  Way good tunes, and I know I still can picture Olivia Newton-John in that leather attire.  But the best soundtrack of all time- with a nod to Star Wars- is the songs to Rocky.  Here we are, nearing the 4th decade of the original Rocky, and when that music starts, I feel like running up some steps.  And you are liar if you don´t think about hitting some hanging beef when that song hits.  

     Of course, that Darth Vader theme music is wicked. 

      I absolutely love showing animals.  My mind goes to a good place when I can watch an outstanding animal or better yet, when there is a kid working to make an animal look outstanding.  I love it.  I like judging shows, but I would rather watch a kid working their animal at home, when very few are watching.  That, my friends, is when champions are built, showmanship awards are won and better yet, kids learn what they are supposed to about showing.  I love it.  

      It is the actual show ring that I can give two squirts of duck ….. about.   Now, you have a judge that may know up from down or maybe not.  You may have some dirty pool.  Maybe not.  You may have some over anxious parents that have lost sight of the goals.  It happens.  In all species.  In all events.  Athletics….they’ve made movies about the stupid parents involved with athletics.  It’s everywhere.  

     I truly don’t care about who has what on feed.  Fine…that breeder cut a deal with so and so and that goat went from this state to that state and is now back.  Fine.  What does this family have on feed?  I can already tell you…good ones.  They are normally competitive so I’m pretty sure that they will have good ones on feed.  I don’t like ou football, but I know that they will almost always have a good team.  I would rather spend my time trying to take care of what we have than worry about all of the others that are out there.  I don’t have control of those, so why worry.  I’ll just be happy here in paradise and teach Duke to do the best that he can with what we have.  Which is supposed to be the end result of what we are doing in the JR. stock show industry. Correct me if I’m wrong.  But, I’m not.

      Anytime that you want to know what Duke has on feed, come see us.  It’s simple.  Call me.  Show up.  Act like you want to look at goats for sale. Then ask if you can see Duke’s stock. Sure.  This is how it goes from there.  “Duke set your wethers up.”  That’s it.  Whether you buy something or not, there is nothing to hide here.  The same goats will be here.  

     I love showing animals.  But I can get pretty sour on the crap that adults do regarding showing animals.  I want my kid to win.  But, I really want to raise my kid to do it right.  I am REAL proud of the job that Tammy and I did with our eldest kid.  And I REALLY like our chances with this next offspring.  These kids are similar, but not the same.  The feed bill is different.  Growth patterns aren’t the same.  Attitudes are way different.  Goals are way different.  But, check back in a few years.  Despite his parents, I like our chances of raising this kid.  And that is our goal.  And as long as he says that he wants to show, then we will show.  If he wants to show sheep, fine, I’ll make a call.  If he wants to show calves, GREAT, but I’m going to need to sell some high dollar goats.  Chickens–YES–We’ve been known to win some cock shows.  

      This is a great day with the Kelln Klan.  I hope you all have a similar kind of day.  Turn the tunes up, be happy and I look forward to seeing you all at a stock show.  Or just come here and be in a good mood.  

P.S.  This for all you young bastards with a camera.

 “Pretend photshop doesn’t exist when you shoot.  It will help you focus on your angles, composition and lighting much better.”  

In other words, learn to judge an animals best angles.  Highlight their atributes but don’t fake it.  Learn to read your subject.  Don’t change it into something that it isn’t.