Wow!  What a great day to live 3 miles south of Fargo, OKLAHOMA!  Yesterday was perfect weather for January in NW OK.  Today was a bit more typical. Dry and WINDY!   However, it was nice this morning, then the wind machine fired up to the mid 30s mph, but then it died back down about 6.  The sky is clear, the wind is calm and the stars are shining.  Basically, it is a perfect evening to walk out on the back porch and take a wiz.  Nothing gets frozen and the wind won’t blow it where you don’t want it. All of the barns got aired out today.  Dust, odors, etc. are gone.  Duke and I got some work done.  The kidding barn–aired out.  The big barn–aired out.  

      Duke’s wethers got aired out also.  No blankets for several hours.  They liked it.  We also sprayed for fleas.  This is an under-rated problem that can hurt pelt quality.  Spray for fleas inside huts, hotboxes, blankets and spray the goats themselves.  Especially when it is dry and cold.  Those little fatherless (bass-turds) can find a home on a long-haired goat in a hurry.  Once a month spray takes care of it.  This will make them shear off smoother when it matters. 

       Our refigerator also got aired out.  Tammy went to OKC with her mother to a play on this Saturday.  Cool deal.  This meant that Duke and I got rid of a PILE of leftovers.  I will eat some leftovers, but….not many.  Tammy keeps EVERYTHING!  I took out numerous ziploc bags of various 1/2 pork chops, leftover brisket, roast beef, sausages and something that I couldn’t identify.  I did eat a leftover 1/2 ribeye and some red beans & rice with andouille sausage.  I covered them in Tobasco.  Duke also did his part by feeding this smorgasbord to GARP.  (why do I hear the Muppet’s Swedish chef when I type the word “smorgasbord”?)  I apoligize as some of you will now have that stuck in your head for awhile.  

     I do have a left-over topic that always perplexes me.  Chili gets better and hotter the longer it sits in a fridge. Why?  I get the hotter part, but the better.  Basically, chili is a lot like wine and bourbon–let it age a bit.  Maybe, its more like a side of beef at the butcher shop.  Let it hang a couple of weeks to enhance flavor.  Of course, I don’t clear a room after a steak, good wine or bourbon.  Chili on the other hand….I can burn nose hairs. 

      I welded up some panels from the kidding pens.  It is an atrocity how much damage does can do to panels.  

      Twenty plus years ago, I married me a hottie.  And luckily, for me, she is still smoking hot.  The Dragon Lady has held together much better than myself.  But, even though I am not looking to trade, I do like having affairs with a cutie.  As I needed to add some kind of fruit/vegetable to my heat em up, left over diet this evening, I opted for an absolute favorite.  A cutie.  Yes, the little oranges that are just bursting with flavor and juices.  I just love stripping that peel right off those little succulent, shapely bits of heaven.  The first slice is as good as the last bite.  

     And speaking of getting aired out….John Q. Kelln got aired out in that helicopter ride from Altus to OKC on Thursday.  Mom aired out her car as she drove faster than the speed limit to meet him at OKC. (I seem to be the only family member that has a joy of consistently driving fast).    Lots of tests, change in medicine and he is now back home in Shattuck, AMERICA.  He has some Dr’s orders to follow.  I actually think that he will try to march to these orders.  

      As I sit here, I am thankful for great family, friends, opportunities, good days and even better tomorrows.  Remember who to thank, do it and have a fabulous day.  Stay flexible but not limp.  

     I’ve been in need of a refresher course for quite some time.  And in typical Kelln fashion, it took me a couple of weeks to even realize that I was already taking a class. As I look back over the last year in the goat showing business, I feel like I got the living crap kicked out of me.  But then, you stop, take a look and analyze the goats that I bought for people.  Grand & Res. grand at Woodward, Res. grand at OYE, Res. Grand at Tulsa, Grand at Phoenix & Res. Grand at Denver.  The goats came from various breeders and were shown by various showmen.  And I dang sure didn’t have any dirty pool deals in place for any of those placings. Not bad.  But it feels rough.  Why?  I didn’t have much fun with it.  And if you can’t have fun doing something, then why do it?

      The trip to Phoenix was a good one for me.  Why?  Duke and I had big fun.  Got our donkey’s kicked.  But we had fun.  I was reminded that sometimes, a dutch oven peach cobbler is important. Why, you ask?  And I quote Duke, “Where else you going to get peach cobbler like that?”  Chesley & Madison reminded me that these things are about fun and life lessons.  I also had to realize that not everybody has heard of the “Eagles”.  Yeah, as in the band, the “Eagles”.   Who knew that some live under a rock.  

     I wanted to go to Denver with Schoovy and Braden.  It just didn’t work out for me to do it.  And I am glad.  TravASS and Braden can get stuff done.  When it comes to showmanship, I’ll take Braden and give you the field, odds, points, whatever.  He can get it done.  I think the term is–“Proven Commodity”.  

      Braden, Duke and I bought this goat back in May/June at Garrett’s farm sale.  Duke liked him.  I liked him.  Braden liked him.  He was little bitty.  I got him bought cheaper than I thought it would take.  I wanted to keep him.  Braden wanted to go to Denver.  I asked Duke.  And I quote, “If Braden can go win something with him, I’m good.”  If you know Duke, that’s saying a lot.  Last night, I asked Duke, “Do you wish we would have kept that goat?”  With a look like I asked a stupid question, “Did one of our friends win a banner with him? Hunh, then we didn’t need him.”  Son, you would be correct.  

       Now, I look forward to events to come and it isn’t about a banner or a picture.  It’s about doing things right.  I am in a lucky position.  Other than my parents, my wife and my kids, I don’t owe anybody, anywhere, anything.  I am not obligated.  This deal can still be about horseshoes and shamrocks.  

       And to close this deal this evening, my mom is driving to OKC following the helicopter that is taking my Dad to the heart hospital.  He has had a spell for the 2nd time in the past month.  He already had a cardiologist appointment next week.  Personally, I like the fact that this speeds stuff up.  He’s going to be fine.  I’ll actually bet that this deal helps him long term.  Nonetheless, we won’t turn down any prayers to help JQ and Mom.  I will guarantee you that we all need a little refresher course that involves JESUS and the one and only GOD.  

        So, in 2015, if I don’t seem too worked up about a banner shot, crappy judges or stuff that really doesn’t matter in the long run, then take a refresher course and remember why we do this.  I’ve already won.  I am surrounded by good family, good friends and good times.  Bust a move, take a step back, a deep breath and go…it could be worse.  

     I’m just sitting here pondering life.  I wish I was sitting in Denver pondering the goat show with Schoovy and Braden.  Ch sr. showman and res. Grand wether is a good day.  That is a day well worth pondering.  Congrats to that family on a job well done.  A few months ago I had plans on being there.  I am left pondering what happened?

     Several months ago, I wrote about our school superintendent having a bad car wreck.  He has healed quicker than they thought he would.  Although, he still has a ways to go, he returned home today.  His wife drove him down the school drive with 7-12 grades standing in line with posters, cheers and high fives.  It was pretty cool.  I would imagine that he has been pondering his return and this had to feel good.

     I got to remove a dead 7 week old buck kid this fine evening.  No big thing.  It was just a 191 bred back to his twin sister ET kid.  He hand’t been sick, cold or any other visible maladies.  This kind of deal just leaves me pondering the goat industry.  All I have to say is “Ouch!” 

     All of this pondering left me needing refreshed.  So I took a HOT bath while having a cranberry juice on ice.  Now I am left pondering why Speed Stick Irish Spring deodorant has that clear plastic deal that covers a new stick but still fits under the cap.  I think that I should have removed that plastic deal before I applied the deodorant.

     I think there is a liar or two around my place.  All of the thermometers say that it has been around 36 to 40 degrees F on this Sunday afternoon.  Well, it feels a lot colder than that.  I think the thermometers should be reading butt-ass cold.   I had an Arizonan dude tell me that 30 in the desert feels colder as there isn’t any humidity in the air.  And I quote, “A dry cold is a brutal cold.”  I guess that’s what we are dealing with here.  It is way dry and it feels cold.

     Duke and I moved a set out of the kidding barn today.  They are happy to be in a bigger pen, but they act a bit cold.  The babies still have access to heat lamps and hot boxes.  

    How about some smells?  There isn’t many smells better than a beef pot roast simmering with taters, carrots and a touch of onion.  Funny how some smells can make you warmer.  

    And Fargo just won some golden globes on some award show.  Pretty sure that it wasn’t the 73840 Fargo.

     Yes, I realize that it is still the first week of January, but it is time to be thinking about marketing product.  Which, in this case, we are talking about goats.  As a breeder, you have to be thinking ahead.  Ask yourself questions. 

1–Have my past marketing strategies worked?

2–Am I leaving money on the table?

3–Are my show goats ending up in good hands?

4–How do I expand my market?

5–Am I happy with what I have been doing?

6–What other options are available?

7–Who can help me improve my market(s)?

I don’t care how big of a breeder or how big of a reputation a breeder has, each operation needs to continually answer these questions and then act accordingly.

I can tell people how to do things, but I am really qualified to tell you how NOT to do things.  I do know that a breeder must have an online presence.  This doesn’t mean that you have online sales; it means prospective customers can find your program on the internet.  Ads tied to high traffic sites.  A well developed website.  And a page amongst the socially transmitted disease known as Facebook.  If you don’t know how, don’t have time or the desire, get help. It is money well spent.  

     Know what your goals are?  If it is about $s, talk to people that are cashing checks.  Like everything else in this world, this advice might have a price tag but sometimes you have to spend money to make money.  If it is about hanging banners & gathering pics at the backdrop then identify proven feeders, take less $s for the goat and hope the animal turns out.

  Remember, Banners & Backdrops lead to $s!  Of course, there is a flip side. As a buyer, where am I going to go to spend my $s to try to win Banners & Backdrops.

Keep warm and take care of the stock.

     The major league baseball hall of fame elections were announced today.  There was discussion as to whether John Smoltz would get elected.  I thought he would and he did.  He was too good of a pitcher for too many years in various roles to not get elected.  I liked watching Smoltzy pitch.  But I really liked using him back in 1989-90 on the Nintendo game RBI 3.  He was unhittable.  I won several bets playing that game when I had the controls and Smoltzy was on the mound.  Big fun.

    After doing chores tonight, I have come to the realization that if doing a flush, I HIGHLY recommend using your own, home raised recips.  I don’t like does, but I really don’t enjoy bad attitude, destructive, uncooperative recips that you wouldn’t have on your place otherwise.  And for Spanish recips….pick a four letter word.  Not just one word, string several together.  The word that I am thinking of is DONE.  As in, I am done with these Spanish recips and done with any in the future.  Flushing is a gamble, but when you throw in some misery for 8 weeks or so, it is not worth it.

    Did I mention that Duke got a crossbow for Christmas?  We need some decent weather to sight it in.  

    Every ag teacher has their share of headaches.  But one that tops most lists is the Ag Farm.  The ag farm brings a whole list of problems.  Whose job is to keep it mowed?  Who builds the pens?  Who does the maintenance & fixes plumbing problems?  And the age old question of how do you keep people from borrowing\ stealing feed?

    I have numerous thoughts and feelings about the good and bad of ag farms.  I know that nobody helps Duke and I build our show pens.  I also know that nobody else pays for electricity or heat at our barns.   For that, I’m not a fan.  But I also realize that a lot of kids need a place and that these places can be an excellent teaching tool.

      I served a 3 year stint at Billings and did another 3 year stretch at Fairview.  Both of those schools had limited ag farms.  We had to use the ag shop or the county barns to wash and clip.  It works.  

      Waynoka still has an extensive ag farm that we used to farrow sows, raise numerous Tulsa champion broilers in the cool room and AI cattle for students and local cattleman as well as feed/fit and house show animals–all species.  It was not uncommon to have steers & heifers in the pens under fans.  Hogs inside, broilers in the cooler and sheep & goats under the heaters.  Whatever we needed.  They built that facility back in the 70s and it is still in use.  They have gotten their money’s worth.  Lots of champions.  I also had several kids that won state proficiency awards as a result of their ag farm projects.  

     Shattuck has a very good school farm.  Two heated hog barns, excellent sheep barn and very nice cattle runs.  As well as a fitting barn with wash racks, heat and clipping areas. The sheep barn is inhabited by a family that maintains the barn and runs.  They do it right.  The other barns have been abused in the past.  But they are clean now.  And they will stay that way or I will gladly evict some people.  For the most part, the kids are doing a good job.

     Part of me wonders how a school can justify the heating and electrical bill of these farms.  The other part knows what a gymnasium or ball field costs to operate.  In the end, if there are kids/families using an ag farm properly-with respect; then they are a neccesary evil.

     An ag farm can solve some problems.  It can be a staging point–for instance, meet at the ag farm.  It can be a storage place for show supplies, trailers, etc.  It’s also nice to be able to have a common location to bring animals as you buy them.  Get in from a pig sale, drop them off in a pre-built pen with water and feed ready to go.  

     Like everything else, an ag farm is only as good as the people that use them.  If used properly, then they are a valuable tool.  If not, they can be a burden on everybody.  And, in my opinion, it is probably best if the ag teachers kids keep their animals someplace else, for a lot of different reasons.  

    Oh, for the record, there are currently NO goats at the Shattuck ag farm.  They all live at their families’ homes.  

     It was unusually  cold all week in Phoenix.  We came home to more cold.  Plain old Butt cold. Break ice, try to thaw out hydrants then bucket some water.  Make sure heat lamps are working.  If I ever move, its going to be some place with moderate temps and very little wind.   Costa Rica sounds nice.  There is a reason that I don’t live north of here.

     Keep your critters warm & stay cozy. 

P.S.  it’s amazing what a hot bath and a bourbon will do for warmth.  My attitude is already better.  

     We caught a snow here in paradise.  Big, white flakes of wet snow.  But, then it quit. We’ll take what we can get.  I’ve been getting caught up on my movie watching.  I’ve seen Guardians of the Galaxy, Tammy and Frozen.   All were really good.  I had heard so much about Frozen that my expectations were really high.  It was a great movie but it wasn’t the best Disney movie ever.  That title still belongs to the Lion King. 

      How about the fat guy touchdown and then the end of game reception and run in the Okie State game?  Makes you like college athletics when you see plays like those.

      Make sure you’ve got plenty of hay, mineral and shelter for your does.  Show goats need layers of blankets, hot boxes, fresh water and exercise.  Make sure you check your show goats for fungus and fleas.  

2014–It’s done!  And for one, I am glad.  2014 brought a lot of changes to my little piece of paradise.  

–We added a kidding barn.  Very wise investment.

–The year started out dry.  We got small rains throughout the year.  And we end the year dry.  

–I changed careers.  I left a lucrative career moving John Deere equipment and headed into business for myself.  I have fewer headaches and am not pissed off as much as I used to be.  That part is good.

–I bought a whole herd of goats–does, babies.  This purchase took us from 50 does to 175 does.  

–Somehow, I added another career.  Shattuck couldn’t find an ag teacher.  I agreed to fill the position.  The kids and the school have been great.  I just don’t have time for it.  One semester down.  Along, with taking this job, I sold a bunch of does.  We are now back down to 75 mommas.  

–Duke and I spent quality time in the garden.  Yep, a garden.  We had fun, ate well and learned a lot.  The garden will be considerably bigger in 2015.  

–2014 was the first year of my life that I can remember, that I did NOT catch a fish.  WIth the continued drought, dried up ponds and no time to travel for fishing, I didn’t wet a line.  That will have to change in 2015.  

–2014 was the year of the doe kid(S).  I hope the percentages change this year.  Although, doe kids are easy to sell, I prefer bucks and wethers.  

–WIND.  My goodness, this past year was windy.

–2014 was not a fun stock show year for me.  For some reason, I had a hard time following a lot of judges, in multiple species.  I’m not saying the judges were wrong, I just had a hard time following a bunch of them.  Our krew still had success–(grand & res at Woodward, reserve at OYE, reserve at Tulsa, grand at ANLS, lots of premium sales, etc.)  but at times, I didn’t understand some of those placings, but we’ll take it.  

I’ve had an increasingly hard time understanding a lot of the parents that are involved in stock shows.  For various reasons.  This has caused me to just want to take care of Duke and be done.  But, the added career makes that hard to do.  

–But, the year ended on a positive note.  Phoenix found me in a very good humour.  Duke and I didn’t like getting our donkey’s kicked in the pig show.  But, I really liked how Duke handled it.  He wasn’t happy, but he didn’t pout, throw a fit or blame anybody.  I spent the week with some great people.  The kids were extremely well behaved.  Their work ethic was un-paralleled and we had a great time.  I was reminded of what is great about the stock show program.  

It is about working for a win.  Having fun, learning, meeting new people, standing at the chuckwagon waiting on coffee/hot chocolate.  Setting goals.  Not the politics, whining, dirty pool, high dollars, who gets first pick and all of that other crap.  

Now, what will 2015 bring?  

To start with, the next time I drive the Gray Goat GMC pickup that I own, it will roll over 100,000 miles.  I wish I had a dollar for every mile that Duke has sat in the back right passenger seat.  Better yet, I wish that I had a dollar for every mile that my fat ass has been in the driver’s seat (over 99,000).

Rain.  I hope and pray.

Buck and wether kids.

Good sales.

Fun.  

Have a wonderful new year.