I enjoyed the Disney movie Frozen.  Excellent movie, but not the greatest Disney movie of all time.  That title goes to the Lion King.  Not only is the Lion King the best animated movie of all time, that flick is also in the Kelln top 10 of all time.  Even if you want to argue with me, you can’t.  That movie was and forever shall be one of the all time greats.  

Speaking of frozen, it was a bit chilly here in paradise.  It is about time.  We got a 1/4 inch of rain from Saturday to Monday.  Not enough, but we’ll take it.  18 miles away in Shattuck, USA, there was over 1.25″.  The combination of cool temps and moisture made for a chilly morn.  It wasn’t frozen this morning, but it felt like November is supposed to feel.  The wethers needed blankets.  I needed a hoodie and the diesel pickup needed more than a couple of minutes to warm up.  I did notice that there were NO flies–at all–today.   Is that because of the election?  I doubt it.  But I am glad to be free of flies.  

Has hell frozen over?  I don’t think so.  But if you watch/listen/read much of the mainstream media crap from today, then one might think that hell hath frozen over.  But no.  It hasn’t.  It just got cold enough to slow some flies down.  Our political process is much the same.  The stinch of our political system is just suppressed right now. When things heat up, the aroma will grow stonger.  Trump can’t fix it.  It will take more than just a Trump card.  It will take all of us.  Politically, a message was sent, but it will take a constant barage of messages, billboards, phone calls, etc. to fix this thing.  We must vote.  It is fixable and it is worth fixing.  

Speaking of the election and Trump winning.  What happened to those celebrities that are leaving the US of A if Trump won?  Cher, Samuel L. Jackson and Jon Stewart were a few of them that have done some work over the years that I kind of liked.  Babs Streisand hasn’t done anything in decades.  The rev. al sharpton–not sure of his work other than to show up for a presser, but is he still here?  miley cyrus–please, leave. I meant to say, Please Leave.   Whoopi Goldberg–what, who, alright, leave.  Chelsea Handler–Spain–sure, go to your house that you already have in Spain that you paid for by working in America.  Get gone and stay there. I’ve watched your loud mouth crap at night.  Your mouth is worse than mine or Trumps.  Leave.  No loss.  No matter who won, I know that the USA is better off if you are somewhere else.  

I did not want any clinton to be in office.  EVER.  From the early 90s to now.  I have yet to vote for a clinton.  But, I also never threatened to leave if bill or hillary were ever elected.  BUT, if I had threatened to leave, then I would have fallen through and left. My dumb ass would be living elsewhere if I had threatened to move.  Of course, if I moved to a different country, it would be to Texas.  It’s like a whole other country.  At least that’s what the ads used to say.   

Hell no, hell has not frozen over.  The undeniable fact that hell has frozen is when Okie State is declared a national champion in football.  OSU, my alma mater, has won a pile of national championships in a lot of events. But, football, nope. Not going to happen.  It is just wishful thinking.  Personally, I’m good as long OSU beats the UO. (that would be the University of Oklahoma, but they prefer to be called ou.  Even though, that isn’t their official name.)

Wait.  What?  OSU has won a national championship in football?  Google it?  Some group named OSU as the 1945 national champions in football. This just recently happened.  Dude, this one doesn’t count.  No need for ice skates or snow cones in Hades…just yet.  

Hell hath not frozen over…just yet.  But, we are a day closer.  

I was at the polls before 7 am. And I wasn’t first in line.  There was a line, in Fargo, OK to vote.  I love it.

Well, I didn’t see these results coming.  I didn’t have much faith in the east or west coasts regarding the presidential election.  For that matter, I just didn’t have a lot of faith in the system itself.  But, we are getting a new POTUS.  He may not be ideal, but I like our chances way better than the other option and as compared to what we have had for the past 8 years.  It will be interesting.  

As for all of the state questions in Oklahoma, I was amazaed at what questions passed and what didn’t.  I had mixed feelings on several of them and obviously, I wasn’t the only one.  The way our voting results look, it appears that Okies are for drugs, alcohol and death penalties but against agriculture, religion and education. This is not a true scope of Oklahoma.  But, somebody had to get too fancy with all of the wording in these bills and as a result, they got their butts kicked.  When dealing with politics, keep it simple.  Don’t allow people to read too much into a topic.  And don’t allow too much room for the legislature to maneuver

I voted for SQ 777 as I am obviously a pro-ag person.  However, I did not like the language in the bill.  It left too many open doors for future concerns.  It needed to be a straight forward worded legislation that left zero room for doubt.  It wasn’t.  As a result, it got beat. 

I also voted for the teacher pay raise, but once again I didn’t have faith in our system to actually get the money to where it is needed.  Our state government has proven time and time again that they cannot or will not properly dispense funds as they are supposed to.  See pari-mutuel racing and the lottery.  Both of these were supposed to cure the ills of under-funded educators.  Unfortunately, the funds never trickled down to where they were needed.  

I actually voted for all of the state questions.  Even the drug law changes as this would hopefully alleviate some prison over-crowding problems.  I even voted to retain all of the judges.  My theory is that if I have never heard of a district or state  judge, then they haven’t been involved in any controversy and must be doing a good job.  I used to always vote no to get rid of them.  But, then when I found out that our legislature was in charge of appointing new ones, well, I just didn’t trust those people to make improvements. So, I’ll keep what we have.  

Let’s hope that the Trumpster can actually Make America Great Again.  On a positive note, we are dang sure getting an upgrade in the first lady department.   Here’s to hoping that you all have a great day and a better tomorrow.  

I like to follow sports.  I enjoy the storylines.  Although, the Dragon Lady and I follow the St. Louis Cardinals, it was hard to not cheer for the Cubs to win the world series.  I’m glad that their curse is broken.  

When Law & Order:SVU gets done at 5 am, I flip the channel to 143 and watch Mike & Mike in the Morning.  According to this bastion of valid information, the Cubs parade was the 7th largest gathering of humans EVER.  It was the largest sports related gathering, but fell behind a couple of funerals and festivals in India, Iran, Iraq and a pair of deals in the Phillipines that involved the Pope.  So, I guess with the given culture of the lovable losers, all of these are a religious gathering.  

Mike & Mike try to stay non-political on this show.  However, they came up with a valid deal.  Golic wants to write Theo Epstein in on the presidential ballot.  Epstein was the general manager of the Red Sox when they broke the Bambino curse and now he is the GM of the Cubs as they broke the billy goat curse.  As Golic stated, “There is only one place left for Theo Epstein to succeed.  And that is as the President of the United States. ”  I don’t know Epstein’s poliitcs, but he has to be better than this other mess that is waiting to be flushed.  

No matter which candidate that you don’t like, get out and vote on Tuesday, Nov. 8.  It is our duty and right to vote.  

I never thought that I would miss the usual tv commercials.  You know Flo from progressive, the Geico lizard, Farmers insurance, all of Aaron Rodgers and Peyton Manning various ads and the mutliple different ads for erectile dysfunction.  But, I would rather watch those commercials than these hillary, Trump and all of these state question ads.  Election season has to be profitable for tv, radio and magazine ad sales.   Lots of dollars spent on these political statements.  

I find it interesting that all of the insurance commercials tell us why we should buy their products/services.  The Geico lizard doesn’t run negative ads against Flo.  Peyton Manning promotes Papa John’s pizza.  He doesn’t tell us to NOT eat Pizza Hut or Domino’s pizza.  On the other hand, not one of hillary’s ads tell us what she can actually do if elected.  They just tell why we shouldn’t vote for Trump.  It all comes to a close, Tuesday night.  Thank GOD that it is about over.  And GOD willing, hopefully it is the end of listening to her and the rest of your current president’s lack of info.  

I’m ready for a break.  But today was not that day.  I made some rounds after school, picked up pig feed and then headed out to sort through a 150+ Hereford heifers.  It was actually a great evening to sort cattle.  NO wind.  Then, home to do chores. Now, I have the tube on, watching the world series.  

There was a school assemby today. I have a history of not attending most of these kind of things.  But, for some reason, on this day, I decided to step in and see what this one was about.  I listened to about 5 minutes of the middle school presentation.  I thought to myself, “Dude, you better come back with the high schoolers and catch the whole deal.”  So, I listened to myself.  And I am glad that I did.  WOW!!

The presentation was called Rachel’s Challenge.  I had never heard of it, even though (as I have since learned) it is the most attended public school assembly program.  The presenter was Rachel Scott’s uncle.  I kind of remembered the name Rachel Scott, but I didn’t know her story.  She was the first person killed at Columbine.  In true Paul Harvey form, I did NOT know the rest of the story.  Unreal.  This young lady’s story is powerful.  Moving.  I’m telling you that this program had me fighting back tears like I hadn’t done since Augustus McRae died in Lonesome Dove.  When it was done, a senior boy and I held doors open as other students left the auditorium.  He looked at me and said, “Mr. Kelln, I haven’t ever seen this many tough kids crying.”  I just kind of nodded in agreement. (probably because I was close to being added to his list.) 

The program tells the story of Columbine and Rachel Scott.  It also ties it all to bullying prevention.  The basis of the program comes from her words in an essay written by her, shortly before her death.  “I have this theory that if one person can go out of their way to show compassion, then it will start a chain reaction of the same.  People will never know how far a little kindness can go.”

If you are a parent, this program will get to you.  It obviously reaches kids.  It isn’t religious, but it dang sure acknowledges GOD and a higher power.  And it is pretty hard for somebody not to acknowledge a greater good when hearing this story.  This deal also hit kind of close to home as Duke and I have been having numerous discussions about making the right decisions.  (Of course, he calls them Ass Chewings)  Either way, this program helped a dad put an exclamation point on an ass chewing.  And it made for a great conversation on our way home today.  Put a price tag on those kind of moments.  You can’t.

Look it up.  Google it.  But you really need to see the whole deal.  If you get a chance to attend one of these, I highly recommend it.  And if you need, call me.  I’ll gladly tell you some of the stories and key points of this deal.  It’s good enough that I forgot about just another hectic day and took up some of the priceless things in life.  I hope you all can do the same.  

I want to live in a place that the wind does not blow 350 days out of the year.  This is getting old….real old!  I love the movie Animal House.  I always enjoy the line when Dean Wormer tells Flounder, as he is kicking him out of college, “Fat, drunk and stupid is no way to go through life.”  Likewise, Hot, Dry and Windy is no way to make it an agricultural setting–crops or livestock.  I’ve had enough.  We need a rain.  It does not need to be 90 degrees F in November.  I want this wind to go away.  I hope it’s beautiful in your neck of the winds.  Have a good one and a better tomorrow.  

Hitting submit the other night has turned in to an almost cathartic moment. Boom!  It’s done and out there.  I even had the Dragon Lady proofread it for me (and she hates the blog).  Nobody should have been offended.  If offended, that’s your problem.  I/We will help people, but it is now on our terms.  I shoud have done this years ago.  I will reminisce on occassion about those Sunday afternoons when there were piles of people working goats here.  It was cool, but I’m glad it is in the past.  If you need/want help…call.  If you are scared of the answer, call someone else.  

“Are the Kelln’s done showing? ”  NO.  Don’t ask stupid questions!

I’ve enjoyed watching some facebook videos.  Anytime a dude can tie brisket and tenderloin in a message, they have my attention.  Especially, when they can bring it all back home.  

I hate to admit it, but I had fun buying pigs this weekend.  I left with a popper in the pickup and came home hooked up to a gooseneck trailer.  I had an online purchase to pickup.  AND, I thought that I might get 2, maybe 3 more bought at the sales.  WRONG!  I ended up with 11.  We unloaded my popper and I hooked on to Schoovy’s trailer.  He now has my popper and I have his gooseneck. I call that a GOOD TRADE!  

If you want to witness stress free people–watch TravASS Schovanec and I at hog sales.  What?  These things seem cheap compared to a goat sale.  Speaking of goaters at pig sales.  I was standing there at the Okie Throwdown watching people throw some serious cash at some dang nice porcine prospects.  The goat power present at this sale was powerful.  The whole Pfeiffer clan was there as well as some guy that looks like Glen Martin’s skinny brother.  Throw in Bryan Kennedy, Schoovy, Mikey Thompson and there was some real goat power present.  

Maybe I’m wrong.  But if you are going to bid on your own animals via phone during the auction, shouldn’t you have phone signal?  IDK.  

I’m listening to some Real Men of Genius commercials  I love these things.  “Whoever beholding that thing, beholding one ugly sweater.”  Well written, clever and clean.  Impressive.  Back in the mid 2000s, Tammy and I hauled Tyke and his bride to a Cardinals game.  It was memorable.  Something about a pony ride and I bought a CD of Real Men of Genius commercials.  I still laugh at these things.  

Tammy is worried about me running into this vance guy that is the wanted man in this big man hunt.  He has been “sighted” all over Oklahoma and even in the TX panhandle.  I told her, “Honey, if he runs into me and I’m in one of my moods, I’m pretty sure that he will turn himself in.”  

Cheers and here’s to having a great day and a better tomorrow.  

Some of you in my age demographic or older will remember Richard Dawson on the gameshow Family Feud.  He would lean next to the contestant (closer if it was a hot female) as they answered the question.  Then there would be a smarmy joke or two and then he would turn to the big board and say “Survey says..”.

After serving an in depth tour of duty with a John Deere dealership, I have become a fan of filling out surveys.  All of them.  Online, mail or phone call.  I’ll answer their questions.  Give me a free toy, maybe a dollar bill or just the satisfaction of having input.  I learned that corporate America takes surveys SERIOUS.  Let me reiterate–they take that stuff REAL SERIOUS!  Taste tests?  Survey.  Name a big company–Deere, GM, whoever–somewhere, somehow, they are taking surveys of the product, your experience, the cleanliness of their bathrooms and/or the quality of your purchase/experience/ AND most importantly, would you do business with them again.  

I just got done with an online Hampton Inn & Suites survey.  I fill these out every time that I get them.  One, I stay at a Hampton on a fairly regular basis.  Not as often as John Kelln or Kenneth Helms, but often enough.  I like this brand of hotel and have very few complaints.  The one consistent complaint that I have–their orange juice is watered-down crap.  I don’t like it. It looks kind of like orange juice, the tab says orange juice but it’s not good enough.   I drink orange juice EVERY morning.  I don’t want to pay $100 plus per night and still have to stop somewhere else and buy orange juice.  So, I’ve been putting a note on EVERY survey from them.  Guess what?  The orange juice quality is improving.  

We, as livestock breeders, should do more surveys.  In the spirit of Van Hagar, we should do it RIGHT NOW…(great song and video). An email blast to all customers would ask pertinent questions.  This would help breeders make breeding decisions for next year.  Possibly, some herd health questions.  Also marketing decisions.  Maybe even feed and additive questions could be tied to the survey.  What was your target show?  Placings in show career of said animals.  Placing of animals purchased from other firms.  Throw in a follow-up survey at the end of March or after your state fairs.  

Sure, you can talk to customers but it ain’t the same as an online deal.  Granted some customers need to be talked to–myself, Allan Poe, etc.  This kind will tell you the negatives about every animal before they tell you anything good.  Nothing held back.  But, we are the minority.  Plus, a readable survey allows the breeder to see exact results with a filter attached.  A filter on surveys is important.  While I’m telling so-and-so that their goat isn’t good enough, mentally, they are already backpedaling (wrong feed, crappy showman, wrong care, whatever) and not actually listening. Filter it and put it in a readable format and now a person can digest it.  They can accumulate all of the surveys and study trends…with a clear mind.  It would actually be very economical to do.  And yes, the ultimate survey is who is buying and for how much, but there is so much more info to be gleaned.  

As I am typing this, I am realizing that nobody in our industry does this.  I don’t get any surveys from any breeders of any species.  I don’t get surveys from any online marketing companies from which I bid, buy or sell with.  Maybe, even a survey as to why you/me/whomever doesn’t do business with that company/breeder/whatever.  Of course, I don’t send out any surveys either.  Why?  Because this is a small time operation.  And, I have conducted enough one-on-one surveys to know that most would consider dealing with me a factor, while others like dealing with me.  Either way, I get it.  

1.  Did you buy a goat raised by Kelln Livestock?  Yes or No–Most likely NO as we haven’t offered very many.

2.  Did I tell you to buy a goat from Kelln Livestock?  NO

3.  Did you buy a goat NOT raised by Kelln Livestock from any party of Kelln Livestock in order to get help with other goats?  Maybe

4.  Have you paid other parties to help you with other livestock projects?

5.  Did you have success with any goats that Kelln Livestock assisted you with?  

6.  Did you pay any part or party of Kelln Livestock for showmanship, feeding instructions, selection, health concerns, show questions or other concerns dealing with your goat project?  

7.   Did you get your money’s worth?  YEP

8.  Is the proprietor of Kelln Livestock an a-hole?  Can be and/or definetly YES.  

As I sit and type this, I realize that I am taking a survey.  And I am realizing that I am on the downhill side of this goat deal.  My days of helping for free are numbered.  We (Tammy, Kela, Duke and I) have done it for well over a decade and we have helped a lot of families, breeders and showmen.  We have helped others more than we have helped ourselves.  Nobody can argue that.  It has not been about us.  If so, (deep breath)   well, my arrogance almost got to me.  We have developed a huge circle of friends.  It has been fun.  But it has taken its toll on me and most importantly, my family.  No big problems.  Not one single instance.  Just a steady erosion of things that make one want to slam their head in a sliding glass door.  It isn’t as fun as it used to be.  That is my fault.  I allowed it to go this way.  I want/need it to be fun.  I AM going to find the fun in it again.  One way or another.  Mark it in stone, the Kelln Klan is going to have fun while doing it right.  SImple. Straight forward.  No intentions other than the stated obvious. 

Basically, after taking my own survey, I am firing myself from an UNPAID position.  And it isn’t about money.  It’s about the principle of what this program is supposed to be about.  Tammy and I love dealing with the kids.  But, we are both tired of dealing with the parents, even though many are friends.  And the great thing about this decision is that it will not cost me money.  In fact, the mere fact of doing nothing, will actually save me money.  There will be many breeders/quick stops/hotels/restaurants that will notice. But that is not my problem.  I’ve said for years, that I would be better off to not leave the farm and just show what we raise.  (we all know that I will still have to travel–stories, food, etc.)  At the worst, it will save me time.  At the best, Duke, Tammy and I, as well as others, will have fun.  And if anybody has a problem with this post, I have some #s that you can call for help.  I know that you will really be pleased with your show results.  You know, $4$ spent.  Feel free to call for any clarification on this topic.  

(I’m a dumb ass.  This livestock survey deal is my idea and I’m getting ready to hit submit and somebody else will do it and probably make money from it.)  Oh well.  

Speaking of surveys…favorite meals……survey says….Red Beans and Rice with Andouille sausage.  It may not be my very favorite but it is on the short list.  Splash it with Tobasco and YES!   Susan Litzenberger used to cook me up some wicked good red beans and rice.  The Dragon Lady makes a good dish of it for me on occasion.  Once it is done, she leaves the perimeter.  I think that I am supposed to go sleep on the porch with Sasha and that other dog.  But, I bet if you surveyed the dogs, they would like me to sleep elsewhere. It’s all good!!

Survey says….I’m done! Have a good day and a better tomorrow. Here’s to horseshoes and shamrocks for most of you, if not all of you.

Made it home from the State FFA Opening Ceremonies contest.  No, we didn’t win.  But I’m not mad.  Not happy, but not mad, either.  These 6 sophomore kids were not a match set.  One girl really wanted to participate in this event. (She made the whole deal happen).  One boy didn’t have a choice (Duke).  One boy said he would do it as long as he didn’t miss football practice (he did and he did).  Another boy said “No.”  I told him that there was 2 ways that this was going to go down–either you volunteer or I’m calling your Mom.  (He volunteered)  Another boy acted like he didn’t want to do it, but he enjoyed being begged by the others (he did it).  Another girl wanted to do it, but didn’t. (She got strep throat the night before the qualifying contest)–so, the first girl conned another girl that had NOT been practicing with the team into learning a part the night before.  (She did it and did it well).  

It isn’t any secret that I am a fan of getting kids to learn to talk in front of others.  This contest does just that–in a quasi-group fashion.  Six 8th-9th-or 10th graders perform the opening & closing FFA ceremonies.  Enunciation, timing, gestures and voice quality are all key points of emphasis.  Any public speaking event is easier to coach if the kids have experienced parents, older siblings, etc.  Tradition is key.  Duke has been around it.  The others…not so much.  

As these kids have worked in class, of evenings after football practice, Sunday afternoons and fall break mornings, I have been pleased with work ethic, willingness to learn, maturity, cooperation amongst the kids/athletic coaches/parents and the desire to get better.  These kids have been thankful to Tammy for helping at some practices.  Practices have been fun.  The contests have been fun.  The suburban rides have been fun. EVERY meal has been fun–Gusto’s, Eskimo Joe’s and the Smokey Pokey.  As I stated earlier, these 6 are not a matched set.  One of these boys and Duke got into a scrap at the end of last school year.  No problems since.  That deal has turned into one of those “good” fights that probably should happen more often in today’s society.  

If you can’t tell by now, I am real proud of these kids–Shaelyn Longhofer, Duke Kelln, Damien Gibson, Gatlin Goodson, Korbyn Schick and Jolie Tucker.  Even though they did not win today, they are winners.  The official FFA dress nazi–(Tammy)  had them loooking sharp.  Skirts the right length and not too tight.  Ties tied right.  Proper shoes and jackets that fit.  They performed exactly as they had been coached.  I had no critiques with them today.  And I’m a picky son-of-a-gun.  They were good–real good.  This deal will pay off for years to come.  

Congrats to Fairview for winning.  Continuing a huge tradition that will be tough to match.  

And another small victory for tonight.  I stepped out onto the carport this evening.  Something moved.  I thought it was a barn cat.  I turned a light on and realized that I was straddling a decent size bull snake.  Somebody should have been there to measure my vertical AND sideways leap.  Of course, nobody needed to be there to record my language.  Yes, the snake is still alive.  I won’t kill a bull snake if I know it is a bull snake.  I hate mice and rats worse than I hate bull snakes.  Also, no skid marks in my shorts!  Small victories.  

Yes, I have been away from the keyboard for several days.  Yes, I have had way TOO many irons in the fire lately, but I can see the end in a week or two.  Yes, we made it home from KC.

My parents, yes my Mom and my Dad, took a set of Shattuck FFA officers to Indianapolis to the National FFA Convention this past week.  These girls went to pick up a little chapter award for the Shattuck FFA being named a National 3 Star Chapter.  I’m glad that I could send these girls with such capable hands as my parents. I am jealous that I didn’t get to go to St. Elmo’s or Shapiro’s.  I’m also glad that my parents could witness an event like this.  Like the rest of us, they were amazed at the quality of kids that are involved in the FFA.  Our nation only looks like crap when dealing with the media or politics.  Otherwise, we have an unreal talent pool.  If they are wearing blue and gold or green and white, polls show that there is an extremely high probability of some top shelf kids.  My approval rating of FFA and 4H kids is at an ALL-TIME high.  

And speaking of that talent pool.  I had the pleasure of dealing with a bunch of great ones in KC this week.  How did the show go?  Well, we got our donkey’s kicked!!  It was a beating.  Was it the judges fault?  Politics?  NO!  The judge was consistent from class 1 to class 16.  We just didn’t have the right kind.  End of story.  And none of the kids or parents were whining about getting beat.  It happens.  If it was anybody’s fault, it was mine.  

Even though we got our Hee Haw’s kicked hard, we had a great trip.  Duke had 3 goals–have fun, go to haunted houses and eat a filet mignon at 801 Chophouse.  Duke accomplished all goals.  I guess I should have told him to take a good goat.  I guess that would be my fault.  

Did I get as retarded as last year?  NO!  But I did have fun.  We did have multiple cart rides down the ramp from upstairs to the lower level of the royal.  While doing so, I met a cool kid from Missouri that was watching.  He was wearing a Star Wars hoodie, so we had some common ground to discuss.  He wanted to race down the ramp but his mom wouldn’t let him.  Our meatheads were taking turns riding the cart down the ramp.  Tim Dunkin was at the bottom playing safety monitor and fliming.  After several requests to head down the ramp and his mother saying no, this young stud threw his wheels in gear and headed down the ramp.  Laughing as he went.  It was awesome! He got to the bottom, cut a donut and powered back UP the ramp.  Laughing as he came back up the ramp.  His mom did the mother head shake from side to side as he got close to us.  He pulled back up and said, “Mom, you’ve got to go home and get my old wheel chair.  I’ve got to free-wheel down that ramp!”  Dude!! I loved it!!  We didn’t stay for the sheep show, but I hope he did well.  

Speaking of Duke’s goals, we went to a haunted house on Thursday AND Friday night.  Almost all of the Okie kids were in this group–which was a pile.  The first night, we headed to the old school deal that they call The Beast.  The line was LONG!  So we headed a block away to one that they call The Edge of Hell.  While in line for this event, there was a dude outside (part of the show) that was plenty scary.  He was plumb ass creepy looking and then he would pull a LIVE rat out of his old tattered suit coat.  Maybe, 1 rat, or 2 or 3.  That’s nasty enough.  But then he would take one of the rats and put in his mouth, right up to the tail.  Jeeminy Nasty sideways crap– a creepy dude with a rat tail sticking OUT of his mouth–I’m out.  Some girls don’t like to be approached by creepy dudes with rats.  This might have led to a near incident.  HUGE thanks to Mike Parrish, Gary Isbell and Lee Vanderwork for keeping Duke from getting stabbed.  

While the kids were in the haunted house, I was supposed to order Papa John’s pizza for everybody.  Okay, fine, but if you don’t know the address, it is hard to order pizza.  Vanderwork or Schoovy, I get them confused, said, “Tell them to deliver it to the Edge of Hell.”  I said, “Hell no.  They will just take it to my place south of Fargo if I do that.”  I was wrong.  They took it to somewhere north of Matador, TX instead.  Ha!!   Nope, it took several phone calls and a threat to get some Domino’s pizza, but we got them to deliver to the backdoor of the edge of hell.  That was good pizza and that driver liked his tip.  “Dude, I owe you some change back!”  Nope.  He had just put new rotors and brakes pads on that Buick and needed the cash.  I gave him some sound financial advice and told him to keep re-investing his profits in the machine that was making him money.  That and he should quit smoking.  I doubt he listened.  I am pretty sure that he was NOT a former 4H or FFA member.  He’ll probably vote for hillary.  

I know this is getting long, but it has been awhile since I wrote a donkey-load.  If you don’t want to read it, click to a different page.  It’s like watching a presidential debate, turn to a channel with something good on it.  Like Big Jake.  Speaking of which, that was on tv today while I was eating a crappy turkey sandwich for lunch.  I just love that movie.  Maureen O’Hara said, “This is a harsh and unpleasant business and is going to take a very harsh and unpleasant kind of man to do this job.”  I can just picture the Dragon Lady telling somebody this with me in mind for the job.  

Hats off to the Schovanec, Comstock, Vanderwork, Maloney, Gregg, Powell, Parrish, Smith, Isbell, Dunkin and all of the other families that have/are raising their kids in this environment.  These kids are top notch. I met a lot of new people this week and was re-acquanited with others that I don’t see but once or twice a year.  No matter what—great kids.  As much as I like to win at showing stock, my favorite stock to watch win are our kids.  

Oh, and the atmosphere at the American Royal was very good.  Shower friendly.  Great changes have been made.  I highly recommend attending.  The quality of goats was also really good.  Even those yankee goats from Hummel, Fledderjohan and Kedrick Miller.  There was also a good California bred goat or two.  It is worth the trip.    And Duke and I might have eaten some wicked good BBQ and yes, a fork-tender filet mignon with lobster corndogs and some mac and cheese.  

P.S.  Oh yeah.  Ask me about my Honor Show Clinic flier that I got autographed by one of the people in the pictures.  Anybody can get one of these fliers signed by Kirk Stierwalt, Chad Charmasson or Troy Goretska.  Those dudes are old.  I like to deal with upside potential.  I may very well have the first ever, ONE of A Kind, autographed picture of Dozer Dunkin.  I’ve got it held in my showbox by a magnet for safe keeping.  It is not for sale, unless his mother wants it.  Then, she can have it.  As long as she puts it on their fridge–with a magnet.  

Have a great day and a better tomorrow!