I haven’t been on here much for the past week.  We have been showing at the Woodward District Show.  This has turned into the preeminent district stock show in Oklahoma.  Start with base stock of Woodward has built one of the very best fairgrounds in this part of the world.  Then they went out and hired the perfect guy to be the fairgrounds manager.  Then, you get a livestock legend like Larry Moore to be the Livestock Superintendent.  Add a whole lot of a premium sale that has been very, very good.  Now, throw in that they actually worked to get top shelf judges for this show.  And now you have the recipe for a wicked good show.  

We showed hogs on Friday and Saturday.  Dudes, this was an awesome hog show.  DEEP, DEEP set of gilts and barrows.  Justin Rodibaugh had the honors of judging them and did a stellar job.  We didn’t win it, but our little crew of hogs showers got along well.  I had fun watching this hog show.  When you have livestock legends like Goss, Lamle, Nation and Pullan lining the ring, you know that there are good barrows being shown.  Throw in some younger dudes that keep putting together good hog show strings and then several wolves in the barn and I’m just telling you this was a good show.

The sheep show was next.  The show committee hired Billy Zanolini to judge the sheep AND goats.  Shattuck just has a couple of sheep showing families, but they are working to do it right.  The top end of this sheep show was really good.  The judge had to use some give and take in regards to weight and type, but was able to put together a really good lineup of champions.  I couldn’t hardly argue with a placing all day.  

I like this sheep show as I get to be an ag teacher.  I can deal with the kids, make suggestions, help when needed and then high five kids when they win.  Good parents and even better kids make this fun.  

On Monday was the goat show.  Last year, this was the best goat show that I saw all year.  This year was no different.  The quality was deep.  The showmanship, quality and fitting of the goats was way good.  The Poe Patrol had his crew dialed in.  Ours didn’t look too bad.  Since, this is a goat page, I’ll go more in depth.  

Rumour Has It sired the Ch. Div. 2 breeding doe kid–Carly Word.

Rainman sired the Ch. Div. 3 breeding doe kid–Newt Sweet.

Div. 4 champ & reserve breeding doe was an 8 Ball doe that I bought from Milligan shown by Carly Word.  Res. Div. 4 was a Gold Digger that I bought from Pfeiffer’s.

Grand breeding doe was Newt Sweet with a Rainman x Vanilla.  Vanilla is Blood Pressure’s mom. That doe has been bred to Rumour Has It–result  Blood Pressure. Then to Joe Dirt–result the winningest slick shear doe in 2015 and a buck called Mudslide.  And next Rainman–result grand doe at Woodward District.  Good doe.

In the slick shear doe class, Dalton Dunkin won it with a Money Bags daughter.  Good goat.  Congrats to the Dunkin clan as they put all three kids in the premium sale in two different species.  Job well done.  

Chancery Bruce was reserve grand slick shear doe with a Nasty Habit daughter.  This Nasty Habit deal is siring huge square racks, big loins and tight hides.  

And then the wether show.  

Div. 1 champ was a Milligan wether.  Div. 2 wether was a red paint wether that I bought from Pfeiffer’s October sale shown by Ava Bogdahn.

Rumour sired several 1st and 2nd place wethers.   And THE div. 3 champ was a Joe Dirt wether shown by Darcy Peach.  This was the Dirt wether that I sold at Norman last June.  Some think that I was stupid for banding him. Others think that I am a dumb ass for selling him.  You’ve got to cut some of them in order to win a show.  I didn’t give him away and he went to a good home.  Joe Dirt just keeps adding to an already impressive resume.  

Duke showed 3 wethers and was 3rd 3 times.  Not our plans, but it is what it is.  He made the premium sale.  I can tell you that Duke stuck his wethers and even showed one of Carly’s does (he hates showing does).  He won a super showman bag.  It is fun watching him start to mentor younger kids.  He works like a champ.  He just needs better goats.  It’s his ag teachers fault.    And on that note, here comes a Kelln opinion that is actually fact–A good wether showman is also a good doe showman. However, a good doe showman is not necessarily a good wether showman.  

        Here’s what I enjoyed about Rodibaugh and Zanolini’s grand drive speeches–there is NO doubt that these guys are in the industry for the RIGHT reason–kids and family.  Yes, they judged stock.  Yes, I want to show to them again.  But they are passionate about raising kids and families in the 4H and FFA.  I love it.  In the end, that is what we are raising–kids.  The livestock and the competition are just the vehicle to get us there.  (I’m sure that I heard that line somewhere)

Cattle show is on Wednesday.  I’m old, fat, tired, but ready.  We’ll catch you in a day or two.

Have a good one and a better tomorrow.

       The local or county stock show is one of those things that can drive a person nuts.  To some, it is a goal to win a local or county show.  I have to remind myself of this when dealing with kids.  Some have different goals than others.  I understand.  And at times, I forget this fact.  

We just survived the Ellis County Stock Show.  Four species plus all of the showmanships and premium sale orders, all shown in one day.  Our county agents kept things organized and we kept animals coming to the ring.  This isn’t a big county in terms of #s.  I have been around this county stock show for several years as I began my own stock show career in this same barn back in ’83.  Without a doubt this was the best set of animals (all 4 species) that I have seen shown there.  The top end will go play at shows still to come.  And this is a fun statement to say knowing that there were cattle left in the coolers, sheep and goats at home yet to be sheared and hogs waiting for their turn.  I’m not just bragging on Shattuck kids, but Ellis County kids.  It was a fun show to witness.

Not only did we show all 4 species, but we had one judge do all 4 species.  For the past couple of years, Ellis County has managed to hire some wicked good livestock judges.  Randy Nation, Tommy Milligan, Justin Rogers and this year, Bryan Kennedy.  It isn’t easy to find judges that can competently and confidently line up all 4 species, but this county has managed to do just that.  

       Here’s what I enjoyed about having Bryan Kennedy judge.  I knew what he would do.  He would do it exactly the way he saw it and then tell you why he did it that way and then would do it that way from start to finish.  He didn’t care who was showing, he judged livestock.  Consistent.  Exactly what a judge is supposed to do.  We’ve got some pretty good stock show families in this county and they all followed him.  We’ve got some Freddy 4-Her types and they liked him.  We’ve got some old school people that haven’t followed the trends but they still liked him.  Why?  I will tell you why.  He uses good livestock.  

As a parent and a teacher, I lliked it.  I asked a group of kids after the show what they thought.  One of these kids said, “It didn’t matter what species of animal he was judging, he wants them built the same way.”  I then asked “And how is that?”  She replied, “From the ground up.”  YES!  I loved it.  The kids listened.  Animals have four feet and legs.  Build them from the foundation and go up.  Stack a proper amount of muscle and make them balanced.  Not extreme one way or another.  Cows, sows, ewes, does, wethers, steers or barrows.  Start at the foundation and build from there.  

And here comes my question for the night.  Why in the heck does he have time on his calender to come judge the Ellis County Stock Show?  He should be judging steers or heifers all over the country.  No, he isn’t a hog or sheep industry expert, but he will use good ones, the right ones.  But then comes the really stupid question.  How come he isn’t judging the Texas major goat shows, Denver, Phoenix, KC?  There is a very short list of super qualified people that need to be judging big goat shows and he is on that list.  It would not bother me if he judged OYE with his own son showing a goat raised by the Hardin’s.  I know this much… Jacob had better show right and that better be a good goat or it’s gonna get beat.  He judges stock as he sees fit.  

Hats off to all of the good judges out there.  I like to watch good livestock showman and I appreciate watching a good evaluator of good stock.  Here’s to hoping that you had a wonderful day and a better tomorrow.  

       A year ago, several people got butt hurt about a blog post that I wrote that involved local and county shows.  Of course, I also got LOTS of texts, calls and emails agreeing with the post.  

      Now, it is that time again.  I am not trying to offend anybody but this reiterates a point.  Some people in the industry are upset because an animal didn’t make the minimum weight.  Others are wound up because their animal doesn’t brace, drive, walk or show well.  When this happens, one should simply look back over the past few months and think about the missed feedings.  It is hard for an ag teacher/county agent to get concerned at the last minute when a kid and/or the parents weren’t concerned over the past several months.  

     The point is:  It is the little things that matter.  This is true in everything that you do.  But it especially rings true at this time of year.  While some will get upset because they didn’t make weight or got sifted or didn’t win showmanship, whatever; there are others that are working to take care of the little things.  

–There are those dealing with calves that have rubbed hair off even though they get rinsed daily and live in a cool room with hot wire.  

–There are those families that have an animal that came up injured–that is common, but they have gone the extra mile and got a chiropractor to help them.  Hope it works.  

–A goat with an abscess on its jaw.  Let’s just say the face of this poor goat has swelled a bit.

–A lamb with a wicked bad attitude and no brain, but through hard work and patience (not mine), the kid is getting close to getting it shown right.  

–And of course, it always happens to a good one.  

Take care of the little things, the day-to-day things.  That way when a big thing like having to take a show animal to a chiropractor arises, it can be handled.  And the great ones usually have a story that help make them great.  And there are reasons that “some people always win”.  They take care of the little things and work to make the big things a little thing in the end.  In the words of the late great Ritson Urban, “It ain’t no thang!”  

To all the ag teachers/agents, heres to hoping that you can find the fast forward button to get through these things and on to the bigger things.  

      The Okie and Texas show seasons are now in full swing.  Oklahoma has had a couple of district shows and the county shows are going on.  I wanted to head to San Antonio but I just couldn’t make it work.  So, I made it to the SW District show in Chickasha.  I hadn’t been to this show before.  Glad I went.  The top end of the wethers and does was wicked good.  This district will be well represented when OYE rolls around.  

       As an added bonus, I ate at Jake’s Ribs.  It had been years since I had been there.  Not much had changed–line to get in, good meats and awesome onion rings and cheese bites.  Yeah, I ate too much.  

Tuesday evening on the 16th day of February 2016.  

There are decisions to be made.  I want/need to head south.  

The weather may be too nice for this time of year.  

I need to decide what I can do and shouldn’t do.  

The Okie Coalition auction is taking place.  I have already donated.  My partners have donated.  Do I need to buy stuff?  Decisions to be made.  

I bought stuff.  I made others bring more and I wish that others would bid like me.  Personally, I would be money ahead to NOT donate, bid or buy on these deals.  If I just wrote Duke a check, he and I would both be money ahead.  I, as well as others, give back to the industry.  But, sometimes you just have to shake your head and walk away.  

Thank you to all that donated items, services, etc. to the Okie Coalition.  Thanks to Milligan Ventures for their donation of time, resources and efforts to gather the donations, handle the auction and collections.  

When it is time to buy your next goat projects, look to see which breeders donated, bid and/or bought at various fund raisers.  If your goal is to make a premium sale, look to see who is supporting those sales.  

If you haven’t done so yet, send a check.  $10, $20, whatever, it all adds up.  Support your industry.  

I wish this light saber actually cut stuff instead of just sounding JUST LIKE the movies. 

San Antonio kickoff is tomorrow.  SW District is tomorrow.  Get it!

       The schedule has gotten completely bogged down.  I am normally a fairly organized person, but the first 2 weeks of February can make somebody get old, fat and gray haired.  Between all of the state office PILES of deadlines, Woodward entries, OYE entries and trying to get stock right, things get hectic.  Now, throw in trying to keep up with personal crap and $H!#!  A person can end up swamped.  

       My Law & Order SVU episode got interrupted at 4 am on Friday morning as THE fitter/photographer of choice in the goat business pulled into paradise.  The Crede Garriott pulled in and needed to unload some sheep.  Some hair sheep.  Real good hair sheep.  But crazy.  

      We got bucks washed, clipped and photoed.  Five of them.  Four that are Rumour Has It sons and a Joe Dirt/Rainman son that is good.  I ought to keep one but not sure yet.  Then he went to Seelke’s to clip/photo a keeper buck.  I saw the pics on the camera.  The pic will soon be out there.  This buck will cause some buzz.  The double bred Rumour stuff is working.

     Good weekend.  Have a great day.

       Many people have been taking up facebook, texts, news space and other form of social media as they gush about how good lady gaga did performing the National Anthem before the super bowl.  I even mentioned that I thought that she did a good job.  

Let’s review this deal.  Personally, I think that she sang our National Anthem straight forward and like it is supposed to be sung.  She obviously has talent.  I did not realize this before.  

  My question is–Did she perform the best National Anthem ever?  OR is it because we had low expectations for her, were we just impressed that she did it right and therefore gave her un-deserved bonus points?  OR is it because the bar has been set low in previous years and it seemed good?

You can answer all of the previous questions for yourself.  I am now here to rank the best super bowl National Anthem renditions of ALL time.  This info comes from a reliable source and is therefore considered to be accurate.  source:  ME     I watched it on tv while I was in college at the Oklahoma State University.  

 #7  all time–the first Buffalo Bills Super Bowl.  The National Anthem was wicked good–Whitney Houston.  The football game was also good.

#6  all time–the best super bowl game of all time–Many consider the Giants vs. Bills to be the best actual super bowl game of all time.  It was also the host of the best National Anthem of all time–Whitney Houston

# 5 all time–the Norwood missed field goal super bowl.  Close game.  Lots of hall of fame players.  Even better National Anthem sung by Whitney Houston.

#4 all time–Bill Parcell’s last super bowl win–National Anthem by Whitney Houston.

#3 & #2 all time–GOOGLE IT! Best ever!  Whitney Houston

#1  And drum roll please–In my opinion, the best rendition of the U.S. National Anthem ever is an EASY decision as Whitney Houston laid down those lyrics like they will forever more be played in all of eternity.  She had the talent to pull it off without any changes–straight forward.  Their was a patriotic air about our nation at the time.  Then she sang.  I have it on my iTunes.  And so do millions of other Americans.  This turned out to be an all time classic game, but was over-shadowed by her performance of the Star Spangled Banner.  Whew!  I get chills thinking about it. The 1991 super bowl.  

        Cheers to all that can sing that song properly.  But here’s to recognizing perfection when you hear it.  

      The weather was supposed to be super here in paradsise on this Sunday.  The sun shined, but the wind is howling.  The wind wasn’t supposed to crank it up until Monday.  Hopefully, this means that it will quit early.  

I watched a 30 for 30 on espn when I got home from mass.  It was about the ’85 Bears.  These 30 for 30 shows are very well done.  I really enjoyed watching this one.  Of course, the ’85 Bears were right in my wheelhouse growing up.  There was a lot of big personalities on that team.  I liked Walter Payton.  I even had some Kangaroo shoes.  That was the best NFL team that I ever watched.  Of course, I’m not an expert on the subject.

I really don’t care who wins the super bowl, but I always enjoy watching/listening to the pre game music.  The Armed Forces choir singing “America the Beautiful” was awesome.  Then, I literally cringed when Lady Gaga came out to do the national anthem.  However, she didn’t do her usual crap and she showed her true talent.  It was very well done.  

We traveled to a goat and pig show this weekend.  Big fun was had by all.  Our pigs and goats placed well, but it was more about getting some kids and animals a little bit of showring time.  I don’t get to worked about a show until it comes time for Woodward District and then OYE.  

  I hope the halftime commercials are good.  Here’s to looking forward to a super week.  

      Tuesday evening (yes, I realize that it is Thursday evening when I am writing this) turned out to be quite the busy evening.  First of all, it was the Groundhog Day Semen Sale.  Thank you to all the buyers and bidders.  Judging from the sales report, it looks like several people in Indiana are planning on some goat breedings using frozen semen.  Most of the lots will be headed to the Hoosier State.  Hopefully, some or all, can have successful flushes and raise a stud buck or some killer wethers.  Thanks.

      I was driving when the sale closed.  The sale administrator called to give me the sales report.  I was driving a couple of 8th & 9th grade livestock judging teams to the NW District contest in Enid, OK.  Great set of kids.  I laughed.  I laughed a lot.  It was good clean fun.  And since you asked.  No, neither team won.  One team was 2nd and the other was 3rd.  They did well, just not as well as the team that won.  In any competitive event, sometimes you just need to be happy that you did as well as you did and acknowledge that the winner was simply better.  

      As we were driving East, my phone began buzzing with calls and texts regarding a facebook post about crooked panels. Once we got to Chili’s, I read through most of the posts.  I laughed. Then laughed some more.  The author posted a pic and pointed out the crooked panels.  No names were mentioned.  Nothing derogatory.  Just a picture with some flaws.  But then, somebody took offense and the tone of the posts went south in a hurry.  Now, I have read through all of the posts.  I laughed a lot.  I also shook my head at some people’s stupidity–A LOT!  I absolutely loved a bunch of the creativity that came with this post.  Brem’s pic of the dude holding the buckets of popcorn made me laugh.  Sloan’s finding a way to plug their online pig sale AND the pic of Pistol Whip before photoshop dang neart made me cry.  But then there were personal attacks.  

      Personally, I though Bronc handled this deal well.  He posted a pic. Sure, there was a load of sarcasm.  But he typed no negative comments–no names.  But the guilty party took offense, had to make snide remarks and then it opened the doors for others (that have obviously had a bad dealing or two with the guilty party) to start slinging mud.  

     Here’s what I know.  I don’t write much on facebook.  Tammy told me to not to write on facebook and I do everything that Tammy tells me to do–part of the time.  But when I posted about photoshopping ethics, there were lots of likes, lots of texts and lots of phone calls.  I didn’t name names.  I just addressed that as livestock producers, we need to be wary about photoshopping animals.  Now, another person in the industry pointed out a problem with a picture.  He didn’t name names or even comment on the obviously photoshopped goat.  He just pointed out a problem that was in the picture.  Numerous posts, likes and views later, the entire thread was taken down because some people couldn’t keep it clean.  I hate that the thread had to be removed and rightfully so, I might add.  There is a learning opportunity for all of us.  

       This is not my opinion, this is fact.  WE, as in all of us involved in the raising & selling of livestock, MUST use proper ethics when using photos/videos to promote, market or advertise livestock.  It is obvious that there is a problem in the industry (goats, sheep, cattle, pigs, horses, probably even racing hamsters).  This latest issue only proves my point that it is a twenty-something issue that feels that they must push the limits on their pictures.  And once you are caught.  Own up to it, shut your mouth (which means don’t text, tweet, email, facebook or whatever other E method you have to voice your stupidity) and don’t do it again.  In this day of social media, people are always watching.  People are always judging.  Once you hit submit or send, it is out there. 

        I hope that we all learn from this.  However, I am not naive and I realize that several did not get the message that was sent by all of the likes and comments.  Here’s to hoping.  Have a good day.

2-2-16

      Groundhog Day is here.  Punxsutawney, PA is awating Punxsutawney Phil to emerge from his burrow.  This is one of the more iditoic holidays, but it is kind of cool.  I would like to be in Punxsutawney, PA for Groundhog Day.  This town has managed to find a reason to celebrate.  It is a pretty good marketing campaign because I’m pretty sure that the majority of us would have never heard of Punxsutawney, PA. without this “holiday”.

      In celebrating this holiday, we, and our partners, are offering semen on most of our stud bucks.  Seelke’s and I haven’t offered any Rumour Has It semen since last March.  SInce then, Rumour has sired numerous winning wethers and his sons have proven their mettle.  Joe Dirt just keeps working.  Rainman and Fade2Black are as proven as any buck in the land.  As good as these bucks have done in the showring, their daughters make it even better.  

       The newer bucks’ offspring are showing up in the show ring.  Skippy Red Leg’s first offspring are hitting the rings and we are getting good reports with several lightweight division winners in TX and CA as well as a 2nd place doe at Tulsa.  3 Amigo is making quality goats with several really cool doe kids being shown.  Nasty Habit sired one of the most interesting doe kids that I saw all of 2015.  Plus, there is a buck prospect sired by Nasty that will be making an appearance in the near future.  The first kids out of Easy Decision and 1K are on the ground.  The future looks promising.  Seelke’s Black Market combines the best of Rumour and Fade–massive ribcage, loin and bone combined with the wicked cool black head and markings.  

      Several of these bucks will be limited in their offering.  If you’ve wanted these genetics, now is the chance.  Don’t be caught in the shadows.  If you have questions as to how to match these bucks to your does, please call.  Have a good day.