Let’s be honest.  I am a livestock junkie.  I really don’t care what species, I like it and have studied it.  Some more than others.  I can easily name a Mount Rushmore for all 4 species of show stock.

Back in the 80’s, when I wasn’t reading the World Book Encyclopedia, I was studying magazines like the Purple Circle and Showbox.  Then the internet came along.  I have followed genetics for cattle, pigs, sheep and goats.  I’m not retarded when it comes to thoroughbred horses or cutting horses.  I know a good chicken when I see it.  I digress.

Sometimes, regardless of species, one gets a chance to interact with a true livestock legend.  Some names just cross reference very easily.  And a lot of times they are tied to a specific breed.

Since we had our Not Quite doe herd dispersal, I have been waiting for a true livestock legend to venture to Fargo, Ok.  He hadn’t been to our place before.  But, he had been to Fargo before.  And he bought a buck from us a couple of years ago.  I just met him on the interstate to make that delivery.

When our sale closed, I noticed that he had bought a direct daughter and a grand-daughter of K9.  He did well.  Genetically and price-wise, he did real well.  He had asked if it was fine if they stayed here till mid July.  No problem.  It would be the end of June until one of them was ready to wean.  And YES, I was keeping the buck kids from that one.

Today was the day that Mr. John Penner came to pick up his doe purchases.  Yes, the Hampshire hog king.  Very few people can be tied to a breed like the name Penner Hampshires.  This man made purebred Hampshire gilts famous for several decades.  Numerous name-brand boars were and are tied to him.  A true livestock legend–it might even be appropriate to use the term Icon (some will get it).  I had talked to him on the phone several times and met him before.  But, it is different when a legend is at your place.

And then there is the rest of the story.

Mr. Penner showed up today.  I was Kelly clipping buck prospects.  He looked at a few.  A pair of them were out of one of his purchases.  He was pleased.  I was pleased.

He then asked, “Is that lot 14, tag B33 as good as she looked in her picture?”

I said, “Better. But we have a situation with her.”  He then looked at me and you could tell that the wheels were spinning….Is she hurt?  Is she dead?  Did he sell her out from under me?  What in the heck?”

    A week after the sale, I remember thinking that B33 looked really good.  She has always been a damn good doe, but she looked really good.  Another week passed, and I was looking at her and thought, “Oh heck.  Is she bagging?”   I sold her open.  She is sold to Nebraska.  They will need her ready to breed in July/August.  The next week, there was no doubt that she was starting to bag.  In true Rainman/K9 fashion, these girls don’t start bagging until 2 weeks out.  

Do I call him?  Wait to see?  Yes, I know a buck got out and when.  If she kids around July 4-8, it is that buck.  Guess what?  July 4, she had a doe kid.  Out of Warthog.

I told him the situation and said that I will make it right.  He wanted to see Warthog.  Then we went to the pen with the does.  A six day old doe kid got up.  He pointed to it and asked if that was it.   I said, “Yes.”  He then asked, “What do I owe?”

I replied, “Nothing.  But if you aren’t happy, I will make it right.”

He then said, “You mean I bought two does but I am going home with three?”

“Yes sir.”

My feet were not touching the ground when he said, “I really like what I bought but my grandkids are going to love that little one.  I like it.”

We loaded the does.  Then he asked how far it was to Johnny File’s.

I said, “A mile and a half.”

He then said, “Call him and get him over here.”

I was ecstatic to get to call a good neighbor and tell him that John Penner was here waiting on him.  I gladly leaned on that pickup and listened to some new stories.  Stories about hampshire gilts, boars raised and sold, Poland boars (Rescue), bird dog pups, knee replacements and wheel chairs.  There was even a story that involved chicken wire.

I love raising good stock.  Regardless of species, some terminology just fits.  And when you can stand in a lot and discuss maternal characteristics, reproductive abilities  and the importance of keeping females middle of  the road…..well, those of you that know me…..

Some days are better than others.   I hope your day was as good as mine.

So, I had to meet a trailer headed down I 35.  Where’d we meet?  You guessed it!  A casino parking lot.  We were early so, the Dragon Lady and I went inside.  The cigarette smoke hit us immediately.  She popped $5 into a machine, lost and she was done.  We went back to the pickup and waited.

Speaking of Vegas, did you see where Travis Pastrana is going to re-create some Evil Knievel motorcycle jumps in Vegas.  The History Channel is going to air these jumps LIVE on Sunday.

I was a kid when Evil Knievel was rocking the Wide World of Sports.  Every kid in the ’70s knew about Evil Knievel.  In fact, my first bicycle was a new Evil Knievel bicycle.  It had the same paint scheme as his Harley that he used to jump cars, buses and the fountain at Caesar’s Palace.  Or at least tried to jump those items.  This bicycle even had a plastic gas tank that clipped onto the top tube of the frame.  You guys know which top tube of the frame that I’m talking about.  Yeah, the one that if you made a jump, came down wrong, lost your footing on the pedals then you would rack yourself right on the tube.  Smashed Nuts!   I think that I got that bike for my birthday.  I got it new.  But, guess what my middle brother Jake got for his first bicycle?  Yeah, that same bike except Mom spray painted it blue.

While talking to Duke about Evil Knievel and that bicycle, I asked if he knew what the Wide World of Sports was?  He had heard of it.  But, he hadn’t seen it.  You know the video with that dude wiping out on the ski jump in the “agony of defeat”.  Yes, he has now seen it.

I needed to pick up a couple of straws of semen for a student to use to breed a cow.  I contacted the owners of the bull that we wanted to use and they said that they would hook us up.  I made a trip to meet up with them in order to transfer these straws into my tank.  Then, next week, these straws will end up in her cow.  I pulled out a checkbook to pay them.  You know what these gentlemen charged me for 2 straws of name-brand bull semen?  Nothing.  Nada.  Not a thing.  You know what they said?  I’ll tell you what they said.  “If it’s for a student, it’s free.”   That’s awesome!   And some people say that there isn’t any good left in stock shows.  I call B.S.  I know of some really,really good people that just want to see kids have a chance and do good.  In fact, I know of a lot of people just like these people.  They aren’t gambling, they are just betting on these kids.  All in!

I’m in a good mood on this Saturday afternoon.  I’m draggin donkey after spending the night in a parking lot, but I’m in a good mood.  And I heard that Tyke is smoking a brisket.  Can’t go wrong there people.

And that is why I don’t go to Vegas very often.  The over/under on Joey Chesnut eating hot dogs was 74.5.  I said that I would take the over.  And then he ate, 74.  Stuff like that kind of makes you go “Hunh?!”  And yes, there was a betting line in Vegas on how many hot dogs he would eat.   I bet that the books made money.

I’ve been to Vegas several times.  There are no big loss stories and yes, I have lost money there.  I know several people that go out there 3 or 4 times a year.  “Yeah, I save up a couple of thousand to gamble on while I’m there.”

Me:  Do you win?

Them:  “No, but I can have fun for several days on that money.”

Me:  Silently doing the math in my head of several days of fun, a couple of times a year and several thousand per trip.

Same person.  “You spend how much on a show animal?  That’s stupid.”

At this point, I normally begin to think out loud.

It may be stupid to spend thousands on a show animal.  But, I prefer to gamble on a kid.  It costs money to go to college and I am real sure that a kid will learn more real-world lessons from a show project than they will in college.  Actually, the show animal can help them get through college.  How?  Work ethic, goal setting, priorities, win vs. loss, building a social network, time management, etc.  Not to mention, they possibly could make money on a show animal and earn scholarships.

Ironically, Duke doesn’t have a wether goat in his pens yet.  We’ve tried but some have been willing to gamble more than we have.  No worries.  But, I would bet that it won’t be long before there is one in there.

Favorite quote for this day.

“Guys with an eyepatch and three fingers sell the best fireworks.”

Over/Under—74.5

July 4th means that ESPN will be showing the Nathan’s Famous Hot Dog eating contest.  Joey Chestnut is the best ever and holds the record with 72 eaten hotdogs.  His goal for this year is 75.  I’ll take the over.

If Kobayashi was also competing, I think those two could push one or the other to 80.  But, not this year.

I like eating a good hot dog, brat, hot link or sausage on a bun.  But when I watch that eating contest, it does not make me want a hot dog.

And in memory of one of my favorite animals.  A 4th of July appropriate scene from the legendary movie:  Joe Dirt.

Joe Dirt: Well, I see you got those snakes and sparklers. But where’s the good stuff man?
Kicking Wing: Good stuff? This is the good stuff, snakes and sparklers.
Joe Dirt: Are you nuts dude? You need stuff that’ll explode. Go boom!
Kicking Wing: Why is that good?
Joe Dirt: Well, duh, might as, might as well ask why is a tree good? Why is the sunset good? Why are boobs good? Man, firecrackers, ya stick ’em in mailboxes, you drop ’em in toilets, shove ’em up bullfrogs asses.
Kicking Wing: I would never do that, because one day I’m going to be a veterinarian
Joe Dirt: Well there you go, one day a bullfrog has a M-80 up his ass, he comes to you, you win twice brother.

Joe Dirt: So you’re gonna tell me that you don’t have no black cats, no Roman Candles, or screaming mimis?Kicking Wing: No.
Joe Dirt: Oh come on, man. You got no lady fingers, fuzz buttles, snicker bombs, church burners, finger blasters, gut busters, zippity do das, or crap flappers?
Kicking Wing: No, I don’t.
Joe Dirt: You’re gonna stand there, ownin’ a fireworks stand, and tell me you don’t have no whistlin’ bungholes, no spleen splitters, whisker biscuits, honkey lighters, hoosker doos, hoosker don’ts, cherry bombs, nipsy daisers, with or without the scooter stick, or one single whistlin’ kitty chaser?
Kicking Wing: No… because snakes and sparklers are the only ones I like.
Joe Dirt: Well that might be your problem, it’s not what you like, it’s the consumer.

Remember the reason that we have this holiday and say a prayer for all those that have served, are currently serving or will serve all of us in defending our independence.

Get the good stuff.

Because, ‘Merica!!   GOD bless and have a fun and safe day.  

Some movies make a certain song famous.  I get a bounce when I hear those opening notes of Star Wars.  The song is iconic but the movie is even bigger.  Some movies are made by a dang good soundtrack.  I get it.  If there is a catchy song playing when an event happens, I remember that event FOREVER!  No matter how trivial.  The song can make a moment.  See Rocky.  All of us want to box a side of beef whenever we hear the “Rocky Theme”.  Great tune and a great movie.

I like a good tune.  I really like a good tune.  I drive better when good tunes are playing.  I enjoy farming a bit more when good tunes are coming through the speakers.  I remember what song was playing when I made the decision to get married.  “Rock you like a hurricane” by the Scorpions.  This is still appropriate.

Duke and I both tend to work better when the right notes are thumping through our skulls.  Sometimes, the speakers are blasting some good notes and things just seem to work better.  Other times, it seems like I am a bit behind the beat and everything is out of step.

Right now, I am having zero problems breeding or kidding doe goats.  Oh, probably because I sold almost all of them.  Those notes sound good, dude.  We don’t have any problems with wethers on feed.  Why?  We don’t have one at this time.  We’ve bid, we’ve made offers.  Just hasn’t happened.   And the music plays on.  And on. And on.

People, the hits just keep coming.  I’m currently fueled on jalapeño wurst, mac & cheese combined with some ranch style beans.  I’m amped for months to come.

Getting ready to start sorting weaned goats into groups.  There is a set of young buck prospects that I really like.  I don’t want to band them, but we might have to snag one.  Maybe not.  We may just find a little no-name project like we used to do.  Or show a doe.  Time for a journey.

Peace out, people.  And have a great one.

There have been a lot of goats change owners the past week or so.  It is the busy season in OK and TX.  This past week is the busiest goat week for Oklahoma.  Buyers that are needing to nominate for Tulsa have to be done by July 1.  Plus most of the March and April born kids are now available as well as some May borns.

The sales were good but not as crazy as in years past.  The good ones will bring good money and then it drops off drastically.  Duke and I only sold three goats this weekend.  A wether for $2,600, a wether for $2,200 and a doe kid for $2,000.  And they went to good homes.  I am pleased selling goats at those prices.  I’m making money and the buyer doesn’t have to go broke to buy a good goat.

Jason Spence had to juggle planes in order to make it to Perry on Saturday.  Something about a puddle of fluids under his plane gave him pause before flying it.

Duke is officially employed.  He is now working at the Ellis County Animal Hospital.  One, he wanted a job.  And two, he needs a job in order to pay deductibles and vehicle insurance increases.

Got to go load some does and meet a trailer headed to California.  It has been 4 weeks since I had that online doe sale.  That is the downfall of an online sale.  They may be sold but the pens don’t just empty over night like a live sale.

Have a good one and a better tomorrow.

No, that does not mean that I have already been inhaling Oklahoma’s new mary-ju-wanna laws.  It simply means that I was doing some painting with some John Deere green paint and I need to get a better face mask.  That and I probably shouldn’t have rubbed mineral spirits in my nose to get rid of the green paint on my nasal hair.  I hate painting.

Speaking of green, I had a heckuva stand of a cover crop mix back on June 10.  The cowpeas looked great, brassicas were making a showing, grasses were coming through.  Then it got really hot and DAMN windy.  That left some of the peas and the hay grazer.  Then the hail shredded it.  But, there is soil moisture, it might still make some hay.

I am guilty.  I could not pass up the chance while voting on Tuesday morning.  I knew who I was voting for on the local races.  But, for real offices like state superintendent, I may not have put much thought into it.  So, when I got to the polling place and read the ballot–yeah, I laughed out loud (which was not the appropriate thing to do while voting in front of those three bluish/silver haired ladies).  But, I could not pass up the chance to vote for Will Farrell.  Yes, I know it isn’t that Will Ferrell, but dang dude, how often do you get to laugh while voting.  Normally, we are just crying and hoping.  I have since noticed that over 94,000 other okies also voted for the cool name.

I have never smoked any weed nor taken any drugs, but I really don’t care if marijuana is legal or not in OK.  However, I voted no as I did not like how the bill was written.  But, in the end, it just didn’t matter as there were tens of thousands of people that voted FOR this weed bill but did not vote for governor.  Do you reckon some of those were picking green boogers?

Peace out and I really just want to go to a Crue concert, then get an off-duty cabbie to drive us around Bricktown and eat about 14 McD cheeseburgers….or hand them out to the locals.  “Dude, you obviously ain’t no pimp but those are some lovelies that you got with ya.  Thanks for the cheeseburgers, brother.”  I really don’t know much about this story.  Just ask Brandon the Bruce.

Like a current insurance commercial, we got more.  MORE!  And then More!  We are not complaining.  It’s just that we couldn’t catch a rain for a really, really long time and then….

Now, it is like Sunday morning after prom night…..dang near everybody got some.

The “dry” pond is backed up into the corrals.  I’ve only seen it this high one other time in my life.  The kayak has been active.  Duke and I have both paddled amongst the tree tops.

Some of our cover crops will make.  Although, some of the mixture sprouted and droughted out.  But, I guess anything green and growing is good.  We’ll take it.

It looks like lots of people were in the market for doe kids tonight.  High $ doe kids.  Several firms have cultivated a doe kid market and it looks to me like that farming is paying off.  And for good reason.

I did see road signs blown over in the Seiling area.  Lots of generators have been in use in this part of the world.  We have been lucky.

7 come 11 is great in vegas but I ain’t sure what it means in this part of paradise.  Unless, we are talking rainfall totals.  Some got it, some not.  Have a good one.

Got some!  Rain that is.  .5″ on Wednesday, then .4″ Friday morning and then a full inch during Friday night to Saturday morning.  What does that mean?

We’ve got a chance to make some hay.  Tammy will have some lawn mowing to do.  There are feed troughs to be cleaned out.  And….

Rule of thumb for trimming hooves on goats.  Wait for a rain.  This one worked out real well.  That first rain on Wednesday worked to start softening hooves then another Friday morning.  That meant by Friday evening, Duke was catching bucks and I was trimming hooves.  Even if it doesn’t fit your schedule, one must make time to take advantage of soft hooves, especially on bucks.  This can make a 5 minute job per goat instead of a 15-30 minute job on dry, hard as stone hooves.  No sore hands or wrists, minimal back strain and almost no cuss words.  Wait, what?  Duke, goat hooves, myself and no cussing?  Yep, soft hooves makes it that easy of a job.

Here’s to green pastures and fields, soft hooves and one more thing off of the to-do list.  Have a good one.

WTH?   What’s that?  That is a family name for a somewhat common insect.  Lamp in the name should give it away.  Firefly, lightning bug or glowworm.  These creatures are of the family Lampyridae.  And actually, they are NOT a fly (order diptera),  nor are they a bug (order hemiptera), and they for sure aren’t a worm.   Lightning bugs or fireflies are part of the order coleoptera–a beetle.

I graduated college and did not know any of this. But because I had some students interested in the entomology contest back about 2003, I had to learn this stuff.  They should be a fire beetle or lightning beetle.  No matter what you call them, they are a cool insect.  All because of their bio-luminescence.  The whole “light” deal is awesome.

Tonight, after the sun had set, I sat on a table in the front yard.  NO WIND!  Yes!!!!   And we had a really nice 1/2″ of rain this morning.  Not enough, but better than yesterday.  I looked to the south of the house, down the draw that used to contain about 50 does.  Now, just 4, yes FOUR.  That was cool.  But the really cool part was all of the lightning bugs, fireflies or whatever you want to call them.

I sat there and realized that this is the first of the lightning bugs that I have seen this year.  I guess they need watered in order to grow.  Whatever.  All that I do know is that it was enjoyable sitting there, watching them fly and light up the evening.

Of course, it is always cool to hit one in a vehicle and have the smeared stain glowing on a windshield.

Redneck definition of bio-luminescence.  “There it was, just shining like a diamond in a goat’s butt.  That or smeared lightning bug guts on a windshield. ”

A decade or so ago.  Probably late 90s.  Maybe, 98 or 99.  I had a young female student walk into class.  She said, “Mr. Kelln, do you know what was the last thing that went through the bug’s brain when it hit the windshield?”

I replied, “No, I don’t.”

And she answered, “His ass!  Haaa!”

Great kid with great parents and I take great enjoyment knowing that she is now a teacher with several of her own kids.  I hadn’t thought of that story in awhile.  But seeing those lightning BEETLES tonight made me think of it.

Tomorrow probably isn’t going to be as good as today was. (today, we got some rain and no wind–that’s hard to beat in this part of paradise)  But, that only means that we will be one day closer to a really good day.  Peace out, brother….or sister.  Or whatever.