I didn’t mind the first text that called me “Controversial”.   But the 2nd one from a different # made me go WTH?!  I have yet to make time to see where the 602 area code is, and I don’t know the person (unnamed texts bother me) but it made me think.  How am I the most “controversial person” in the goat industry?  And by the way, both texts were very positive.

1–My kids have never “tested out” of any show, anywhere.  And we’ve had numerous species tested at numerous shows for many years.  (OYE, Tulsa, KC & Phoenix).

P.S.–Neither of my kids have ever shown at Denver.  Why?  Both for academic reasons.  The first one graduated from Fairview and took a very rigorous class load.  The current one doesn’t like academics which makes it hard to miss school.  Both kids will be successful in life, just down different roads.

2–I have never had to hire a lawyer to defend my kids at any show.  (I have had to pay a lawyer before, but not for this kind of crap.)

3–I have lost “friends” that wanted to play the dirty pool game.  And I have had strenuous times with current friends that wanted to push too hard.  I get it, I just don’t agree.

4–Have I ever had input on judges at shows?  Sometimes, I think that I was asked just to give me a sense that I had a say.  And sometimes I actually had input.  And Yes, I  have spent way more time fighting to keep crooked ones out than I have ever spent trying to get the “right” judge.  I have seen the camp fire where these “deals” are done, I just chose to walk away. ( I have to give credit to the “camp fire” quote to Fred Slater; circa 2008.)

5–I have NOT done everything right in life or in this game, but very few others have been perfect either.  Yes, I have been associated with things that weren’t right in the stock show game.  And that has galvanized Tammy and I as to how we approach a lot of this stuff with our own kids and those around us.

6–Me hitting publish on this post, or any other, does not hurt me.  Nor will it.  Will there be retaliation against Duke in the show ring?  I doubt it.  But, maybe.  But if so, it just proves me right.  My thoughts–it shouldn’t happen.  It won’t happen.  Are there people that would like to catch me in a dark alley?  Oh yeah!  But I relish the thought. (this would be an inherited trait)

How am I controversial?  I am NOT.  Opinionated–YES.  If you don’t like my opinion, then you would be wrong.  And, it gets worse when I’m not at a keyboard.  Controversial–NO!  I am not.  Confrontational–whenever needed and by all means.  The term you should use is Determined.  That’s it.  That’s all.  Well, some think that the term a-hole might also apply?!

There are a lot of things about this industry that are built on a house of cards.  Basically, this industry is a hobby to 99% of the people involved.  It would only take one wrong thing to bring this all down.  And all of you political/crooked jacks need to keep that in mind.

And 98.9% or better of the entire industry is EXACTLY what I want my kids to learn–the success, the failures, the communication, the marketing, the work ethics, the genetics, all of the above.  It is real life and I love it!  I love the kids, the animals (not the does, but all the rest), the friends, the competition, the learning, the work, the trials, the tribulations, the travels, the gambles, the sure things, the WTH was I thinking when I bought that one,  the months of worrying if that buck kid was the right one, the getting out bid and getting the winning bid (even when you are wondering WHY you got it bought so CHEAP?!) and hitting a wicked good restaurant with good friends while chasing good stock.

Sometimes, I worry about who is driving the bus, even if they have a CDL.  But, I am not worried about this deal.  There are a few that stink up the whole place.  But, for the rest, I am all in.  And that, my friends, is not controversial.  I just happen to be right!  Again!

Oh, I almost forgot.   Have a good one and a better tomorrow!  I’m going to.

This should be a short blog post, cuz I don’t know much.  Just ask the Dragon Lady.  But I do know that good goats will sell real good.

I do know that anybody that wants to ACTUALLY work at helping sell goats (washing, clipping, photoing, etc) will make money.  I can clip, photo, etc.  I DON’T want nor like to do it.  It is money well spent to hire good help.  Anytime you readers need help, do like Blondie and Call Me.  I will gladly help hook you up with people that will do it RIGHT. Of course, I am partial to our homegrown talent of Braden and Duke, but people, I have dealt with a lot of these, and will gladly help hook workers up with work to be done.  In some lines of business, this is called a pimp, except I ain’t getting nothing out of it.  Hopefully, some will repay me down the road.

I do know that good livestock people always sell stock.  Maybe not get rich kind of money, but make money and keep product moving.  Hope they get a good home and therefore a repeat buyer.  This smoke & mirrors crap that goes on just don’t work for me.  I do know that those sales that are BS kind of stuff (yeah, we covered it to 6 grand or whatever, but it didn’t change hands kind of deal NEVER pay off in the long run).  It doesn’t work for anybody.

The Banners and Backdrops sale went real well.  The top end of the does were WICKED!  And they sold real well.  Milligan’s Diana was an all time great.  She sold to Jan Rogers in Colorado.  The reserve doe was a product of Jason Barnes.  This little chick was WICKED AWESOME!  I know her new home and am happy for them.  Anybody that knows me, knows that I hate does.  And I don’t like spending money on does.  But even I was trying to get mentally geared up to spend some jack.  Luckily, other people were thinking harder than I was.

The bucks sold too cheap.  But, they all sold.  An Oregon phone buyer owned the grand buck.  These bucks will work. I sold one of them and bought a different one.  Both were too cheap.  But, it was real.  They actually changed owners.

The sale was real good.  It takes a lot of help to make these things roll right.  As always, Julie Milligan took care of the paperwork.  Bryan Kennedy, TravASS Schovanec, Tyke Greer, Shane Parli and Erick Ring made things roll.  The quail/fish dinner was AWESOME!!!!!!!!    Lots of kids worked liked sled dogs to help.  Big crowd.  This was a good sale that was REAL!  I would say it was REAL GOOD!

After 4 online sales and 1 live sale in a 2 week period, I can tell  you that here’s what I know……..There are a lot of really good people in this business.

I do enjoy meeting new people.  And people, I get to deal with some of the best.  I love to talk and share experiences with other breeders from across the U.S.   I love it when people want to talk and walk and look.  Dude, it ain’t about the money.  I can run my mouth with the best of them but I am real good at listening.  I do know that much.  And I learn from everybody that I encounter.  Thanks to all buyers and bidders.

There are a lot of people looking for honest help.  There a lot of people willing to spend hard earned money for good goats.  There are a lot of people willing to haul livestock across the county.  There is a strong market for good goats.  The market is flooded on yearling does unless they are wicked good.  There are a lot of people that are sick of dirty pool, getting screwed kind of deals.

Some of you big dogs need to clean this game up….breeders, jocks, judges, etc.  I can’t do it.   I just have a small, profitable 50+ plus head herd of goats.  I don’t have the influence to change the industry. Too many people are getting out of the game because they don’t feel like they have a chance.  Hell, I don’t have a chance, but we’re still at the tables because we are stubborn nor scared of the powers that be in this game.  Duke, Tammy and I are all in.  Don’t bet on us to WIN.  Bet you can dang sure make money on us to SHOW.  We are in it for the production of a stellar kid.  We’ve won more than most but not as much as some.  But our wins are clean and came with no regerts.  I meant no regrets.  ( that is a cool movie deal)   We are good with what our goals have been and are.  That’s what I know.

I know that I personally spend over $100K in this goat industry and have every year for many years.  I’m not talking in feed expenses.  I’m talking in buying actual goats.  I ain’t talking fake crap.  Those are cashed checks.  Ask my accountant. Breeding stock, wethers or doe kids.  I’m going to spend that every year, somewhere.  There isn’t very many more people in the industry that ACTUALLY spend that kind of money in this industry year in and year out.  And that ain’t counting the people that I help.  That is just my dumb ass writing checks.  And only one time did I ask a breeder to wait till next Wednesday to cash that check.   (I bought a buck prospect name Rumour Has It that weekend.)  I will not spend it on smoke and mirrors, politics or bullshit deals. I might buy the wrong one, but it will be my fault.  I will continue to spend this money with reputable breeders and will not spend it for politics, dirty pool or just trying to buy a banner.  I will spend it to help up & coming breeders become successful before I put it on a dirty pool table with a bunch of political mouth breathers that are taking orders from some ass clown that only plays when politics are in play.

This smoke and mirrors crap isn’t good for the industry.  If you are reading this and wondering if it applies to you,  then it probably does.  And if you don’t like it…I have 2 letters in the alphabet for you and the letters F & U come to my mind.  And I will gladly discuss my thoughts at anytime.  Just call me at 580-571-5029.  I will get lots of calls/texts/emails but it won’t be from the crooks.  They will be the ones having a lawyer reading this text to see if they can sue.  Good Luck!  I enjoy talking to lawyers.  Especially when the same party has to have two different lawyers.  My legal address is on the webpage.

I also know that too many people read this crap that I write.  Which means that I am probably right.

Have a good day and a better tomorrow.  I had a great day and am looking forward to the next day.

p.s. I know that I shouldn’t hit publish on this one but…. here it goes….

I have  stuff to write, but I don’t.  So, I kind of have a big zero.  Which makes me think about most of my quick stop situations.  I don’t eat a bunch of chocolate.  I like a Reese’s and on occasion a Snickers.  A Reese’s Easter egg is wicked awesome.  Peanut M&Ms are good.  But one of my favorite candy bars is a Zero bar.

I do not know what they are made from–zero something.  I only eat them once,twice or three times a month.  More so in the months of May through September.  The Zero candy bar was introduced in 1920.  It is a candy bar composed of a combination of caramel, peanut and almond nougat covered with a layer of white fudge.  I am still unsure what nougat is, but I guess that is where naughahyde comes from?!

I know that I am not the only one that eats a Zero bar as every store seems to stock them.  However, when was the last time that you saw a Zero bar commercial?  That either means that sales are good or they don’t care?!  IDK!?

I’ve got nothing else.

I hope your Friday was gooder than mine.  Other than the wind, mine was a plenty Good Friday.  And once I stopped and thought about the reason that it is called Good Friday–the wind didn’t seem to matter and the day got real good.

We all need to be thankful for sacrifices made by others for us.  Some were obviously bigger than others.

What else needs to be said?

There was a reason that E.M. Tiffany wrote the line “the joys and discomforts of agricultural life”.  We all have seen it.  Drought, blizzards, fire, disease and death are all part of the discomforts.  Birth, growth, sales and genetic match ups that worked are all part of the joys.

The buck sale was an absolute joy.  Sure, it went well money wise.  But better yet was the # of people that found their way to Fargo, OK to look at this set.  Or they sent people here to look.    Or even better, the livestock legends that trusted the pictures,  what was written and said about the animals.  Even if they don’t like online sales.  I admire the trust.

All that came saw every goat.  Nothing held back.  Some will say that I saved the best one for the Banners and Backdrops.  Others will disagree.  But they saw them all in their natural environment.  These goats were forged from wicked mothers, proven fathers and they dealt with heat, cold, ice storms, smoke and the ever present NW OK wind.  Several withstood strong offers to have their nuts banded.  

I had wonderful phone calls from previous buyers and the success of their goat sales from bucks in last year’s sale.  I love those kind of calls.  

Those that truly know me and Tammy, truly understand that it is not about the money.  Sure, it takes a pile of money just to raise a set of yearling bucks.  Over $3,000 in washing, clipping and photoing this set–money spent in one day.  Over $3,000 in feed from last July to now.  Plus commission. Then figure in the hoof trimming, time filling feeders, etc., etc., etc.  Plus the cost of the genetics assembled that made them.  Add in over a decade of doing this.  All worthwhile for us to meet new people.  Sell 9 goats to 8 different states.  California to Maryland.  Literally coast to coast.  Some of the biggest, best known breeders in the business to new breeders that only have 7 does.  And others wanting to take the next step. 

And those of you, regardless of species, that sell online will understand the joys and discomforts of the pickups, deliveries and making connections with trailers to all these other places.  But, I chose this and I love it.

To top it off, it is getting late tonight, but it is still early.  We have first timers kidding.  One has popped out twins–buck kids (YESSS!!  Law & Order x Dirty Rain).  Another is waiting.  While another is cleaning kids–a BIG son-of-a-gun that I had to pull. (I knew that he wouldn’t make it)–discomforts.  But, he is ALIVE! (joys–so far).

Thanks to all that have helped along the way.  Even if I wrote a check for the help.  It was appreciated.

Simply put, I appreciate, get pissed at, love and abhor the joys and discomforts that are associated in the agriculture business.  But nonetheless, I thank each and everyone of you that called, came to look, sent somebody to look, bid or bought on this buck sale.  Or for that matter, the semen sale(s).  Sincerely, THANK YOU!

And as much as I like the buyers, bidders, lookers, friends and helpers, none of it adds up to the fact that this was a project started by Kela, built by Tammy and I and continued with Duke.  Now, there are your true Joys and Discomforts.  (and I am real sure that all 3 would rank me in the Discomfort side).

Thank you and have a wonderful tomorrow.

I haven’t been able to find my way to the keyboard for several days.  It has been a sunrise to past sunset kind of week.  Good, yes.  But, nonetheless, it has been hectic.

I did have a birthday during all of this activity.  Thanks to all that texted, facebooked or whatever else.  I apologize if I didn’t respond as my phone has not been able to keep up.  Thank you.

I loved the birthday card that had the Dragon Lady, Kela and Duke on the front.  Sure, it had a comment about my salt and peppa colored hair.  True.  But, I did belly laugh at the pic on the inside.  I laughed especially hard at the thought of some OLDer than me dude, at a keyboard, cutting and pasting my face on to Manilla Gorilla’s face shot with the Doo Whop hairdo.  Awesome!  And as good as the card is, well, it ain’t as smooth as the rest of the package.  Well done, my friend!

I have been awestruck with the traffic that has found their way to Fargo, Ok to look at these bucks.  I have no problem discussing these critters on the phone, but it is always good when people can get their hands on them and see how they stack up to their pictures.  Thank you to all that have called or traveled to see these dudes.

Since OYE got done, James Sweet and I have been talking about clipping and photoing yearling does for an online sale.  We have both been hooked up and it hasn’t happened.  Till now.  Luckily, Robbie Sanders and his boys were available to come west and clip.  Money well spent.  Those guys do good work.  Duke kept the camera clicking, Tyler and Coleman got em washed, blowed and clipped.  And the old man kept those clippers running from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm.  Sixteen head later, we had them done.  Some might say that I spent more than I should have…NOPE!  I don’t care what industry you are in.   Pay to get good help.  We got great help.  Give us a day or two and the photos will be up on oklahomashowgoats.com.  And, there is a Sweet doe kid that Sweet is bringing to the Banners and Backdrops sale.  I guess if I was to describe her, I would say that she is Sweet.

There is a really good set of yearling doe kids that will be offered in the next week or so.  And, we photoed some broke2show wethers.  Way good set of goats that need to continue their show career.  We have offered a few the past couple of years.  One was grand at Ft. Smith in ’15 and another was 5th overall at the South Dakota State Fair in ’16.  Not exactly leftover crap.  This set is better.  If you are needing a damn good wether for a May to October show, these are wicked good.

Doo Whop!  RUSM!?  Way good.  Have a good one.

Some people are tougher than others.  I like to think that I am.  But, there are times, when I am aware that I’m not.

I do not want to complain about it being wet and muddy around paradise.  But, wet, cold, kind-of-windy and muddy are not conducive to the goat industry.  Which is exactly the way it has been around here.

We had a scheduled stop from some goat hunters from the Eastern seaboard.  The weather wasn’t right for the looking.  It was raining, cold and windier than one would want it to be.  Of course, our goats can stay dry but it isn’t optimum for looking at stock.

I do admire a guy that can cross rivulets and wade through some mud to look at livestock. Even in ostrich boots.  Some never complained.  Others just wondered if the wind always blows like this.  Nah…this ain’t bad.  I enjoy it when the tough get going.  If you like an animal when the weather ain’t right, they almost always get way better looking in the sunlight.

Another crew showed up and we needed to go back through the goats.  As we did, I noticed that somebody was missing.  When I got done, I headed into the house.  I asked our youngest son, “Dude, where did you go?”   He replied, “I was good the first time through.  But, I had no desire to look at the same goats twice in this crap.  I figured if you needed me, I’d hear about it.”

I have enjoyed all of the visitors, all of the calls and most of the texts regarding the upcoming buck sale on oklahomashowgoats.com.  Somebody will be around all weekend if you want to look.  Just give us a holler and we will make it work.  Thank you and have a wonderful day.

Tonight is the culmination of the NCAA basketball season(s).  The women finished their tourney Sunday with South Carolina winning that title.  Tonight, UNC and Gonzaga are squaring off to decide this title tilt.  On the NBA front, Russell Westbrook is headed towards the history books in the triple-double department.

The Dragon Lady was a wicked guard for the Arnett Lady Wildcats.  Those were the days of 6-on-6 girls basketball.  I didn’t like the game but I enjoyed watching those girls play.  Lots of state tournament games in the big house for those girls.  Brother Jake was good.  His wife played at NWOSU.  Their kids love basketball.

Kela wasn’t a bad basketball player.  So, when she was in grade school, I bought a fold up basketball goal that we had in the big barn at The Swamp.  She could shoot year-round.  Of course, this goal could be lowered to “dunking” level.  It got retarded a time or two.  I distinctly remember an “Air Micotil” label for one of the cattle guys that hung out around Waynoka at that time.  Ironically, he now lives in the Fargo neighborhood.  I’m real sure that the only “Air” involved with us old farts and this goal at this time, would be some oxygen to keep us going.

I should have sold this basketball goal when Duke was about 6 or 7 years old.  He was on a Fairview team that played in the Enid youth league.  We knew early on that Duke was not going to play in the NBA or…..anywhere, for that matter.   However, during one of these youth league games, the coach asked Duke if he was ready to go in the game.  Duke looked at the coach and said, “No.  I’m good watching the game from here.”   I appreciate his honesty.  He hasn’t changed.  His mom can watch basketball, year round.  Me…tell me if Okie State won or not.  Duke….Hunh?!  What do they have that’s good at the concession stand?

And now, Duke and I have this basketball goal loaded on a trailer with some other good stuff.  We are taking these treasures to a consignment auction that sells this saturday.  It is still a good goal.  It’s just that it isn’t a goal for either of us.  We all need to set goals and to work towards those goals.

Speaking of goals…..I hope that you can have a great day and a better tomorrow.  I ain’t perfect but it ain’t all bad around here.

I meant to post something about this several weeks ago, but I flat-ass forgot.  During OYE, I was making the rounds selling Okie Coalition buttons for $20.  I got $20 out of Lee Vanderwork, who immediately told me to get $20 out for another good cause.  He said that I needed to watch a Facebook video.  “How long is it?”, I asked.  He said it was just 4 or 5 minutes.  I handed him $20 and kind of rolled my eyes.  As the video started, the narrator threw out some names that I recognized.  Then, I thought, maybe this deal is legit.  Then I realized it wasn’t real, but DANG the story was good.

Here’s the deal.  Monte Tucker of Sweetwater, Ok made a video about a raffle to raise money for fuel in these semis hauling donated hay to the fire afflicted ranchers.  $20 ticket.  It is the Western Oklahoma Plow Mule raffle.  Excellent video and even better if you know the names mentioned in it.  My favorite is the old boy that put the mule up for collateral at Farm Credit and then lost the mule on a feeder pig deal gone bad.  I also liked the corn mixing with sugar bit.  Of course, Allison Jett donating it to the Harper County jam and jelly auction with Tom Fanning buying it thinking that he was bidding on an oil lamp was pretty good as well.

Years ago, I saw an email about a guy that bought a mule, but the mule died before he picked it up.  He went ahead and took it and sold raffle tickets on it.  Anyways, the dude later became the head of Enron.  See if you can find that on the internet.  It is a good story.

Seriously, check out this Western Oklahoma Plow Mule video.  Google it.  Watch it.  Send some money.  Even if the drawing is April 1, it doesn’t matter.  The best you can do is win your $20 back and there ain’t nobody going to take that $20 back.  And it is going to a good cause.  Besides, it is what we do as agriculturists–we help each other when needed.

Have a good one today.  Have a better one tomorrow.  We got almost 2″ of rain in the past 36 hours.  I ain’t bragging.  I’m just saying, I like it.

Finally we have the sound, smell and actual feel of rain.  It even thundered off and on this fine day.  It hasn’t came heavy yet, but it is coming down. We have needed a rain since July, as have others.  Sure we caught some moisture with the ice storm but c’mon.  This is way better than moisture combined with downed trees and no power.  More importantly, the TX, OK and KS counties that were fire-swept really, really needed a rain to help heal up.  Prayers have been answered.  Mother Nature won’t leave the Earth scarred for long.

I cleaned feeder troughs with a smile ( maybe it was more of a smirk).  Of course, in a few days, I could get sick of this as well.  I was cold and wet.  Some of the goats were as well.  But that isn’t my fault as some does allow themselves to be pushed out of the barns and sheds by other goats.

It is a known fact that I dislike does and their behavior.  But, in reality, the show ring is kind of like a doe herd.  You can get run out by cheaters, politics, money and the other crap that goes on by the minority.  Or you can do your job, stay the course and not let that crap deter you from your goals.

Our goal at Kelln Livestock is to raise champion kids and to help others do the same.  I will gladly brag that Tammy and I have done this very well.  As have others.  When there is a skid-mark in the game, we use these problems to discuss the problem and relate it to the real world.  Everyone of us has made mistakes in the real world, myself included.  And when you do, step up, own it, learn from it.  Some will read this and say “Well, his kids haven’t won.”  Alright.  That is fine.  My kids have won more than most and not as much as a few.  But, my kids are winning at a bigger game.  Excuse?  Sure!  Use that however you need to.

We probably need a fresh rain in the show ring.  A rain that drowns the stench of foul play.  A rain that helps us remember what this program is supposed to be about.  Just a good old fashioned cleansing.  Judges need to remember that integrity is a key word.  Breeders and jocks need reminded that yes, you should want to win but not at the expense of others.  Feed companies need to be happy that people chose to buy their feed, not pushing agendas.  Show managers need to be mindful.

Most importantly, parents need to step back and remember to be parents, first and foremost.  No, I don’t want participation trophies.  I want kids to learn that others work just as hard.  I want kids to understand that not all judges, referees & umpires are crooked.  I want kids to respect hard work and other factors that contribute to success.  I want kids to learn that life isn’t always fair.  I want kids to learn to show out of the sift line/pen.  I want kids that stand reserve grand to look at the grand and go “Dang, that is a good one!  I don’t mind getting beat by that one.”  Then go back to the pen and be disappointed (but not mad) that they didn’t reach their goal of winning it all.  I want kids to want to do better next year, next show, next event…for the rest of their lives.  Heck, (yeah, that is a word that I normally use) I want to strive to do better..constantly.  I want parents to do the same.

And as I have written before, if any of this offends you, I will gladly discuss it with you and explain where you are wrong. Or just sue me.  I would gladly relish the opportunity.  I write this with no one person in mind, BUT if at any point that you have to wonder if I mean you, it probably does.

Have a good one and a better tomorrow.  Or if you disagree with me on this topic, in the words of Rusty Thomas,   GET BENT!

I’m in a happy place.  Moisture in the ground and a pot pie for supper.  Yes, it has cooled down to where I can eat it.