Let’s be honest. \u00a0I am a livestock junkie. \u00a0I really don’t care what species, I like it and have studied it. \u00a0Some more than others. \u00a0I can easily name a Mount Rushmore for all 4 species of show stock.<\/p>\n
Back in the 80’s, when I wasn’t reading the World Book Encyclopedia, I was studying magazines like the Purple Circle and Showbox. \u00a0Then the internet came along. \u00a0I have followed genetics for cattle, pigs, sheep and goats. \u00a0I’m not retarded when it comes to thoroughbred horses or cutting horses. \u00a0I know a good chicken when I see it. \u00a0I digress.<\/p>\n
Sometimes, regardless of species, one gets a chance to interact with a true livestock legend. \u00a0Some names just cross reference very easily. \u00a0And a lot of times they are tied to a specific breed.<\/p>\n
Since we had our Not Quite doe herd dispersal, I have been waiting for a true livestock legend to venture to Fargo, Ok. \u00a0He hadn’t been to our place before. \u00a0But, he had been to Fargo before. \u00a0And he bought a buck from us a couple of years ago. \u00a0I just met him on the interstate to make that delivery.<\/p>\n
When our sale closed, I noticed that he had bought a direct daughter and a grand-daughter of K9. \u00a0He did well. \u00a0Genetically and price-wise, he did real well. \u00a0He had asked if it was fine if they stayed here till mid July. \u00a0No problem. \u00a0It would be the end of June until one of them was ready to wean. \u00a0And YES, I was keeping the buck kids from that one.<\/p>\n
Today was the day that Mr. John Penner came to pick up his doe purchases. \u00a0Yes, the Hampshire hog king. \u00a0Very few people can be tied to a breed like the name Penner Hampshires. \u00a0This man made purebred Hampshire gilts famous for several decades. \u00a0Numerous name-brand boars were and are tied to him. \u00a0A true livestock legend–it might even be appropriate to use the term Icon (some will get it). \u00a0I had talked to him on the phone several times and met him before. \u00a0But, it is different when a legend is at your place.<\/p>\n
And then there is the rest of the story.<\/p>\n
Mr. Penner showed up today. \u00a0I was Kelly clipping buck prospects. \u00a0He looked at a few. \u00a0A pair of them were out of one of his purchases. \u00a0He was pleased. \u00a0I was pleased.<\/p>\n
He then asked, “Is that lot 14, tag B33 as good as she looked in her picture?”<\/p>\n
I said, “Better. But we have a situation with her.” \u00a0He then looked at me and you could tell that the wheels were spinning\u2026.Is she hurt? \u00a0Is she dead? \u00a0Did he sell her out from under me? \u00a0What in the heck?”<\/p>\n
\u00a0 \u00a0 A week after the sale, I remember thinking that B33 looked really good. \u00a0She has always been a damn good doe, but she looked really good. \u00a0Another week passed, and I was looking at her and thought, “Oh heck. \u00a0Is she bagging?” \u00a0 I sold her open. \u00a0She is sold to Nebraska. \u00a0They will need her ready to breed in July\/August. \u00a0The next week, there was no doubt that she was starting to bag. \u00a0In true Rainman\/K9 fashion, these girls don’t start bagging until 2 weeks out. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Do I call him? \u00a0Wait to see? \u00a0Yes, I know a buck got out and when. \u00a0If she kids around July 4-8, it is that buck. \u00a0Guess what? \u00a0July 4, she had a doe kid. \u00a0Out of Warthog.<\/p>\n I told him the situation and said that I will make it right. \u00a0He wanted to see Warthog. \u00a0Then we went to the pen with the does. \u00a0A six day old doe kid got up. \u00a0He pointed to it and asked if that was it. \u00a0 I said, “Yes.” \u00a0He then asked, “What do I owe?”<\/p>\n I replied, “Nothing. \u00a0But if you aren’t happy, I will make it right.”<\/p>\n He then said, “You mean I bought two does but I am going home with three?”<\/p>\n “Yes sir.”<\/p>\n 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. \u00a0I like it.”<\/p>\n We loaded the does. \u00a0Then he asked how far it was to Johnny File’s.<\/p>\n I said, “A mile and a half.”<\/p>\n He then said, “Call him and get him over here.”<\/p>\n I was ecstatic to get to call a good neighbor and tell him that John Penner was here waiting on him. \u00a0I gladly leaned on that pickup and listened to some new stories. \u00a0Stories about hampshire gilts, boars raised and sold, Poland boars (Rescue), bird dog pups, knee replacements and wheel chairs. \u00a0There was even a story that involved chicken wire.<\/p>\n I love raising good stock. \u00a0Regardless of species, some terminology just fits. \u00a0And when you can stand in a lot and discuss maternal characteristics, reproductive abilities \u00a0and the importance of keeping females middle of \u00a0the road\u2026..well, those of you that know me\u2026..<\/p>\n Some days are better than others. \u00a0 I hope your day was as good as mine.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Let’s be honest. \u00a0I am a livestock junkie. \u00a0I really don’t care what species, I like it and have studied it. \u00a0Some more than others. \u00a0I 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 […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/kellnlivestock.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2361"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/kellnlivestock.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/kellnlivestock.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/kellnlivestock.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/kellnlivestock.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2361"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/kellnlivestock.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2361\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2364,"href":"http:\/\/kellnlivestock.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2361\/revisions\/2364"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/kellnlivestock.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2361"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/kellnlivestock.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2361"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/kellnlivestock.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2361"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}