Some of my favorite books that I have ever read are by J.R.R. Tolkien. \u00a0The hobbit series, if you will. \u00a0I read those in the early 80s and loved them. \u00a0Then, they came out with the Peter Jackson directed movies. \u00a0Kela and I went to watch them and I was like “That dude read the exact same books that I read. \u00a0AWESOME!” \u00a0I still blame these movies on Kela being in California as she loves the production of tv\/movie AND she loves going on an adventure. \u00a0I still like the adventure.<\/p>\n
It is that time of year, at least in OK and TX, \u00a0when exhibitors, parents, ag teachers, breeders, etc. are making the final decisions for “their journey” in the goat showing world. \u00a0I have literally been down every path on the journey to show goats. \u00a0As a parent, as an ag teacher, as a friend, as a breeder, as a buyer, as a seller, as the coach\/jock, whatever\u2026.we’ve done it. \u00a0And I can tell you after 16 years of showing goats, there is not an exact RIGHT path. \u00a0It is different for everyone.<\/p>\n
There are those that are headed to San Angelo on Friday. \u00a0They know that it isn’t going to be cheap but they have decided to make the plunge. \u00a0Goals are set and decisions were made. \u00a0The great ones have been coming out of that sale and they are tired of getting beat. \u00a0Pick a #, they have made the decision to spend X amount and are making the drive while getting mentally prepared to cross that boundary if need be. \u00a0A beer or two might accelerate that decision on Friday night when the fever kicks in. \u00a0Fever–hunh?!–cramped quarters, good stock, cold beer, desire to get that magical one, loud and fast paced auctioneer–yes, that sale is named appropriately. \u00a0It’s called marketing.<\/p>\n
Then there are those that started this journey with goals AND a budget. \u00a0They might even have the champagne taste on a beer budget BUT they have an eye for livestock, so they stick to the budget, flip some rocks and try to find a couple that will work. \u00a0They might spend more on fuel, tires and time but they got their stock bought within range.<\/p>\n
This post is not necessarily about Chris Kelln or even the Kelln family. \u00a0It is basically an old, tired dude thinking about what is going on in other people’s minds this week as the biggest month of high $ goats gets ready to unfold. \u00a0 But I do have a lot of experience with this stuff.<\/p>\n
I remember what it was like chasing banners with Kela. \u00a0I remember buying my first Kelly goat in 2005. \u00a0I remember winning an OK State Fair wether banner in 2006 with a student (Makeitha Nance) with a $250 Kelly goat–not many with those bragging rights. \u00a0He was a paint, cheap and Fred Slater and I both wanted her to have that goat. \u00a0Our kids got beat but we did eat a \u00a0lot of shrimp and crawfish dinners as a result of that “other” kid win. \u00a0I would do that again\u2026.and have a history of doing so.<\/p>\n
I vividly remember helping Mikey Thompson and his step-son with goats. \u00a0They were doing well but Mikey and Tammy had mentally crossed the line and the journey changed. \u00a0It was time to win. \u00a0NOW! \u00a0I was the one about half sick when we left the Kelly ranch with the high seller in May 2009. \u00a0Ten years later and $14,000 is still a damn high dollar wether. \u00a0That wether dang neart died and was only shown twice. \u00a0Grand at the State Fair of OK and then OYE. \u00a0Then we bought the high seller at Powell\/Holman the next month. \u00a0 \u00a0He was only shown once–grand at Tulsa. \u00a0This isn’t bragging on my part. \u00a0They were and are great livestock people and Chance could show. \u00a0But, I watched as Mikey, fueled by momma, made the decision to WIN! \u00a0I get it. \u00a0The journey for that family is still going and going strong in the hog barns.<\/p>\n
I had a friend that used to talk a lot of shit about winning goat shows. \u00a0(still does) \u00a0Every year, I had to listen to this dude talk smack about how great his goats were and we didn’t have crap to beat them at the district. \u00a0AND then we would wipe the ring with them. \u00a0This continued for several years. \u00a0 Then, that dude had enough of getting his ass whipped. \u00a0His kids were turning into good showman. \u00a0He finally asked for help. \u00a0At that time, he was a tire kicker. \u00a0He turned into a rock flipper, then he graduated to whatever it takes. \u00a0Now, we have come full circle. \u00a0TravASS and the Schovanec clan have had a heckuva journey. \u00a0A grand at OYE, couple grands at Tulsa, reserves at OYE (3 times), state fairs, Denver, etc. \u00a0Cheap goats then good, cheap goats, then high dollar goats, then back to basics. \u00a0They have fed a high seller at a Pfeiffer sale, a Gallagher and other breeders. \u00a0Their best goats were found standing on top of rocks but at a decent price. \u00a0Those kids are some of the best showmen ever. TravASS is one of those that works best under the radar. \u00a0Is that possible for that family to be “under the radar”? \u00a0Yes, yes it is. \u00a0I haven’t bought a goat for them, so don’t try to read anything into this. \u00a0I’m just saying that they won’t be buying any top sellers in the near future. \u00a0But Carson will show something. \u00a0The Schovanec family has won but also helped others on their journey to win. \u00a0I enjoy watching the cycle continue.<\/p>\n
The Taylor family started their journey very similar to mine. \u00a0Keep it in a budget, work hard, show better and get better every year. \u00a0Bree did well. \u00a0Then better. \u00a0Then better still. \u00a0Then a string of winning divisions at Tulsa, then the Lone Star Elite, then a reserve at Woodward, then a couple of grand drives at OYE, a grand at Woodward. \u00a0Then decisions were made. \u00a0Looking back, this was an awkward time for me. \u00a0I had made the decision to leave a really good job. \u00a0They made the decision to WIN. \u00a0I then accidently became the ag teacher. \u00a0I’m sure the fact that Duke and Bree were in the same class didn’t help things.<\/p>\n
There were differences of opinions about this journey. \u00a0We finished our journey as friends\/ag teacher with a reserve grand at Tulsa, a grand at Phoenix and a premium sale at Woodward and OYE. \u00a0 Helluva run for one year! \u00a0Some would call that year a career. \u00a0They then moved to Kingfisher. \u00a0I told Bill, that girl will win national championships with the Burns. \u00a0I was right, several times. \u00a0Their journey continued with 3 limo rides and 2 grands at OYE. \u00a0Decisions were made and journeys continued down different paths. \u00a0I do not take credit but I do understand the dollars spent, work ethic and decisions that were made. \u00a0I don’t have to agree with everything for other families but I understand. \u00a0We aren’t close friends now, but I do feel that there is still respect between the families.<\/p>\n
I have watched, even advised, as others made decisions about their families’ journey in the goat show world. \u00a0Some of it makes me wince. \u00a0Some make me proud. \u00a0I think about the Rhodes and Comstock family and I dang neart get tears. \u00a0Yeah, that is bull. \u00a0I have tears at the corners. \u00a0The journey has been better for my family from dealing with those families. \u00a0There are others.<\/p>\n
I don’t know that any family chose the wrong journey. \u00a0To each their own. \u00a0If anybody chose poorly, it was probably me. At this time last year, I felt that many doors were closed to me. \u00a0Several of my normal buying places had changed or quality had fallen off. \u00a0Things just didn’t feel right with others. \u00a0So, we chose otherwise. \u00a0And when I say We, I mean Tammy, Duke and I. \u00a0We should have just cut some of our own stuff as it turned out. \u00a0As a result, we ended a stellar career on a not-so-stellar result. \u00a0My fault. \u00a0Duke dang sure did his part. \u00a0But, I learned valuable info as to how to direct others in the future when it comes time to spend a pile or not.<\/p>\n
I now find myself at crossroads on my own journey. \u00a0For the first time since 2003, I don’t have a goat order that I have to fill. \u00a0My choice. \u00a0Sure, a couple of student deals but not that serious, pound the pavement, flip rocks kind of deal. I’ve got excellent kids but they have to make that decision as to what their journey is going to be. \u00a0All of the kids that Tammy and I have helped have now graduated. \u00a0Thank GOD! \u00a0We have been blessed to deal with great kids and great families. \u00a0Truly the best. \u00a0(It ain’t bragging when you look at the track record and there was NO dirty pool on my part.) \u00a0But, this is the first time in 16 years that I do not have a target showman for winning a district show, state fair, OYE, Tulsa or whatever else\u2026doe or wether.<\/span><\/p>\n In 2014, when I quit a really good job, this was not what I had in mind. \u00a0However, it has strangely worked out for me. \u00a0Not planned by any means. \u00a0But good. \u00a0Very, very good. \u00a0Tammy is in an even better place.<\/p>\n It is no secret that I love kids showing stock and I love excellent livestock. \u00a0But, I am addicted to the journey that one makes while helping kids succeed while learning about livestock, life and all that goes with it. \u00a0Decisions have to be made and then you have to live with those decisions. \u00a0The lessons learned are more important than the results but\u2026\u2026. a banner damn sure validates a decision.<\/p>\n GOD speed to all as they head down the pavement to find that magical, mystical beast that fits their program. \u00a0Good luck and have fun.<\/p>\n Have a great one today and a better tomorrow.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Some of my favorite books that I have ever read are by J.R.R. Tolkien. \u00a0The hobbit series, if you will. \u00a0I read those in the early 80s and loved them. \u00a0Then, they came out with the Peter Jackson directed movies. \u00a0Kela and I went to watch them and I was […]<\/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\/2950"}],"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=2950"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"http:\/\/kellnlivestock.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2950\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2952,"href":"http:\/\/kellnlivestock.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2950\/revisions\/2952"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/kellnlivestock.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2950"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/kellnlivestock.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2950"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/kellnlivestock.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2950"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}