February 2007
“To acquire knowledge, one must study, but to acquire wisdom, one must observe.” - Marilyn vos Savant

Wednesday 2/28 – The Calf Fry was a bug success last night. Nearly 500 people attended and the meal was great. Matt and all the parent volunteers ran a very smooth event – great silent auctions and raffles thanks to generous donations from the community and Mark Bethel’s management. The student auction went very well too. The total for the evening was $21,600.00 to support Claremore FFA for the next year.

Tuesday 2/27 - Erica and the kids left early this am to drop off Bryce and Crystal’s steers plus the three spring born heifers in our barn (Mimi, Baby Ruth and Alice) and Twinkie (from Brian’s) to the Will Rogers Classic Livestock Judging contest this morning. The Calf-Fry is tonight so it will be a busy day for the Claremore FFA kids.

Monday 2/26 - Okay so I got a speeding ticket the other day…..it was near a newly posted speed change east of town where the High-po’s have been camped out for the last week or so….really…..I hardly ever go anywhere so didn’t know the change had been posted…really – did not know…even my son-in-law backs me up about the recent change. Anyway I gripped about the steep fine and mailed it in and then had to smile as I was reading the receipt I got back from the County Clerk.  Check this out – out of a $199.90 ticket $9 was a penalty and $20 was a fine and then ALL of the rest of that amount went to fees and assessments that support everything from the Law Library to the Patrol Vehicle Revolving Fund to Forensic Science Improvement to the Health/Trauma Fund to the Sheriff’s Court House Security Fee. Heck – if I had known I was fixing to do so much good in the community I would have been much more cheerful as I wrote that check!

Sunday 2/25 - Two days of the Will Rogers Classic has me worn out. We had a great show and were pleased that so many folks came to participate. Thanks to all of you who came and made the show a good one. Our dates are right in the middle of a busy time in Oklahoma so we are always appreciative of a good crowd. We had two rings on Saturday and 2 rings on Sunday with about 200 entries per day so it was a good show. The quality of the steers and heifers was super – very good competition and all four judges remarked that the kids in OK are certainly pulling good ones. The Rogers County crew of volunteers – as always- did a great job and put in many long hours to host the show. Our facility is really a good one and over the years the crew has figured out how to get the most from it – everything from being able to drive through the barn to unload, offering help with loading and unloading thanks to the Thunderbird Academy cadets and offering two days of fit once- show twice. Thanks to the judges – Ryan Rash, Brent Poe, John DeClerk and Blake Bloomberg for coming and sorting the cattle too. Bryce and his steer, Gus were Reserve Breed Champion in both rings on Day One and Breed Champion in both rings on Day Two. Congrats to all the kids on a job well done with their cattle!

Friday 2/23 - Our Spring County Fair was today – it’s not our Premium Sale fair so a little smaller than the fall fair, but fun none the less. Our judge, Ryan Rash, did a super job of working with the kids throughout the day and offered great comments and coaching as he went along so the experience for the kids was very good. Everyone with the show and the parents in our county really appreciated how he worked with the kids throughout the day. Bryce and Crystal both showed their steers and had a good day both in the show and in Showmanship. Looks like the Stierwalt Clinic and the showmanship practice Erica made them do this week paid off as both did excellent jobs presenting their steers! Crystal is slowly coming to the opinion that Jerry might be a cool steer someday and thus I am trying to convince her to call him Jerry the Jaguar rather than Eeyore. Remember how the Kevin Bacon character in the Beauty Shop movie says Jaguar……hag-u-are?

Thursday  2/22 -  Erica had a live feed from the Anna Nicole hearing playing on one of the computers today – like watching a train wreck – you can’t take your eyes off of it no matter how absurd the whole thing got. Melissa was watching at her house too – so the calls and e-mails back and forth were funny as the day progressed.  I just have to say – the judge crying and all was really over the top. Spent the evening getting ready for the Will Rogers Classic, went to the District OCA meeting and saw lots of folks.  Had dinner with Brandi and Cas. Brandi and I are both excited about upcoming additions to the Tulsa State Fair – the new Prospect Steer Show, which is a joint venture between TSF and OCCA, will be fun and a great opportunity for the kids to bring their prospects to Tulsa along with their Market Steers. Since the new barns offer so much more space we’re looking forward to the addition. DVR’d Grey’s Anatomy and stayed up late to watch – couldn’t wait till tomorrow to see how it all ended.  

Wednesday 2/22 - Rick Hartz called to say Beacon Hill Carmella was named Supreme Heifer at the Noble County Fair  - Congrats to Dillon on a great job! Best of luck at your District Show next week.

Sunday 2/18 - Rox and Mark came for the weekend, the kids had a barn party – washed everything and  clipped for the Hartz’s on Saturday. They report that they saw Kara and Miss Kitty (one of the puppies) Friday – Rox says Kitty is a ball of fire and growing. We saw Gina renamed Kat at Melissa and Larry’s this week and she too is growing and rambunctious. We went out for Mark’s Birthday dinner in Pryor Creek America on Saturday. Rich, Rox and Mark went to the farm this morning, but not until Rox made cheesy grits for everyone first. Mark’s introduction to grits not sure he loved them but he didn’t spit them out either so that’s a good sign. Rox sorted through the fall-borns and likes the two heifers we figured she would. Erica clipped with Brian today. Everybody is getting ready for the Will Rogers Classic around here. We were very pleased that Brian selected Beacon Hill Twinkie for his son Brock today. We delivered her this afternoon and sure hope she will be a good show heifer for him.

Friday 2/16 - The Three Chicks crew went to dinner tonight (Melissa & Larry, Erica & Matt, Me & Richard and our guests Lyle & Rae). Had fun after a busy week and discussed world affairs – including ALL there is to know about Anna Nicole ….just ask Melissa she is all up to date on that saga. In fact, Larry is considering writing in to say, he too, may be the Daddy just to see what would happen.

Thursday 2/15 - We sold three fall-born show steer prospects this evening – all are Texas bound. One Herf (McDreamy) and two blacks. Looked through the pen and marked down two potential show heifers for Rox – yep that’s what she needs more cattle on feed….but they are little babies so it will be a while.

Wednesday 2/14 - Rox called to say she had received and invitation to join The National Society of Collegiate Scholars or as Erica calls it another one of those “smart people clubs” All in jest though, as we are all so proud of her and her academic accomplishments – OSU Honors College too.  Doesn’t change the fact that she called home twice a day last semester to gripe that she could not get her internet to work until Erica and I called the OSU internet people and 3-wayed Rox in on the call so Erica (staff member, remember?) could facilitate the request for an appointment and description of the problem.

Monday 2/12 – Lots of calls coming in from Calftrader (www.calftrader.com). Folks are starting to find it and list cattle – sales have resulted as well so things are moving along. With the weather lately we are hoping to soon have some nice days when folks can get fall born calves clipped and photographed.

Saturday 2/9 – Crys Black texted me with the news that Brody showed at the SE District show today and Beacon Hill Lexi was the Champion Hereford Heifer. Congrats Brody!!!! I took Bryce and Crystal over to Pryor for Kirk Stierwalt’s Cattle Clinic today and Richard went back to get them. They took Crystal’s steer who was a bull not too long ago and still has what we call “air fresheners” hanging under him…..he was surely the stinkiest calf in the barn! Matt was in Stillwater with the Horse Judging team.

Friday 2/8 – Bella made a trip to Ellen’s house this week to be bred. AI’d to a white bulldog named Import see www.bulldogsoftimberridge.com If she settled to the AI, she’ll be due April 10th – thankfully the pen and equipment we got for Ginger’s babies will be useful for this litter as well. Speaking of dogs, I contacted Cheryl Early (where I got Ginger) and have spoken for the first choice female out of her next litter so I will then have two Corgi females soon.  I have been so incredibly pleased with Ginger that it made sense to go back to Cheryl for another female see www.earlypawprints.com The next litter is Sammi x Cooper.  We need another dog to keep track of and discipline the cats – what Richard calls “cat ranching”. 

Thursday 2/7 – Talked to Rox today and she is having a good time working at the Beef Barn. She’ll be home for her first National Guard drill this weekend. She is in a gin-fizz about getting her ducks in a row with scholarships for school etc. I have been tasked with being her admin assistant this week to track and confirm incoming funds. Rox is like her Daddy ---- born to have a staff of folks carrying out her directions. Erica and I have warned Rox’s friend Mark on several occasions that he will be drafted into being a staff member right along with me and Erica J …. He doesn’t seem too bothered.

Tuesday 2/6 - Traveled to the Oklahoma Assoc. of Fairs & Festivals this evening with Lyle, Michelle, and Rick from OCCA and Mark, Bob and Ron from Rogers Co. Fair Board. Meetings tomorrow – looking forward to learning.

Monday 2/5 - Working this evening on getting details squared away for the Will Rogers Classic scheduled for Feb 24-25.  Also working on the OCCA Beef Expo scheduled for April 27-29. I have been getting the flyers ready for the OCCA web site (www.oklahomaclubcalfassociation.com) ribbons & prizes ordered and other details and arrangements in order.

Sunday 2/4 - Everybody went to the Poor Boy in Kellyville today but me – I was not feeling too good so stayed home but understand Dillon Hartz did a good job showing Beacon Hill Carmella on his first time out with her – Reserve Breed Champion Limousin heifer with a baby girl like her is a good thing! Brody Black had Breed Champion Hereford heifer with Beacon Hill Lexi too – so it was a good day for the boys and our girls.