Today is move-in day for Hereford breeders as they begin the setup of stalls on The Hill. As is normally the case the move-in is dependant on the move-out of someone else. Since the Red Angus show went long their move out was delayed. What happens is best described as organized chaos – take a few hundred exhibitors; add a dozen loading doors and pickups with trailers full of tack and equipment. The security folks try to keep everyone moving along but it is a process. Patience is a great virtue here as folks are lined up sometimes for hours to get to the doors. With temperatures greeting us this morning in the single digits being in line in the pickup is not necessarily a bad thing…we had a number of volunteers for the duty this morning.
As mentioned daily the weather is frigid today but the bright, sunny skies do make a big difference in the perceived temperature. The high today is to climb to a balmy 25 degrees with bright sun and calm breezes. The warmup is still on track and they are calling for mid 40’s to 52 degrees for Thursday and Friday. That should bring lots of folks out to the National Western complex, giving a great opportunity to showcase Hereford cattle.
The other day I mentioned that Mallorie Phelps and her team were competing in the National Meat Judging Contest …well compete they did – all the way to National Champions!!! Mallorie was 2nd high Individual of all competitors; with her team placing four individuals in the Top 10. Congrats Mal to you and your teammates. May your winning ways continue with your Star Lake heifers.
As we prepare to move cattle up to The Hill there are a few females that the ranch is showing that are looking mighty fine. STAR KKH SSF Keyshona 25W ET is making a return trip to Denver after a Division win last year. Keysto Stotz will be showing STAR MKS B’Yond Belief 32X ET in the Junior and Open shows. The entire Stotz family is making the trip to the National Western this year. The final heifer in the showstring is STAR BSP Forever & Evr 287X ET, a very nice March heifer we own with Sadie Prather. Sadie is bringing Brad, Sherri, Grandma & Grandpa Prather to join Grandpa Montie and Grandma Rhonda for her party in Denver.
Our on The Hill bulls are looking superb. We are as pleased with this group of herd sires as any we have brought. In answer to many email questions – yes Shock & Awe is here and he is looking the part. I will write more of an update on him later. Paul Bates and his crew from Buffalo Bend Farm in Tennessee are a co-owner on Shock & Awe with us and Tennessee River Music. The Buffalo Bend crew will be arriving in Denver tomorrow. Another bull that is getting a lot of attention is an exceptional April calf, STAR Legendary Details 319X. He is a Legacy son out of Dominette P200. We are very excited about this youngster’s future and are offering a fractional ownership interest for sale. Unfortunately don’t have any pictures or video to post yet…hope to have some Thursday at the backdrop.
Tonight is the Hereford Herdsman Social at 6 pm in the arena in the Yards. This event has grown over the years to be the primary fundraiser for the Herdsman Scholarship Fund. Over the past six years nearly $10,000 has been awarded in scholarships to deserving Hereford youth. The funds raised are based on free will donations made by those attending. We have prepared over six roasters of our infamous Cowboy Beans that will compliment the baked potatoes and beverages from AHA. With the cold weather blanketing the country, Cowboy Beans make a great comfort food. Find the recipe elsewhere on our website.
More profiles on our outstanding crew…..Talked this morning with Brad Prather, who with Dustin Dillman and Larry Nunley are tending the cattle at the Ranch in Oklahoma. Brad reports it is cold there as well and we are now numbering over 40 on the 2011 model calves. Early reports are that the Shock & Awe babies are very, very nice. Karen Beegley is holding down the office and since Montie & Max got to Denver last night she is sure to be getting alot done without interuption. Todd Herman is judging the National Limousin Show today on The Hill. My wife, Debbie and son Jon arrive taday. With Jon on site you can expect alot more pictures and less words with the blog.
Until tomorrows report….happy trails!
Come visit us in The Yards!
Head to the Star Lake website for my dads daily updates starlakeherefords.com
Thank you for posting such a useful, impressive and a wicked article./Wow.. looking good!
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