the pied piper and the red jacket

     The kids were working outside today raking leaves with Dad, when Jess went out and worked with the calves some. All the cows love to be scratched with the show stick and comb, so they began following Jess and trying to cut in on the others' turn. She looked like the Pied Piper with them trailing after her. Quizz is the only one that stayed away, but she did let Jess walk up to her and scratch her.

     In these photos, Jess is wearing my old, red jacket I won at the 1993 Polled Hereford Western Regionals for Champion Bred & Owned Heifer. I believe this show was held at Rogue River Ranch in Central Point, Oregon. It was the year I graduated high school, and my final year showing cattle. That award was what I considered my biggest cattle show accomplishment--to go out winning bred & owned at a regional show was pretty good for me.

Winterbrook Steer

new prospect steer #2

{PHOTO COMING SOON...}

On Thursday, October 6, the girls and I went out to Winterbrook Cattle Company in Canby to look at steers. We enjoyed meeting Trent & Lindsey Ricksger and Lindsey's dad, David Morgan. They were gracious in taking time to talk with us, answer questions, and show us their show cattle. We learned a lot visiting with them. We selected steer 1105, a March Maine-Angus paternal sibling to Jake McDonald's champion steer at this year's fair.

We hauled him home that Saturday, a week after bringing home the first steer. It was a nice surprise to see Jake out at Winterbrook when we picked up the steer. Jim & I were impressed with him as he took time to speak to each of the kids and ask them questions about their sports and things. It is nice for the kids to make connections with other 4-H beef members throughout the year, especially now that we are independent {not in a club}. Like at Rusher's sale, Jess helped tie, blow and brush the cattle with Cailee Martin and her sister, and Mitch Salo, as well as visit with some other 4-hers and parents from the county who came to the sale.

Jess & Andrew came to a quick decision that day about who gets which steer and named them. Andrew took the steer from 4R Ranch and named him 'Glacier', while Jess wanted both but got the Winterbrook steer. She named him 'Whistler'. The kids have been working with the calves; haltering, walking, brushing and handling them with the show stick. This newest steer halter broke quickly and is calm like the rest of our cattle. 

We penned the heifer calf on September 19 to separate her from her mama for weaning, and it worked out well to bring the new steers home and pen them in with her to get acclimated to the new surroundings before turning them out. We let the 3 calves out on Saturday, October 15, and watched them tear through the field. I should have filmed that because it was quite a display. So, weaning of the first calf born on our farm is complete. We now have a nice, balanced group of two blacks and two red roans out in the pasture that I love to look at every day. 

new prospect steer

We came home with Lot #13--a March 3rd Angus calf weighing 675. Jess picked him herself, and did a good job. He was the best steer in the bunch as commented by most in attendance. He carried the most depth and dimension, natural muscling and width over the top.

And yet, my favorite attribute is his temperament and that he is halter broke. We already have it good with Jess's calm showmanship heifer and don't need a flighty steer affecting her disposition. Speaking of our Shorty heifer calf, bringing this steer home shows us how big she has gotten. She has grown a lot in the month since state fair. She is just weaned now and about 3 inches taller at the hip, wider, longer and much thicker than the steer. We haven't weighed her, but she has to be around 750 when you compare her to the steer.

Andrew and Jess are both looking for steers this fall. We only wanted to buy one this weekend so that we would be able to keep shopping around. It will be fun to visit some more ranches and sales to view cattle. We'll wait to see who gets which steer until we get two home.

Introducing...JAC Cattle Company

The JAC in our ranch name stands for these three kids, each with their own expression of intensity, all now out in the same show ring this summer {2011 Oregon State Fair, OC Shorthorn Show} for the first time. Watch for these up-and-comers at future shows!   

J stands for Jessica, and "Judge, how do you like me now?"

A stands for Andrew, and "Anything but being beat by a girl."

C stands for Catherine, and "Can I show now? I can do it myself."

County Fair 2011