Dexter Year in Review - Part 3

I guess I'd better finish this up before I'm another year behind!  Our last show in 2014 was the Utah State Fair.  Our unofficial count for the show was 72 Dexters, and let me tell you, that's a big show.

We nearly didn't make it there.  Moosters was plagued by events that will make this the "never to be forgotten" show.  The trailer was loaded, the truck was nearly loaded and it was the wee hours of the morning:  ugh, both sets of keys just got locked in the cab.  No problem, we'll just call On Star since we still have our free trial with them.  After an hour of trying, On Star finally tells us that we are apparently not within range of their services at our home, so they'll just call out a locksmith for us at no charge.  Apparently no one explained rural living to On Star.  The earliest that they can find someone is tomorrow.

Several hours later, after a valiant try from a local locksmith and a promise of a replacement window waiting for us in Cheyenne by our wonderful truck dealer (just in case our only solution was to break the window), Chris was able to scratch his way in with a coat hanger and pull the door handle open.  Whew.  Finally on our way.  We arrive quite late (for us anyway), get the cattle settled in, stop for a bite of dinner (we swore we'd remember to feed Calli this trip!), and off to our hotel at about midnight.

Not what we were expecting at the end of a long day!

Long story short, here's what we found.  No housekeeping, no keys held by the hotel staff to housekeeping stores and no other room to be had at the entire place.  We drag ourselves and our stuff back into the truck and move to another hotel 20 minutes away.  By that time, Chris' "I don't feel that great" has turned into full blown flu and we all collapse for a few hours sleep.

Calli and I leave Chris behind in the hotel to sleep the day away because he is truly sick (and must be because he NEVER says he doesn't feel good).  We are thankful to our Dexter friends who help us get multiple animals fed, washed, clipped and ready for display (and kindly kept our poop scooped as well!).

By show day, Chris felt better and we were back in business.  We had some great seminars and are really building up the Youth Program there:

The Pee Wees did a phenomenal job!  These little folks are the future of our breed -- what a great experience for them all.

Great show (long show), lots of folks there to watch, lots of folks through the barn to talk about Dexters and lots of exhausted but happy show folks.  Tired Dexters:

We didn't make it to the Missouri Dexter Show in the fall; winter was upon us (almost) and we still had some major projects to get finished before the cold and snow arrived.  This is another great show with extremely high quality animals from all over the country.  We were so disappointed that we couldn't spare the week to attend, but taking care of business at home had to come first this year.

Our new corrals did get finished in time, complete with water lines and a new three sided shed with lights.  The last load of hay arrived and we were all set for the deep freeze of Winter.

On to the New Year at last!

Dexter Year in Review Part 2

In an attempt to make up for the distinct lack of blogging last year, here is a bit more catch up!

Shows:

Nationals in Texas.  The 2014 AGM was held in June and it was great fun for us to actually get to sit and watch and learn.  It was a long ride to Texas with some good friends, but we are sure glad that we didn't try to take animals that far.  This year's judge was just great as he not only placed the animals, but made lots of educational commentary on why he placed the animals where he did.  He took the time to talk to the juniors as well.  All in all, some very nice animals and a great learning experience.

Wyoming State Fair.  The beginning of a fast and furious show season.  This show is near and dear to us - literally.  The State Fair is held in Douglas, a nice little town that has been somewhat overrun by "gas and oil."  For those of us hoping for lodging, it was a bit of a nightmare.  Several us of managed to score the last rooms in town and although we expected that they wouldn't be the Four Seasons, nothing could really prepare us for the true meaning of a one star hotel!  Stories will be told for years......

The show was awesome.  Dexters from three states and five breeders.  As usual, Calli did an awesome job helping us getting our Dexters ready as well as her own.  She shines in the show ring!  We love the friendly competition and camaraderie.  Clean aisles, loaned equipment, and willingness to step in with a helping hand go a long way to making Dexters stand out as a show group.  We had so many positive comments and plenty of interested folks in the stands to watch our little cattle strut their stuff.  Can't wait for next year.

A very quick turnaround and we were off to the Nebraska State Fair.

It's a known fact that our cattle always look better than we do!  Looking back, I see that stubborn cowlick on the left side.  I'm sure it brushed out!

The girls are ready to show and Moosters Gidget brings home the Rosette!  Did I mention that one of the things I love most about showing in Nebraska is the air conditioned show arena?  Ahhhh.

And never let it be said that we don't have a bit of fun while we are at it!

Year in Review - Part 1

2014 was a "B" year for tattoos and we are quite certain that "B" also stands for Bull because we sure had a lot of them!

Here are the statistics for the year and a bit of commentary:

Total born on the Ranch:     17
Bulls                                   11
Heifers                                 6
Black                                   6
Red                                    11
Polled                                 14
Horned                                 3

13 of the calves belonged to 'Dance.  He sired two of the horned calves.  He sired all of the red calves.

Two of the bulls were sold as weanlings as excellent bull prospects based on a number of factors.  Two are still growing in our pastures to evaluate again in the spring as yearlings.  They may yet become fine steers, but so far both are looking good.  The rest were steered.

Three of the heifers have been sold.  (Sad to see Bebe and Cadbury leave.  Dot is leaving us in the next month or two.)  We had a fine crop of girls in 2014.  Only wish there had been more of them.  We are keeping Moosters Fire Opal and Gidget, who is not only a show winner, but she's also one of the sweetest heifers arounds!  Opal isn't even weaned yet, but we know she'll be a keeper - on top of good looks, she's homozygous polled.  Oh happy day for us!

2015 offers us so much to look forward to with two new herd sires and a few carry over 'Dance babies.  We expect somewhere in the neighborhood of 30 or so this year.  Can't wait!