Notes From The Field…Dustin Hurlbut

NOTES FROM THE FIELD

By: Dustin Hurlbut, Director of Sales/Marketing, ACA Field Representative

Since my last news from the road it sure seems I have been almost everywhere around the country! I have been to 10 states recently. I’m not going to go into politics but I can tell you after being in so many states the last 60 days I am for sure thankful to live in South Dakota! I had not worn a mask until I started flying and boy the first day was an eye opener. 8 hours in a mask is enough to make a guy go crazy!

My first stop in Kentucky was to have breakfast with our president Ken, then it was off to Derek and Kelsey Evans’ farm to see the donors, bull and heifer calves as well as their new herdsire, DAJS Blackout along with Greta, Kennedy’s show heifer. The cattle at the Evans’ were as good as you can see anywhere in the country. They had some bull calves sired by GOP Fair Play and they are stout made, functional and eye appealing cattle. They took one to the Eastern Regional, and were named Reserve Champion Chiangus Bull behind their herdsire, DAJS Blackout. Then we headed to the pasture to look at the cows that GOP Fair Play was covering naturally. He looked very good on grass and they are excited to get more calves next year sired by him. If you are needing a calving ease sire to use be sure to put Fair Play on your list; calves come easy, grow and have the show ring look to them!

I was then off to meet up with Val Shields. The hospitality was great from Val and Vicki! We went on a tour of pastures with a chauffeur! Thanks to Ethan for driving us around on the narrow and not so straight roads of northern Kentucky! We saw calves sired by VBS Manly, an HA Cowboy Up son, that Val raised that is in top 1% of the breed for weaning weight and yearling weight. He used him on many different types and kinds of cows and VBS Manly stamped his set of calves; they are all long bodied and stout made! Ethan drove us off to another pasture where Manly was running on cows and he looked really good!

Then we were off to Jared and Angie Simpsons to look at the fall calving cows and saw the cows that Jared and his dad Danny bought from CK Cattle in Alabama. Thanks again for the hospitality and to Ethan for driving us around!

Next I was off south to stop by Ard Ridge Farms. When I stopped by Neal and Leonard were in the showbarn with the kids and grandkids working on breaking some and getting ready to head to a show that weekend. Neal said his daughter has been bitten with the show cattle bug and dustin@chicattle.org 605.380.8052 after riding through the cows with them I would say he has a new herdsmen on his hands as well! Neal will be putting on a lot of miles in a truck and trailer headed to shows! We saw some really good Chiangus replacement females along with a handful of cows that are the front pasture kind. He has a set of embryo calves at a cooperator’s herd that they are excited about. If you are in need of a Chiangus bull be sure to give Neal a call.

Then it was off to Tennessee. My first stop was at John Woodroof’s. John had a really good set of replacements females up in the lot and told me he had sold a show heifer out of that bunch that had been delivered already. We then looked through a group of bulls he was feeding and had for sale before going out to the cow herd to see some calves that he was getting ready to wean. He had some very nice, long, stretchy bull calves that would sure add some pounds to a calf crop. If you are looking for herd bulls give John a shout; they were top end kind!

Next stop in Tennessee was at the Higgins’. I met John and Andy at the show barn. We looked at some calves that were freshly weaned, then we were off to the pastures. I am glad John knew where we were going because honestly I was pretty much lost a one point! But I can tell you that the cow herd is flat awesome! The cows sired by HIGG Remedy stuck out the most in my mind! If you are out and about looking at cows this is a must see set, all the way through! We ended the tour with a stop back at the barn to look at the heifers they are getting ready for their online sale the end of October. To pick a favorite was pretty much impossible. The set is deep and as good as you will find! That evening we went out for dinner and then I headed to Nashville and got stuck on the interstate in traffic because of a accident. Mapquest said I was less than 30 minutes to my hotel and that turned into 2 ½ hours by the time I found an alternate route!

I was then home for a few days and before it was off to Indi-

ana. I stopped by Schaeffer Show Cattle to look at a set of show heifers and yes the quality was over the top good! Tim and crew do an excellent job from start to finish on the cattle they sell to families and customer service is a top priority for them. I know we will see many of the heifers in backdrop photos this fall and next summer!

Next up I was off to see Larry Garrett of Garrett Show Cattle. He showed me what he had in the barn that they were getting ready for the Eastern Regional. One in the barn was a bull calf sired by Who Da Man, and later in the week at Eastern Regional he was Reserve Chianina Bull.

Then we were of to Wade’s place to look at a couple heifers that he had been working on. When we got there they were clipped out ready to go to a show so I asked Larry if they were taking them to the Eastern Regional? Larry said no they were not. To make a long story short I talked Larry into bringing them along to show! I probably wasn’t very high on Wade’s list that day but I think they were happy that they took them along to show! Watch for these two heifers this fall and next summer! I bet if you’re in the hunt for a competitive show heifer yet you could talk them into selling one of them!

After having lunch with Larry I was off to Green Oak Farms in Ohio. While at Green Oak Farms I saw an elite group of heifers that they were getting ready for online sales this fall. Many of them are dual registered. So if you are still hunting for a show heifer give Dillion or one of the guys a shout!

Last stop of the day was at AP Show Cattle. I met Kevin at the farm where they were getting heifers and steers ready for their online sale the end of September. They were a very deep set of steers and heifers and I am sure the families that bought these cattle will be at the backdrop a lot this show season! A definite must stop if you are out and about looking for show cattle in the future!

Next I was off toward Sheets Chiangus to meet Doc Sheets and get a tour of his cow herd and the freshly weaned calves and also the stock he was taking to Eastern Regional! He had a great day at the Eastern Regional with heifers he had sold in the past and a bull he exhibited! I saw Doc getting his picture taken a couple different times with champions! We then headed over to Dr. Horstman’s to look at a donor cow that Doc Sheets had been flushing and we looked through some heifers while we were there for the Horstman sale. Doc is retired now so if you are ever in the area I am sure he would love to show you around and maybe he would take you golfing as well! I have heard he is a pretty good golfer!

Next up was the Eastern Regional Show in Rensselaer, Indiana. We had a very good turn out and it was laid back, fun filled day. Everyone was happy to be able to show and get some of the calves out for the first time of the year! I was then headed home and the computers crashed at the airport and I was delayed 5 hours Sunday morning before I could get headed home! I like being on a schedule and not being late so this drove me crazy!

I spent two days at home and then headed off to Grand

Island, Neb., for the Western Regional Show. We didn’t have big numbers, however we did have Supreme Champion Bull with the Chiangus bull exhibited by the Satree Family ,DAJS The Fixer! And 3rd Overall Supreme for Hadley Dunklau!

Next up was the South Dakota State Fair where we had a very good showing with over 35 head in the show. Look in this issue for results of Nebraska State Fair and South Dakota State Fair.

Then along came Long Range Planning and Board meetings. On my way down I stopped by Twig Marston’s for a herd visit. Twig was busy getting a couple heifers ready for the Kansas State Fair. It’s always fun visiting with Twig and going through his cow herd!

Recently I have been to Becking Farms to see their offering of show heifer prospects and an elite Chiangus bull calf! Be sure to watch for details on this bull calf. You will want to see this guy! Contact Lance for pictures and a video of him.

I ran up to Steve Melroe’s in North Dakota to look through his calves and the Encore cattle are flat good. It doesn’t matter if they are bulls or heifers they are good quality stock! Steve told me this is his best set of bulls he has ever offered and I would agree with him! They are big, stout made bulls that will go on to sire top end calves! Be sure to watch for a sale date coming soon. Sale will be sometime in February. Let Steve know if you want to stop by to view the calves or look at the cow herd.

On my way home I stopped in northern South Dakota at PAR FIVE CATTLE in Lake City, where they were busy getting ready for their online sale coming up. They have been raising and selling dual registered cattle the past several years. The set was deep all the way through, they were very sound and functional! If you get to South Dakota be sure to put them on your must stops; you won’t be disappointed!

My next trip took me to Nebraska to go through the Tracy Cattle sale offering. The set this year was outstanding and deeper than ever! They had some flush sisters to Fetish and Enabler that were all good and stood out! The Fetish heifers on the sale are an example of what Justin and Kaylee are trying to do with their program. Raising stout, deep bodied feminine females that can get out and move that will last a long time! Definitely need to stop by to see these cattle in person!

I then stopped by KQM Cattle to look at the Rutts’ sale offering and their Chiangus bulls. Like always they are a great set of show heifers that I think will go on and make a huge difference in the new owners cow herds! The bulls were stout, sound and powerful so if you are looking for a herd bull next spring give Robin a call.

I have come across a lot of bull calves this fall that will go on to make a difference on a calf crop for someone. If you are in search of a new herd bull please give me a call and let me help you find a bull that will fit your needs!

As I write this we have secured a date for a Chianina Sale in Oklahoma City, Okla., in January so let me know if you want to be a part of it whether you have a bull, heifer or genetic lot give me a call! Let’s get you involved in the -C- Difference Sale!

See you down the Road!