The Drover: April 2024

BEST OF TRAILS TLA

BRAZILIAN TLA

PHONE: +55 62 98118-2332 ALBERTA TLA

PRESIDENT: CODY BAILEY codylbailey1122@outlook.com 780-352-6144

CANADIAN TLA

PRESIDENT: PETE HILDEBRAND

p-lhildebrand@hotmail com

306-774-8205

INDIAN TERRITORY TLA

PRESIDENT: JOSH DINWIDDIE

PRESIDENT: JOHN DVORAK

johndvorak25@gmail com

620-382-7103

CHISHOLM TRAIL TLA

PRESIDENT: DANIELLE MERSHON

Danielle@whistlingtxlonghorns.co m

254-630-0053

THE LONGHORN POSSEE

PRESIDENT: MIKEAL DEATHERAGE

EMAIL: josh.plaindirtfarmservice@yahoo.com

PHONE: 580-812-2436

MOUNTAIN STATES TLA

PRESIDENT: TRAVIS CASEY tcasey357@yahoo.com

719-650-5234

EMAIL

PHONE: 817-999-1836

NORTHEAST TLA

PRESIDENT: JOHN MOXLEY

crosswrenchranch@msn com

240-446-9950

TLA OF ONTARIO

PRESIDENT: CLARENCE DEKENS EMAIL PHONE

DIRECTOR: HUMBERTO NOMBRE

EMAIL: humbanobre@hotmail.com

GREAT LAKES TLA

PRESIDENT: JOHNNY HICKS

EMAIL:

hicksamericanbulldogs@yahoocom

PHONE: 269-721-3473

MIDWEST TLA

PRESIDENT: BRAD FIDLER

bradley fidler@yahoo.com

765-720-0913

OHIO RIVER VALLEY TLA

PRESIDENT: DOUG BURRIS

dougburris45@gmail.com

740-680-5973

TOP OF THE WEST

The International Board of Directors has established the following Committees which are designed, in part, to help the ITLA run more efficiently, to remain competitive in the industry, and to provide our members with desired activities and volunteer opportunities. If you are interested in serving on any of these Committees, please contact the listed Chairpersons. We need your ideas and energies!

MARKETING/MEMBERSHIP/EVENTS COMMITTEE

Chair: Gary Lake – (719) 314-8294

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Chair: Justin Sabio – (940) 902-3246

COMPUTER COMMITTEE

Chair: Russell Freeman – (719) 338-5071

JUDGES APPROVAL/SELECTION COMMITTEE

Chair: Larry Smith – (254) 396-9185

AFFILIATES COMMITTEE

Chair: Shadow Seaman – (208) 420-2484

BEEF COMMITTEE

Chair: Mike Metcalfe – (719) 478-3011

BY-LAWS REVIEW COMMITTEE

Chair: Brad Westmoreland – (972) 937-7273

YOUTH COMMITTEE

Co-Chairs: Wes and Amanda Evans

SHOW RULES COMMITTEE

Chair: Justin Sabio – (940) 902-3246

CHAMP SHOWS COMMITTEE

Chair: Jeremy Johnson – (210) 413-2105

We will always be thankful to John Hodges who built the ITLA world headquarters building at no charge to the members. The cost of construction was cost of subs only. Let us not forget the great hero of the TL industry John Hodges. ITLA now has a debt free beautiful stone building to record and preserve all TL records. Thank you big John!!!!!!!

Written by: Darol Dickinson

John Hodges donated General Contractor severice to ITLA for the home office

AP 20

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

2024

APRIL 12

The Bluegrass Futurity

Lexington, KY

Contact: Huntington Sales

Dan- 715-853-7608

Joe- 785-447-9132 longhorn8099@gmail.com

APRIL 26

Battle On The Prairie

Stephens County Expo Center

Duncan, Oklahoma

Contact: Joshua Dinwiddie 580-812-2436 plaindirtfarms@gmail.com

MAY 3-4

Glendenning Fiesta Futurity

Celina, Texas

Contact: Glendenning Family (972) 978-0424

JUNE 8

MTLA Show

Putnam County Fairgrounds

Greencastle, IN

Contact: Brad Fidler 765-720-0913

JUNE 21

Futurity of the West

Dundee, Oregon

JULY 19 & 20

ORVTLA Show & Buckeye Classic Futurity

Belmont County Fairgrounds

Location:St. Clairsville, OH

Contact: Doug Burris 740-680-5973

APRIL 19 & 20

The Cherry Blossom Sale & Futurity Culpeper, VA

Contact: Chase Vasut 512-917-8654

APRIL 26-28

The STLA Futurity Llano, TX

Contact: Kathy Bruner 523-689-8624

APRIL 19-21

CTTLA Spring Fling Show

Myers Park and Event Center, McKinney, TX

Contact: Danielle Mershon 254-630-0053

Click here for: Show Packet

MAY TBD

The Midwest Futurity

Springfield, MO

Contact: Johnny Hicks 269-998-8027

MAY 31-JUNE 1

Appalachian Trail Futurity & Sale

Lebanon Valley Livestock

Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Contact: Nelson Hearn 484-638-0228

JUNE 16

The Piney Woods Winchester Futurity

Lufkin, TX

Contact: Donnie Taylor 936-414-1401

JUNE 22

The GLTLA Futurity

Manchester, MI

Contact: Josh Shaw 616-212-8226

JULY 26

Cheesehead Futurity

Gresham,Wisconsin

MAY 31-JUNE 2

ITLA Lone Star Classic

Hopkins County Regional Civic Center Sulphur Springs, Texas

JUNE 21

NETLA Show

The Frederick Fairgrounds

Location: Frederick, MD

Contact: Rebecca Scott 740-294-8187

JUNE TBD

The NETLA Sale & Futurity

Location: TBD

Contact: Lizz Huntzberry 240-291-1958

JULY 27

The York Fair

Location: York, PA

Contact: Remington King

rem@latimorevalleyfarms.com 717-253-8275

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

2024

JULY 30- AUGUST 4

Ozark Empire Fair

Location: Springfield, MO

Contact: Amy Mast

le.longhorncc@gmail.com 262-720-1510

AUGUST 31

CTTLA Fall Shootout Show

Wise County Fairgrounds

Location: Decatur, TX

Contact: Danielle Mershon 254-630-0053

•Haltered• •Youth • Mini•

AUGUST TBD

Double Down Futurity

Colorado Springs, Colorado

SEPTEMBER 7

Crossroads of the West

Salt Lake City, Utah

SEPTEMBER 13 & 14

G & G Classic Sale & Futurity Culpeper, VA

Contact: Chase Vasut 512-917-8654

SEPTEMBER 28

DCC Customer Appreciation Day

Barnesville, Ohio

Contact: Kirk Dickinson 740-758-5050

SEPTEMBER 20

The Great Frederick Fair

Location: Frederick, MD

Contact: John Moxley

240-446-9950

OCTOBER 4-5

Horn Showcase Futurity

El Reno, Oklahoma

OCTOBER 18 & 19

Millennium Sale & Futurity

Lexington, KY

Contact: Ann Gravett

gravett99@yahoo.com

AUGUST 16

The Montgomery County Fair

Location: Gaithersburg, MD

Contact: Lizz Huntzberry

240-291-1958

SEPTEMBER 8

The Maryland State Fair

Location: Timonium, MD

Contact: John Moxley

240-446-9950

SEPTEMBER 20

Legends Futurity Duncan, Oklahoma

OCTOBER 9-12

ITLA Championship Show & Convention

Stephens County Fair Grounds Duncan, Oklahoma

THE VALUE OF ONE MEMBER

Ten members standing in a line,

One dislikes the President, then there were nine.

Nine ambitious members offered to work late,

One forgot her promise, then there were eight.

Eight creative members had ideas good as heaven.

One lost enthusiasm, then there were seven.

Seven loyal members got into a fix, They quarreled over programs, and then there were six.

Six members remain with spirit and drive,

One moved away and then there were five.

Five steadfast members wished there were more.

One became indifferent, then there were four.

Four cheerful members who never disagree.

Three eager members! What do they do?

One got discouraged, then there were two.

Two lonely members, our rhyme is nearly done.

One joined the bridge club, then there was one.

One faithful member was feeling rather blue, Met with a neighbor, then there were two.

Two earnest members each enrolled one more,

Four determined members just couldn't wait ‘Till each won another and then there were eight.

Eight excited members signed up sixteen more, In another six vereses, there’ll be one thousand and twenty four!

By John T Capps III

A LETTER FROM THE VICE PRESIDENT

214- 287-2303

brad@westmorelandlawfirm.com

If you happen to breed Longhorns, as opposed to participating in other Longhorn-related productions, you are familiar with culling. For me, that has always been a challenging part of the cattle business. Which animals do you keep, and which do you cull? And to be clear it’s not the knowledge that’s the challenging part (after all, we can all develop those skills by spending time with our animals, looking at others’ herds, attending clinics to better develop a selective eye, etc ): the challenging part, at times, is the simple decision making With few exceptions, I generally feel attached to each of our animals. I know their lineage, I know their offspring, I can recall interesting times or events about them all My family and I put in hours of hard work breeding, and raising, and doctoring, and finetuning each of them. So I’ll admit it: at times it can be difficult to let one go, even when intellectually I know that I need to.

Of course, making hard decisions is not unique to the livestock breeding business. Whatever your occupation or current status in life, you have to make decisions all the time; and many times those decisions are flat-out difficult much more so than the conundrum of “keep vs. cull.” Do I go to college or pursue a trade? Do I stay with this job or pursue another? Do I stand up for what I believe is right and face the consequences, or do I remain safe and silent? Do I fight for my marriage or throw in the towel? Stay or move? The list is endless: life is simply chock full of hard choices, from virtually the cradle to the grave. So how do we make them? What’s the key? I don’t pretend to have all the answers, but I would suggest one that has worked well for me when I’ve been smart enough to utilize it. I’ve personally found that if I spend time in God’s Word and pray to Him for guidance, then try to make the choice that matches most closely with His will, it’s hard to go wrong. Of course, the onus is on me to actually read his Word and talk with Him so that I can know His will and have a relationship with Him otherwise, my hope for guidance from Him is well…pretty hopeless.

I don’t know what hard choices you may be facing this month, but I pray that you’ll make the right ones But how about a nice no-brainer? Decide to get involved with the ITLA to the extent your schedule allows. You’ll find that to be a good choice that you won’t regret making. Our association is riddled with great people with good hearts, good ideas, and good plans and there is absolutely a place for you to help with those of your own. Want to know how you can get involved? Email or call me: brad@westmorelandlawfirm.com / (972) 937-7273.

As you face your own tough decisions, may God bless you, your Gang, and your cattle.

For the Love of Livestock: Outreach from Tip to Tip

By Camilla Westmoreland

Well, howdy ITLA family! I feel like it’s been forever since we’ve met in this corner of the magazine but here we are! So partner, feel free to take off those sweaty hats and muddy boots, grab some nice sweet tea, and let me fill you in for a couple of minutes! Take a load off! If one were to liken this past month’s events to carpentry it would be similar to the final coats of shiny varnish on that perfectly curated piece of wooden art. The cutting, breaking, building, and molding are over and now it is all about the details as (drum roll please) show season is coming into full swing! It never ceases to amaze me how much love is put into show season. A local livestock show was hosted in my area this past month and as I saw the advertisements and the tangible excitement in the air, it reminded me of how every livestock show and fair I have ever seen unfailingly teems with the same love and adoration that I feel when I work with our very own G5 cattle.

Whether it be chickens or rabbits or steers I have yet to see one contestant in any show or fair who is unhappy to be there and who is not flat dab beaming-proud of their entries. Why? Why do so many young people glean so much joy from showing animals? Because of the bonds they form. Because of the challenges they overcome. Because of the victories they get to watch play out in the showring. I know that the world needs more love, but boy howdy we also need more opportunities for kids to show animals… especially the best animals of them all: Texas Longhorns. Here at the Gang of 5 operation, I am currently working on saddle breaking one of our G5 steers and I am super interested in this new venture! I am so excited for our wonderful ITLA events coming up and cannot wait to see you all at the Lonestar Classic next month!

UPDATE FROM HEADQUARTERS

254-898-0157 staff@itla com

With less than 2 months away from our Lone Star Classic, we are gearing up for an eventful show! Futurity, Haltered Show, Non-Haltered Show, and Youth Show! We even have some fun youth events planned! Friday Night during the Futurity, there will be a Youth Pizza Party! Saturday evening we are having an exciting new youth fundraiser! For just $5 you can nominate anyone to be “arrested”! They will then be locked up in “jail” until they pay $50 to bond out or they get a pie to the face! You will NOT want to miss this! All proceeds go towards the Youth!

We are also needing donated items for our silent auction table at the Lone Star Classic! If you have something you would like to donate, you can either bring to the show or if you are not able to attend, you can contact me and I will be happy to help figure out how to get it to the show!

Entry deadline is May 20th to be included in the showbook so get your entries in now!!!

If you are interested in sponsoring, we have many options available at different price points, to suit everyone! Please give me a call and I can help get that set up!

If you have questions or need help with anything please do not hesitate to give me a call at the office! 254-898-0157 or staff@itla.com

Pam Kinsel Hughes

MobGrazing:AGrazingStrategywithPotential

Written By: Manuel Winter, Change Grazing

ImpressionsfromCanada

Mob Grazing is less about being a classic grazing system and more a strategy. It attempts to adjust stocking densities and rotations to new areas based on weather conditions and thus plant growth. This approach offers advantages especially in arid areas, securing enough yield for operations even during drought periods.

The Great Plains, known for their natural grasslands in the USA, also extend into southern Canada. There, ranchers face increasing challenges due to harsh winters, short growing seasons, and dry summer months. Ranchers sought alternatives to continue managing the large grazing areas and took inspiration from the West's most famous mammal: the bison. Like all ruminants in the past, bison herds moved around, intensively grazing individual areas for a short time before returning once the pasture plants had fully recovered. This principle serves as a model for Canadian Mob Grazing operations.

To give plants in arid areas enough time to grow and to avoid overgrazing, a higher plant density is needed. For this reason, high growth during the grazing period, especially in the summer months, is a characteristic of Mob Grazing. However, it should be mentioned that individual animal performance decreases due to the older plants and resulting lower energy content. The goal, however, is not to achieve high performance from individual animals but to increase area efficiency. Good yields and reducing feed purchases are important parameters for the economic viability of a grassland operation. Therefore, it is especially important during dry months to maintain constant yields. To counteract dry periods, the following points are particularly noted:

- Grazing rotations are designed so that all plants have enough time for root growth and thus access more water. The duration of growth is strongly dependent on the plant species. (See article for suitable plants for dry locations...)

- Increased growth provides a microclimate where less water evaporates, allowing for longer photosynthesis and plant growth.

- The high plant density protects the soil from drying out and subsequent crusting after rainfalls. Thus, more water can infiltrate the soil, and less topsoil is eroded.

- Additionally, grazing is often managed so that only the energy-rich, upper parts of the plants are eaten and the rest are trampled down. This further protects the soil. Moreover, the introduced organic plant material increases soil fertility and thus its water retention capacity.

With high stocking densities, the trampling of grasses is achieved by marking the small grazing plots long and narrow. Thus, the cattle move up and down more frequently, achieving the desired effects. This practice is currently implemented in arid to semi-arid locations, usually with low humus content, and may also be important in the northern part of Austria in the future.

However, increased stocking densities can also be advantageous in regions with higher rainfall. To achieve this, animals are driven into small grazing plots. When stocking densities are high and thus the plots are small, the grazing animals have only a small area to feed. Thus, the grazing pressure is greatly increased and the plant density is grazed evenly and efficiently. Depending on the desired stocking density, less feed is available per rotation To still cover the feed demand, multiple rotations are necessary. This approach avoids feed selection, and all plants are grazed, regardless of whether they are palatable or not.

In extreme cases, herds are driven to new areas up to 10 times a day. Thus, undesirable pasture grasses are eaten, and even weeds are suppressed, as they cannot withstand the intensive grazing. If the small grazing areas are again made long and narrow, thistles can be effectively combated. However, to optimize feed utilization, the grazed areas should be short and wide or at least square. This way, the cattle distribute more evenly, and more is eaten and less trampled.

To avoid mistakes in practice, it is important to see stocking densities as a tool

in grazing management and not as a permanent state. With rapid growth in spring, more and faster rotations are needed than, for example, during slow summer growth. To remain flexible and adjust stocking densities to conditions, a simple but sophisticated fencing system is necessary.

Small areas are marked in advance with individual wires and plastic stakes. If the grazing animals are to have access to new areas, the wire spools are simply unrolled a bit, creating a passage to the next grazing plot. If moved several times a day, high stocking densities are achieved in the newly opened plots, as all animals want to eat in a confined space at the same time. However, the animals are not locked in the plots. They can always go back to lie down, ruminate, and drink. It is important that access to old plots is fenced off after a maximum of three days to prevent overgrazing.

To minimize daily work even with frequent

rotations "fence gate openers" are used. These so-called Batt Latches are solar-powered devices with timers. Metal springs are fixed to the fence and then attached to handles that are hooked into the Batt Latches.

After the timer is triggered, the handle is released, and the pre-tensioned spring throws it back. Thus, the fence is opened and a passage is automatically created. The application, purchase, and costs of Batt Latches will be explained in more detail in the next issue. Whether you want to intensify your grazing system, efficiently use cover crops and field fodder, improve your soil, or simply increase your yields in dry grassland, Mob Grazing is a good, practice-developed alternative

Camilla Westmoreland

2024 ITLA Queen

www.gangof5longhorns.com

Stop and Savor the Horns…

As I write this article to you all today, on a quiet and peaceful Sunday afternoon, as the grass stretches its long-dormant roots in the shimmering sunshine, I am even more passionate about and hopeful towards the ITLA than I ever have been…and that is saying a lot! The ITLA has always been a member-driven and cattle-focused organization, but as the flowers bloom so too is a renewed excitement in this organization, its people, and its mission. Spring is a funny season when you stop and think about it. It is the season most filled with growth and vibrancy yet what precedes it is the most bitter, challenging, and cold time of year. I think that there is a message here: sometimes it takes the roughest seasons to facilitate the highest quantity of new growth. This past month, my family and I have been blessed with meeting new ITLA members, posting content on our social media promoting the ITLA, and even hosting a podcast with new members of the ITLA which is about to go live on our ranch podcast page. Here is why I believe in the ITLA: because we have the most dedicated and knowledgeable producers in the world, all across the world, spanning all demographics…with a member base like ours, I truly believe we can continue to accomplish incredible things and make wonderful strides in our industry for generations to come. As I do my best to represent you all as your 2023-2024 ITLA Queen each and every day, I want you to know that I have big plans for this organization. What a sad motivating factor if my only goal was to attain this for myself and our current members…rather, each piece of work or idea or event that I put energy towards I view as a direct investment for generations of Texas Longhorn producers to come. Once I am long gone from this old planet, I want my great great grandchildren to be able to look back with pride on what the ITLA did in 2024 and continue to build upon its legacy for as long as cows say “moo”. The ITLA really is a family. I have made more friends in the ITLA than anywhere else. We as longhorn producers are united by the unbreakable bond of the horn. We may not agree on everything and that is not only ok but beneficial, because the more ideas we have the better we can be. This past month on the Gang of 5 frontier, we have been prepping for the Lonestar Classic (by the way, you have to come to Lonestar it’s going to be epic!), preparing coastal grass for cutting and baling, spring cleaning some fences, and embarking on some new ventures which will be so exciting! Our chickens are also in the middle of hatching season, so each day is full of little peep peeps coming from outside. It is impossible to beat the cuteness of a longhorn calf, but baby chicks definitely win second place. In short, here’s to spring. Here’s to new growth and rejuvenation. Here’s to continuing to make the ITLA the best organization our industry has ever and will ever have. Wishing you all a beautiful month full of renewed hope and growth! Thank you to each and every one of you for making the ITLA something to believe in. I am truly grateful for each of you, my longhorn friends. Stop and savor the horns, ya’ll.

www.savannahbellefarms.com

Show Season

We do as much prep work as we can before we leave for a show. We make sure and schedule for our vet to come out and check all our animals, so our health papers are current. We also start washing our animals that are mostly white a week or so prior to leaving for a show. They tend to show more dirt and it typically takes several good washes to get them good and clean. We also trim our animal’s hair prior to getting to a show. One of the only things that we typically have done at a show is getting our animal’s hooves trimmed. Because we live so far from most people who do hoof trims, we can’t get anyone to come to us,

so we always take the opportunity to have them done at a show if there is someone set up there to do it. To prepare, I make sure and walk all our animals prior to show week more so than I normally do. This is to get them used to being on the halter if they had been turned loose out in the pasture. I participated in two shows in March and have a full calendar of shows to attend soon so I thought I would share with you all the list I check off when it comes to packing for a show. Check out my packing list on the next page!

Your 2024

Miss ITLA Princess- Kenley Belle Huskey

Showman

Belt

Show Clip

Jeans

Show Shirts

Show Box Feeding Animal Info

Water Tubs

Feed Hay Shavings

Show Stick

Halters Combs

Shampoo

Leads

Health Papers

Registrations Records

What’sNew

March and April means show season is here! I'm so excited to show this year's cattle! We have had lots of calves so far, with many more on the way. My dad says that April is the month when we wean our fall calves. I can't wait to pick my favorites to show. April also means that we get to go to several longhorn sales. I remember a couple of years ago, when we went to the Texoma sale, we visited Bucklehead BCB. My sister and I got to feed him. He was so big!

I hope to see many of my longhorn friends, and meet new ones, when we get back on the road.

See y'all soon, Baylor

On The Ranch With Camilla Westmoreland: The Grass In Which The Fawns Lay

Recently things at the Gang of 5 operation have been relatively crazy. In addition to ranch tasks which never cease, I have found myself bombarded with many others stresses and requirements which I have admittedly taken with less stride and more stumble than I should. We all know that everything- every plant, every animal, every hydrogen bond, every piece of technology (so far!), has a maximum capacity that is less than infinite, even human hands, no matter how calloused, and human hearts, no matter how full of love, will eventually return to dust as the Bible says in Genesis 3:19 and Job 34:15. Maximum capacity is something that I have always struggled to grasp and respect, and I would wager that I am not alone. In the Texas Longhorn industry, measurements are meant to be surpassed, weights are meant to be

increasing and record profits are meant to be broken…these are all good, admirable, and necessary desires and goals, yet I fear that sometimes we lose ourselves and our first love along the way…at least I know I do. There have been days recently in which details and deadlines pertaining to cattle have totally overridden my passion for the beautiful animals themselves. I forget why I do it and instead just grit on in a trudgerous, mechanical, instinctual way. One day recently, when I was feeling very small and low and stressed, I broke away from the fast-paced day and went walking in one of my favorite pastures at our family ranch in Glen Rose, Texas. As I walked, the crunch crunch of the dead weeds formed a melody and the plod plod of my wet leather boots drenched with dew, willingly hummed the harmony. With every step came music straight from nature…my weight acting as the breath which activated the instruments of the field.

My feet quickly resented the voyage, as my brindle leather boots that had clung to every curve of my foot for years, somehow stretching to accommodate my feet as they grew, and whose soles were nothing more than a thin piece of wood and a few copper cobblers’ nails from the excessive wear they endured, experienced every limestone rock that I encountered, and the once vibrant, brindle, red leather was now almost white from the scratches the brush weeds had inflicted upon them. The crackle of the loose gravel, sometimes accompanied and slightly muted by the occasional prickly pear fruit, resounding with each step I took, became a themed anthem that hypnotically urged me along. Crunch plod crunch plod…

As my feet continued subconsciously to lead me to destinations unknown, the thick spool of angst that my brain had been weaving began to slowly untangle and still. All of a sudden, I looked up and saw the neon glow of the melting Texas sun, more brilliantly pastel than I had ever seen a Monet painting boast. I no longer felt the teasing tickle of the grass on my bare knees, so I looked down only to realize to my delight that I was in the middle of a deer meadow. Sweet little fawn-sized indentions littered this mellow, green clearing. White gleams of young bucks’ first antler sheds quietly boasted zeal for life. That was all. That was all that was in this meadow. And yet, it was all it took to slowly render me to my knees in awe of this simple display of God’s goodness. I have found through experience that deer do not scatter when you sing hymns. I don’t know any other reason for this except what the implication suggests. This meadow and the blatant stillness and purity it displayed caught me off guard as tears slowly trickled down my wind-burnt cheeks. I realized that my heart had become anything other than this meadow. It was more like an abandoned and hopelessly overgrown fence line that had been left to host all of the weeds the fields withheld from producing and trash that passersby threw haphazardly out of diesel engine windows. I had to get my heart and my priorities back to their first love-the pure and still majesty of the Texas Longhorn. Not paperwork, not cattle records, not social media promotions nothing more than the hay-saturated slobber of my favorite steer all across my face and success of a spring calf crop suckling at its mommas. This is what I love. This is my passion. As I reflect in that field, my heart posture begins to match my environment until soon, me and the meadow are in harmony like the tune the ground had sung hours before. As I rise, it is pitch black outside, sans the moon, but my heart had already found its way back home. In no time, I was back at the cabin working on my projects with a zeal that nostalgically reminded me of those young bucks in my meadow.

The moral of the story? Don’t let the hustle and bustle of life go on to the point that you lose your love of cattle. We all need to stop and refocus every now and then. Stop and savor the horns my friends.

I

ngredients:

4 Lean Longhorn Beef Cubed Steaks

GRAVY:

2 T butter

1/4 cup flour

3 cups whole milk

2 tsp pepper

1/4 tsp salt

FRIED STEAK:

1 1/2 cups flour

1 tsp seasoning salt

1 tsp pepper

1/2 tsp paprika

1/4 tsp cayenne

3/4 cup whole milk

1 egg

Instructions:

1.

Combine flour, salt. pepper, paprika, and cayenne in shallow dish. Remove 1/2 cup of seasoned flour and set aside Beat milk and egg in separate shallow dish until blended; set aside. Combine remaining 1/2 cup seasoned flour with some cracker crumbs in separate shallow fish

2

Season beef cubed steak with salt and pepper as desired Dip each steak into seasoned flour, milk mixture, and into flour-cracker mixture. turning to coat both sides.

Heat counter top fryer to 350 Fry steaks 2-3 minutes until internal temperature reaches 165 3

4.

For Gravy: Melt butter in a medium sauce pan over medium heat. Stir in flour; cook and stir 4 minutes Stir in milk, bring to boil, whisk constantly Reduce heat, simmer 2-3 minutes until thickened. Add salt, pepper, and seasoning salt as desired.

Meat Processors

It’s always a chore trying to find a met processor who is willing and able to handle big horned cattle. We have a list of processors who longhorn breeders have used and are happy to recommend. Here are the responses that we’ve received so far. Hope this helps.

Timberline Meats

Penn Yann, NY.

Ray’s Meat Market

Woodward, OK.

Smucker’s Meats

Mount Joy, PA.

USDA

Kemps Custom Butchering

Middlefield, OH.

USDA

5th. Avenue

Sterling, OK.

USDA

Southern Meat Processing

Headland, AL.

USDA

Westcliffe Meats

Westcliffe, CO.

USDA

Rail 19

Sulphur Springs, TX.

Durand Smokehouse

Western, WI.

USDA

Homestead Meats

Guthrie, OK.

Smithville Meats

Smithville, TX.

USDA

3D Meats

Dalton, OH.

USDA

Bear Mt. Beef

Hot Springs, WY.

Fischers Meat Market

Meunster, TX.

Western Heritage Meats

Sheridan, WY.

Volunteer Meats

Lexington, TN.

USDA

Butchery Shoppe WI.

USDA

Summit Meats

Science Hill, KY.

Keeters Meat Co. Tulia, TX.

USDA

Mitchell’s Meat Processing

Walnut Grove, NC.

Whites Wholesale Meats

Ronan, MT.

Clay Co. Meat Processing

Henretta, TX.

Carters Thacher, AZ.

Local Cuts

Zephyr, TX.

USDA

Country Market

Jerome, MI.

Duhon Processing Leesville, LA.

Edes Meats Amarillo, TX.

USDA

McLean Beef York, NE

Powell Meat Co. Clinton, MO.

Voiron’s Abattoir Greensburg, LA.

Olpe Locker Olpe, KS.

Huse’s Malone, TX. U

SDA

Special D Macon, MO

Yoder Meats Yoder, KS.

USDA

-ITLA Executive Board OATH-

While many of us fondly recall the days when a person’s word was their bond and a handshake was an iron-clad agreement, in modern society oaths are increasingly important The President of the United States must take an oath before starting a new term of office. Contracts often require verification before a notary. And in my other line of work, a court reporter swears-in each witness before I depose or cross-examine them. Oaths bind us to our word; and written oaths allow others to reference back to our promises made and hold us to them. At the fine suggestion of Darol Dickinson, it was decided by President Freeman that our new and current International Board of Directors should take an oath of office as a pledge to each other and our membership to uphold those ideals to which we were each elected For those Board members who were able to attend the Annual Meeting in October, the oath was orally taken upon being read by Stan Searle and was then signed in the presence of all. Our newest two members (Guy Cote and Gary Lake) have subsequently added their own signatures to the Oath. Collectively, the Board wanted to publish that oath here, as a declaration of our commitment to you: the ITLA member. Hold us to it.

--Brad Westmoreland, Vice President

*Bulk advertising must be paid in full at the start of term

International Texas Longhorn Association

Lease/Loan of Dam: The signature and address of the Lessee may be used and shown as breeder on registration applications in lieu of the signature and address of the registered owner of the dam for the purpose of registering of recording progeny born during the period specified on this form, provided this form is completed and filed with the ITLA, by the owner, within 30 days after delivery of the dam to the Lessee.

Artificial Insemination Sire Enrollment Form

Bull’s Registered Name: Brand / ID Number: Registration Number: Enclose copy of front and back of registration certificate Owner: ITLA Member #: Ranch Name: Street Address: City: State: Zip: Phone Number: Signature: Application must include the Following:

1. Fee of $100.00

2. DNA type on applicable bull.

3 Health certification in effect at time of all semen collection, including negative tests for Brucellosis, Tuberculosis, 5 Leptospirosis, Vibriosis, and Trichomoniasis

4 Copy of Bull’s Registration Certificate

5 Photo of Bull

Failure to comply with procedures set forth in the ITLE Artificial Insemination Enrollment regulations will be cause for cancellation of enrollment You may contact the lab of your choice for DNA kits and procedures. ITLA recommends Neogen for DNA results. Neogen Genomics 4131 N 48th St Lincoln, NE 68504. Email for Neogen; geneseekinfo@neogen.com and phone number 402-435-0665.

ITLA SHOW RULEBOOK

INTERNATIONAL TEXAS LONGHORN ASSOCIATION CHAMPIONSHIP SHOWS

& QUALIFYING REGIONAL AFFILIATE SHOWS

Revised January 2023

INTERNATIONAL TEXAS LONGHORN ASSOCIATION

P.O. BOX 2610, GLEN ROSE, TEXAS 76043

PHONE: (254) 898-0157

FAX: (254) 898-0165 www

2024 ITLA RULE BOOK

Exhibitor attendance and participation is greatly appreciated throughout the show!! This Standardized Rule Book is the governing document to be used when producing the International Championship Show, the International Youth Show and any regional affiliate shows where ITLA Qualifying Points are to be awarded. Deviations from the rules set forth in this book may result in the show being classified as a Non-Qualifying Show (with no qualifying points or High Point Legacy points recorded) unless the show chairman receives specific permission from the ITLA Board of Directors prior to the show.

Periodically, the rules and regulations contained in this book are reviewed and revised by the ITLA Changes are presented to the ITLA Board of Directors for approval before inclusion Every attempt will be made to inform members of any rule changes through updates in the ITLA Drover or posted on the official ITLA website For a copy of this publication, or to verify that this booklet contains the most up-to-date regulations, you can visit our website for the most current version of this governing rule book at www ITLA com

918-507-2222

Longhorn Hayring

$1,100

Lubjosky $15,920

Longhorn Cage with Hornlocks $4970

I n t e r e s t e d i n A d v e r t i s i n g , A r t i c l e s , o r A f f i l i a t e I n f o r m a t i o n ?