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2 August | September 2012
The Progressive Rancher
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S
W
hile at the recent Superior Livestock Sale in Winnemucca, I spent quite a bit of time visiting with friends and neighbors. The topics of conversation ranged from lack of rain to the weakening market. The one thing that I noticed was the concern on everyone’s face as we discussed what was occurring and what we all were going to do as this year progressed. It should be no surprise to anyone that cattle buyers are nervous and unsure themselves on where to go and what to do. They are feeling the same pressures those of us in production are feeling. Other than the weather, the unfortunate thing is that most of the pressure upon all of us is due to government actions at some level. Whether it is the Sage Grouse out west or the mandate on ethanol across the country, our way of life continues to be chipped away at by bureaucrats and misguided environmental lawmakers. The recent adoption of a Drought Environmental Assessment by the Battle Mountain District of the Bureau of Land Management has once again drawn attention to the fact that activists and lawsuits depict how our federal lands are “managed”. The EA was presented during scoping as being a winwin for all sides. The EA was to allow for more flexibility when dealing with drought, including changes in season of use, stocking rates, water hauls, etc. Now that the document has been finalized and the policies put in place, the flexibility appears to apply to the over population of wild horses, but not the permitted livestock. As an industry we cannot and will not condone intentional improper grazing. As stewards of the land, we are responsible for the health of our resources. I truly believe that western ranchers take far better care of the land than the eastern based policy makers of our federal agencies. I understand that the BLM must protect the resources, but these resources MUST be protected against all threats, including wild horses, fire, and improper livestock grazing. The severe drought conditions have also focused attention on the swelling number of wild horses in Nevada. There is no doubt that this spring’s forage production on Nevada rangelands was poor at best. I fully understand www.progressiverancher.com
fire” near Newark Summit. One look out the window as I hurriedly gathered my clothes and radio and it was apparent it was well beyond “reported” and could damn sure be confirmed. The initial response from Eureka County Volunteers and the Eureka County Road Department is something to be proud of. At the early (or late) hour, we managed to muster elected officials, the local grocer, store clerks, mechanics, school bus drivers, truck drivers, equipment operators, miners, and even one lowly veterinarian to man everything from fire hoses and chain saws to bulldozers and water tenders. The initial attack was definitely not lacking in personnel and equipment, but something was obviously missing as the initial attack turned into extended operations. That was coordination between the BLM and the ranching industry. The fire was 90 percent within White Pine County and the BLM took command of the incident out of the Ely Office. Resources continued to pour into the valley after dawn as it became clear the attempts made to build line throughout the night where no match when the fire blew out of the canyons. After the initial scramble to protect the private residences and ranch property close by, there were no questions about livestock in the area, no questions on the best approaches to take to eliminate unnecessary burning on range land, and no questions of if fences had been cut, gates opened, etc to aid in removing livestock. It was lucky that the local volunteers had a good knowledge of this area, and that Eureka County’s Battalion Chief with NDF was on scene to communicate with the BLM. With the help of Eureka County personnel and the basic understanding by volunteers to open gates and corners, cattle from three ranches were spared in the disaster. That said it brings me to my point. We all need to engage our local BLM district offices and FS Ranger Districts and ask that there be a ranching liaison on EVERY fire that burns. The rotation of firefighters into and out of an area on an annual and often weekly basis during the summer leaves the federal agencies with few if any personnel responding to fires that know the county. Where are the cattle? What is the best approach to take to buy some time to get them moved? How can we attack this fire and save as much forage as possible for the livestock ————————— Continued: See “Fire” on page 4
the need to protect our resources and not allow improper grazing to further damage our rangelands however I question what happened to last year’s abundance of forage. Throughout most of the state, there was not sufficient snowfall to knock last year’s dry feed down during the winter. Old growth, dormant grasses remained this spring in some allotments. On average, these allotments didn’t have wild horses in excess numbers. Unfortunately some of these areas burned due to improperly being under grazed because of permit restrictions. The unfortunate issue with the Drought EA is that it unfairly targets livestock in areas overpopulated by wild horses. The forage required to sustain wild horse populations that are in some cases 1000% percent over AML is tremendous. The forage left behind by ranchers after last year’s grazing season was not present this spring when many ranchers turned out. This isn’t the fault of ranchers. It was grazed throughout the winter by large numbers of wild horses. So when a permit holder is told to gather his cattle and go home, or try and authorize water hauls to buy a little more time, it creates a point of contention. The agency charged with managing the natural resources and wild horses claims to have its hands tied. They have no space to house gathered horses, they claim to have little money to conduct gathers on, and they need to protect the resources. So their answer is what? They further regulate livestock grazing, because, “it’s the only thing we have control over”. This argument is bologna. It is amazing to me that when cattle threaten the habitat of a sensitive or protected species; there are always resources available to force the removal or to conduct a gather. Now, in the case of wild horses, there are no resources to gather, remove, and dispose of excess horses? The Wild and Free Roaming Horse and Burro Act of 1971 clearly gives the BLM the tools they need to properly manage wild horses, the problem is that the agency at the national level has caved in to the pressure from activists and politicians who fill their coffers with activist money. The threat of a ————————— Continued: See “Drought” on page 9
The Progressive Rancher
UPDATE UPDATE
ummer has just begun, and yet it feels like and looks like August. The lack of precipitation coupled with long hot windy days has left much of Nevada in a severe drought situation. I have been in discussions with state officials in the hopes of getting a declaration of drought by the governor’s office. With hundreds of cattle having already been sent to auction this month, and many more on the way if things don’t change in a drastic way, producers are going to need the option of re-investing their proceeds from the sale of seed stock and not having to pay income tax. I realize that many producers who chose to exit the industry at this time, either due to drought or other reason may not return to beef production. The purpose behind having a drought declaration by the state is that it can lead to relief on the national level in the way of deferred income tax for three years. This gives those producers who are hit with hard times due to drought the option of returning their “income” to their operations over the next few years. It is my hope that before my next article, Nevada will have an official declaration of drought. Along with the extremely dry conditions comes the threat of fire. The brush and PJ in much of the state has extremely low fuel moisture, leading it to be a tinder box. Many areas of Nevada have an abundance of left over feed due to last year’s wet spring. These areas are prone to wildfire until we are able to harvest the fuel via livestock grazing. It is imperative that we all exercise extreme caution while working in and enjoying our State’s great outdoors. The financial impacts felt by federal land ranchers after fire is another tremendous factor. In a year such as this, with stock water in short supply in many places, producers are scattering their animals out into the far corners of their operations. When fire burns much needed forage, the remaining resources are not able to accommodate the needs of the ranch, and once again we often see cattle trucks loading for town. Just this last week, our ranch personally experienced the effects of fire. Although it is going to be a challenge going forward the next few years due to the loss, it could have been much worse had Mother Nature not cooperated with fire fighters for a few hours. The loss to the power transmission lines was significant, but thankfully all structures where saved and no one was injured. A call came out at around 12:30 AM that there was a “reported wild land
J.J.
G oicoechea DVM
Nevada Cattlemen’s Association President
August | September 2012 3
Nevada Cattlemen’s Association By Desiree Seal, Nevada Cattlemen’s Association Executive Director
Across the kitchen table: Steptoe Ranch
Thank you to all our supportive members. I hope you enjoy reading our summer series of ranching families as much as I enjoyed getting to visit their places and learning about their operations. “You asked how old I was when I got into raising cattle. That’s how old I was.” I looked at the picture of a small boy dressed in winter clothes, pulling on the halter of a shorthorn calf. Next to it, a picture of a young man, in summer clothes, now in a showman’s stance, holding a market steer. Raising cattle had been in the Phillips Family for many years but ranching was not all that Don’s heritage is a part of. He has also been in production agriculture and received many awards for his crop production. Now a cattle rancher by trade, the Phillips family heritage continues but with a concentration slightly different than when the family homesteaded in the west. Originally from Utah, Don and Shelia Phillips bought the Steptoe Ranch just northwest of McGill, NV in 2000. “I had been in agriculture for a long time but she was a city girl from Farmington,” Don states as he grins. Both had been school teachers in Utah. Don taught vocational classes at the Utah Valley University and Shelia, a special education teacher for elementary schools. Being born and raised in the Utah Valley area, Don’s family had strong ties to Springville and ranching there. Don and Shelia raised their three children, Trudy, Nicole and Burk, in Springville on their small operation. “We go back now and I don’t know any of the roads and it looks completely different,” says Nicole. As long as one fights to stay in agriculture, one can’t overcome some obstacles and the Phillips family had lost their place to urban encroachment of the city and the State declaring the power of eminent domain to place a road through their operation. “We could have stayed but it was becoming too hard with the road straight down the middle of our place,” Don stated with a wave of his hand. “After that, I looked everywhere for a place to move. We looked in Idaho, Utah, Nevada, Wyoming, everywhere. And then found this place.” Phillips purchased Steptoe Ranch spring 2000. Their oldest daughter, Trudy, stayed in the Utah Valley in the nursing profession and their son, Burk, is in the Salt Lake City area as well. “We’re proud of them. Really proud. They’ve done well,” Don says of his children.
Nicole and her husband Lance Moore had both completed their bachelor’s degrees, Nicole in Agricultural Communications and Lance in Agricultural Science. When her parents moved to Steptoe Valley, the couple chose to move with them and help on the ranch. “We just decided this is what we want to do and Mom and Dad needed help, so we moved.” Now with four children of their own and having made the effort to stay in ranching, Nicole reminisces which of her kids will want to stay in ranching. Bailey (17) has become passionate about softball but still takes an active role on the ranch. Monte (13) has a few of his own cows and, when I asked if he would like to stay in ranching, he clearly said, “Oh ya. I hope I can.” And the youngest two, Mallory (10) and Emily (7) both love to change water with Dad, help push cows, or go to softball practice with big sister. “We’ll just see,” says Nicole of her kids’ interest in the ranch. Although, the issue of urban encroachment is not one of their biggest issues in Steptoe Valley since it’s a challenge to see one car pass by each day, the family still comes across their fair share of challenges. “I think in 12 years here, we’ve had 5-6 range cons,” Don and Lance both state in agreement. “About the time we are on the same page with one, we get another one. And now, I’m putting up those tags on the fence to make sure wildlife and sage grouse don’t run into it.” Over the course of their time at Steptoe Ranch, the family has not only gone through many range cons but has taken voluntary non-use on over half their AUMs to rest the allotment and support the wildlife it contains. As true stewards of the range, the family chose to use their private more heavily to support their operation for a few years and protect the range from deterioration. And, as Don had said, found supplemental programs to support sage grouse conservation on their private by tagging fence lines in sage grouse habitat. Having known the family personally before, I had a great day learning about their operation and views on a proactive approach to management and continuing the family tradition in agriculture. I had driven highway 93 for quite a few years now and could see the trees from their property tucked back from the highway at the base of the mountain range. It had been one of my signs I was close to home. I’m glad to have had the chance to learn about the family who had made their home there, all three generations. And, having grown up watching the older two children of Lance and Nicole’s in showmanship, I now see the family resemblance in the proud stance of a showman that has been the agriculture industry for years. Please visit our Facebook page to see more photos from the Steptoe Ranch. Thank you to the Phillips and Moore Family for the opportunity to showcase your ranch and your longtime support of the cattle industry. Stay tuned next month for more stories from “Across the kitchen table.”
UPDATE FIRE Continued from page 3————————— and wildlife? Where are the improvements and infrastructure associated with these ranges? These questions can and should be answered by those of us who live and work there every day. Many counties in Nevada don’t have the resources in their local departments to assist in fire suppression efforts for long periods of time. These counties rely upon the federal agencies to protect the private property of livestock, fences, troughs, developments, etc. I hope that a more state level approach can be taken in the near future to help protect the rights of taxpayers of Nevada from losses due to fire. A cooperating agency status between local, county, state, and federal resources needs to be in place, regardless of what side of a county line or property line a fire is burning on. The Nevada Cattlemen’s Association was instrumental in getting the ranch liaison program going in north east Nevada. I want us to be key in ensuring that is continues to serve its purpose in this part of the state and in bringing it
4 August | September 2012
to the remainder of the state. There are many local ranchers scattered across Elko and Eureka Counties that are currently involved in the rancher’s liaison program. These individuals are part of the Incident Command Team and have direct contact with firefighting personnel. By having a voice on the command team, more resources can be saved through the use of the best tactics for all stakeholders. This summer is going to be a challenge for Nevada’s beef industry. Between the dry conditions and threat of wild fire, many producers spend the days anxiously watching the skies for a chance of precipitation and the dreaded lighting. It is going to be tough enough to hang and rattle through this one. We don’t need the added impacts of mismanaged fire on our allotments compounding the issues we face. I encourage all of you to go meet with your local federal agency leads. If you need assistance in the matter, please call the office and Desiree or myself will be happy to point you in the direction The Progressive Rancher
of people who can help. We all need to be sure someone in our local areas, with working knowledge of the area, its people and needs is part of the liaison program and will be representing ranching operations on the fire line. I hope to see many of you in Winnemucca the end of this month. The markets continue to hold strong, and although many of us may have lighter calves this fall, we should see another decent year if we can bring everything through the next couple months without a major disaster. We all need to work together to protect the resources within the state. I understand these are “federal lands” in most cases, but the people of the State of Nevada live upon them. It is our resources that are threatened and lost. Whether it is wildlife, livestock, fences, or water improvements, WE have a vested interest in seeing that fire is managed in a fashion that protects Nevada, so let’s do our part to protect ourselves. www.progressiverancher.com
COW CAMP
Chatter
R on
To r e l l
, L on g - S ta n
M
d i n g E d u c at o r a n d A d v o c a t e o f
A g r ic
Strategic Weaning:
e u lt u r
any regions of the country are experiencing one of the driest precipitation cycles in recent history. These extreme drought conditions require management intervention on behalf of the bovine. Some ranchers are turning their cows out on irrigated pasture with no plans of haying their meadows. Others are reducing the size of their herds through stringent culling and marketing. Cattlemen are faced with making critical management decisions. They need to either increase nutrient supply, which is costly, or decrease nutrient demand. During periods of drought strategic weaning is one management option ranchers can use to reduce nutrient demand in an effort to manage cow body condition relative to the available nutrient supply. Reduced quantity and quality of feed during drought years coupled with the effects of suckling and lactation generally causes thin cows. Thin cows are set up to fail reproductively unless steps are taken to turn this around. The short-term effect of suckling and lactation during drought conditions lengthens a cow’s postpartum interval. This may reduce or delay pregnancy during her current breeding season. Long-term effects may delay or reduce pregnancy in subsequent years. Forage resources vary greatly in different regions of the country contingent upon annual precipitation. In areas and years when feed conditions are favorable, some cows and calves may actually gain weight late in lactation. Under these conditions an extended lactation or delayed weaning date may be warranted. However, if low reproductive rates and low body condition scores are anticipated due to drought conditions, altering weaning dates is one option to be considered to add body condition to thin cows. Weaning calves from mature cows at 5 to 6 months of age has the potential to increase cow body condition by reducing forage and nutrient demands. The most favorable months to change body condition in late spring calving cows are generally September, October and November. Prior to September, and/or a calf age of 150 days, the production/demand for milk is high making it difficult to add cow body condition. After November expensive
Managing Cow Body Condition During Drought
processed feeds may be required because often times standing dry forage may be in short supply and of inferior quality. This coupled with the impact of colder temperatures makes it difficult to add body condition. Long-term drought management options should be taken into account when purchasing herd sires. Many cattlemen chase frame size, growth and high milk EPD bulls. Drought years usually will reveal the err of their ways in doing so. By selecting bull power based off of wet years a ranch is setting itself up to fail on dry years. Conceivably bulls should be selected based on the criteria of a dry year. Big framed high milking cows sired by these bulls have a higher nutrient demand which shows up in reduced body condition and open cows during harsh times. An additional long-term management tool is to calve later in the spring during green grass which better matches the nutritional supply to the nutritional demand of the cow. When considering strategic or early weaning, it’s important to point out that the seed stock beef industry adjusts weaning weights to 205 days to make a fair comparison of animals born on different dates. Older calves normally weigh more than younger herd mates. The practice of adjusting weights to 205 days of age has led many to believe that weaning should occur at 205 days. The 205 day weaning date is not set in stone. In reality there is little basis for the practice of 205 day weaning in commercial herds. Weaning time should be in sync with feed resources and cow body condition. Calves of 150 days of age or more have a fully functional rumen. Research has clearly shown that by implementing post-weaning health practices, nutrition, and care, successful weaning can occur. Without adequate weaning facilities including feed, water and fences, an off-ranch weaning system should be considered. This is especially true on drought years when feed resources are limited. As this article deals specifically with strategic weaning as it relates to managing cow body condition during times of drought, the subject of the actual weaning process of calves has not been specifically addressed. Consult your local ruminant nutritionist or health care professional for recommendations on the weaning process of young calves. That’s enough for this month. A special thanks to my wife Jackie for her part in writing Cow Camp Chatter. As always, if you would like to discuss this article or simply want to talk cows, do not hesitate to contact me at 775-385-7665 orrtbulls@frontier.com.
RT Range-ready A.I. Sired Angus Bulls, Accelerated Genetics Semen, Custom Artificial Insemination & Ranch Management Consulting Ron & Jackie Torell ♦ 775-385-7665 ♦ rtbulls@frontier.com www.progressiverancher.com
The Progressive Rancher
August | September 2012 5
COW CAMP R on
Chatter
To r e l l
, L on g - S ta n
d i n g E d u c at o r a n d A d v o c a t e o f
Technological Tools of the Trade the past 150 years. The list is certainly not inclusive yet hits the high points.
A g r ic u
lt u r e
M
odern day technology and the products that we take for granted such as computers with high speed internet access, IPods, GPS, PDAs, and cell phones would be fascinating to generations gone by. Computers are no longer new technology but a given in the educational system and business world. It’s astonishing that almost every child graduating from high school today will have been educated by way of computers beginning as early as preschool. Which of these modern day innovations fascinates you the most? For some it’s none of the above. It’s human nature to resist change and stick with what we are comfortable with. Due to cost, tradition or simply stubborn nature those who are reluctant to go along with the new-fangled technology take on tasks the hard way knowing there are tools available which may simplify their work. Imagine the amazement of the cave man as the first wheel rolled off the assembly line. This fascination with new technology probably received the same level of both amazement and initial resistance throughout time as it does today. The wheel led to the human drawn pull cart which led to the horse drawn cart which led to the motorized vehicle. The beef industry has gone through a similar evolution brought on by technology. Following is a chronological short-list of technologies that have helped shape the U.S. beef industry over
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6 August | September 2012
5/23/2011 5:27:11 PM
1868
Refrigerated rail car units introduced
1920’s
Official grading of beef carcasses begins
1930’s Beef cattle improvement research initiated Artificial Insemination of cattle commercialized 1940’s Antibiotic and vaccine development for livestock First heritability estimates for beef cattle traits published 1950’s
First successful transfer of a bovine embryo made First successful conception utilizing frozen semen
1960’s Acceptance and use of growth promoting implants 1970’s
First ionophore introduced for enhancing feed efficiency First prostaglandin approved for synchronization of estrus First calf born in the U.S. from a frozen embryo Mandatory Brucellosis vaccination program initiated
1980’s
Anthelmintic product development to effectively control parasites Refinement of antibiotics and vaccines First identical twin calves born in U.S. from embryo splitting Expected Progeny Differences (EPD’s) gained acceptance Satellite auctions introduced
1990’s Ultrasound technology accepted Check-off funded convenience products developed and introduced DNA technology utilized 2000’s
Computers, cell phones and e-mail used widely by industry Sexed semen available commercially Internet auctions gain popularity Electronic Identification capabilities introduced to the industry Instrument grading introduced to packing industry Genomic enhanced EPD’s accepted and utilized Heat synchronization protocols refined GPS technology widely used in agriculture
What have you incorporated into your operation from this list? Satellite auctions for example were very slow to catch on in the early 1980’s. Now the majority of truck load lots of cattle are marketed in this manner. Is internet marketing the next generational jump in technology? Ask yourself what you are willing to accept now or in the future. In the beef industry we often hear about some professor, company, or corporate ranch manager with their vision or use of electronic identification, DNA testing, ultrasound, individual record keeping systems or computer programs which aid the producer in profitable beef cow management. If we aren’t already using this new technology we often question if we should be. Much of this technology requires the quantity of cattle to make it economically viable and also requires facilities and labor adequate enough to support the technology. Not every operation is created equal so just because a new technology works for one ranch does not necessarily mean it will economically benefit another. All the technology in the world is no substitute for understanding and managing the basic needs of the beef cow. It’s important to keep in perspective that its technology that has changed and not the science and husbandry of the ruminant. The basic principles and understanding of beef cow management must be in place prior to successfully implementing these new tools. Applying new technology prior to having a solid understanding of the beef cow coupled with experience in ranch management is a good way to go broke fast. Not adopting some technologies is also a good way to go broke. There needs to be a balance. Bottom line, not all new technology is for every operation. Sometimes taking a cautious, wait-and-see approach is warranted. On a personal level, my recent exposure to a crawler mounted hydraulic corner post pounder borrowed from a neighbor was an easy technology for me to embrace. I know now that there is a better tool for the job than my shovel and bar for digging holes. That’s enough for this month. A special thanks to my wife Jackie for her part in writing Cow Camp Chatter. As always, if you would like to discuss this article or simply want to talk cows, do not hesitate to contact me at 775-385-7665 or rtbulls@frontier.com.
The Progressive Rancher
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Sales Results from July 18, 2012
Sales Results from July 18, 2012
Regular Butcher Cow and Bull Sale
Seller
Vincente Padilla Gund Ranch Kelly Johnson Jerry Harper
City
# Head
Desc.
Type
Austin
1
BLK
Cow/Calf
MIX
Cow/Calf
1 2
BBF BLK
STR STR
1 18 3 1 1 1 1 4 1 1 1
BLK BLK MIX MIX BLK BLK BLK BLK BLK BLK BLK
STR HFR HFR HFR HFRTT COW COW HFRTT COW HFRTT COW
760 638 647 530 895 1105 1280 1010 1210 1090 1170
$117.00 $126.00 $115.50 $110.00 $93.00 $72.75 $67.00 $86.00 $80.00 $75.00 $75.00
17
MIX
COW
1319
$71.75
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
BLK RD RBF BLK RBF MIX RBF RD BLK RD
COW COW COW COW COW COW COW COW COW COW
950 1025 1130 750 1055 860 795 995 1710 1265
$71.00 $69.75 $69.00 $63.75 $68.50 $67.50 $66.75 $68.00 $67.50 $67.50
Crescent Vly 9/9
Hiko Paradise Valley Mark Daly Eureka Gund Ranch Crescent Vly Mark Daly Eureka Kelly Johnson Hiko Dellis Bone Reno Dellis Bone Reno Dellis Bone Reno Gund Ranch Crescent Vly Grass Valley Ranch Austin Grass Valley Ranch Austin Grass Valley Ranch Austin Paradise Jerry Harper Valley Steve Medlin Alamo Alan & Lillian Mendes Reno Kenneth Buckingham Paradise Vly Kenneth Buckingham Paradise Vly Douglas Quintero Jr Schurz Douglas Quintero Jr Schurz Douglas Quintero Jr Schurz Brandon Quintero Schurz Armando Chavira Fallon Guy Fowler Fallon
Weight
Price CWT
1435 $1,200.00/ hd 1252 $1,080.00/ hd 520 $140.00 735 $128.00
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Regular Butcher Cow and Bull Sale
Seller
City
# Head
Desc.
Type
Weight
Price CWT
Troy Adams James Sloan John & Terry Cooper John & Terry Cooper Desert Hills Dairy Desert Hills Dairy Desert Hills Dairy Marge Shepard Jessie Rose Dairy Jessie Rose Dairy Lacas Vacas Lacas Vacas Oasis Dairy LLC Guy Fowler Vincente Padilla Vincente Padilla John Uhalde & Co John Uhalde & Co John Uhalde & Co Steve Medlin Steve Medlin Alan & Lillian Mendes Alan & Lillian Mendes
Fallon Fallon Oakdale Oakdale Yerington Yerington Yerington Fallon Fallon Fallon Fallon Fallon Fallon Fallon Austin Austin Ely Ely Ely Alamo Alamo Reno Reno Crescent Valley Fallon Schurz Fallon Hiko Fallon
1 1 1 1 7 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
BLK BBF BLK BLK HOLSTEIN HOLSTEIN HOLSTEIN HOLSTEIN HOLSTEIN HOLSTEIN HOLSTEIN HOLSTEIN HOLSTEIN BLK BLK BRDL BLK BLK BLK BLK BLK RD BLK
COW COW COW COW HFRTT COW COW COW COW COW COW COW COW BULL BULL BULL BULL BULL BULL BULL BULL BULL BULL
1460 1180 1245 1050 999 1710 1600 1805 1830 1660 1840 1345 1770 2115 1695 1565 1995 1915 1880 1685 1500 1585 1590
$67.00 $65.00 $65.00 $63.00 $82.00 $72.75 $70.00 $71.25 $71.00 $67.50 $70.75 $65.00 $63.50 $87.00 $85.75 $84.00 $84.25 $80.00 $79.50 $84.00 $83.00 $83.00 $80.25
1
WF
BULL
1965
$83.00
1 1 1 1 1
BLK BRDL BLK BLK HOLSTEIN
BULL BULL BULL BULL BULL
1950 965 1050 1350 1995
$82.00 $74.00 $73.00 $71.00 $82.25
Gund Ranch Mickey Laca Donald Quintero Troy Adams Kelly Johnson J.M. Gomes Ranch
TO ALL OF OUR CONSIGNORS & BUYERS Look for Weekly Market Reports at www.nevadalivestock.us www.progressiverancher.com
The Progressive Rancher
August | September 2012 7
By Joe Guild
“Whoever could make two ears of corn or two blades of grass, to grow upon a spot of ground where only one grew before, would deserve better of mankind, and do more essential service to his country, than the whole race of politicians put together.”
I
thought this an appropriate quote in this season where politics and the ongoing dilemma of how to make the general public and our elected officials realize how important farmers and ranchers are to them and their well being. This is very much on my mind these days. On the political front, when did you hear either of the presidential candidates mention agriculture in a nationally televised event or speech? There is much in the news this summer about the largest drought in the last 50 years and the impact the drought is having on the corn and soybean crops in the
8 August | September 2012
Jonathan Swift, “Gulliver’s Travels” mid-west. There are also some reports how the reduced crop will result in higher prices to consumers of food into the next year. For instance, as I write this in mid-July, there is an article on the internet reporting milk prices will be the first to increase because of the drought. This disaster which now covers more than half of the continental U.S. and it is being compared to the dust bowl drought years of the 1930s. In fact, other internet articles this same day mentioned the general negative impact the drought caused crop failures could have on the larger American economy. Indeed, if you go to any number of web sites which have a political link, there is not one comment from either candidate about agriculture in general or the drought impact on agriculture more specifically. This is really interesting because everything I am reading lately about the Presidential election from commentators at both ends of the political spectrum tells me the election is going to hinge on the state of the economy. The jobless claims rate hit a plateau for a while and is now rising again. Existing home sales declined in June at the beginning of the traditional peak in summer sales activity. Factory activity in the crucial mid–Atlantic region contracted in July for the third straight month. One economist was quoted: “Gridlock is no longer just a political game. It is having real economic effects. Until business leaders can plan with more certainty, there is little chance the economy can accelerate to a solid pace.” Couple this woeful news with the impacts of the drought and it is no wonder the experts predict, with the election just over 4 months away, the economy will be a major factor in the fall elections. Thus, this lack of any reference to agriculture by these national candidates, in my opinion, is a symptom of the lack of recognition of the importance of agriculture in the society as a whole. Why should this failure to recognize the importance of what you do be of concern to you? Well, a bunch of reasons come to mind. I will discuss only one which affects public land ranchers primarily. The issues raised
by efforts on the part of politicians, and the bureaucrats working for those politicians, to further regulate agriculture are driven ironically by people who, I am led to believe, eat at least one meal every day. However, for reasons I cannot fathom, these same people do not like agriculture as it has been developed in this country over our long history. The potential listing of the greater sage grouse as an endangered species is much in the news these days. I will leave it to other reports in this and other publications to explore the details of the status of the bird and the science, or lack thereof, being used to argue for a listing of the sage grouse as an endangered species. Instead, I will concentrate on what I believe to be the politics being played with the issue of whether to list this bird. Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), anyone can request that any species they believe to be threatened with extinction be evaluated by the relevant federal agency to determine whether listing that species as threatened or endangered is warranted. This is exactly what occurred relative to the sage grouse a number of years ago, as most of you know by now. Groups opposed to public land grazing supported the review by the Fish and Wildlife Service (FWS) of the question of whether the greater sage grouse should be listed. After several years of evaluation and hundreds of comments both supporting and opposing this listing, in March of 2010, the FWS concluded that listing of the sage grouse was warranted but precluded at that time because of higher priorities the service was evaluating. It is estimated there are over 500,000 greater sage grouse west wide. This seems like a lot of anything to me. Also, in everything I’ve read, or personally experienced, there are ways to protect and enhance the habitat of this bird, most of which are either misunderstood or disregarded by the people who want to eliminate livestock grazing on the public lands. These groups shout loud and long and have the ear of many politicians and regulators. Thus, there is a general disbelief that grazing livestock are a valuable tool which can be used prescrip-
The Progressive Rancher
tively to eliminate fire fuel loads in areas susceptible to catastrophic wildfires. By eliminating these fuel loads, particularly in the Great Basin, one of the chief threats to sage grouse habitat, wildfire, can be significantly reduced. Further, selective use of grazing livestock can enhance perennial native plant growth which can contribute to more productive, healthy and diverse rangelands. If these places are healthy and productive places for cows to graze, they will be healthy places for sage grouse too. Also, we all know that where humans have exercised some control of the land through agricultural practices, whether improving a spring or planting a pivot irrigated field of alfalfa, sage grouse have benefitted from this symbiotic relationship with man. We know these things and there is science and experience to back up my statements. And yet, there is a general lack of awareness, understanding and knowledge among politicians and bureaucrats about the agriculture they depend upon to feed them every day. They listen to the detractors and the critics; the misguided and the zealots and not to the people with the actual knowledge, understanding and experience. Those folks, you, are too busy working to feed us all that you don’t have the time or the energy to yell loud and long. It baffles me that people who eat at least one meal every day grown and raised by modern agriculture fail to see the big picture and connect the dots from their plates to the fields when they ponder decisions which could impact the price, amount, quality and safety of the food they eat. And now, we have an additional economic component because of the drought which will be a major factor in the upcoming fall elections and they are still not paying attention to the potential impact of their decisions. Sometimes I get so frustrated, I think for a moment I will switch from hamburger to tofu — and then I wake up from my nightmare. I’ll see you soon. www.progressiverancher.com
UPDATE DROUGHT Continued from page 3—— lawsuit to stop gathers, to prevent sale authority, and to limit management keeps the agency sitting on the fence. There is little help from Washington DC on doing what is right for wild horse management. The agency, plain and simple, isn’t afraid of a rancher’s lawsuit threat. There is no wonder there is so much uncertainty in the cattle market today. Obviously the drought is a major concern for producers, feeders, and packers across the country. With a failing corn crop wilting under the baking sun, and a government imposed mandate to put 40% of our country’s corn crop into our fuel tanks, food supplies are going to tighten. I read the daily reports coming out of Washington that say there will be little immediate impact on food prices and supply, that the long term effects will be less than previously thought. Come on people! Let’s take a real look at what is going on here. It is another case of an environmental agenda causing damage upon the agriculture industry. One difference this time is that the “trickle down” effects are going to be felt by Mr. and Mrs. Suburbia as well. When people are hungry are we going to feed them ethanol or distillers grain? Throughout history, I have not heard of a society surviving and continuing to grow their economy while burning their food for as a form of motor vehicle fuel. For some reason, it was determined that the way to clean up our air was to put oxygenators into our motor fuel, such as ethanol derived from corn. Now, don’t get me wrong. I love to step outside every morning and fill my lungs with crisp clean air and start the day, but I also like to know that my corn flakes and milk aren’t going to cost me a day’s wages. As a country, too many of us have sat passively and allowed the environmental movement to pursue their agenda in Washington and our state capitals. We did not end up in this situation over night, and we damn sure won’t rectify it overnight, but we are going to have to start swinging the pendulum the other direction. We, as rural American’s tend to hang our hats on “the next election cycle”. When leadership changes, the people responsible for pushing anti-agriculture policy forward return to the shadows and the talk of changing direction soon slows. We never seem to be able to bring policy back to the middle. We stop the bleeding, adapt how we do business so we can make a living under the new regulations and wait for the power to sift again. The agenda pushers emerge from the shadows and the bleeding resumes. Whether we are talking about a clean air initiative that forces us to put feedstuffs in our gas tanks, a Drought EA that removes an agriculture sector’s livelihood, the mismanagement of pre-suppression efforts to control fire, or an EPA witch hunt on 150 year old lead levels in a mining community, the time for us as a state and nation to say enough is enough is now. The Weather Channel, CNN, Fox News, PINENUT LIVESTOCK and all the network news have been running specials on the cost of the worst drought in SUPPLY INC. decades. Now may be the time to educate the American public on how “green” our way of is pleased to announce life truly is. If we cannot find a way to connect to main stream America, and actually the opening of their get policy makers in place who will work to put policy back to the center, the next President of NCA will be writing the same articles. We are an industry that is good for the environment. We have adapted over the at last few decades to produce more efficiently converting cattle, we operate tractors and trucks with cleaner emissions, we graze fuels to prevent pollutions from wild fires, and we Reno Highway across from feed our children cornflakes, not our cars. A&K Earth Movers Agriculture will be on everyone’s lips this fall. From the Farm Bill to the cost of food and fuel, we will be at the center of attention. We must stand our ground, push Stop by and back, and educate our friends and neighbors see our new place, on what is really happening. The agencies may not be afraid of our lawsuits, but the we look forward elected officials that control them damn sure to seeing you! want to keep their jobs. If the voters finally see the error in the direction this country has taken, then we will not only have a successful “next election cycle”, but we will also PHONE: 775-423-5338 see a move to bring the pendulum back to john@pinenutlivestocksupply.com the center.
Upcoming Sales
August 6th & 7th Little America, Cheyenne, WY Bidding Line: 307-778-2697
September 10th Haythorn Ranch, Ogallala, NE Catalog Deadline: Thursday, August 23rd
WATCH & LISTEN TO THE SALE on the Web at:
new Fallon location 263 Dorral Way
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The Progressive Rancher
August | September 2012 9
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10 August | September 2012
The Progressive Rancher
www.progressiverancher.com
MARKET REPORT
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July 17, 2012
Weight
TOP OFFERINGS Steer
Heifer
300-400 139.5-176.00 131.75-141.00 400-500 138.00-161.00 129.00-137.00 500-600 138.00-159.00 115.00-126.00 600-700 133.00-144.00 119.00-124.75 700-800 126.00-136.00 95.00-106.00 800 & Over 107.00-118.00 100.00-110.00 Lite Holstein (under 600#) 75.00-93.00 Heavy Holstein (over 600#) 65.00-80.00 Single, Small Framed or Plainer Cattle 15.00 to 20.00 less than top offerings
BUTCHER COWS & BULLS
Livestock Exchange, Inc. Sale Every Tuesday at 11:00 AM Selling All Classes of Livestock: • Cattle • Horses • Sheep • Goats • Pigs
ANNOUNCING
The
Special CALF and YEARLING SALE Tuesday, August 28th, 2012 • 1:00 p.m. (Along with our Regular Sale)
Ranchers, By consigning your good cattle to Fallon Livestock Exchange, our sorting crew will sort, size and class your cattle so buyers will give full market value for them. We feed good alfalfa hay and fresh water in our pens.
Remember, Call Us Early To Consign! It Pays!!
Breakers (Fat Cows) 68.00-72.00 Boners (Med Flesh) 74.00-77.00 Cutters (Lean) 56.00-63.00 Holstein Cows 65.50-73.00 Butcher Bulls 80.00-88.00 Shelly (Thin) Bulls 40.00-52.00 Shelly Cutters (Thin) 20.00-40.00 Young Feeder Cows 65.00-75.00 Heiferettes 80.00-90.00 Holstein Heiferettes 80.00-93.00 Holstein Bulls 70.00-84.00 Feeder Bulls 60.00-65.00 Cutting Bulls 80.00-95.00 Preg Tested Cows (3-4-5 yr. old solid mouth) NT Pairs (solid mouth) 3-6 yrs NT Pairs (broken mouth) 1025.00-1200.00
TODAY’S COWS Top Cow Top 10 Cows Top 50 Cows Top 100 Cows Top Butcher Bull Top Holstein Cow Top 10 Holstein Cows
Avg. Wt 1182 1225 1345 1235 1925 1700 1229
Avg. Cost 88.00 82.87 76.27 71.97 88.00 73.00 67.00
CALVES-SHEEP-GOATS-PIGS-HORSES Beef Calves (HD) Dairy Calves Feeder Lambs Fat Lambs Ewes (CWT) Bucks (CWT) Small Goats (under 65 lbs.) (HD) Large Goats (over 70 lbs.) (HD) Weaner Pigs Feeder Pigs Top Hogs Butcher Sows Horses (under 1100 lbs.) Horses (over 1100 lbs.)
60.00-310.00 2.00-35.00 100.00-125.00 90.00-110.00 35.00-71.00 45.00-68.00 20.00-90.00 95.00-145.00 45.00-115.00 60.00-130.00 60.00-75.00 20.00-40.00 10.00-20.00 25.00-43.00
MARKET TRENDS:
We would like to say thank you to all of our consignors and buyers, for your continued support.
Feeder Cattle sold better than most people predicted, with the grain market reaching all time highs and the cattle futures going down daily. Butcher cows sold steady to 3.00 lower wiht strong packer demand. Reminder: We have trucks available for your hauling needs. Pasture to pasture or here to the sale yard.
Fallon Livestock Exchange, Inc.
For more marketing information, or to arrange trucking needs: Call Monte Bruck, Manager at
775-867-2020
775-426-8279
2055 Trento Lane • Fallon, Nevada 89406
www.progressiverancher.com
The Progressive Rancher
August | September 2012 11
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The Progressive Rancher
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S
Horse Snorts
uch a dry summer! Not since ’65 have I seen it so dry! The fire season is upon us early this year. With all the forage allowed to build up in the pretense of saving the land (for fire) we will have some dossiers! And the wind, have you ever seen such a consistent wind? It just can’t not blow! An excellent time to have those wind power turbines in operation! Nevada being what it is seems an excellent place to have solar and wind power generators in production! Water is getting to be scarce. Waterholes are drying up and water level in wells is dropping. Water is getting pumped out faster than nature is recharging the underground supply. The mines about the area are pumping astronomical amounts of water from the ground and have no beneficial place to use it. Just pump it out of the way and dump it! All the scientific minds at work in those places, any rancher could figure out a way to use that water to benefit something to grow and produce for mankind. ——— ❁ ——— Just a bit on the political kick---How can our fearless leader of the United States find time to do monumental fund raisers with so much more frequency than any previous President and still find time to micromanage the United States? He likes his fund raising much more than he likes the United States of America! Such a shame we as a people
www.progressiverancher.com
AND
Cow Bawls
together, one certainly had to roll up one’s pants for fear of stepping in all the BS! The passing of an era. Kind of hits home when it happens in our own generation!!!
——— ❁ ——— Missed out on all the kids’ stories. I write notes on them when I’m out and about then misplace the notes. However, I do recall listening to Samme tell her niece, Emma, of one of her own stories when she was little. She was too little to get on her horse without help. Samme was bringing along the drag on a drive by herself and had a call of nature. Thinking little minds find a way. She figured if she dropped her pants and hung off ole Sonny’s side she could accomplish her mission. She did, but left a tell tale wet streak down the horse’s shoulder!!! When I got back to her, everything was a-OK. Good thing horses are forgiving! I’m kind of like a well; I’m drying up on my stories!!! Kind of in a slump so bear with me. The weeds seem to grow regardless of the moisture we are getting. Hard to fathom back east where they are having 12 inches of rain in one storm! We would be happy with one inch at this point. But at any rate, I had better get on the weed control!
by Jeanne King are so uninformed as to the real worth of a person that we have to rely on the bought and paid for media to lead us by the hand down the path of destruction!! How was that for a mouthful?? ——— ❁ ——— On a more somber side of the page, the world lost a great person in the passing of Paula Bear Wright. She was the backbone of more than just Capriola’s. She was a pillar of the whole community, the whole agriculture and retail industry, and so much more. One could always count on Paula for a smile, a laugh, or great insight to a particular problem. She is sorely missed. She should have had a great many years yet to grace us. ——— ❁ ——— We were also saddened to hear of the passing of Jock Echave and his daughter, Kristin. My family has been friends with the Echaves for many, many years. Our fathers enjoyed each others company for years. When they were
The Progressive Rancher
——— ❁ ——— Pray for rain, do a rain dance, wash the windows, wash your vehicle, what ever it takes!!!!!
August | September 2012 13
Letter to the Editor Note: The opinions expressed herein are strictly those of the author. The Progressive Rancher neither seeks or endorses these submissions, but allows all to voice their views.
Fumes From The Farm by Hank Vogler I am starting to understand the phrase, “but for the grace of God go I”. I have been CT-scanned, m-r-ide, and x-rayed so many times, I can cook a steak by just holding it my hand. I am always an optimist so I have opened up a new business. For a small fee, I will come to your outdoor party and walk around. I am a human bug zapper, just trying to make the best of a bad situation. Leo had a flat tire on the water truck yesterday evening. He came and got me to help. He didn’t want me to help change the tire. He just wanted me to stand there by the truck for the light as I now glow in the dark. When Leana sends me an e-mail, telling me to write something for the next issue, it crosses my mind that eventually one could run out of material. NOT A CHANCE!!! As long as the touchy feely crowd allow the inmates to run the asylum, fresh male bovine fecal matter runes like water. If you haven’t had a fire on your street yet, just wait. It has taken us seventy plus years of fire suppression to discover that you can’t mess with Ma nature. She has all the time in the world and will always win. All fires are not created equal. Close to civilization it would behoove the masses to do some brush clearing and some planning to keep fires on the small side. Out here on the high wide and lonesome we need to have a smoker going all fall and all spring to limit the fuel as much as we can to keep the fires from getting overly large. Hot season burns are not the best. It tends to cook the soil and it takes longer for stuff to grow back. We long ago went by critical mass. A dry year like this where the lizards are trying to squeeze the rocks for moisture, is a case in point that when Ma nature gets ready, you can’t stop her. Me, I am a capitalist pig. Yes, we all know that ranchers are here to rape, pillage, and plunder the public domain for fun and profit. I would like to see us, where possible; grind up the trees and brush to create electricity, wood pellets, air fresheners or toilet paper or houses or park benches or something other than black snags. Rather than kick the livestock off, maybe, just maybe, evaluate each area and allow short duration grazing to limit invasive species and cut down on the lite fuel loads. Yes, one size does not fit all and two years automatic no grazing hasn’t cut fuel loads yet. So let’s take a chance Columbus did. Lite fuels are a term for COW AND SHEEP FEED!!!! Odd isn’t it? Ranchers will pay to suppress fire. Loggers will fill county coffers with money to harvest and replant timber. Fresh money, new wealth from renewable natural resources what a concept!!!!!! A friend of mine just sent me a video of a fire that has gotten out of control near Frenchglen Oregon. The fire is just down the street from where the Hammond family had a controlled burn get away from them and it burned 158 acres of public domain. They face five years in prison for this tiny infraction. In the video it shows BLM fire crews setting fires that are burning houses, cattle with burns all over them and BLM personnel burning fires towards working corrals and ranchers trying to save their cattle. Unfortunately this may just get us to go back to the total suppression mode and exasperate the problem. We need local control. We need people with common sense to be in charge and for god’s sake, if we make some mistakes it won’t be because we didn’t try. Second guessers that have never made a mistake have never done anything. Speaking of people that haven’t a clue of how the high cold desert works, you should see the letter that our somewhat distinguished Nevada governor, whom we all voted for, wrote to the head of the Forest Service. Whoever advises our Rino on rural issues should be given a map and told that North Las Vegas is not the rural communities of Nevada and beyond North Las Vegas is not the great Abyss. For the last four years, people with intestinal fortitude at the local ranger district have tried to get some prescribed burns going to open up the pinion and juniper canopy. They wish to get rid of some white fur to rejuvenate Quaking Aspen. This was being done in the name of management. The enviros don’t wish to do anything innovative. Enviros bread and butter are to keep the problem going. Solutions are kryptonite to their species. Now four years later, after exhausting appeals and public comments by the kool aid drinkers, our ranger, Jose Noriega, steps up to the plate and swings for the fence. The burning begins. The fires are working nicely. Ma Nature, who can take any position on the field that she wishes, decides to let a dry spell prolong and bring in high winds just to add some extra spin to the game and off the fire takes. Just so you know, my neighbor and I had skin in the game as these areas to be burned were our use areas. We, no matter what faced two years rest at the very least. We were willing to take this chance to have the water shed balanced back up. The creeks had become such a jungle the fish had to pack chain saws. The brush was so thick that the sage chickens were using periscopes to watch for predators. The deer and the elk were riding piggy back to reach up in the mahogany trees to get something to eat. This is the pristine stuff that the enviros want????? So any how the fire got a little large. Ironically I was in Pendleton Oregon testifying in a
14 August | September 2012
trial about a fire that my family personally witnessed near Frenchglen Oregon. The Hammond family was accused of setting the fire. Well of course, anything that happens on your allotment is your fault and you must prove yourself innocent. Several amendments to our constitution must be neglected to continue the juggernaut to the Gulags. I get a phone call from some young lad setting in Elko at the BLM office. He tells, rather he demands that I get my sheep off the Schell Creek Mountains in White Pine County. I had already been in contact with Jose and my range conservation officerette. We had the sheep miles away. A mere chip shot would get the sheep out of harm’s way. This young fellow was talking about seizing my animals sending bills for their removal and making little sense. It was then my twisted mind thought to ask him how many years he had wandered the mountains on the Schell Creeks. His reply was that he had gone to work at noon that day and the map was his only look that he had ever had of afore mentioned mountains. My first instinct was to Gomez the lad. Now Gomezing is a family term that when yours truly gets the purple slobbers, it’s called getting Gomezed. Gomez is my out of control evil twin that when kicked in the guts, acts like a badger in a trap and, well you surely get the picture. I finally said I was not having any fun and tried to say, politely good bye. My new friend then said well don’t you have a dog you could send up to bring the sheep out of the mountains? I didn’t have the patience to tell him that Jose Cordova and his dogs would take that as a huge insult as they have been with the girls for seventeen years and had more experience than a recruit with a map. All I could say as the blood was draining from my head, was, you young man, have watched too many Lassie movies; good day. John Wayne once said you can’t fix stupid. My boy Stensen called next and was so mad, that I was afraid he was going to take up Gomezing. The word was on the streets of Ely that we on the need more sheep company had started the fire. My, my, ain’t life grand? So now with the huge fires burning all through the Western Sage hen habitat, I guess Mr. Marvel and judge Winmill are going to go into competition with Colonel Sanders fried chicken and feature fried Sage Chickens. Well, that’s as logical as telling me that Jose Noriega’s controlled burn to restore a long overdue decadent piece of the Schell Creeks could raise the Governors ire to sign a letter to the Forest Service chief and the Secretary of Agriculture that by the wording of the letter knew less about the Schell Creeks than my new friend at Elko BLM dispatch. Hang and rattle Hank
Federal Court Ruling on Nevada Takings Claim Reno, Nev.--The United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit ruled Thursday, July 26, on a decades-long legal battle over a takings claim that received national attention and was a cornerstone of the Sagebrush Rebellion states’ rights movement. The Federal Circuit vacated the Court of Federal Claims’ award of monetary damages for a regulatory taking of water rights and compensation for range improvements in the case of The Estate of E. Wayne Hage v. United States, and reversed the finding that compensation was due for a temporary physical taking of water rights, in this 20-year-old case in which a rancher alleged a taking of his ranching operation by the government, based on the government’s efforts to enforce land management statutes. In its ruling, the Federal Circuit held that the Claims Court erred in holding that the Hages’ regulatory takings claim was ripe, because the Hages failed to seek special use permits to maintain their irrigation ditches, and vacated the award of compensation for a regulatory taking. As to the physical takings claims based on fences erected by the government, the Federal Circuit reversed the award of compensation since some claims were time barred and for the other claims, pursuant to Nevada law, the rancher could only assert a taking of water that he could put to beneficial use. The Court found that the Hages had presented no evidence that the government took any water that he could have put to beneficial use. The Court further noted that “water rights do not include an attendant right to graze,” citing the Circuit’s earlier Colvin Cattle, 436 F.3d 803 (Fed.
The Progressive Rancher
www.progressiverancher.com
Letter to the Editor Note: The opinions expressed herein are strictly those of the author. The Progressive Rancher neither seeks or endorses these submissions, but allows all to voice their views.
United States V. Vandenberg The Power of The Bureaucracy and The Press To Stop Access To Private Property By Karen Budd Falen, Budd-Falen Law Offices, LLC What started as an attempt to get access across Bureau of Land Management (“BLM”) land in western Colorado for one patented mining claim owner has turned into a full scale war by the federal government to make an example out of a private landowner to “deter [actions regarding access to private property] in the future.” Private landowner Andrew VanDenBerg is at the center of the controversy, including now being vilified by a press release issued by the Colorado U.S. Attorney’s Office (part of the U.S. Justice Department). Access to private property is guaranteed across federal lands by the Alaska National Interest Lands Conservation Act (“ANILCA”). Although the private landowner is required to file an application explaining the location of such access, that application cannot be denied under ANILCA. According to the Senate Committee reports regarding ANILCA, Congress intended to eliminate the federal government’s discretion in allowing adequate and feasible access to inholdings by “direct[ing] the Secretary to grant the owner of an inholding such rights as are necessary to assure adequate access to the inholding, and is intended to assure a permanent right of access to the concerned land across, through, or over these Federal lands by such State or private owners or occupiers and their successors in interest.” The problem with the application system however is that the BLM routinely, and many times, intentionally and unreasonably delays processing such applications, thereby denying access to the private property during the processing. It is more common than not to have an application for access delayed years, all the while denying access to private property. How can a private landowner enjoy and use his property if he cannot get to it? So starts the story for Mr. VanDenBerg. He cannot access his private property and the federal government refuses to process his application for reasonable access. But that is not all of the story.
Cir. 2006) decision. The Federal Circuit also vacated the award of statutory compensation for range improvements on ripeness grounds, because the Hages failed to satisfy the regulatory requirement that they first request compensation. Finally, the Federal Circuit affirmed the lower court finding that the Hages would not have been entitled to interest on the award for range improvements, rejecting the Hages’ argument that the range improvements were taken under the Fifth Amendment. LEGAL DEFINITIONS of VACATE To annul, set aside, or render void; to surrender possession or occupancy. The term vacate has two common usages in the law. With respect to real property, to vacate the premises means to give up possession of the property and leave the area totally devoid of contents. To vacate a court order or judgment means to cancel it or render it null and void. One common legal usage of vacate refers to the canceling or rescinding of court judgments and orders. State and federal rules of Civil Procedure give courts the authority to modify prior judgments. A judgment is the definitive act in a lawsuit that puts an end to the litigation by specifically granting or denying the relief requested by the parties. Once a judgment granting relief has been entered, the plaintiff may legally collect the damages awarded by the court. A motion to vacate a judgment must be based on a substantial issue. Rule 60(b) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure permits a federal court to relieve a party from an adverse judgment on various grounds including Fraud, mistake, newly discovered evidence, and satisfaction of the judgment. Definition provided by Legal Free Dicitonary: http://legal-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/vacate www.progressiverancher.com
In complete frustration at the bureaucratic delays and denials, Mr. VanDenBerg decided to use an existing road to get to his property. This road, noted as an existing road on the 2005 San Juan National Forest map and known as County Road 33A, has been in existence since 1886. The road was clearly visible on the ground as well as noted on the federal government’s maps. Mr. VanDenBerg cut dead fall timber from the roadway and moved it out of the way. Although he followed the tracks of the road and he did not get out of the roadway that has existed for over 125 years, the BLM charged him with civil trespass charges in federal district court. Not wanting to expend the money on a huge and expensive trial, Mr. VanDenBerg decided to settle with the BLM. The settlement agreement states that Mr. VanDenBerg does not admit to ANY of the claims or assertions put forward by the government and that he is simply reimbursing the federal government for the reclamation of the dead trees he cut. Although he did not want to settle with the federal government, he recognized that the federal government is represented by the largest law firm in the world, the U.S. Justice Department, and that he would be buried in litigation costs. He thought a settlement agreement would end the matter and that the BLM would process his application so that he could have the access to his private property that he was promised by Congress. But before the ink on the agreement was barely dry, the U.S. Attorneys Office issued a “press release” that incorrectly labels Mr. VanDenBerg as a “trespasser” and claiming his attempt to access his own private property is “unauthorized.” The release also states that Mr. VanDenBerg’s actions occurred in a “wilderness.” All of those statements had been disputed by Mr. VanDenBerg. Even the settlement agreement itself noted that these statements are only allegations by the United States, yet their press release states them as fact. When asked about the false and misleading statements in the press release (in addition to noting that Mr. VanDenBerg denied all of the allegations in the settlement agreement), the U.S. Attorney noted in an e-mail to Mr. VanDenBerg’s attorney, “While I realize that you and your client were disappointed in the press release, . . . it is routine for this office to issue press releases on these kinds of settlements, especially in cases where the conduct is of the kind that we hope to deter in the future.” The attitude taken by the federal government reminds me of the EPA Administrator who resigned in April of 2012 after his admission that the EPA enforcement is “like how the Romans used to conquer little villages in the Mediterranean. They’d go into a little Turkish town somewhere, they’d find the first five guys they saw, and they would crucify them. And then you know that town was really easy to manage for the next few years.” He then said the same approach could prod companies (and individuals) to obey environmental laws: “You make examples out of people who are not complying with the law.” In specifically reviewing the EPA’s tactic, often the “violations of the environmental laws” were not based upon statute or regulation, but based upon an interpretation by EPA personnel. The same holds true in these access cases. Congress guaranteed the right of access to private property across federal land. However, the intent of Congress is being completely ignored because individual landowners do not have the time and money to enter into costly legal battles against the massive bureaucracy to enforce their right of access to their private property. Exposing these infringements upon individual rights to the public and to Congress is a way to have these governmental agencies and the individuals within the agencies stop their unlawful coercion, intimidation, and strong arm tactics against individual citizens who have limited resources to defend themselves against these injustices. Mr. VanDenBerg has continually tried to gain access approval to his private property that he has owned since 2007; the BLM refused to grant him adequate access and he still has no access to his private property. Even though the BLM and Mr. VanDenBerg settled their legal dispute with neither party proving their case and Mr. VanDenBerg specifically stating that he did not admit liability for any fact or legal conclusion, the U.S. Attorneys office still issued a press release to make an example out him like the Romans did to conquer Turkish towns. Given the magnitude of the number of private individuals harmed by these illegal types of actions, it is no wonder that the federal government is mistrusted by so many injured individuals.
The Progressive Rancher
August | September 2012 15
LookUP
by Pastor Diana Gonzalez
B
oy, there’s nothing worse than doctoring livestock in the hot summer months. Ranchers hate to see their stock suffering with sickness and high fevers. We like to see our stock healthy, grazing in good pastures with shade trees to lie under, mama cows chewing their cuds with their calves lying nearby. Isn’t it neat that God’s the same way? He wants us to have the best and has provided us with an owner’s manual that teaches us how to live and how to live successfully. He has given us weapons to fight the enemy: the Name of Jesus, the Blood of Jesus, the Word (owner’s manual), and the Holy Spirit. Access to our Bible, God’s Holy Word, is the most powerful thing a Christian (or anybody) can have, because it enlightens us to all the other weapons. We learn who Jesus
Foot in Mouth Disease
is, why He came to earth, what His death did for us, and what it should mean to us. We learn about the power and authority Jesus died to give us. We learn about the power of His precious Blood. We can become acquainted with the Holy Spirit and learn who He is and what He wants to do for us daily. We wouldn’t run a new $250,000.00 tractor without reading the owner’s manual, would we? How much more important is it that we read, study and understand our Bible, so we know how to operate in this world, so we can live with success and safety, for us and our families. One of the most important things we need to learn is to make sure that the words we say line up with what the Bible says. Jesus said in John 6:63, “The words that I speak to you are spirit and are life.” NKJV — spirit and life. Proverbs 18:21 says, “Death and life are in the power of the tongue.” NKJV – life and death! Are your words producing life or death? Are you speaking blessings or curses over yourself and your family? Watch your mouth; you have what you say. Speak life; speak blessings. Proverbs 10:11: “The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life.” NAS – a fountain of life! Proverbs 10:21-22: “The lips of the righteous feed many, but fools die for lack of
You are invited to COWBOY CHURCH!
understanding” (lack of Godly knowledge – Hosea 4:6). “It is the blessing of the Lord that makes (us) rich and He adds no sorrow to it.” NAS Proverbs 10:31-32: “The mouth of the righteous flows with wisdom, but the perverted tongue will be cut out. The lips of the righteous bring forth what is acceptable, but the mouth of the wicked, what is perverted.” NAS Perverted (Webster) = led astray, corrupt, deviating from what is right or good, stubbornly contrary, obstinate, disobedient. We don’t want to be like that do we? We need to put a watch over our mouths; we need to pay attention to what we say, and make sure our words line up with the Bible. Paul says to the church in Ephesians 4:29-30, “Let no corrupt (unwholesome, perverted) word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification (building up), that may impart grace to the hearers. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.” When you ask kids what corrupt words are, many will answer, “bad words” (cuss words), and that is true and that does grieve the Holy Spirit, but how much more do we
Are you having a Rodeo or Livestock event? Give us a call.
1st Saturday of every month Standish, CA @ 6:00 p.m. Hwy. 395 /A3 — Standish 4-H Hall
We would love to come to your event or ranch and host Cowboy Church for you.
Harmony Ranch Ministry 3767 Keyes Way Fallon, NV 89406
16 August | September 2012
Tom J. Gonzalez Diana J. Gonzalez, Pastor threecrossls@cccomm.net
The Progressive Rancher
(775) 867-3100 Cell (775) 426-1107
grieve Him when our words go against His Word? When you say, “I am sick, I have poor eyesight, I have allergies, I have a bad back, I have diabetes,” that’s corrupt communication; it goes against God’s Word. Don’t claim or take that stuff! God’s Word says that by the stripes on my Jesus’ back, I was healed (I Peter 2:24). No matter how you feel, don’t claim sickness with your words; speak the Words of God. “I am poor” – corrupt words! God’s Word says He gives us the power to get wealth (Deuteronomy 8:18). “The blessing (the presence and grace of God) of the Lord makes us rich without sorrow.” (Proverbs 10:22) The Lord doesn’t make us toil, He makes us rich. “And my God shall supply all your needs according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:19 NKJV) God’s Word says redemption is available for us through Christ and His shed Blood. We can be free, rescued, ransomed, liberated, delivered and preserved (kept safe). We’re not poor! We are blessed! Let’s purpose in our hearts to get our foot out of our mouth and speak God’s Words of blessing and not cursing. And remember, you don’t necessarily count wealth with money. I know people with a lot of money who are poor. Proverbs 21:23: “He who guards his mouth and his tongue, guards his soul from troubles.” NAS Life and death are in the power of the tongue. Choose life! For more study, read: Proverbs 10 Psalm 91 I Peter 5:4-7 Isaiah 53:3-6 Ephesians 4:25-32 Read one chapter of Proverbs every day for wisdom. Happy trails. May God richly bless you. We love you and would love to hear from you. If you would like someone to pray with, or just have a question, please give us a call at (775) 867-3100. ‘Til next time…. www.progressiverancher.com
John “Jock” Martin Echave On June 30, 2012, John “Jock” Martin Echave passed away at his home in Jordan Valley, Oregon. He was 70 years old. Jock was born on January 30, 1942, in Winnemucca, Nevada, the eldest son of John and Marge. A mere fourteen months later his brother Frank was born and the two boys spent their childhood riding horses, tending cattle, preparing the teams for haying, spending time with family at King’s River, and enjoying their elementary years at the old school house with their mother as their teacher. When Jock was in the eighth grade, he moved to Winnemucca to go to school where he excelled in all sports, especially track, football, and basketball. After graduation he moved to Reno to play for the University of Nevada, Reno. Sporting the #33, he became a well-known fullback and was eventually offered a position with the Chicago Bears; however, after four full years of schooling, Jock made the decision to head back to the ranch to work for the family. Jock would not return home to the ranch alone though, for while at UNR, he met a lovely blonde, California girl: Karen Eileen Goodrich. Karen was a refined member of Gamma Phi Beta and Jock had been the president of the historic “rough and tough” Sundowners, yet they found love in each other’s arms, and on June 27, 1964, they were married in LaCanada,
1942 — 2012
California. For the next 46 years they were devoted to each other. Jock and Karen made their home at Oregon Canyon Ranch in McDermitt, Nevada. They had three children: Kristen, Michon, and Jon. As a parent, Jock demanded respect and worked to instill discipline in his children. Jock thoroughly enjoyed the many pleasures life provides on a cattle ranch. He was an avid trapper and loved hunting the big bucks. He was quite involved in his children’s lives at school as well. He helped coach various sports and was a constant on the side lines. He could relate to the kids because he had done it and he had patience in teaching and coaching. Jock obtained his pilot’s license and he and Karen frequently flew to many of their children’s events across the country. Flying was a hobby in his life for over twenty years, one in which he used for work and pleasure. After becoming a grandfather, Jock doted on his grandkids, kept them from being disciplined, and simply enjoyed spending time with them at every opportunity. An open house was held on July 7th at the home of Jon and Tara Echave, 3054 Dinwitty Lane, Jordan Valley, Oregon, for Jock and his daughter Kristen, who after a short hospital stay, passed away less than two full days after her father.
DINNER and a MOVIE
GREAT BASIN COLLEGE AGRICULTURE PROGRAM
At Great Basin College
THE GATHERING
Great Basin College Agriculture program, in the heart of Nevada’s Cowboy Country.
Saturday, September 15, 2012 5:30 p.m. drinks followed by dinner Movie at 7:30
Preparing graduates for professional employment or advanced academic study in agriculture.
Dinner and a Movie, $25 Movie only, $8 Catered by FLYING FISH In honor of the working buckaroo and to celebrate the traditions of people who live and work in the American West, we are showing the film, The Gathering. The Gathering is a full length high definition documentary featuring over 40 legends and masters of vaquero horsemanship from nine western states and their beautiful horses in what has been described as a “once-in-a- lifetime historical film production.” Brought to you by your friends at J.M. Capriola, The Van Norman and friends Production Sale, Great Basin College and The Ruby Mountain Film Festival.
Associate of Applied Science Associate of Arts Associate of Science Bachelor of Arts, Secondary EducationAgriculture Endorsement Bachelor of Arts, Integrative StudiesNatural Resources www.gbcnv.edu/agriculture
For more information, call GBC Continuing Education at 775.753.2231.
Great Basin College (GBC) does not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, color, age, sex, sexual orientation, military status, disability, national origin, gender identity or expression, or genetic information. For inquires, 775.738.8493.
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August | September 2012 17
NEVADA STALLION STAKES & Elko County NRCHA Show
Working Cowhorse Aged Event August 25-26 ★ Elko, Nevada Stallion Nomination Deadline: July 1st. Nomination fee: $200.00 Late Nominations will be accepted until August 1st with an additional $100 late fee.
★ NOMINATED STALLIONS to Date ★ Twist of Docs Fate Diamond J Star Sweet Lil Pepto Freckled Lil Pepto Long Tall Chexan Showstoppin Boon Wranglers Starlight Pretty Boy Boon Nic It In The Bud Gotta Love Bud Como Chex Hobby Mr Peppy H Chex Genuine Rednic Rio Time Chalk Tari Mister Genuine Dual Lean With Me Nu Freckles Cody Fairlea Custom Catadance Colord With Starlight Smart Pep Uno ARC Stylish Cash Cash Us McLain Catalano Dox White Rabbit Colonel Pic Silver Gun Smart Steady Date Peppys Dual Chex Playgun Doc O Wena WR This Cats Smart Very Smart Remedy
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Gary & Candace Wines Bitterroot Springs Ranch DB Harrah Cutting Horses Inc. Rhoads Ranch Rhoads Ranch Van Norman Quarter Horses Van Norman Quarter Horses Williamson Ranch Silver Spurs Equine, LLC Porath Quarter Horses Barbara Hodges B Bar B Katie Breckenridge Sandra & John Friberg
★ ★ ★ ★
Casey & Kristen Shelman Dean Smith Norma Sather Gary Stark
★
Cindy Urresti
★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ ★
Vance & JoAnn Ward Linda Swim Why Worry Ranch Whitneys Wild Oak Ranch Charley Amos Fairlea Ranch Fairlea Ranch Fairlea Ranch Jimmy & Debbie Jones Pieper Ranch Whitneys Wild Oak Ranch Wagonhound Land & Livestock Why Worry Ranch
Nevada Stallion Stakes Show Entry deadline: August 1 with late entries accepted to Aug 15th. ECNRCHA Show Entry Deadline Aug 24th Noon. Late entries accepted to show start time with penalties.
Entries forms available at www.elkocountyfair.com E-mail entries to elkocountyfair@hotmail.com Mail entries and payments to: Elko County Fair Board PO Box 2067 Elko, NV 89803 For More Information contact JJ Roemmich 775-397-2769 or elkocountyfair@hotmail.com
Elko County Fair: August 24 - September 3
www.elkocountyfair.com 18 August | September 2012
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Paula Bear Wright 1952 — 2012 By Mary Branscomb At least 1,000 mourners attended the funeral on June 29 for 59-year-old Paula Wright. It was held in Elko’s Convention Center, home of the original Cowboy Poetry Gathering. A horse wreck on June 20 killed the much loved owner/ operator of J.M. Capriola Company of Elko, Nev.; and her early demise shocked horsemen around the world. There were not enough seats for people in the auditorium and condolences came from almost every state in the union, from Germany, Italy, Australia, Mexico and Canada as well as from South American countries. Paula’s obituary and eulogy were written by her dear friend, Janet Petersen, who herself works tirelessly for her community. Janet wrote: “We are all here to honor and remember an amazing woman. She could talk you into doing almost anything… She cared for her family, friends and community and wanted to set an example for others. “Paula was born July 25, 1952, in Elko to Betty and Paul Bear. She was the youngest of three children. As a young girl she lived at the Devil’s Gate Ranch. Owners of the ranch, John and Peggy Rutman, were her Godparents. In 1958, the Bears moved to Elko and purchased J.M. Capriola Company. From age six on, Paula was a businesswoman, learning how to tool leather, run a cash register and wait on customers, always with a smile and great enthusiasm… As a girl, she was active in Girl Scouts, 4-H and school activities. “Doug and Paula were married Oct. 16, 1971 in Elko at St. Paul’s Episcopal Church. Their reception was in the basement of the Stockmen’s Hotel and Casino… “John Douglas Wright came into their lives Aug. 28, 1981, and has been the joy of their lives since. Paula carefully placed him in a cardboard box lined with blankets for the five hour trip to Elko. When they got home they went to the Pep Rally and passed him around like a new puppy showing him off. He’s been their treasure since. Like Paula, John grew up behind the counter of J.M. Capriola’s and is the third generation to join in the business. “John and Sue were married in 2004 and then Paula had someone join the family more as a daughter than a daughter-in-law. When Charlie and Audrey came along, Paula was thrilled to be a Grammy… “Among her many endeavors were Elko County CattleWomen, Soroptimist International (traveling to national and international conventions with her mother, Betty) and, of course, the Capriola Ranch Rodeo. Her latest project was chairman of the Centennial Committee for the Silver State Stampede… “She was widely recognized throughout the West for her knowledge and appraisal abilities in Western gear and memorabilia. Not a day went by that someone wasn’t seeking her opinion as to the value of a newly discovered treasure. The depth of her knowledge was amazing…
“I’ve always known Paula, but really got to know her when we put together a Garcia display at Northeastern Nevada Museum for Cowboy Poetry during the 1990s. We said we should write a book about the Garcias. When I left the Museum in 2003, she said, ‘Now you have time to write,’ so she contacted DeeDee and Linda Garcia to get busy. “I’d go to the museum in the mornings to research and in the afternoon, my husband would feed us and we’d write furiously for a few hours three times a week… Viola! Ten months later, we had LEGACY OF SILVER AND SADDLES, a history of the Garcias, Capriolas, Bears and Wrights… “In the Capriola trailer, Paula took gear to rodeos and horse shows in all the Western states including Hawaii. She and Doug, sometimes with Betty, traveled to Equitana in Germany and to the Mount Isa Rodeo in Australia, making lifelong friends wherever she went. (She knew all of the gear makers, past and present.) “…There wasn’t a stranger in her life. Paula greeted visitors to the store with a warm welcome to Elko. She was widely recognized as an extraordinary businesswoman with passion to help people and community endeavors. Paula’s knowledge of cowboys and events – when they rode, where they rode and what they won – was remarkable.” Petersen said her friend died doing something she loved and was not washing windows or cleaning the basement. She lived life to the fullest. In his well spoken eulogy, Paula’s son, John, explained: “Everyone knows my Mom… She never met a stranger or a person she didn’t like… Even when we were traveling in a foreign country, she would always run into someone who knew her.... She always gave 110 percent in all that she did. She always took on more than she could handle but always knew she could get it done because of her great friends and family. Everything my Mom did, she had the community or the family in mind… A person like my Mom doesn’t come around very day. She told me, ‘Success is not something given to you. It is worked for.’ “… I always knew down in my heart that she had a huge impact on Elko, but I never had any idea it was this big, judging by the number of people who are here.... I know my Mom is here today because she is living through every one of you. “My grandma (Betty Bear) told me when something like this happens, you have to tie a knot in the end of your rope and don’t let go…. Today, all of us have to buck up, tie knots in the ends of our ropes and never let go of all the ways my Mom touched our hearts.... For a woman with as small of boots as hers, they are a lot for one person to fill.” Paula is survived by her husband Doug, son John and his wife Susan, two grandchildren, Charlie and Audrey, mother Betty Bear, brothers Bill and Bob and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. Her father, Paul, died in 1994.
Photos courtesy Wright Family and Janet Petersen Top to Bottom – Left to Right: The Wright Family, Doug, John, and Paula | Paula’s son, John with his wife, Sue, and children Audrey and John | Book Cover – the history of the Garcias, Capriolas, Bears, and Wrights | Capriola’s billboard | Paula and Doug | J.M. Capriola Store, 2006 | Betty Bear family all riding J.M. Capriola Saddles | Paula with customer from Japan | Doug and Paula presenting a award, 1974
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August | September 2012 19
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Financial Focus Presented by Sonny Davidson and Jason Land, Financial Advisors, Edward Jones in Elko, Nevada 2213 North 5th Street, Suite A | 775-738-8811
Diversify Your Investment Risk
All investments carry risk. But, as an investor, one of the biggest risks you face is that of not achieving your long-term goals, such as enjoying a comfortable retirement and remaining financially independent throughout your life. To help reach your objectives, you need to own a variety of investment vehicles — and each carries its own type of risk. If you spread your investment dollars among vehicles that carry different types of risk, you may increase your chances of owning some investments that do well, even if, at the same time, you own others that aren’t. As a result, you may be able to reduce the overall level of volatility in your portfolio. (Keep in mind, though, that diversification can’t guarantee a profit or protect against all losses.) To diversify your risk factors, you first need to recognize them. Here are some of the most common types of investment risk: • Market risk — This is the type of risk that everyone thinks about — the risk that you could lose principal if the value of your investment drops and does not recover before
you sell it. All investments are subject to market risk. You can help lessen this risk by owning a wide variety of investments from different industries and even different countries. • Inflation (purchasing power) risk — If you own a fixed-rate investment, such as a Certificate of Deposit (CD), that pays an interest rate below the current rate of inflation, you are incurring purchasing power risk. Fixed-income investments can help provide reliable income streams, but you also need to consider investments with growth potential to help work toward your long-term goals. • Interest-rate risk — Bonds and other fixed-income investments are subject to interest-rate risk. If you own a bond that pays 4% interest, and newly issued bonds pay 5%, it would be difficult to sell your bond for full price. So if you wanted to sell it prior to maturity, you might have to offer it at a discount to the original price. However, if you hold your bonds to maturity, you can expect to receive return of your principal provided the bond does not default. • Default risk — Bonds, along with some more com-
plex investments, such as options, are subject to default risk. If a company issues a bond that you’ve bought and that company runs into severe financial difficulties, or even goes bankrupt, it may default on its bonds, leaving you holding the bag. You can help protect against this risk by sticking with “investment-grade” bonds — those that receive high ratings from independent rating agencies such as Standard & Poor’s or Moody’s. • Liquidity risk — Some investments, like real estate, are harder to sell than others. Thus, real estate is considered more “illiquid” than many common investments. Make sure you understand what type of risk is associated with every investment you own. And try to avoid “overloading” your portfolio with too many investments with the same type of risks. Doing so will not result in a totally smooth journey through the investment world — but it may help eliminate some of the “bumps” along the way.
This article was written by Edward Jones for use by your local Edward Jones Financial Advisor.
BEEF CHECKOFF NEWS
News From the Nevada Beef Council: CHECKING-IN ON YOUR BEEF CHECKOFF
Jr. Iron Chef, Las Vegas With the Nevada Beef Council (NBC) as presenting sponsor for the Jr. Iron Chef, Las Vegas competition on June 2, beef was the center of the plate not just for the entrée, but for the student-created appetizer as well. Held at The International Culinary School at The Art Institute of Las Vegas, the competition brought together students from four magnet schools and gave them the opportunity to compete in the hands-on cooking contest. Two teams of four competed: the West Side team, made up of students from the Southwest and Northwest Career and Technical Academies; and the East Side team, comprised of students from the East and Southeast Career Technical Academies. The teams, working in a full kitchen, were supplied with a mystery basket of ingredients from which to prepare an appetizer and a main course. Two cuts of beef—Top Sirloin and Flat Iron—were the main items in the mystery baskets. The team of five judges for the event included National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) Executive Chef Dave Zino, Chef Paul Zdanis of the Bellagio Hotel and Casino, Chef Heinz Lauer of Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts, Chef Raymond Bard of the Art Institute and American Culinary Federation and Katherine Jacobi, President and CEO of the Nevada Restaurant Association. The East Side team won this year’s competition. The event was produced by Clear Channel Media, Las Vegas radio stations Sunny 106.5 and KPLV, and iHeartRadio. In addition to the more than 100 people who attended the event, the competition was broadcast live over KSNE Sunny 106.5 and streamed online at iHeartRadio. The NBC was also named as presenting sponsor in all press releases about the event, was part of 25 promotional on-air commercials on radio stations KSNE, KPLV and iHeartRadio, aired a Beef: It’s What’s for Dinner commercial schedule of 44 :30-second radio spots, and was included in three different click-through banner ads on the radio station’s Web site. These online banner ads took radio station Web site visitors to NBC’s Web site. The NBC also provided talking points to the radio station about the 29 lean cuts of beef and the nutritional value of beef. These talking points were used by radio station personality Tom Chase, who hosted the live broadcast.
Launching My Plate, My Way In the wake of the 2010 Dietary Guidelines for Americans and the MyPlate icon, the checkoff has launched its My Plate, My Way interactive eating personality assessment tool, www.progressiverancher.com
at www.beefitswhatsfordinner.com/myplatemyway.aspx. The tool helps those consumers who are striving to eat healthier but struggling to make it work for their circumstances by providing them with a better understanding of their eating “personalities.” Upon completion of the online program, users receive information and resources – including beef recipes and nutritional data – tailored to their individual personality assessments, to guide them to appropriate healthier eating choices.
Protecting and Defending Beef As part of ongoing work to protect and defend the image of beef – including extensive efforts responding to misinformation about lean finely textured beef (LFTB) and bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) recently – the checkoff has secured a new Twitter handle @BeefFacts to help push out the facts about how beef is raised. Other efforts have included delivery of presentations about the checkoff’s issues and reputation management program to state beef organizations. A workshop at the 2012 Cattle Industry Summer Conference will provide state beef council execs hands-on training in issues response, especially on social media, and crisis management. The checkoff also is updating a vulnerabilities assessment to help prioritize short-term crises in the industry; identify longer-term threats; and develop resources and tools that may be needed to address them down the road.
Heart Association Certifies Fourth Beef Cut Thanks to a beef checkoff partnership with the American Heart Association (AHA), top sirloin stir-fry has been added to the AHA list of beef products receiving the Heart-Check certification. Efforts with several retailers working to launch the Heart-Check program in the fresh beef meat case drove addition of the stir-fry cut. Three top sirloin cuts – boneless top sirloin petite roast (select grade), top sirloin filet (select grade) and top sirloin kabob (select grade) – have qualified as extra lean and received certification early in 2011. Merchandising materials to guide and educate consumers about these cuts are also being updated with the AHA logo and QR codes directing consumers to a special American Heart Association page on the checkoff’s BeefItsWhatsForDinner.com website. As results from a recent in-market test illustrate, grocers can leverage the power of the AHA certification to drive beef sales and build customer loyalty, appealing to a growing population of health-conscious and labelconscious consumers. For more information, visit www.BeefRetail.org.
The Progressive Rancher
August | September 2012 21
SOCIETY FOR RANGE MANAGEMENT Toads, Humans, Sage Grouse and the Endangered Species Act By David Spicer, Rancher and Miner from Beatty, Nevada Society for Range Management literally wrote the book on Coordinated Resource Management (CRM) back in 1993. Today the groups that meet voluntarily to solve problems for resource management issues are called collaborative, which is a stakeholder consensus decisionmaking process. Stakeholders are any interest with a stake in the consequences of the decision. In this process, the stakeholders make decisions by consensus, rather than by traditional voting and majority rule. The original “CRM Guidelines” by Rex Cleary and Dennis Phillippi state, “The purpose of CRM, in part, is to resolve specific conflicts or issues that may hinder or preclude effective resource management decisions. CRM can also be a proactive process in planning for improvement of natural resources. CRM is based on the belief that people can work together by communicating and adopting a cooperative attitude. Resolving resource problems or conflicts in locations with mixed land ownership patterns and public interests requires team work. Team building and teamwork are major elements of Coordinated Resource Management.”
INTRODUCTION ing companies together in an movement which has kept the Amargosa Following is Part Three of a three part interview with David toad off the endangered species list. We have become the shot heard Spicer, a rancher from Beatty Nevada, who speaks of his experiences around the world. Our efforts have always supported the multi-use conand actions when he faced the potential listing of an amphibian in his cept of many users upon the same disturbance minimizing the impact valley under the Endangered Species Act. He also owns and operates on our environment. While not afraid to find new beneficial uses of a mining company and formed the non-profit, STORM-OV, which is land, we attempt to gauge this with reasonable thinking. We represent dedicated to keeping species from becoming endangered through co- mining, ranching, and off-road racing; three industries that create jobs, operative programs and educational approachrevenue, and the taxable dollar. We give them es. It stands for Saving Toads through Off-road an environmental voice. racing, Ranching, and Mining in Oasis Valley. Because of this cooperative occurrence, “But.....it is not our job to point You can find out more on the web-site www. other things are happening. Sponsors are comSTORM-OV.org. ing and looking at our valley and surrounding out their faults. It is our job to area and asking to put on multiple off-road WHERE DO YOU FIND YOUR PASSION point out our merits… events. To mention a few – trail riding, enduro AND ENERGY? racing, rock climbing, hang gliding, bicycle We create wealth where there My mind wanders to all those folks out recreating and racing trails. They know we’ve there who are confused and embattled by this wasn’t any, creatively using successfully integrated routes in and through bureaucratic world. It’s only because of my our valley and that other groups have made experiences from my youth to maturity which natural resources in support of contributions to saving the toad. Not to mencreated the passion that I have. I love my childsociety’s needs.” Dave Spicer tion spent a lot of money in our community. hood memories, they touch me in ways that They are anxious to do the same. We sit here make my eyes water and form goose bumps. in Oasis Valley, upon unique mining history, This is what moves me, what made me educate railroad routes, geologic formations, historic myself, get involved. This is the thing that drives me to protect it, the open pit mines, and jaw dropping views. All promotable for the benefit thing I’ve given to my children, an awareness of the world around of community. Controversial land users coming together for a common them. That is why we protect it, why we care about all things alive, whether they’ve got feathers, hooves, fur, scales, bare skin or leaves. good…. The use of land for the benefit of all…. Coexistence and balWe, the people, are in this equation. Let us not forget to pass on the ance between man and the animals who occupy it. The law surrounding the ESA has affected the world we live in goose bumps. and we have lost focus of its original intent. It has been corrupted and I want for all of us to live unmolested on our ranches, free to run reduced into litigious actions driven by money and power. Negligence like the horses that live on them, to use the land as our right to do so of operators as well as excessive environmental actions have led us should be, raise our children between the same sunrises and sunsets we into our new existence with other species as violator and victim; titles grew up under. Pursue our passions as our fathers and grandfathers did which are neither attractive or complimentary, yet blatantly describe before us. Open up the eyes of our children to the beauty in the world what has happened to us. and stir within them that feeling you get when your horse is at a dead We miners, ranchers, farmers, and racers have to take control of run through the pasture, and you’re chasing the wind, it’s roaring in this law before it takes control of us. We are able to do this. We have your ears, tears are running down your face, you can feel your animals the land, the resources, and the ability to step up to the plate and stay power, feel him racing, mane flying in your face. You hit that magiahead of it. We are the people who produce the resources necessary to cal spot where all goes quiet and you can hear his hooves pounding… civilization and society. We are held by all the agencies to strict stanhear his great breaths, heaving, in and out, you feel the air go quiet dards and regulations while being slayed in the pubic court of opinion. all around you…..You’ve caught the wind and you’re flying with it. Among ourselves and within our own comfort zones, we preach to our This is what I want, this feeling of absolute freedom and the sense of own choirs. We bitch and lament about how most of society complains amazement that comes with the discovery. Things like this stay with about us, our noise, smells, the holes we dig, or methods we use, while you, all your life. Somewhere beyond all the chaos, noise and confunever admitting they need our products. How can they not see it? Withsion of life, there is a quiet spot, and there you can see the world and out us, they wouldn’t have food to eat, a light to turn on, or a road to all of its beauty. drive on while they use their cell phone to order pizza and beer. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? But.....it is not our job to point out their faults. It is our job to point I knew that truth would prevail, that our toads here far outnum- our merits. To hold ourselves to a higher standard of accountability. To bered the first published count of 32 adults. That somehow, the good exhibit this not just in workplace safety, profit distribution, or quality folks of our valley stood wrongly accused of contributing to this sign of of products but also demonstrate it in our passion for the world around eminent danger, through their acts of greed. A long road has been trav- us, the environment we live in and the plants and animals that share eled… the success has been ours. All the naysayers, the distruster’s, it with us. the outsider’s, the doubter’s, even the current petitioner, have silenced We are in a position to do something about this. To say to the world their concerns. They have all watched as the cooperative movement of and all of our detractors that our industries are not ignorant, selfish, the “Community” has produced undeniable results. self-centered, and only profit driven. We are all residents of the same Our success is to bring the community of residents, land owners, planet, none of us are the others’ master, we are stewards....caretakenvironmental concerns, county, state, and federal agencies, and our ers, capable of great things. We create wealth where there wasn’t any, biggest contributors – land users…off-road racers, ranchers and min- creatively using natural resources in support of society’s needs. We
22 August | September 2012
The Progressive Rancher
www.progressiverancher.com
NEWS Obama Administration “Scrubs” Livestock News Report; Censors Data Displeasing to Packers
Immediately, the Obama Administration’s USDA pulled from its website the Original July 13 Livestock Report, scrubbed it of all data and commentary displeasing to multinational meatpackers because it signaled a danger to the cash cattle market, and then reissued the scrubbed report under the heading “Correction to narrative,” effectively censoring all important facts and rendering it completely innocuous. discover new ways to maximize yields, diversify products, maintain profitability, and answer to our stockholders. We turn dirt, rocks, plants and grass into everything we need to live. What amazing creativity and knowledge we must have to do this. An understanding of geology and metallurgy, of agriculture and agronomy, passion for great food and recreational fun. Unlimited abilities to live in any environment on the planet, gathering the resources along the way to support us there. What if we took these same inherent abilities and applied them to the creatures we share the planet with? We don’t need to worry too much about mosquitoes, jack rabbits, or cattails; they seem to persist no matter what. There are other species out there that need our support. Whether or not the accusations levied against us about our effect on them are true or not, we have to lift ourselves above our denial and anger of what we believe are falsehoods. We need to take a leadership role, initiate action preemptively. Educate ourselves about species in question and implement programs that improve or create its critical habitat. Be the driving force, reach out to agencies and detractors alike, ask them to participate in a cooperative effort. One that you initiated. Don’t wait to be told by the force of the federal laws. Demonstrate you mean business and that your presence is going to make more of a positive effect than a negative one. Yes, we will take, we have to support ourselves, but we can give back, we must give back. We must change the public perception of ourselves, rebuild our reputations, and take the lead. STORM-OV has done this. We have succeeded in everything mentioned and more. We are changing the idea that all imperiled species are victims of man into something new....one that demonstrates our presence here is that of a benefactor to them and their environment. That we are their friends, not their enemy. That our process of land use can provide for our needs and theirs simultaneously. We have to accept the fact that no matter how we feel about this, that many of the folks involved in these actions are just as passionate about their view as we are about ours, and they are funded. Getting them to use this money in the field creating positive growth for species in question rather than in the courthouse spending it on attorneys is the true solution. Put their passion where it really counts, show them that you’re the one who can solve the problem, challenge the idea that man’s presence is a bad thing for the environment. This is where we have to step up, use our heads, face the conflict, and find courage to do it. It takes the whole village. Folks need to regain hope in their futures and regain their sense of ownership of their land. WILL IT WORK FOR SAGE GROUSE TOO? In answer to your query about the sage grouse, the answer is yes. No matter how big the problem, or grand the scope, the solution remains the same......people are what has made the difference. All we have to do is focus on the critical habitat, make it productive, manage it and protect it......every day. Who better than the folks that share their environment. It only takes definition as to how much attention is required and whose money is spent doing it. The Society for Range Management (SRM) is “the professional society dedicated to supporting persons who work with rangelands and have a commitment to their sustainable use.” SRM’s members are ranchers, land managers, scientists, educators, students, conservationists – a diverse membership guided by a professional code of ethics and unified by a strong land ethic. This series of articles is dedicated to connecting the science of range management with the art, by applied science on the ground in Nevada. Articles are the opinion of the author and may not be an official position of SRM. Further information and a link to submit suggestions or questions are available at the Nevada Section website at http://nevada.rangelands.org/. SRM’s main webpage is www.rangelands.org. We welcome your comments. www.progressiverancher.com
— R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard
July 23, 2012 Billings, MT – The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS) issued its weekly National Feeder & Stocker Cattle Summary report on July 13, 2012 (Original July 13 Livestock Report), and warned that negotiated or cash sales in the U.S fed cattle market are “now routinely making up less than 20 percent of the weekly slaughter.” R-CALF USA has persistently called on the USDA and the U.S. Department of Justice to take immediate steps to stop multinational meatpackers from capturing the U.S. cattle market away from independent cattle producers through their destruction of the cattle industry’s price discovery market, which is the cash market. The group states that hundreds of thousands of independent poultry producers, independent hog producers and independent sheep producers were forced out of business when the meatpackers destroyed their respective cash markets by shrinking them below levels where true price discovery can occur. “The meatpackers are now working aggressively to destroy the nation’s fed cattle cash market, which shrank nearly 20 percent just during the past few years – from over 52 percent in 2005 to less than 33 percent in 2011,” said R-CALF USA CEO Bill Bullard. “The Original July 13 Livestock Report was alarming in that it stated the volume remaining in the price discovery market has now slipped to 20 percent, which is far too low for it to establish a competitive price for cattle,” Bullard added. Further, the Original July 13 Livestock Report stated: “Over 60 percent of the weekly movement (in the fed cattle market) is formula-priced off the scant cash trade that is more like a dictatorship than a democracy. Soon, cattle feeders may be forced to ship their cattle with only a ballpark idea of what their check will look like – similar to the sheep industry.” Deeply concerned about the accelerated demise of the cattle industry’s price discovery market, R-CALF USA issued a membership-wide alert on July 17 titled “USDA Issues Strong Warning Regarding Dysfunctional Cash Market,” which the group also sent to USDA officials, Department of Justice officials and members of Congress. The group’s alert quoted the data and commentary contained in the Original July 13 Livestock Report and further stated: “USDA has some good people within its ranks and they are sounding the alarm as well as they are able . . . It can’t be said much stronger than this. Where are those promised reforms from the Department of Justice (DOJ) and USDA to prevent our cattle industry from being captured by the multinational meatpackers just as the poultry and hog industries already have been captured? USDA is now issuing the same warning RCALF USA has long been issuing. It is time for decision makers to act.” “Immediately, the Obama Administration’s USDA pulled from its website the Original July 13 Livestock Report, scrubbed it of all data and commentary displeasing to multinational meatpackers because it signaled a danger to the cash cattle market, and then reissued the scrubbed report under the heading “Correction to narrative,” effectively censoring all important facts and rendering it completely innocuous,” said Bullard. “The U.S. cattle market is in a Code Red state of emergency, with the few remaining independent cattle feeders losing upwards of $150 per head. Meanwhile, we have corrupt officials at the highest levels of this Administration working covertly to cover-up the data and facts needed to address this serious problem,” Bullard said adding: “The meatpackers are but a breath away from destroying our industry’s price discovery market and capturing the live cattle supply chain away from independent producers and the only action from this Administration is to stick its head in the sand and kowtow to the multinational meatpackers.”
The Progressive Rancher
August | September 2012 23
Seeing Past the Common Misconceptions in the Market Goat Business A Short Guide for the Anyone Interested in Raising and Showing Goats
The meat goat business has been one of the fastest growing agricultural sectors in last ten to fifteen years. It is one that I have been proud to be a part of and would recommend to anyone who is interested in becoming involved in agriculture. There are plenty of opportunities for individuals to learn, find their niche within goat business, and prosper. However, with any business venture, our plans and reality must eventually meet. Now, we have all had that promising vision about our future in raising goats. We’ll buy three or four goats to start our herd, purchase a decent buck, and take the first year just to learn about the industry. Then in no time we will have a herd that will leave people in awe. We will be winning all the shows that we enter, people will be paying big bucks for our genetics, and all only after just getting the hang of it. There is absolutely nothing wrong with that dream. Truthfully, that’s the dream the majority of the people in the goat business continue to have today. Unfortunately, there are many obstacles and road blocks in the way. The end result is typically a variation of that dream and hopefully one that can be just as fulfilling and satisfying. I want to point out some of the common misconceptions or ideas that you may hear from people, which may or may not always work out quite as well as they are supposed to in theory. So, before you go spending thousands of dollars, diving head first into the deep end of goat pool, I want to give you some alternative solutions to try before you invest your entire life savings….
Misconception # 1: It will be easy to make money. This is where the simple hard truth becomes evident. Too many people spend an
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Sonny Davidson Jason B. Land 2213 N. 5th St. , Elko, NV 89801 775-738-8811, 800-343-0077 www.edwardjones.com 24 August | September 2012
By, Dale Schlundt, M.A., AMGA Certified Judge incredible amount of money on pens, fancy to eighty. However, for the 4-H and FFA trailers, special feeds, and much more, shows we do selective breeding so that our putting way too much faith in the desired wethers will gain at a rate that will exceed outcome of making it back in the end. The that eighty pound weight limit within a problem is few do. With current state of the show season. The market and the meat goat economy, regardless of the quality of your shows continue to lack uniformity. Within animals, it will take much more effort and the breeding goat business we look for an strategy to sell your goats while making a animal that has width, depth, and overall significant profit. To add to that, because of body capacity to be able to both carry the the fact that the market goat industry has kids through the five month gestation period seen a drastic increase in the amount of new and produce offspring with muscling. Howranchers breaking into the business, as well ever, in the market goat show we see a trend as the quality of the animals improving, of judges picking more narrow and smaller marketing your goats as the top quality in framed animals. So when you view these the industry becomes a challenge. So that three sectors of the market goat industry as being said the question arises, can you make whole, the problems you can run into when a profit or at least break even? You bet! trying successfully raise an animal to fit all of the standards within the industry is more Solution: Our first step should be backwards. than evident. Can you do all three at the Why backwards? So we can take an analyti- same time? Yes.
cal look at what is possible and what is not. There is no need to buy the largest trailer, fanciest truck, or invest in expensive pipe fencing in the beginning. Going around to the different ranches to learn about the business (which I recommend you do) you will notice some the most successful lack the most expensive equipment. We need to remember our ROI should justify any expenses we incur, much like any other business one manages. Focusing on the necessities, quality and not quantity, and keeping to your overall practical goal are what will keep your new business running for years to come. The idea is to make sure we do not go jumping into it, planning to become instantly rich, and ultimately regretting it in the end.
Misconception # 2: I can raise goats to market to multiple parts of the industry. As I have said in my previous articles, there are three loosely defined areas of the industry at this time. These areas include those who raise market goats specifically for meat purposes, those who raise breeding goats for the show and sell their registered offspring to breeders, and lastly, those who have breeding goats, kidding every spring, who sell those kids as wethers to the 4-H/ FFA exhibitors. Now, although their number one attribute focused on is still meat, they all have different standards within the industry. In an age where specialization is at an all time high, the market goat industry is no different. Within the market for meat goats there is a demand for animals that are below a hundred pounds and closer
Solution: Although, you have to ask yourself is it practical, easy to be successful, and a feasible task to make a profit, while doing all three? Of course there is not a one answer fits all for this question. What we have found is concentrating on one area, will allow you to gain recognition to the group you are marketing to much quicker. This will allow you to understand what the demand is within your market, (such as longer bodied, stronger topped wethers) and keep your quality higher as you will only be concentrating on a specific kind of goat, rather than many different qualities for different groups of people. Now there are ranchers out there that are truly the “jack of all trades” and successful at doing such. They raise beef cattle for instance, raise breeding stock for other breeders, and even do eco-tourism, while still being successful at livestock shows with their animals. So you have to ask yourself, what is their secret?
Misconception # 3: There is Little Investment Required The first secret is simply their assets. Many of those people come from long time ranching families. They have the facilities, such as pens, trailers, barns, sheds, and more already available to them. For many there is no new significant investment in terms of facilities. You could say the investment in the animals would be next. However, when you compare that initial investment in your stock to your expenses that will sustain your business over the long term, such as feed,
The Progressive Rancher
medication, and your time, the initial investment in your animals may not be a deal breaker. So what do the large ranchers have that we may not, which will give them that advantage over the long term? Land. Now, I know what you are thinking. Not a big deal, with good quality goats, I will be able to feed hay and grain, and yet still make a profit after my sales. However, with the cost of square bales of Sudan going anywhere from 5.50 (if you’re lucky) and up and feed costs increasing as well, the amount of available land for grazing and browsing becomes an important factor in your overall sustainability. This unfortunately, is another obstacle we must take into consideration and work into our plan. Solution: Concentrate your money on where it is going to count. When a breeder comes up to look at your yearlings for sale, what are they going to look at first? The yearling for sale! They won’t care if you just bought a new goose neck trailer, if you drive a new dually or an old beat up pickup, nor will they care if you have a hundred other goats in the back field that your are having to buy feed and hay for on a daily basis. Invest your money in what you are selling, promoting, and ultimately what will enable you to show a positive ROI at the end of the year. There is nothing wrong with starting with two does and using an outside buck. We should focus on quality rather than quantity. Even if you only have two does kidding the following year and only end up with two or four kids, your quality will overshadow any undesirable aspects in terms of the size of your herd. Remember, good investing, brings good rewards.
Conclusion and Misconception # 4: “It’s Not Possible”? Answer: Yes it is! The purpose of this article is not to dissuade you from entering into the goat business, yet the goal here is to educate yourself ahead of time to make clear, concise, and reasonable goals for your new venture. Most of all label in your own mind what you believe you can do and what you can’t do. Please do not invest your life savings in the goat industry the first year! As with any investment, put into it what you can afford to lose, work hard at making it a success, enjoy yourself, and ensure that you will be able to look back ten or twenty years from now and say, “I am glad I did that.” www.progressiverancher.com
John Hays Agricultural Banking Specialist 775.525.6744
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The Progressive Rancher
August | September 2012 25
E L A S R Leana Stitzel’s FO AQHA
Smart Lil TR Cutter (Teddy) Sorrel Gelding
AUGUST 9-12, 2012
Son of TR Dual Rey and Smart Lil Mary Lou
EUREKA COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS EUREKA, NEVADA
I went to the 2007 Cutting Futurity in Texas and purchased Teddy as a 2-year-old. Very easy to ride on a cow, great big move, honest, quiet and easy to be around. Ted and Leana won the 2008 snaffle year-end Magic Valley Reined Cow Horse Assoc. amateur buckle. A rope has been swung on him, nothing roped he was just fine. Has a lot of speed. Good feet Great body, easy keeper and very good to shoe. Travels very well and drinks anywhere. He is bred to work cattle. No negotiation on price, $15,000.
AUGUST 9 Open Horse Show • Sage Brush Cutters Cutting Gymkhana
Docs Hotroddin Chex (Goose)
AUGUST 10 Nevada Rein Cow Horse Show 4-H Livestock Show • Hay Contest American West 4-D Barrel Race Youth Rough Stock • Bull Riding Dance with Live Entertainment by Tony Marques Band
Buckskin Gelding Son of Colonels Hot Java and Como Cream Puff
AUGUST 11 New
Team Branding Calcutta:
Team 4 man teams • $500 added in each division Branding Open Division: 8 min. time limit Women’s Division: 10 min. time limit Rules Co-Ed Division: 10 min. time limit • $300 entry per team • $75 entry per man . NO cut off time • Buckles to first place team in each division • Awards to 2nd and 3rd place teams
4-H Livestock Show and Sale Annual Scrabble Tournament • MudVolleyball Cooks Racing Pigs and Dogs • Youth Miner’s Dig WSRRA Sanctioned Ranch Rodeo/National Finals Qualifier Old West Stock Saddle Bronc Riding WSRRA Sanctioned Woman’s Steer Stopping Dance with Live Entertainment by Tony Marques Band 9pm
AUGUST 12 Team Roping
VISIT OUR WEBSITE FOR COMPLETE INFORMATION
WWW.CO.EUREKA.NV.US/FAIR.HTM FOR MORE INFORMATION: FAIR@EUREKANV.ORG
26 August | September 2012
2011
In 2006 Goose traveled to 30 shows: Reining, working cowhorse, halter, and western pleasure. To mention only a few of his Year-end Awards, which are all Nevada AQHA (unless otherwise specified): Amateur Reining 1st place AQHA; 2nd place year-end AQHA Jr. Working Cowhorse; Two All-Around Amateur Certificate of Merit’s AQHA. Two Circuit All-Around and Two Circuit Reserve-All Rounds; 4th in a class of 18 at the Elko Fair in the Snaffle Bit Class; 2nd place year-end Green Horse class RHAN Accs. I could go on but I think you get the picture. He loves to show. If I rode him right he was hard to beat. $20,000 (obo)
Corky May Oak Blue Roan Mare Daughter of JP Rolling Thunder and Oakers Shindig No-sold last year at the Van Norman sale for $6,000.00, I wanted $8,000.00. She is one nice 5-year-old mare. Gorgeous and easy to be around and would make a young cowgirl or cowboy that knew how to ride a very tzel, 28 classy do anything horse. a Sti
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8 n t Lea 08-733-1 2
ac Cont
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Range Plants for the Rancher By Paul T. Tueller, Ph.D., CRMC
TULE: Schoenoplectus acutus T
his month I continue with my effort to inform ranchers relative to plants found in the riparian environment. As many of you have creek bed environments as well as some wet land or marsh land I would like to acquaint you with a marsh plant namely, the common tule. Scirpus acutus is the scientific name that I learned many years ago. Now the taxonomistshave created a new name Schoenoplectus acutus (Muhl.ex Bigelow) A.& D. Love (and several other synonyms). This plant is commonly referred to as the tule or common Tule, hardstem tule, tule rush and hardstem bulrush. This plant is basically a giant species of sedge in the Cyperaceae family and is native to freshwater marshes all across North America. The common name derives from the indigenous Mexican tullin (Nahuatl=bulrush), and was first applied by the early settlers from New Spain who recognized the marsh plants in the Central Valley of California as similar to those in the marshes around Mexico City. This is a deciduous herbaceous plant distinguished by their long cylindrical stems from 5 to 8 feet tall. The shoots senesce in the winter. The leaves are slender, v-shaped blades that are sheathed around the long stem. Leaves can also be characterized as clasping sheaths with no or small leaf blades. The flowers are arranged in a spikelet and resemble orange-brown scales. The infloresence is a tight panicle with 3 to many spikelets, and the flower bracts are prominently spotted. Fruits are tiny seed-like achenes 1.5 to 2.5 mm long light green to dark brown, usually completely hidden by scales. The plants are clonal, with stout rootstocks and long thick brown rhizomes (underground stems). Seeds ripen in late August to September and are not
held tightly in the seedhead. High winds, frost, and brushing against the seedhead will cause the seeds to drop out. Hardstem bulrush often forms monocultures in marshes throughout its range. They grow best on sites with saturated soils or standing water for most of the year. Plants grow in marshes, swamps, seeps, washes, floodplains, along lake and stream margins, and wet meadows. Hardstem bulrush is an important aquatic or semiaquatic species. It provides cover for numerous birds and mammals. Seeds are eaten by small birds and waterfowl. Dense Tule stands provide excellent nesting for numerous waterfowl and wetland birds. Plants are sometimes used in artificial wetlands to filter agricultural wastewater. For Native Americans the hardstem bulrush is used in many ways. For example, young sprouts and shoots can be eaten raw or cooked and even ground into flour and made into a kind of bread. Tule houses are common. The overlapping tule mats were well-insulated and rainproof. Livestock rarely use this species when the area is flooded. They will use it as roughage or in the winter under heavy snow cover because the stems are often protruding above the snow bank. Forage production is high but forage value of hardstem bulrush is rated poor for cattle, sheep, horses, elk, mule deer, and pronghorn antelope. This is an interesting, often overlooked, range plant.
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August | September 2012 27
Equine Podiatry by Stephen E. O’Grady, DVM, MRCVS
Farriery for the Young Horse Reprinted with permission from the American Association of Equine Practitioners. Originally printed in the 2008 AAEP Focus Meeting proceedings
Take Home Message Farriery in foals is extremely important during the first six months of life as it will often determine the limb and foot conformation that will be present during the foal’s adult life. A thorough knowledge of basic farriery and a good working relationship with a farrier is essential for success.
Introduction Among the many factors that dictate the success of the foal as a sales yearling or a mature athlete are decisions and management concerning feet and limbs during the first few months of life. This is the period when hoof care helps to produce a strong foundation for the animals’ future athletic career while influencing the growth and angulation of the limb above the hoof to some degree. Many breeding farms have developed foot care programs that utilize the skills of a veterinarian with an interest in podiatry and a farrier working together as a team. The veterinarian uses his medical and anatomical knowledge while the farrier utilizes his technical and mechanical background. This joint venture allows a faster and more accurate diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of foot problems. Problem or suspect foals are examined on a monthly basis and followed through weaning. Many subtle problems can be detected early, leading to immediate treatment. If this program corrects the limb or increases the athletic potential of one animal, then it becomes cost effective. This paper will focus on routine farriery in young horses and those limb deformities that can be addressed through farriery. Surgery associated with limb deformities in the young horse will be covered elsewhere.
Evaluating the Foal Good record keeping is important. Records are designed for the individual needs of the farm/ owner and should reflect the physical appearance of a foal’s feet and limbs at birth and any subtle changes that occur during development on at least a monthly basis. Digital images (pictures and radiographs) can be taken and added to the foal’s record. Pictures are very helpful in determining progress or regression in the foals feet/limbs. Foals should always be observed walking each time they are trimmed. The author prefers to observe the foal walking before the feet and limbs are examined. Watching the young foal walk can be challenging as they seldom walk in a straight line. This can be remedied by walking the mare along a fence or wall and let the foal walk alongside or follow the mare. The foal is observed as it walks toward and away from the examiner. Here the foal is evaluated for any lameness that may be present, the pattern of the foot flight, how the foot breaks over at the toe and how the foot contacts the ground. When examining the feet and limbs from the front, using an imaginary dot system may be helpful. Starting at the ground surface of the foot, an imaginary dot is placed at the toe of the foot, the coronary band, the fetlock, proximal MC3, carpus, and distal radius. When these dots are connected with an imaginary line, it is easy to see if and/or where an angular limb deformity exists. In the ideal situation, the dots should form a straight line. However, one must be careful to rule out the presence of a rotational deformity. In this case, both carpi are rotated outward leading to a toe out or splay-footed conformation, yet when the dots are connected the axial
28 August | September 2012
alignment of the limb forms a straight line. The coronary band is observed to see if it is level or parallel with the ground. Examining the feet and limbs from the side should note whether the carpus is flexed or hyper extended. The hoof-pastern axis is evaluated to determine if it is aligned and not broken forward (flexural deformity) or broken backward (flexor flaccidity as noted in many thoroughbred foals). Any swellings along the limb or involving the physis are noted and recorded. Each deformity is noted and scored on a scale of 1-5. Grade one being mild whereas grade five is severe. Finally the foot is evaluated off the ground, observing its position relative the bones of the digit, symmetry of the foot, and the integrity of the horny structures of the foot. The author pays strict attention to the distance of both heels as measured from the end of the hoof wall at the heel to the hair line at the bulbs. A disparity in this distance is an indication of the weight distribution placed on the foot as it lands. The above examination enables the examiner to evaluate the feet, limbs and movement in a systematic manner.
Fig. 1A. Hoof wall trimmed on an angle dorsal to the sole wall junction.
Trimming the Foal Birth to One Month At birth, the foal’s hoof is enveloped in a gelatinous perioplic membrane which reduces the risk of trauma to the mare’s reproductive tract during birth. Shortly after birth, with the first steps of life, the perioplic membrane on the solar surface of the foot wears and retracts proximally on the hoof wall, dries out and tends to create a sulcus of varying depths just below the coronary band. This depression, which is to be considered normal, may cause irregular wear on the ground surface of the foot as it grows distally. The foal’s foot will be tapered, being wider at the coronet and becoming narrower distally at the ground surface. A foal’s foot does not only grow in a distal direction, it is also expands. As the foal’s feet are tapered, expansion occurs proximally and as the ground surface of the distal hoof is a relatively small, the weight-bearing area is positioned dorsally. Exercise and trimming will enlarge the area on the ground surface of the foot and move it in a palmar/plantar direction. The pointed or tapered appearance will gradually disappear in the first few months of life. In foals with acceptable limb conformation there is little need for trimming during the first month of life.
Fig. 1B. Perimeter of hoof wall has a rounded edge following trim.
One Month Foals should be presented to the farrier at one month of age for routine trimming. All that will generally be necessary at this time is to square the toe of the hoof to encourage the foal to break over in the center of the foot. At this age, due to the pointed toe, the foal may break over to either the outside or inside of the toe. This first farrier examination will also allow the foal to get used to having its feet handled. The farrier should be patient and the trimming procedure should be performed as gently and efficiently as possible.
Two Months Onward In the first few months of life, attention should be directed toward the structural integrity of the foot (foot mass) rather than to cosmetics. The important issues here are to promote the growth of thick, durable hoof wall, to ensure maximum sole depth in order to protect the vulnerable sole wall junction and developing distal phalanx and develop the structures in the palmar/plantar section of the The Progressive Rancher
Fig. 2. Rotational deformity in a foal.
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foot. The structural mass of foot, defined as a strong hoof wall, adequate sole depth and a solid heel base, is vital for future soundness. It is the author’s opinion that a hoof pick, wire brush and a rasp are the only tools necessary to trim foals that are kept on a monthly schedule. The goal is to not to have the foal walk entirely on the hoof wall but to load all the structures on the bottom of the foot. This makes the foot load sharing. Foals that are trimmed frequently and have a lot of horn removed, tend to develop weak fragile hoof walls. The method of trimming foals used by the author may differ from traditional farriery. Dirt and debris is removed from the foot using a hoof pick. The bottom of the foot is then cleaned vigorously using a wire brush to remove any loose exfoliating horn. Otherwise, the ground surface of the foot and the frog are left untouched. This affords the foal ample protection on the ground surface of the foot. Exfoliating horn from the sole will be continuously shed through an abrasive mechanism with the ground as the foal exercises. The sole in the foot of a foal is extremely thin and as much protection as possible is necessary to protect the immature developing structures above. Removing excess sole with a hoof knife is a primary cause of sole bruising in foals and often leads to flexural deformities as a result of the pain response. The health of the foot throughout the animal’s life is based on a good solid heel area. The heel base includes the hoof wall at the heel, the bars and a nice wide frog. The bars are needed to stabilize the hoof capsule and are never removed. The heels are rasped gently from side to side until the rasp just comes in contact with the frog. The hoof wall at the heels will now be on the same plane with the frog. The excess hoof wall at the toe and quarters is then lowered as necessary using a rasp placed at a 90° angle just in front of the sole wall junction (white line) (Fig. 1). When the desired amount of hoof wall is removed, the outer sharp edge of the angle is removed by running the rasp around the perimeter of the hoof thus creating a nice rounded edge (Fig. 2). This will help to prevent cracks and chips in the hoof wall. The method of using the rasp on an angle leaves the hoof wall and the adjacent sole on the same plane allowing both structures to share the bulk of the weight when the animal moves. This appears to stimulate the horn to grow thicker and stronger. Foals do not grow an excessive amount of hoof wall in the first few months of life and our ability to influence the foot/limb by
excessive trimming on one side of the foot in the horizontal plane is limited. If it becomes necessary to lower one side of the foot past the point of being level due to a developing hoof capsule distortion or to affect landing, it should not be any more than 2-3 millimeters at one time. Trimming at two-week intervals may be useful in this situation. The traditional theory of lowering the lateral side of the foot on a foal that stands toed-out and lowering the medial side of the foot on a toed-in foal is inaccurate. It in fact may be harmful rather than beneficial. The cause of the foal having a toe- in or toe- out stance is rarely in the foot. The problem is generally found in the axial alignment of the limb above the foot, therefore, when one side of the foot is lowered excessively, the cosmetic appearance may be improved but over time leads to distortion of the hoof capsule. This practice will place stresses on the physis and overload the joints on the side that is being lowered. This can be shown radiographically a few days after trimming. Rotational deformities are very common in foals (Fig. 3). For example, the narrow chest together with the relatively long limbs cause many foals to adopt a base wide stance in front which is often accompanied by outward rotation of the entire limb. This stance, which can be considered normal in foals, confers a higher degree of stability and is gradually modified as the transverse diameters of the upper body increase with growth. As the foal moves, it is quite noticeable that the outside of the hoof wall of the foot contacts the ground first as a result of the flight pattern caused by the rotated position of the limb. These foals should be trimmed level and not have their feet lowered on the outside wall. A base-wide stance in a 3 to 4 month-old foal results naturally in asymmetric hoof capsules in the frontal plane with the medial side of the hoof capsule slightly lower than the lateral aspect. If this stance is not recognized as physiological for the age and an attempt is made to “correct” it by lowering the lateral wall, there is a risk of creating an angular limb deformity where none existed previously. In cases where the medial heel bulb has been displaced proximally, the medial hoof wall is lowered slightly and if severe, composites can be used to address the hoof capsule distortion (Fig. 4). Therapeutic trimming does not offer favorable results in the malpositioned limb, as this deformity is corrected through growth. As the musculature of the chest increases, the elbows are pushed outward, rotating the limbs inward.
4851 deeded acres, of which 600 acres are hayable meadows & 410 irrigated pasture meadows from year-round springs. 3820 acres of native grazing lands) will run 830 head of cattle. Family owned for generations. 807,954 BLM acres out the gate for spring, summer & winter grazing. Also, 134,865 acres summer Forest grazing. $3,500,000.
Thompson Farm
Productive farm south of Winnemucca. 2 pivots run by one good well. New stands of alfalfa with high yields. Shop, scale, nice manufactured home & older second home. 320 acres with 245 acres water righted. $879,000. Fig. 3. Medial heel displaced proximally in a foal with a rotational deformity.
616 Acre Farm
Very productive alfalfa farm, with 3 wells & 4 pivots south of Winnemucca. Mobile home, Nice shop, new equipment shed. Extra pasture.
Flying M Ranch
Great ranch, Just minutes from I-80 (Imlay, NV) & not far from Winnemucca. Approx. 23,000 acres of deeded ground with over 23 miles on the river. Winter outside-no feeding. $15,000,000
Wildhorse Ranch
Approximately 4,500 deeded acres north of Elko, Nevada. 2,123 accepted water-righted acres. Borders the forest & Wildhorse Resevoir.
Beautiful Paradise Valley Ranch
With BLM permit. 915 deeded acres. Property is right in beautiful Paradise with 10 parcels all together. $1,500,000.
Bertolino-Hamblin Ranch
Fig. 4A. Flexor flaccidly in the hind limbs of a foal showing digital hyperextension.
Elegant ranch tucked away in luscious Peavine Canyon, NV. Great meadow pasture, fenced & cross-fenced. Stream & pond enhance property & keep the livestock watered and the fields green. Adjacent to the Toiyabe National Forest.
Cattle Ranch in Beautiful Clover Valley
Just 10 minutes South of Wells, NV. 1200fenced acres that include 900 acres of lush meadows and 100 acres of alfalfa. Produces 300 tons of excellent quality alfalfa hay from wheel line and underground irrigation. The meadows produce 800-1000 tons of hay and are irrigated from free flowing creeks. Equipment comes with this gorgeous property. $3,500,000. Fig. 4B. Foal with plastic palmar/plantar extension shoe taped to foot.
View complete listings at:
www.ARanchBroker.com
775-738-8535 Allie Bear
To Be Continued in the next issue. To read the article in its entirety: www.equipodiatry.com/article_young_horse_farriery.htm
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Realtors: Dawn Mitton Mike Sallee
August | September 2012 29
Watch Them Compete. Be Amazed.
ADOPT!
Saddle-Trained Wild Horse Adoption Western States Wild Horse and Burro Expo: August 17-18, 2012 Reno-Sparks Livestock Events Center Watch 11 horses and 1 burro with up to 120 days of intensive training by the Northern Nevada Correctional Center Saddle Horse Training Program compete:
Friday, August 17
Saturday, August 18
NOON:
10:00 AM:
Trail Competition – Pavilion
11:00 AM:
Freestyle Competition – Main Arena
12:30 PM:
Adoption – Main Arena
In Hand Freestyle Competition – Main Arena
6:00 PM: Horsemanship Pattern Competition – Main Arena
View all saddle-trained horses at:
http://on.doi.gov/oU8JlZ
Directions: From Interstate 80 near downtown Reno, take Wells Avenue exit north to the Events Center at 1350 North Wells Avenue. There is plenty of free parking and horse trailers are encouraged!
Training competition sponsored by:
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2012
Hutchings Arena, Fallon, Nevada
125
OVER STUDS, STARTED & BROKE GELDINGS AND MARES, BROOD MARES, 2012 FOALS
BID ONLINE CALL Tami McIntosh
308-870-3661 Call Rich 775-761-1834 or Gary 775-217-1836 www.hutchingshorseranch.com
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Shelman Family Spring Special Horse Sale
7 year old AQHA gelding, Fairleas Hellboy, purchased by Sandy Campbell of Silvies Valley Ranch
S
unshine and warm temperatures greeted a good crowd for the 3rd Annual Shelman Family Spring Special Horse Sale held at the Shelman Ranch in Burns, Oregon. Buyers and Spectators were able to view the horses in a branding trap during the open house preview on Friday, April 20. Saturday, April 21 started out with 7 teams competing in the team doctoring contest. The fast time going to the team of Cory Shelman, Casey Shelman and Caleb Jantz. Following the doctoring, the sale horses were once again previewed in a branding pen. This allowed buyers to see the horses in a true ranch working environment. Glenn Shelley produced a 3 head Old West Match Bronc Riding Contest. Chance Peila of Hines, Oregon won the contest with a score of 83 and received a .22 Pistol for his winning ride. Bill Peila, Chance Peila and Chris Gregg won the average for the Branding and Doctoring event and were awarded Trophy .20 Gauge Double Barrel Shotguns. The Shotguns were sponsored in part by the Bank of Eastern Oregon. Thank you to Brad Mastre Saddlery, Leon Gage and Merlin Rupp for sponsoring prizes for the team doctoring and branding events. The sale started promptly at 1 pm with World Champion Auctioneer Trent Stewart calling the bids. First on the agenda was a benefit auction for the Oregon Beef Ambassador Program. The Beef Ambassador Program awards scholarships to eligible youth seeking education in the beef industry. Mary Jo Davies of Princeton, Oregon co-chairs the committee and helped organize an effort to raise money for the scholarship fund. Local Harney County businesses and individuals who generously donated items to be
auctioned off for this great cause were: Andy’s Custom Work, ACW Rental, ACW Rock and Ready Mix, Burns Ford Garage, Robbins Equipment, Buermann’s Ranch Meats, Harney County Vet Clinic, Jack and Bonnie Smith, Anderson Valley Supply, Ethel’s Balloon Express, Mike and Betty Morgan, Louie and Melody Molt, Les Schwab Tires, Big R, Dean and Norene Shelman and Cory and Jaris Shelman. A big thanks to those who donated and to those who bought items for this scholarship fund. A total of $1400 was raised. The high selling horse of the sale was a 7 year old AQHA gelding, “Fairleas Hellboy” consigned by Shelman and Lynch and ridden by Kevin Lynch of Ulm, Montana. The fancy sorrel gelding came with a reined cowhorse show record, and extensive use at the Lynch Ranch…sorting, doctoring, branding and use in rugged country. He topped the sale after competitive bidding from repeat buyers with Silvies Valley Ranch of Burns, Oregon casting the winning bid of $14,500. The second high seller, a 3 year old red roan AQHA gelding,”JP Roan Pine” consigned by Shelman and Philippi, sold for $6750 to repeat buyer Bill Paetsch of Lebanon, Oregon. This sharp roan gelding came with a year of cowhorse training at the Shelman Ranch and was handy at all the chores. The top 5 horses averaged $7150 with the sale average top to bottom being $2700. As in the past, there was an excellent demand for broke, reliable horses with a softer market for younger, started horses. For complete results from the sale, visit the website at www. shelmanfamilyhorses.com. The Shelman’s would like to thank Jim Smith of Hollingsworth, Inc for the use of their John Deere Tractor. A special thank you to our sale staff and to all who support the events and make the weekend possible.
N E VA DA Butte Valley Cattle and sheep ranch combination. Over 7,000 deeded acres plus a 1,000,000+ acres Public Grazing Allotments. Plenty of water and feed. Paradise Valley Cattle and hay ranch. 2,395 deeded acres plus BLM and USFS grazing allotments. Plenty of water. Location, location, location. Further info for both of these durable investments at;
www.NevadaFarmland.com. Kelton and Associates Real Estate – 775-343-0200 www.progressiverancher.com
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August | September 2012 33
Vandy Van Norman wrote this piece about her great-grandmother Pearl in 1984 as an eighth grade student at Independence Valley School near Tuscarora. Another “ jewel” from the treasure trove of Nevada Day Historical Essays retrieved from the school archives. —Linda Bunch
Flowers for Great-Grandma by Vandy Van Norman Decker
It was Memorial Day, and Mom and I had gone to visit Grandma Pearl’s grave. As we walked up to the grave site, we exclaimed over the blooming lilac tree. As usual, Joe and Pauline Riordan, my grandparents, had already put their flowers on the grave. The stone read, “In memory of Pearl Riordan, June 9, 1889, to March 8, 1974”. I thought back to what little I could remember about her. I don’t recall what she looked like, but I do remember that she had a false leg. One time when we went to town and visited her and while having some ice cream, I said, “Now maybe that will make me grow” for I was very anxious to grow taller. I also remember coloring a red heart for her because she was in the hospital. When she died, I didn’t get to go to the funeral, but I do remember greeting Mom and Dad when they came home and asking Mom what color of dress she was wearing. I wanted to know more about this great-grandma of mine, so I asked, and this is what I found out. She was born in Eureka, Nevada, and her parents were Joe and Minnie Hancock. She had a sister named Violet and a brother named Charles who died when he was very young. Life was not easy for Pearl because her father died when she was two and her mother when she was four, so she was raised by her cousin, Ida Hicks. Pearl graduated as valedictorian of her class, and at the age of seventeen, she became a school teacher. She taught for two years at the Smith Creek School in Mound Valley, now known as Jiggs, Nevada. In those days the teacher lived with the parents of her students because the school board didn’t have enough money to provide for teacher housing. She stayed with James and Mary Riordan who had seven children. One time after she had gone back to Eureka, Dan Riordan, the youngest son, head she would be on the Eureka-Palisade train. He was out at the buckaroo camp riding for cattle, so he asked the buckaroo boss if he could make the Pine Valley circle that would put him near the tracks that day. He got permission to go, but he made the boss promise not to tell the rest of the cowboys. When he got back to camp that night, they were all waiting for him, and he sure was teased!! The cow boss felt that was just too good a story not to share!! In 1909 Pearl married Dan. They went to Eureka for the wedding which was a two-day trip traveling by team and buggy. They spent their honeymoon at a ranch house in Diamond Valley, but the house was infested with bedbugs, so it wasn’t exactly sweet dreams. Pearl and Dan lived in Elko for a short time during which time their first child was born. After the elder Riordans died, they moved back
to the ranch and eventually bought it from the other brothers. They had five children: Marie (Zunino), Joseph (my grandpa), Ellen, Charles, and Donna. Charles died a few days after birth. “Oh, that’s why there’s a small gravestone that has ‘Baby’ engraved on it! I exclaimed excitedly. For entertainment in those days, they would go to other valleys in buggies or sleighs for dances and ballgames. When it was cold, they would put hot bricks in the foot warmer to keep their feet warm and would wrap up in homemade quilts. Sleigh bells were attached to the horses’ harnesses to add some music to the trip. The night would be spent with friends and the return trip made the next day. Dan was handy at creating things to make Pearl’s work easier. He attached a gasoline engine to a tub for her to do her washing, an old piano became a storage chest, and he made numerous cupboards and tables. He mounted a V-shaped table with a stand to a wall for her to work the butter. It had a long roller made from a log to squeeze the water out of the butter. Dan passed away June 9, 1930, on Pearl’s birthday. He had internal bleeding from his ulcers. This left Pearl to finish raising the four children alone. They were eighteen, thirteen, twelve, and seven. Life was not easy, and during the depression, things got really tough. Joe quit high school in his sophomore year and stayed home to help his mother run the ranch. One time when Ellen and her husband came from California to visit, Pearl mentioned that she had been having trouble with the pigs getting into the corn patch. Later when she went to gather some corn for dinner, Ellen’s husband was hiding among the rows where he started grunting like a pig. Pearl grabbed the nearby hoe and started running and swinging at the intruder. He barely escaped with his life!! After my Grandpa Joe married Grandma Pauline, they lived on the ranch, and Pearl moved into Elko where she worked at Huntsman Hardware and at Safeway for a number of years. In 1966 she had to have her leg amputated below the knee because of a blood clot at the ankle. She only accepted the wheel chair long enough for it to heal; then she mastered the crutches and a false leg. On March 8, 1974, she died of cancer. “Boy, it certainly sounds like they had a lot of hard work to do”, I said whole-heartedly. “Yes, those pioneer ladies really had it rough compared to our modern times”, my mother agreed. “Shall we go now?” “Yes”, I whispered, “and I hope she enjoys the flowers.”
Vandy lives with her husband Dennis is Arizona, but still returns to the Van Norman Ranch in the summers to help with the haying and to work with her horses. She attended all eight grades at the Independence Valley School and graduated from Elko High School. She went on to serve in the United States Air Force before her marriage. Pearl’s grandson Mike and his wife Claudia and their son James and his wife Ali along with their sons John and Joe still own and operate the Riordan ranch at Jiggs. Grandson Delbert Zunino and wife Linda and great-grandson Tony and Claudia and great-great-granddaughter Candace Roderick still ranch in Mound Valley. Great grandson Dan Van Norman and his wife Diana own and operate Van Norman Ranches along with Robin and Diane (Riordan) Van Norman. Pauline Riordan still lives in Elko. Obviously the roots of this hearty pioneer stock run deep and reach widely throughout Elko County and beyond.
34 August | September 2012
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Grass ROOT Cutting Horse AsSociation Inc. 2012 Cutting Show Schedule Twin Falls, Idaho
Show Classes
Aug. 18-19 Silver Tree Arena
Saturday Classes B Open Cutting Horse B Non-Pro B $10,000 Non-Pro B 3 Year Old Horse Practice B $3000 Novice Horse B $2,000 Limited Rider B $1,000 Novice Cutting Horse B Youth
Twin Falls, Idaho
Sept. 15-16 TBD Oct. 13-14
TBD
BBB Entry Fees: $55 Entries will include: Riders Name Horse Owner’s Name, & Horse’s Registered Name A copy of Registered Horse Papers is requested to be presented at the first show. Class points are year-end calculated for awards. No jackpot payouts
To enter, contact: Show Secretary Jodie Schiermeier Email: jodieryan_4@msn.com Phone: (208) 539-7707
Sunday Classes B $500 Limited Rider B $500 Novice Horse Novice Rider B Open Ranch Horse B Non – Pro Ranch Horse B $250 Novice Ranch Horse B $250 Novice Ranch Horse & Novice Rider
For more information: Dan Carter, GRC President, (208) 731-1655 or Rob Schutte, GRC VP, (208) 250-5568
WWW.GRASSROOTCUTTERS.ORG
“
Watering the
West
”
113 Ranch in Panaca, Nevada. Good money maker in great country! This 631 acre farm borders the scenic Rainbow Canyon State Park. Alfalfa Production averages around 7.5 ton per acre in this area yet the 5,000’ elevation still provides the high protein and TDN valued by the Dairies. Exceptionally nice improvements including a 3700 sq. ft. home, concrete horse barn, hay storage for over 300 ton, a 400 hd. Feedlot made of pipe and concrete, livestock scales, and large shop and storage buildings. 5 pivots, three of which are in new alfalfa this year. Price: $2.8 million.
ING
Clover Valley Farm: 160 acres with a new center pivot. Price: $250,000.
PEND
Clover Valley Farm No. 2: 242 Acres of which 160 are water righted. Two irrigation wells and a stock well plus the main residential well. Nice newer manufactured home, a 5 car detached garage, a 5000 sq. ft metal building with concrete floor, a 2400 sq. ft pole barn with gravel floor, green house. Priced to sell at $500.000.
Office: (775) 738-2677 Fax: (775) 738-2367
www.bosstanks.com 7861 E. Idaho St. • P.O. Box 70, Elko, NV 89803
Steptoe Valley Farm: Nice Alfalfa and Grass Hay Farm in beautiful country! Approx. 1000 acres with around 700 acres of water rights. Six wells pump water to 5 center pivots and a field flooded or ready for wheel-line hookup. Nice manufactured home for a residence. $3,000,000. Price Reduced to $2,750,000. Can add grazing land! Over 650 deeded acres on the Humboldt River near Elko and adjoining the new Port of Elko Industrial Park. Over 300 acres of Surface water rights out of the Humboldt River, lots of sand and gravel, adjoins I-80 and has access at Exit. Price: $1,200,000. May be a good fit with the Elko Co. 10,705 deeded acres with BLM permit offered below.
SOLD
Z Bar Ranch: Clover Valley Ranch: Offering is changed to include most of the irrigated lands and one home for the reduced price of $1,513,750.
Elko County 10,705 Deeded acres with BLM permit and 50% of the mineral rights. Only $1,391,650. Existing income from minerals lease and grazing lease. This may be the best 401K ever and an excellent target for a 1031 Exchange! Mason Mountain Ranch-Great summer ranch with 3782 deeded acres plus small BLM permit Plus two (2)landowner Elk Tags. Located approx. 75 miles North of Elko. Runs approx. 300 pair for the summer. Approx. 89 acres of meadows irrigated with water stored in Reservoir/fishing hole which also acts as Red Band Trout hatchery. Home and outbuildings for a good cow camp. Phone but no power. Price: $1,595,000. Tent Mountain Ranch, Starr Valley, Nevada. 3500 Deeded acres at the foot of the majestic East Humboldt Range the Northern extension of the Ruby Mountains. Several perennial Streams flow through the ranch and wildlife are a daily part of the scenery. Improvements are good with a large home approx. 5,000. sq.ft, plus a second modular home and beautiful Mountain Cabin. Barn with water, hay barn, and other storage. Access onto paved road. Actually 18 legal parcels and parcel pricing would start at $1,200 AC. Price: $3,800,000. Indian Creek Ranch: White Pine County, Nevada Super hunting property surrounded by Public lands and has plentiful Mule Deer, Antelope and Elk. There is a large Spring arising on high ground that could provide pressure for hydro power, or gravity flow domestic or irrigation water. Price- $395,000. Antelope Peak Ranch-Elko Co. Over 5,000 deeded acres plus two adjoining BLM permits. Priced at $2,800,000. Including equipment. Ranch has 5 pivots and two irrigation wells plus large spring . Being managed to run 600 head. Nice setting at foot of Mtn. plus several ponds with fish.
SOLD
Paul D. Bottari, Broker
Work: 775-752-3040
paul@bottarirealty.com
1222 6th St., P.O. Box 368 Wells, NV 89835 www.progressiverancher.com
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August | September 2012 35
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID Permit # 3280 Salt Lake City, UT
16th Annual
PRODUCTION SALE September 14–15, 2012
Elko County Fairgrounds
tember 14 Friday, Sep orman Stockhorse Challenge 10:00 Van N o apriola Rode 5:00 J.M. C
Live Webcast of Preview and Sale by HorseAuctionsLive.com Absentee bidding via phone and internet
tember 15 p e S , y a d r Satu oo Breakfast 7:00 8:00 1:00 6:00
Elko, Nevada
Buckar dle es under sad rs o h f o w ie Prev Auction inner / Movie G BC B e e f D
Visit us on Facebook www.facebook.com/vannormansale Linda Bunch 775-756-6508 • mrsbunch@rtci.net
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