EDITOR’S NOTES A FAN OF THE BASICS

As a graphic artist, a writer and a publication designer I get nervous every time a new app or program comes out that “does it all for you”. Why? Because the quality needed for print production is different than online. But even bigger than that, taking the push button shortcuts does not help you learn to notice the details and produce a complete, high quality product. While the flaws may seems small and people may not comment on them, over time you have an inferior product for the sake of speed. If you want to present your product to a market a step above where you are at, they will notice.

I say all of this for two reasons...If you are a person editing your own photographs and you decide to advertise, please know that we aren’t trying to insult you if we ask for the original photo to edit ourselves. a straight peg-leg with missing dewclaws, a weirdly blurred top line or a low quality file because you forgot to save a larger version of it can all affect how your animals and the quality of your program are perceived. We want to present every animal in the best quality possible.

The second reason is WAY bigger though. Please take time to study the basics of reproductive success for a herd sire if you want to move your program ahead successfully and help improve the breed as a whole. Structure from the ground up is important. While outstanding horns are a goal, you need sound feet, legs and reproductive organs to make a bull. There are lots of basics covered in this issue. Many of you may already know these things, but many do not. If you are selling to new breeders, do them a favor and don’t start the conversation with ribbons or bronzes won. Show them the soundness of structure and the proof of fertility and reproductive success. The first goal for any program’s herd sire should be consistently bred females.

The basics of beef cattle reproduction, soundness and care do not change. Technology changes, fads come and go. Data about desirable traits and heritability make become more defined and in greater availability as the years go by. We may even come to a day when there are Longhorn EPDs published.

Those basics, as well as advances in the industry, have been covered for many years and you can find most topics in back issues of Trails Magazine, many years of which can be found online for free. There will be plenty more to come in future issues as well.

Lots of exciting things on the horizon for upcoming events, magazine content, new breeder resources and more. Stay tuned to Trails Magazine and E-Trails, our weekly E-News that you can sign up for at www.tlbaa.org.

Editor-in-Chief: Myra Basham Ext. 104 • myra@tlbaa.org trailseditor@tlbaa.org

Advertising: Myra Basham • (817) 625-6241 x 104 myra@tlbaa.org

Graphic Design & Production: Taylor Rankin • Ext. 103 taylor@tlbaa.org

Marketing Coordinator: Mason Runyon • Ext. 108 mason@tlbaa.org

Registrations/Office Manager

Rick Fritsche • Ext. 101 rick@tlbaa.org

Registrations/Administrative Assistant

Megan Smith • Ext. 102 megan@tlbaa.org

Special Events

Pam Robison • Ext. 106 pam@tlbaa.org

DEADLINE:

April 2023 Issue:

February 28th

Texas Longhorn Beef

Blessings, Myra Basham

Myra Basham Editor-in-Chief

Accounting Michelle Abbott • Ext. 105 michelle@tlbaa.org

Office Assistant/Receptionist

Jayme Guinn • Ext. 100 jayme@tlbaa.org

Frank Anderson Jr. and III

828 S. Rosemary Dr. • Bryan, TX 77802 (979) 846-8020 • (713) 502-5224 edie.wakefield@gmail.com

Bo Baker & Kellsey Gallagher

Mount Airy, MD 21771 (301) 806-6493

Beadle Land & Cattle

Ray & Bonnie Beadle

Los Gatos & Hollister, CA 95032 (408) 834-0110 raybeadle@comcast.net

Bennett Longhorn Cattle Co.

Michael Bennett

2159 Country Club RD • Lucas, TX 75002 (214) 385-6789 bennett@lucasfence.com

BPT Longhorns

Ben & Phyllis Termin Weatherford, TX (817) 374-2635 luvmylonghorns@gmail.com

Butler Texas Longhorns

Buster & Thalia Butler Jennings, OK 936-577-6129 buster@butlertxlonghorns.com www.butlertxlonghorns.com

C4 Longhorns

Bill & Molly Crozier 208 CR 4145 • Woodville, TX 75979 (409) 200-9720 www.c4longhorns.com

Christa Cattle Co.

Jason & Louis Christa 2577 FM 1107 • Stockdale, TX 78160 christacattleco@msn.com www.christacattleco.com (210) 232-1818

Dalgood Longhorns

Malcolm & Connie Goodman 6260 Inwood Dr. • Houston, TX 77057 (713) 782-8422 dalgood@comcast.net www.dalgoodlonghorns.com

Falls Creek Longhorns

Stan & Sandi Tidwell 2330 W. FM 875 • Midlothian, TX 76065 (972) 989-8939 www.fallscreeklonghorns.com

Hicks Texas Longhorns

Johnny & Missy Hicks 1518 E. Britol Rd. • Dowling, MI 49050 (269) 721-3473 hicksamericanbulldogs@yahoo.com www.michiganmafialonghorns.com/Hicks

Jane’s Land & Cattle Co. John & Jane Thate 418 W. Margaret St. • Fairmont, MN 56031 (507) 235-3467

Kaso, Lisa & Jake Kety Little Ace Cattle Co. P.O. Box 386 • Folsom, LA 70437 (985) 796-3918 ketyfolsom@aol.com

McLeod Ranch Michael, Jackie, Mike & Makayla McLeod 355 CR 3031 • Edna, TX 77957 (361) 782-0155

Brennan & Michele Potts Rocking P Longhorns P.O. Box 579 • Emory, TX 75440 (903) 473-2430 Cell: (903) 348-5400 www.rockingplonghorns.com bpotts1@verizon.net

Rio Vista Ranch Elmer & Susan Rosenberger 3208 Fall Creek Estates Dr • Spicewood, TX 78669 Cell: (512) 422-8336 elmer@riovistaranch.com www.riovistaranch.com

Spring Creek Farms Bradley & Heather Wachsmuth 2749 FM 555 • Gilmer, TX 75645 (337) 241-6882, 337-366-2060 bh1028726@gmail.com www.springcreekfarmstx.com

Triple R Ranch Robert & Kim Richey 21000 Dry Creek Rd. • San Angelo, TX 76901 (325) 942-1198 r3ranch@aol.com www.butlertexaslonghorns.com

Wynfaul Acres James & Helen Cloakey 408 County Road 2200. • Cleveland, TX 77327 (713) 677-1473 hgbedford@hotmail.com www.WynFaulAcres.com

Butler Breeder’s Futurity (936) 689-1914 butlerfuturity@yahoo.com www.butlerbreedersfuturity.com

Butler Longhorn Museum (281) 332-1393 info@butlerlonghornmuseum.com www.butlerlonghornmuseum.com

YOUR RANCH COULD BE HERE If you would like to be listed as a Butler breeder on these pages, please email myra@tlbaa.org for more information.