ITLA Elects Officers & Regional Directors

At this time each year a replacement slate of leaders are submitted to all ITLA members for consideration. This slate is the culmination of the Nominating Committee's efforts to fill positions with energetic and loyal ITLA members. The committee normally includes past presidents who have worked with members for years.

After the membership receives this slate by mail, they have the opportunity to submit additional candidates, by mail-in petition, who are deemed qualified to be added to the ballot. This year there were no candidates added by the petition process, so the nominees submitted by the committee have been approved by the membership, constituting election, in accordance with the Bylaws.

 Hutton and Lonero Chosen to Lead

President Roger Hutton of Argyle, Texas, was asked to serve another term, which was approved. Outgoing Vice President Stan Searle, Monument, Colorado did not wish to serve another year.  

     Larry Lonero of Brenham, Texas agreed to be placed on the ballot. Larry has served as an ITLA director, is one of the most popular ITLA show judges and has been ITLA Championship Show Chairman the last two years. 

Bruch Returns to Board

The At Large #3 Director, John Nelson, Wellington, Colorado has served ITLA for 6 years and was term limited and will step down. This position will be served by Gary Bruch of Strong City, Kansas who was nominated unopposed. Gary served as president of ITLA for two terms and has been a long time Board member. This year's slate includes Charter Member Bruch along with newer entries to the breed.

Witte and Daniell Re-elected

 Region #6 Director, Randy Witte of Peyton, Colorado has served one term and was unopposed to serve a second term. Randy is well known as the retired publisher of Western Horseman Magazine, author and avid Texas Longhorn producer. He is in his second term as president of the Mountain States ITLA affiliate. Randy and his wife Marsha have been highly successful in showing Longhorns in the Rocky Mountain States.

Representing Region #9, Lana Daniell has served one term and will serve a second, also unopposed. Lana leadership on the Board of Directors was demonstrated most recently as a member of the Strategic Planning Committee. She is well appreciated for her energy in the West Texas show system.

Steven Bryson

  In Region #8, Steven Bryson will join the board and serve the southeast USA, He replaces Bob Mottet, Shreveport, Lousiana, who has served a full term. Bryson is a 32 year old Longhorn enthusiast from Blountsville, Alabama. Steven and his wife, Tracy, have two daughters, Allie and Josie, and one son, Macon. He is in his first year of his new role as Assistant Principal at J.B. Pennington High School where he was promoted after serving nine years as a teacher and coach. Steven received a Bachelors degree from Cumberland College in Williamsburg, KY, pursued additional coursework at Jacksonville State University, and recently acquired a Masters degree in Instructional Leadership from The University of Alabama at Birmingham. The Bryson family attends Mt. Hebron Missionary Baptist Church where Steven serves as a Deacon and Sunday School Superintendent.

Steven became involved with registered Texas Longhorns and ITLA in 2002 when he purchased one bull and one heifer and added 4 more females the following year. From those 5 females he began building a very respectable herd. His breeding focus has been centered on hip and horn and most recently horn shape.

While Steven, like most other Longhorn breeders is striving to raise animals with record horn, he realizes that not every Longhorn will break records, but all will taste good. He wants to breed Longhorns that people with a beef cattle background, like himself, would be proud of, while possessing the "wow factor" that Longhorn breeders desire. He maintains a website which helps generate most of his sales. He comments that he is amazed by how helpful Longhorn breeders are to each other whether it is for advice or even to help transport purchases across the country. Steven says that he feels honored to be chosen as a Director and that he will work diligently to ensure that ITLA meets the needs of its members, promoting the Texas Longhorn breed while maintaining nominal fees.

Gary Don Taylor

  In a word, builder. That's the first thought which comes to mind when family and friends think about Gary Don Taylor. In 1987, at the age of 26, Gary and his brother strapped on tool belts and built a business for themselves. Taylor Bros. Construction, Inc. continues today with Gary and his son Ryan at the helm.

Gary jokes that his Mother had a drug problem. Every time the church doors were open, Mom drug the family to church. By the time he was 12 years old, Gary knew that one day he would answer his call to preach. In 1998, Gary moved his family to Kingfisher, OK where he built a new local church. He pastored the church until 2010.

Now at an age that he can slow down, Gary is fully committed to building something very different...a top-notch herd of Texas Longhorn Cattle. Gary's family wasn't consulted about getting into Longhorn ranching. One day, his wife and family came home to see 11 colorful, horned cattle in the pasture. Today, everyone on the ranch is committed to furthering the industry by producing cattle with exceptional confirmation, color and horn.

Gary's Christian faith provides a path for living to his children and grandchildren. He is a graduate of Oklahoma City Christian School where in 1978 he graduated with the honor of Valedictorian. He went straight to work, first in the bustling oil fields of Oklahoma and later his entrepreneurial spirit led him to start his own company.

Gary and his family attend Surry Hills Baptist Church. He has two children and one grandchild in the house. All three are readying their show sticks. They are all future cattle showmen. Gary's son Ryan and his wife Jennifer also live on the ranch. Their newborn baby, Emmalee is another future cattle showman. Nearly every night Gary and the kids set out to look over the herd and take pictures.

The newly elected and re-elected officers and directors of the International Texas Longhorn Association will be formally installed at the annual membership meeting in Oklahoma City on Saturday October 27.

The Old Cowboy was on business down south and checked in a day early to the Hotel where he and his wife were going to celebrate their honeymoon.  There was a computer in his room, so he decided to send her an e-mail. However, he accidentally left out one letter in her e-mail address, and without realizing his error, he sent the e-mail. 

Meanwhile.....somewhere in Houston, a widow had just returned home from her husband's funeral. He was a minister of many years who was called home to glory following a sudden heart attack. The widow decided to check her e-mail, expecting messages from relatives and friends.

After reading the first message, she fainted. 
The widow's son rushed into the room, found his mother on the floor, and saw the computer screen which read: 
  To: My Loving Wife
  Subject: I've Arrived
  Date: 7 September 2012
I know you're surprised to hear from me. They have computers here now and you are allowed to send e-mails to your loved ones. I've just arrived and have been checked in. I see that everything has been prepared for your arrival tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing you then! Hope your journey is not as uneventful as mine was.
P.S. Sure is hot down here!