This wonderful sculpture was seen by ITLA's Trish David. It was done by Glen Rose artist Robert Summers, who is a nationally known sculptor of Monuments of epic dimensions. He also sculpts smaller bronzes and is also a very well known painter of western, Civil War and other subjects.

See more in the story below: Vaquero statue installed amid Longhorn cattle at Waco's Suspension Bridge.

Send us your favorite unique Longhorn photos!

We would love to share some of them here in the ITLA's E-Drover.

The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo Welcomes Longhorns

submitted by Randy Witte

There are a lot of great Texas Longhorns raised around the country and some of the very best traveled to Houston on March 11 for the International Texas Longhorn Show at the Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo.

The Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo is Houston's biggest civic event.

Over 20,000 Houstonians volunteer their time to put on the show that raises money for scholarships for Texas residents to attend Texas colleges and universities. It includes an outstanding rodeo, performances from all types of music from Reba to Usher, and a stock show that people from over 100 countries as well as the USA love to attend to see and buy livestock.

The International Show was judged by Gary Bruch of Strong City, KS and featured some of the premier show people from around the country, including Danielle Andrews, Stan and Jimmie Jernigan, John and Beth Stroh from the northern part of Texas and Gary Don Taylor and family from Oklahoma. The Houston area has long appreciated Texas Longhorns and three of the seven families originated within 30 miles of the show arena. They are the Marks, Butler and Phillips families. Houston area show people that gathered to meet and compete with our prestigious visitors included Twelve Oaks Ranch owned by Bill and Corena Henderson, Grand Patch Farms owned by John and Chicki Mathias, Peach Tree Farms owned by Dave and Annette Johnson, Bar L Longhorns owned by Larry and Robyn Lonero, AssadTexasLonghorns.com owned by Joe and Debbie Assad and Twin Creek Ranch owned by John Lydick to name a few. The show was hosted by the Houston Area Texas Longhorn Association and provided peanuts and candy to all who stopped by including many who had never seen a Texas Longhorn. President John Bradford answered their many questions and helped them get good pictures while vice president John Lydick saw to the needs of the show folks.

The show started with some friendly jibes and trash talk from the competitors. The Texas Longhorns looked outstanding and Judge Gary had a tough time picking the winners. Some of the highlights were when Matt Menchaca got in a conversation with Beth Lonero and forgot to bring his Trophy Steer, Levi, into the arena for his class. He had to jog with the massive 2000 pound animal through the aisles and into the arena to the delight of everyone around! Across the aisle from the Texas Longhorn show, they were showing Dexter cattle, miniature breed from Ireland. When asked why cattle are bred so small, someone replied it must be for 'sliders'! The biggest surprise of the day was the awarding of the All Age Grand Champion Female to the Junior Champion Cow something Judge Gary said he had never done before. The beautiful brindle and white heifer's name is Bandana and was raised by William and Gail Wood of Houston. The Woods also won Grand Champion Bull with Rojo Dagga Boy. No one could remember another time when someone had won both.

For complete results on the show placings please go to our web site www.itla.com. Everyone had a great time and we invite you to come next year for the competition, companionship, and cuisine.

Gary Don & Joanna Taylor 9314 220th St NE Okarche, OK 73762 405-919-5210

www.TaylorRanchLonghorns.com

Legacy X Sale a Success!

From the very beginning, the Texas Longhorn Legacy Sale X was destined to be a landmark event. And what a sale it was! Hundreds of enthusiastic breeders from across the country attended, eager to see many of the best Longhorn cattle in the breed.

CLICK ABOVE if you missed the Legacy X Intro Video

The outstanding consignments did not disappoint.

RM Miss Kitty was publicly measured to confirm her elite 90" status, and a number of 80" (and soon to be 90" ) cows were paraded through the Grand Ballroom of the Embassy Suites
Outdoor World.

The excitement was kicked off on Friday night with the Legacy Spotlight Heifer Sale, followed by dinner and a night of dancing to the live entertainment of Big City Outlaws, generously sponsored by Frank & Michelle Hevrdejs.

The Grand Ballroom was packed again on Saturday Night, and the enthusiastic crowd competed vigorously for the elite line-up of Longhorns. Four cows sold for over $60,000, topped by the sale of RZ Shakira Beauty, consigned by Richard Carroll and purchased by Bill & Judy Meridith for $90,000.

See below for Legacy results

Vaquero statue installed amid Longhorn cattle at Waco's Suspension Bridge

By CARL HOOVER (choover@wacotrib.com)

WacoTrib.com Photo by Rod Aydelott

The bronze herd populating the "Branding the Brazos" public sculpture project near the Waco Suspension Bridge added a mounted vaquero and steer Thursday, moving the three-dimensional tribute to Waco's days as a Chisholm Trail stop closer to completion.

The addition, placed northwest of the park's entry to the Waco Suspension Bridge, imparted more action to the herd already in place as the bandoliered vaquero, armed with holstered shotgun and pistol, waved his sombrero at a steer that is causing his horse to rear.

On the other side of the bridge entry are more cattle, headed by a trail boss. A black drover, yet to be cast, will complete the cowboys in "Branding the Brazos." Artist Robert Summers hopes that figure can be finished and installed this year.

Summers, 73, has spent the last six years working on the $1.65 million project, whose cost has been underwritten in large part by Waco businessman Clifton Robinson.

The Glen Rose-based artist was present to oversee the sculptures' installation with Clint Howard, owner of Deep in the Heart Art Foundry in Bastrop, which has cast the bronze cattlemen and more than a dozen Longhorns to date.

Thursday's installation was a bit trickier than past ones as the rearing horse and steer had to be maneuvered so they touched, horse foreleg to steer tail, then welded in place. The two bronze figures joined to create one large, stable sculpture resting on four steel bolts drilled into a foot-thick concrete pad.

Howard said the stability was necessary because of its park location and expected use.

"You'll get about 20 kids on top of it," he said, grinning, as he and his workers coordinated the sculptures' position as the vaquero hung suspended from a crane.

Continued Below: Vaquero Statue

Legacy X Sale Results

64 Lots sold

2 PO's

Friday Sale Average: $6,458

High Selling Lots:

Pacific Boswell - $15,000

Consigned by Mike & Jeanie Casey

Purchased by David & Linda Mills

Sittin White Berry 16 - $12,500

Consigned by Les & Lane Craft

Purchased by Terry & Sherri Adcock

Lily Leigh - $10,000

Consigned by Tommy & Kathy Mulhollan

Purchased by Ben & Ann Gravett

Dee Dee Blackjack's Grace - $10,000

Consigned by Zech Dameron

Purchased by Bill & Judy Meridith

Awesome Aspen - $9,800

Consigned By Mountain Creek Longhorns

Purchased by John & Darlene Nelson

Saturday Sale Average: $15,391

High Selling Lots:

RZ Shakira Beauty - $90,000

Consigned by Richard Carroll

Purchased by Bill & Judy Meridith

Wiregrass Magnolia 09 - $65,000

Consigned by Joe Graddy

Purchased by Ben & Ann Gravett

D/O Miss Grande - $64,000

Consigned by Helm Cattle Company

Purchased by Bill & Elizabeth Hudson

RM Miss Kitty - $61,000

Consigned by Mike & Jeanie Casey

Purchased by Frank & Michelle Hevrdejs

RZ Kellys Image - $44,000

Consigned by Richard Carroll

Purchased by Mike & Jeanie Casey

TCC Grande Beauty - $30,000

Consigned by Bill & Judy Meridith

Purchased by Richard Carroll

Renegades Gabrielle 169 - $26,000

Consigned by Mike & Debbie Bowman

Purchased by Richard Carroll

RZ Mercedes - $24,500

Consigned by Richard Carroll

Purchased by Trey Whichard

Tempting Shiro TM - $23,000

Consigned by Jason Carter

Purchased by Mike & Debbie Bowman

Volume Buyers:

Richard Carroll - 10 Lots - $ 117,000

Bill & Judy Meridith - 2 Lots - $100,000

Ben & Ann Gravett - 3 Lots - $83,000

Frank & Michelle Hevrdejs - 2 Lots -$69,000

Bill & Elizabeth Hudson - 1 Lot - $64,000

Mike & Jeanie Casey - 2 Lots - $49,000

Trey Whichard - 2 Lots - $32,300

Ricky McLeod - 3 Lots- $29,000

Vaquero statue (continued) By CARL HOOVER (choover@wacotrib.com)

The sculptures - cast bronze plates and pieces affixed to interior steel framing - won't be easily moved. The horse and rider weigh about 3,300 pounds, the steer 1,200 and the cowboy's sombrero 180 pounds, Howard said. The steer is assembled from 44 bronze castings, while about 100 went into the vaquero and his horse.

The vaquero features some of Summers' most detailed work in his "Branding" herd, captured in the cowboy's weathered face, his sombrero, his tooled leather saddle, cartridge belt, saddlebag and stirrups. Spurs on the vaquero's boots also spin.

Summers said he used three basic Longhorn bodies, six horn designs and six tail ones to create the varied Indian Spring Park herd. The cattle, when finished, will fall into roughly three groups, representing the Chisholm Trail, the Western Trail and the Shawnee Trail, paths that 19th-century cattle drives used through the Waco area on their way to northern stockyards and railroad junctures.

The Waco cattle are fatter than those Summers sculpted for a similar bronze cattle drive in Dallas' Pioneer Park before his "Branding the Brazos." It's a point of pride and historical accuracy for Summers, who pointed out that cowboys on a drive were businessmen, too, and knew fatter cattle at market meant more silver in their pockets.

It isn't the foundry's largest sculpture project. That title goes to a 56-piece tribute to the Oklahoma land rush set up in Oklahoma City, Howard said. But that collection only has horses and riders.

Thursday's installation put a large smile on the face of Doreen Ravenscroft, Cultural Arts of Waco president and leader of the "Branding the Brazos" project. Ravenscroft said with the second major sculpture firmly planted in Indian Spring Park, the project's end is in sight.

"Hopefully, by the end of the year we'll have the drover and the rest of the Longhorns," she said.

Also on hand and smiling was Waco Convention Center and Visitors Bureau director Liz Taylor, who said the addition of the Western bronzes had made the riverside park much more noticed - and remembered - by city visitors.

read the original article and see more pictures here at WacoTrib.com

Jim & Jodi Small 765-793-0266 longhorncattle.tripod.com hdwe@hotmail.com

Midwest Texas Longhorn Association (MTLA) Update

MTLA logo_Midwest Texas Longhorn Association

Wow, is winter ever going to give up?

It's 3 above zero this morning in beautiful and white north central Ohio this morning and it's early March!

Ohio Cattleman's Beef Expo was this last weekend, March 14-16. Andrew Morris has been able to get our booth back on the floor of the main exhibit hall this year, we're looking forward to sharing the news of what Texas Longhorn Cattle can do to improve the bottom line of your beef cattle operation .

Our annual show is taking shape nicely, June Cohron has agreed to judge this years show being held at the Wayne County Fair grounds at Wooster Ohio just on the edge of Ohio's Amish Country. Show packets should be available around April 1st and will be mailed to all on our mailing list . More information is available by going to I.T.L.A. web site and clicking on events.

Some changes this year include a earlier start time of 9:00 a.m. and the addition of the Longhorn cross bred classes. So, pack up your trailer, head to Ohio on the weekend of July 19th, and spend some time with us! Enjoy an exhibitor cook out Friday evening and Bovine Bingo at Saturday lunch break, where a very nice yearling steer, donated by Morris Cattle Co., will be the star of the event. And bring some youth to show, youth classes have no entry fees!

Our next meeting will be Saturday March 29th at 12:30 p.m. I'll let you know where soon, but I will be fixin' lunch.

Until next time, only a few more days till SPRING !!!!!

submitted by Tim Mills

For more information

For More Information Contact:

Bill Davidson - (405) 258-7117

mlflonghorns@sbcglobal.net

TLMA - 512-556-0300
info@thelonghornalliance.com
http://www.thelonghornalliance.com

Roger & Carol Hutton
Argyle, Texas www.cloud9longhorns.com 214-402-3587 roger@cloud9longhorns.com

John Darlene Nelson Cloverbloom Ranch LLC

CLOVERBLOOMLONGHORNS.COM

Chewing the Cud...

Two old cowboy couples got together to talk about life and to just have a good time, enjoying one another's company.

One of the ol' Cowboys, Jeb, started talking about this fantastic restaurant he went to the other night with his wife. He went on and on about the food, the service and how great the night was.

"Wow," said Jim-Bob, "that sounds great, what's the name of that restaurant?"

After looking to the horizon and thinking for a few seconds, Jeb finally said, "...what are those good smelling flowers called again...?"

"Do you mean a 'rose'?" the other cowboy offered.

"Yes that's it," he exclaimed as he slapped his leg in triumph. Then, looking over at his wife, he said, "Rose, what's the name of that restaurant we went to the other night?"

CB Zapata el Grande_Nelson_Cloverbloom Ranch

ITLA_upcoming events

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Kevin Trigueiro kevin@e-drover.com

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