 President's Message
Spring is the busiest time of year in our industry and there are many events going on. I just spent a fun weekend at the CTTLA Longhorn Show in McKinney, Texas put together by Danielle Andrews. It was a fun weekend with other Texas Longhorn breeders and beautiful cattle. Danielle has hosted this very popular show for many years. She starts early with her planning and works for months putting the show together. In the end, she is exhausted, I'm sure. But her dedication and effort pay off as dozens of breeders have a great weekend in North Texas.
It got me to thinking about how many people step up to volunteer their time to plan and execute these activities. I'm gratified by the fact that these people are willing to give of their time and energy. Steve Paloncy is putting together the MTLA Futurity in the Midwest. Gordon Mugrove is chairing the Canadian Texas Longhorn Production Sale. Lizz Huntzberry is putting on a NETLA show and June Cohron follows several weeks later with another show on the east coast. Mark Stewart is putting together a show in Canada in July and Stan Searle and Gary Lake are working hard on the Rocky Mountain Select Sale in August in Colorado Springs. Just to name a few!
The reward for their hard work comes in several forms. First, their service to our breed, our association and our fellow breeders is appreciated. The friends made and the relationships fostered while volunteering often last a life time. Some of our best life long friends are people we have met while participating in Longhorn events throughout the years. I know that when we have volunteered we have received much in return. Our lives have been made better by those that we have met along the way.
The ITLA is looking for more volunteers to help with special projects coming up over the next year. I would like to invite you to step up and volunteer your time to help your association and your fellow breeders. You don't have to know anybody, you don't have to be a long time breeder. You just have to raise your hand and say "I'd like to volunteer." You'll be blessed by the time you spend with like-minded breeders. We won't work you too hard and we won't ask you for money! So if you have a little spare time, would like to get to know some real nice folks and would like to help your association and fellow breeders just give Trish a call in the ITLA office and we'll find a place for you (254-898-0157). You'll get much in return, I know I have.
Regards,
Larry Lonero
President, ITLA |
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Jim & Jodi Small 765-793-0266 longhorncattle.tripod.com hdwe@hotmail.com |
For Pete's Sake....  First Aid for Fixing a Broken Horn
by Lizz Huntzberry
For those of you who own Longhorns, I think you will agree that each animal is special in their own way. Each Longhorn has unique traits and personalities that endear them to their owners. In our herd, Pete is a standout. He was born on a very cold January day. His mother was a cow I raised and showed. When she calved that day, it was bitter cold. It is the only time I have moved a cow and calf into the barn out of concern for the weather. The first few days they stayed in the run in shed, and he was strong and healthy and thrived in spite of the cold.
As the weeks went by, this red and white line back began to get stripes here and there, and by weaning time he was brilliant brindle. That year we haltered him and started showing him that fall. Some of you know the rest of the story - Pete has been a family project that we have all had a part of.
Lane and Cole have both shown him and earned his elite award, Cassidy rides him, and even Allen and I are allowed to get him in the ring every once in a while! He has been shown all over the country and brought us so much enjoyment. In the summer, our show cows are pastured in Maryland.
After the fair season ends, we move most of our cows up to our rented farm in West Virginia. The bulk of our herd stays there through the winter, still grazing amazing pasture well into December. We travel up every weekend to check on things, and put out round bales when the frost finishes off our grass.
Unfortunately, we had the worst misfortune just before Christmas, when we found Pete at our farm in West Virginia, obviously injured. He came down from the woods, and when he came through the gate, his horn was definitely damaged, hanging at an angle well below where it should have been. We were distraught and immediately caught him up to assess what had happened. I have been raising Longhorns for almost 20 years, and never have I seen this happen. Many times a cow will break a tip, or part of its horn - a lot of us have run across this. But Pete's injury was an actual fracture at the skull, where the horn base grows out of his forehead. There was no open wound, no blood, and no outward indication of the injury. When we examined him closely, you could actually lift the horn back into its correct place, and feel the separation in his skull. The horn was still attached to his head, being held on only by the hide.
I share what happened in the days and weeks following, in hopes that it could help someone else in the future. When we figured out what the injury was, and what would need to be done, there was limited information on how to proceed. We went forward on a trial and error basis, and fortunately, thus far, we have been pleased at the progress. Not entirely sure what our options were, we spent the next several days (too long) trying to decide how to proceed. The only information we found was from a page on Dickinson's website that addressed a similar situation, but in a much younger cow with smaller horns. Pete's horns are over 80" and very heavy at the base. The weight of his broken horn was our biggest limiting factor in the process that followed.
After considering our options, we felt like the best hope for Pete was to attempt to brace his horn back in the correct position, but that seemed easier said than done...
It took 3 days for us to get casting material from an orthopedic supply website. We literally left for West Virginia as soon as the UPS delivery came.
I will outline the rest in steps; so that it can be saved if you ever need to use it. The photos are before, during, and after the procedure. We were concentrating on taking care of Pete, and the photos were an afterthought -
1. We caught Pete in a small area and covered his face with a wrap to help keep him as calm as possible.
2. Using a four foot piece of ¼ inch rebar, I anchored it to the top portion of his healthy horn, using heavy duty duct tape.
3. When we came across his poll, I used cast padding under the bar to cushion where it put pressure on the top of his head.
4. Gently, I lifted his broken horn up into its normal position and anchored it to the rebar with duct tape. Due to swelling, I was not able to get it in the exact place, but it was close enough.
5. After both horns were secured to the bar, I used vetwrap stretch bandage to completely wrap around the bar and both of Pete's horns. I went down both sides, then did a figure 8 pattern around the base of both horns to help firm it up.
6. The next step was to put a plaster cast over the horn, rebar and bandage. Plaster cast material comes in dry rolls. You soak the roll in water, wring out the excess and use it like an ace bandage, wrapping to the desired thickness to provide adequate stability. You can use your hands to rub each layer together to form the cast. Again, I went across both horns, and did figure 8's around the base and across his poll. I used a case of cast plaster bandage for Pete, (24 rolls) to get the desired thickness. The cast is dry and set in about 10 minutes.
7. For the outside layer, I took two A.I. Sleeves and cut the fingers out, I ran them down over the outside of each horn and put one across his poll. The last layer was duct tape to help keep his cast dry and protected.
One of the other things we did was to feed Pete organic dried herbs that are known to promote healing of tissue and bone. My sister, Barbara, has been instrumental in recommending and obtaining herbs for Pete to eat each day, either in bread balls or mixed with grain. He has been getting comfrey and boneset since about 1 week after his accident.
Each week, we checked for pressure sores and any damage to his cast. We made the decision to leave him turned out in the field, where he was able to mingle with the herd as usual. He is on 90 acres of grass and light woods, so we were taking a chance that he could bump into things. Because of the length of horns, we were concerned that keeping him confined was actually more dangerous than leaving him out.
Having watched him closely the first few days, we noticed he was protective of that horn, moving and navigating the pasture very carefully. After a week, he had become adept at moving around is if nothing was out of the ordinary. Even the rest of the herd sensed that he was in a compromised state and showed concern and gentleness moving around him.
Pete has done amazingly well. He initially had a serum draining from the nostril on the side of the injury which subsided about 24 hrs after the repair was made. While he was very agitated during this time, he did not experience any decline in body weight or condition, nor have we had any issue with infection. The relief he displayed immediately after the cast was in place was a testimony to the vigor and hardiness of the Longhorn breed.
After a long six weeks, it was time to remove the cast and hope it had healed. After confining him, we began the task of removing his bandages one layer at a time. We covered his face again to protect his eyes from plaster dust. I carefully cut the outer wrap from the damaged side. I used a serrated knife and sawed the plaster cast off , lifting it away from the rebar. With the bottom layer of duct tape still in place, I checked the stability of his horn, and it felt strong. I then removed the same layers from the healthy side until we were down to only the frame of the rebar. When all the material was off, we carefully manipulated his horn and were satisfied with its stability. He did have a superficial wound directly on top of his skull which we cleaned and treated with antibiotic ointment.
 Overall, we are very satisfied with how this horrible injury healed. Cosmetically it is not perfect, but this procedure saved him from a tragic end. As my son, Lane said, "it's just another story if people ask why his horns look different." We are glad to still have a healthy beautiful steer to enjoy.
I would strongly encourage you to have these items on hand in the event you would need them. The wait time for getting materials could then be avoided, which is critical to the relief casting a break provides.
We hope that you never have to go through the ordeal we have been through, but hope that sharing our experience might benefit someone else.
Lizz Huntzberry
Orthotape.com has supplies needed for cast application
Herbs were sent from:
Healing Spirit Herbs Avoca, New York healingspiritherbs.com
Mountain Rose Herbs Eugene, Oregon
Mountainroseherbs.com
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Midwest Affiliate Meets to Plan Their Summer Show
 Members and friends of the Midwest Texas Longhorn Association met at the new home of Mike and Jamie Tomey in Bedford, Indiana this month. In all almost 40 people got the opportunity to see their house, enjoy a great meal and tour the pastures where the Tomey's graze their prize winning Longhorns. In addition, they were treated to Mike's Cowboy Chili and Jamie's amazing BBQ Longhorn Burgers. Both of these recipes should be in the ITLA cookbook! Following a terrific lunch, the meeting quickly got everyone excited about the upcoming show. Show Chair Ed Lewis reported that panels have been ordered and should be delivered on Thursday. He needs lots of volunteers to make sure the pens and runways are set. Posters and handouts are being distributed to businesses in the area and Ed has arranged for more bleachers so we can accommodate 300 additional people. Connie Cohen is already getting Silent Auction items ready for a huge crowd. The registration packets will go out immediately after the meeting. Buckles have been ordered for the big winners and other awards and prizes are ready. Courtney Tomey is planning a pizza party for Friday night for the youth who will be coming. Jesse Buckler and Chrissy Perry will promote the site on Facebook and our website. Jesse has also cleaned off her dining room table to handle all the paperwork of registering cattle and preparing our Program.
Glen Lechlitner is donating a 2 year old unbred heifer and bringing it to the show for us to enjoy Bovine Bingo. He's even including the travel papers and registration transfer for some lucky winner. Tickets are $10 and only 100 chances will be sold! It should be a lot of fun as long as the calf cooperates and quickly does what cattle do best! 
It will be an event to remember!
In other business, new brochures for the club and a 2014 membership directory were given out. Judi & Steve Paloncy showed a ranch sign a friend made for them. The guy who makes them will offer a discounted price to MTLA members. The board has decided to sponsor the Southeastern Winchester Futurity held in conjunction with the Hudson/Valentine Sale and also the Winchester Futurity of the North in Princeton after our show.
Johanna Rippey reported that we have new members and reminded everyone to let us know when they sell cattle to new people that we give a free one year membership to new folks and so does the ITLA. Once they come to a show or meeting, these quickly convert to lifetime members.
Under our "Edison Moments" session (featuring bright ideas for promoting longhorns) Gail Beach told the group about having her steer at a local farm equipment dealership open house. She promoted Longhorns to over 2,000 attendees and told them about our show. She even let 40 people have their picture taken on her steer, Clever Oliver.
Word about our meetings and our club is spreading and each time our numbers grow. It seems the more fun we have, the more people want to come and join in the next meeting.
That's what it's all about anyway.
submitted by Steve Paloncy
(pictures from the day, below)
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You're invited! HATLA Meeting on June 7th
The cows are lining up to use the latest version of the Dube Chute, which Bob will explain and demonstrate on Saturday, June 7, 2014, at his ranch in Round Top, Texas.
The Dubes will serve Texas Longhorn hamburgers for lunch, so please call Bonnie and let her know how many are in your party at 979-249-3782.
Things get started at 10:00 am with the Dube Chute demonstration, followed by a short Houston Area Texas Longhorn Association (HATLA) meeting, and then lunch.
The side entry Dube Chute is the easiest and safest way to work Texas Longhorn cattle for both man and beast. The new features make it easier still.
I hope you can attend.
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Ben Gravett (1954-2014)
Local businessman Ben Gravett, 60, of Warrenton, VA, passed away after a brief illness on Wednesday, April 23, 2014. He was at home, surrounded by family and his faithful dogs.
Born April 14, 1954, in Washington, D.C., he grew up in Arlington and Prince William County. Mr. Gravett moved his family to Fauquier County 28 years ago.
He started his career working for Arlington Iron Works. Shortly thereafter, he founded G & G Welding, which developed into Ben Gravett Enterprises, a steel erection company, BG Crane Services and JTD Crane Rental. Mr. Gravett also had a great passion for real estate and land development, much like his grandfather, B.M. Smith of Arlington. An avid horseman for most of his life, he also founded G & G Quarter Horses and was a lifetime member of the American Quarter Horse Association. He later transitioned from horses into breeding and showing Texas Longhorn cattle.
He was also a major supporter of the Texas Longhorn cattle that he loved with the generous giving of his time, talent and numerous other contributions and donations. He was a past President of the International Texas Longhorn Association (ITLA), a founder of the successful Millennium Futurity, the Cherry Blossom Sale. He later became chairman of the board of the Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America, based in Fort Worth. He was a founding member and the current chairman of the board of the Texas Longhorn Marketing Alliance in Lampasas, Texas. He and his wife, Ann, are also lifetime members of the ITLA, TLMA, and the TLBAA.
Mr. Gravett also spent many years coaching and supporting his children's sports teams. He was very active in the community and a supporter of numerous local charities and services, including Highland School, Fauquier Family Shelter and the Fauquier Free Clinic. He supported the Fauquier County Republican Committee. There were many other causes he supported in the community as well as serving on the board of the Washington Forest Foundation, a charitable organization in Arlington.
Survivors include his wife of 29 years, Ann Gravett; his children, Matt Gravett of Sumerduck, Rachel Gravett Mrad of Centreville, Jamie Gravett of Warrenton and Taryn Gravett of Warrenton, and his grandchildren, Jake Gravett and Ty Gravett of Sumerduck, Dylan Mrad and Jordan Mrad of Centreville and Addyson Gravett of Warrenton.
more: http://www.moserfuneralhome.com/obituary/Ben-Gravett/Warrenton-VA/1376404
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G&
G & G Strong. It Will Continue
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BOTTLA Announces New Youth Scholarship
Thanks to the Mo-Kan Texas Longhorn Sale
By Randy Witte
The Best of Trails Texas Longhorn Association (BOTTLA) folks have a knack for raising money and then figuring out good things to do with it.
This ITLA affiliate raises money with its twice-a-year Mo-Kan Texas Longhorn Sale, and it was at the 2012 ITLA convention in Oklahoma City that Kansans Gary Bruch and John Dvorak announced that BOTTLA would match dollar-for-dollar, up to a total of $10,000, all contributions toward paying off the ITLA's office mortgage. The mortgage was a little over $20,000 at that time, and in two days more than $20,000 was raised through the BOTTLA program to retire the debt.
 Now BOTTLA has funded an annual youth scholarship program to be awarded to a young person with an interest in pursuing some type of career involving the agriculture or livestock industry.
"I want to give credit and thanks to Jerry Rank for doing the legal work for the scholarship," Gary added. "He and his father raise Texas Longhorns at Abbyville, Kansas."
The first recipient of this scholarship, it was announced by Gary and John, is Shelby Rae Coats of Taylor, Texas. Shelby's goal is to become a veterinarian, and her college career will begin this fall at Sul Ross State University in Alpine, Texas.
Since 2008, Shelby has spent more than 1,500 hours assisting local veterinarians through her 4-H veterinarian science program. She is also a veteran at showing her Texas Longhorn cattle, winning a grand and reserve at the Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America World Championships in Fort Worth and being named top showman over 35 times through the years at various livestock shows.
She has also helped instruct others at the ITLA Showmanship Camp and Field Day and the Sunrise Showmanship Camps.
"Her dedication to her cattle projects over the years is evidenced by the numerous awards and distinctions she has earned throughout her cattle showing years," said Brent Holubec, her agricultural science teacher. "Shelby also served as teen director for TLBAA during 2008-2010, vice-president with ITLA youth (2011-2013), and the Williamson County 4-H veterinarian science program president in 2011 and 2012."
Congratulations Shelby Rae Coats!
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Gary Don & Joanna Taylor 9314 220th St NE Okarche, OK 73762 405-919-5210
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The Mo-Kan Sale
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Gary Bruch makes some pre-sale announcements at this year's spring Mo-Kan Texas Longhorn Sale.
Photo: Janet Eppard
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Meanwhile, back at the Mo-Kan Livestock Market at Butler, Mo., the BOTTLA folks are into their 23rd year of this highly successful cattle sale. This is mostly a commercial cow sale, with no big interest in the length of horns on the part of the buyers, but what a sale it is!
What those who buy and sell at Mo-Kan do like about Texas Longhorns is the way the cows utilize forage, their calving ease, and the prices their cross-bred calves bring after they're weaned and sold.
The sale is held the second Saturday in March and the second Saturday in September. At the sale this past March, only 22 head of registered cattle were in the sale catalog. But, as always, a plethora of commercial Longhorns-some 400 cows and 350 to 400 "ropers"-just showed up on sale day and created a steady stream of cattle through the ring while a standing-room-only crowd of bidders put their hands in the air.
Look at these prices: Nice Longhorn cows sold for $1,175 to $1,450 each. Longhorn cows with Angus calves inside brought $1,650, and broken-mouth cows, bred, sold for $850 to $1,100.
Some of our Texas Longhorn aficionados will need to hold onto their hats for this next bit of information: A lot of the commercial cows are de-horned (remember, horns aren't a big deal to a lot of these commercial folks).
But one category of cattle-the yearling ropers-where horns are very important, sold for $650 to $735 a head!
'Good ol' cow sale'
"It's just a good ol' cow sale," explained Gary Bruch, who with his wife, Brenda, and John and Carol Dvorak and the rest of the BOTTLA have produced the Mo-Kan Longhorn sale for the past 23 years. Gary is a past president of ITLA and BOTTLA, and John is current president of BOTTLA.
"About a half dozen folks have been a part of this sale from the very beginning," Gary added.
Among the longtime supporters is the Mi Tierra Ranch of Joplin, Mo., owned by the Graham family. Dale and Janet Eppard, who manage Mi Tierra's Ritchey Division, can always be counted on to consign some top Longhorn cattle to the sale. Another longtime supporter is Roland West of Odessa, Missouri.
Gary also credits the folks who own the Mo-Kan Livestock Market-Jerry and Jim Hertzog and their families and staff-for a lot of the sale's success. "They are just super to work with," he said, and noted that "there are Longhorn cattle all over that part of the country."
The Mo-Kan Livestock Market is located 55 miles south of Kansas City, Mo., just off highway 71 at the Passaic exit.
Gary added that the sale is always preceded with "a wonderful Friday night feed" put on by Jerry Hertzog, and featuring ribs, roast and sausage.
"Twice a year, we look forward to seeing old friends from all over the country," he continued. "At the March sale this year, buyers came from Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Oklahoma and Missouri." 
This sale supports all of the BOTTLA activities and more.
For more information on Best of Trails Texas Longhorn Association, the Mo-Kan Sale, and the youth scholarship fund:
John Dvorak, BOTTLA president
Rt. 1, Box 160 Marion, KS 66861 620-382-2067
Jpdcrd33@netks.net |
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 DON'T MISS IT!!! Join us this Friday and Saturday at The TLMA Millennium Futurity Sale May 15 and 16th, Glen Rose, Texas We are very excited to expand this year's schedule to include the Made in America Futurity. Fourteen Henry Golden Boy rifles will be awarded to class members. The 2013 Millennium was a big success and this year promises to be even better. Don't miss out, come see why this will be one of the most popular events on the Longhorn calendar this year! |
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THE TEXAS LONGHORN MARKETING ALLIANCE ANNOUNCES
Coming Soon!
2014 Herd Sire Celebration Special Edition
The BIGGEST and BEST Texas Longhorn Journal issue of the year.
The annual Herd Sire Celebration issue is printed in hard cover form for all TLMA members. A collector's issue, this special edition lists the finest bulls and prospects of the Longhorn breed.
For More Information Contact:
TLMA - 512-556-0300
info@thelonghornalliance.com
http://www.thelonghornalliance.com
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Chewing the Cud...
This blonde rancher's wife finally decided she has had enough. She was sick and tired of all these blonde jokes and how all blondes are perceived as stupid, so she decides to show her husband that blondes really are smart.
While her husband is out feeding the cows, she decided that she is going to paint a couple of rooms in the house. So, the next day, right after her husband leaves heads to town, she gets down to the task at hand.
Her husband arrives home at 5:30 and is greeted with that distinctive smell of fresh paint. But, he walks into the living room to find his wife lying on the floor, her face beet red and nearly passed out from exhaustion, in a pool of sweat.
He notices that oddly, she is wearing both a ski jacket and a fur coat at the same time. He goes over and asks her if she is OK. She replies, weakly, "yes."
"What are you doing?" He asked.
She caught her breath and said, "I wanted to ...prove... to you....that not all blonde women are dumb...by painting the house by myself."
"But honey, I never thought of you like that. But, I gotta ask...why are you wearing a ski jacket and your fur coat?
She replied.."Well...I read the directions...and...it said right there on the can..."FOR BEST RESULTS...PUT ON TWO COATS"."
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Click here to see the list of Events coming up this year!
Don't see your ITLA event listed?
Just drop us an email with all the details! Staff@itla.com
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New to Texas Longhorns?
There's so many good people who would love to help you get started !
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 Thank you for your continued support of the International Texas Longhorn Association's E-Drover. The E-Drover remains one of the most cost effective ways to reach Registered Texas Longhorn cattle owners and enthusiasts.
Be sure to advertise your ranch, cattle and other special events.
For the Love of Longhorns,
Kevin Trigueiro
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