An Active Summer For ITLA Affiliates

by Randy Witte

The International Texas Longhorn Association's regional affiliate associations enjoy various activities during the summer months. These mostly involve Texas Longhorn shows, field days or instructional clinics, or meetings held just to get together for a good visit over lunch.

MSTLA

This last idea seemed like a good one for a couple of regional affiliates, the ITLA's Mountain States Texas Longhorn Association and the Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America's Mountains and Plains Texas Longhorn Association. Our hosts were Gary and Kay Cole of Penrose, Colorado. Kay fixed a great Mexican fiesta lunch for us, and Gary provided the entertainment, which tested our historical knowledge of the chuck wagon in a "quiz game" format.

Gary had done more than a little research on the subject and posed a variety of questions, which we pretty well got right. Questions like, who invented what came to be known as the chuck wagon?

Click on the picture above for more photos.   Or CLICK HERE.

And that was Charlie Goodnight, of course, the pioneer cattleman who jumped out to trail Texas Longhorn cattle to northern markets right after the Civil War. The chuck wagon would be indispensable, Charlie knew, to keep a crew of cowboys fed and watered for a lengthy cattle drive.

He used a surplus Army wagon and fitted a large pantry box to the back of it, with a door that folded down to make a work table for the cook. 

What provisions were carried in those early-day chuck wagons?

We chimed in correctly with answers like dried pork, beans, flour, salt and pepper, sugar, vinegar, potatoes and onions, some dried fruits, Arbuckle coffee and water. Of course, beef was readily available, but anything consumed on the trail was likely to be a critter of lesser value, perhaps one that couldn't keep up with the herd.

Someone suggested a bottle of whiskey might have been stashed in the wagon in case of snakebite. According to Gary's research, there was some whiskey along on Goodnight's first wagon-"but it wasn't a bottle," Gary said. "It was a barrel."

With that, Gary went out to gather a couple of his ridin' steers, for pictures and for, well, riding, for anyone who wanted to climb aboard.

                                                                             NETLA

Meanwhile, the Northeastern Texas Longhorn Association continues as one of the most active affiliates in ITLA. They held a two-day show the end of June and exhibited some mighty fine Texas Longhorns, as evidenced by the accompanying photos.

But the best news received from the NETLA folks is that they will again be part of the ITLA World Championship Show and Convention coming up October 17-18 in Oklahoma City, all part of the Longhorn Extravaganza at Cox Convention Center. The association has raised plane fare for a large contingent of their youth to fly out for the competition while a convoy of parents trailer their cattle to meet up with them in OKC.

NETLA can always be counted on to provide a lot of hands-on help getting cattle moved in and out of the arena, and they're part of the reason this year's championship show and convention promises to be one of the best yet.

                                                                          ORVTLA

Six-year-old Cassidy Huntzberry of Smithsburg, Md., showed her steer, Tomahawk, in the open steer class at the NETLA show. "She insisted on showing on her own this year, instead of going in the pee wee class," said Cassidy's Mom, Lizz Huntzberry. Cassidy won first in her class of four entries, and she is shown here competing for champion steer in the open division. The steer at right is Braxton, shown by Jimmy Shifflet of Frederick, Maryland.

Registered Texas Longhorn cattle sparred for championship awards with 56 ITLA-approved classes including three cross-bred classes, "pee wee" classes for youngsters, youth halter and open halter. In contrast to other breed shows, ITLA shows are also popular for their non-halter classes, in which cow/calf pairs, exhibition steers and all ages of registered cattle are shown freely in the arena.

Each animal is judged casually in the arena, and judging evaluation takes into consideration poise, disposition, mothering ability, travel and all other points of purity and conformation.

Contestants came mostly from Ohio, but also from Indiana and Kentucky. Judge for the show was June Cohron, DVM, of Stuarts Draft, Virginia.

To be a part of Ohio's fast growing family of Texas Longhorn producers, contact secretary Martha Sherer at 419-756-8369, or visit at shererwood@centurylink.net.

Kudos for Autobahn Youth Scholarship Tour

ITLA Vice-Pres. Gary Don Taylor sent us a rundown on the Autobahn Youth Scholarship Tour, held in Fort Worth, Tex., June 11-15.

"It was a terrific family event," said Gary Don. "Showing cattle was fun, and the four-day youth event was packed with activities in and out of the show arena. With the help of Larry Barker, Autobahn general manager, John and Diann Chase have created an extraordinary event for kids to earn scholarship money for college. John is the owner of Autobahn Motorcar Group, and the Chases believe every child should have the opportunity to attend college. The Autobahn is their contribution to that end.

"Kids compete for $350,000 in scholarship money and everyone earns money, even if they don't place at the top."

Gary Don said at the Autobahn children learn about competition and leadership in many ways. Participants improve their public speaking and writing skills through the speech and essay contests. They learn more about cattle by participating in the cattle-judging contest, and they can showcase their creativity through art and ag mechanics competitions.

"The Taylor kids participated in nearly every event," Gary Don said. "It was our first year participating and we thoroughly enjoyed it. This year's show set a new record, with just under 500 entries."

For more information on Autobahn contact Larry Barker at 817-988-6110 or LBarker@abahn.com.