Texas Longhorns at the National Western Stock Show

By Randy Witte

 

Grand Champion Haltered Bull at the 2015 National Western Stock Show's Texas Longhorn Show is Stony 13 (Sundance Kid 2/1 x Pebbles Pippa) born 3/13/13, and owned by the Johnsons of Big Horn, Wyoming. That's Kris Johnson at the halter, along with his Dad, Toby Johnson.

The 109th National Western Stock Show in Denver, Colo., each January is always a showcase for thousands of head of livestock-everything from chickens, hogs and sheep to various breeds of horses and cattle-and the Texas Longhorn continues to be an important part of it all. 

 

Ever since the 100th show, Texas Longhorns have led the annual Stock Show parade through downtown Denver. The Longhorns were supposed to be a special attraction for that single Centennial celebration, but the cattle proved to be such a hit at that parade (after word got out there would be a Longhorn cattle drive), it was decided to make them an annual feature. The parade went from being a quiet affair attended by a sparse crowd to an enthusiastic crowd of spectators estimated this year to be in excess of 30,000 people. 

 

As always, Stan Searle and Gary Lake of the Searle Ranches at Ellicott and Monument, Colo., provided the cowboys and cattle. The cattle even showed up mingling with participants in a special Stock Show luncheon for Denver's business elite, in the opening days of the show. And they participated for several days of a Wild West Show-another Stock Show attraction-where they were called back into the arena for a "curtain call." 

 

Throughout the show's 16-day run, livestock are constantly moved in and out of the show grounds to accommodate all the individual breed shows. The Longhorns got their show January 23-24, and featured 69 entries furnished by 17 breeders from Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska and South Dakota. 

 

Grand Champion Haltered Heifer at the 2015 Denver Stock Show is FCL Chaquita (King of Hearts x Mustang Sally 17), owned by Kenny Richardson (right) of Greeley, Colo., and shown by his and his wife's daughter, Jennifer Fanning.

Weather can be mild or not in Denver this time of year, but more often than not it proves to be fairly mild, and that was the case for the Longhorn cattle exhibited in the historic stockyards. 

 

Again this year, the show was a world and championship-qualifying show for both the Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America (TLBAA) and the International Texas Longhorn Association (ITLA), run under the combined expertise of Mountains and Plains Texas Longhorn Association and Mountain States Texas Longhorn Association, the two regional affiliates. 

 

Lizz Huntzberry of Hagerstown, Maryland, served as judge for this year's show, and she brought her family along for the holiday, including children Lane (19), Cole (16), Cassidy (7), and her partner, Allen Sites. The entire family shows Texas Longhorn cattle together. 

 

Lizz has long been active in the ITLA's Northeast Texas Longhorn affiliate, currently serves on the ITLA board and is an approved training judge for ITLA. She is also a member of TLBAA and Texas Longhorn Marketing Alliance.

 

Auctioneer Jim Civis of Lamar, Colo., again served as announcer at the show. Jim and his wife, Betty, are longtime Longhorn breeders, have served on the Mountains and Plains board, and assisted both affiliates auctioneering as part of fund-raising. Jim was assisted with announcing by John Nelson of Wellington, Colorado.  

2015 National Western Texas Longhorn Show Results 

By Randy Witte

 

Grand Champion Haltered Mature Cow at the '15 National Western is Cooter Hill (CS Cooter x Bold Hila), owned by Tom Matott of Castle Rock, Colo., and shown by his son, J.R. Matott.

Champion Haltered Junior Bull: Pecos Winds, owned by Scot and Jodie O'Bryan of Belvidere, S.D.; reserve is Dust Devil 44, owned by Toby Johnson of Big Horn, Wyoming. 

 

Champion Haltered Senior Bull: Stony 13, owned by Toby Johnson; reserve is Hubbells Rio Dynamite, owned by Tom Matott of Castle Rock, Colorado. 

 

Grand Champion Haltered Bull: Stony 13, owned by Toby Johnson; reserve is Hubbells Rio Dynamite, owned by Tom Matott.
Champion Haltered Junior Heifer: FCL Chaquita, owned by Kenny Richardson of Greeley, Colo.; reserve is Anders Rodeo Gal, owned by Art and Haley Anders of Crawford, Nebraska. 

 

Champion Haltered Senior Heifer: Saltillo Super Sheri 30, owned by Bonnie and Roger Damrow of Roca, Neb.; reserve is The Basin Beauty, owned by Toby Johnson. 

 

Grand Champion Haltered Heifer: FCL Chaquita, owned by Kenny Richardson; reserve is Saltillo Super Sheri 30, owned by Bonnie and Rodger Damrow. 

 

Grand Champion Haltered Mature Cow: Cooter Hill, owned by Tom Matott; reserve is SV Buttons and Bows, owned by Kenny Richardson. 

 

In the non-haltered show, the famous Shadow Jubilee (The Shadow x GMR 1182), one of the longest-horned cows anywhere with TTT measurement of 90+ inches, was named Grand Champion Non-Haltered Mature Cow. Jubilee is owned by Tom Matott of Castle Rock, Colorado.

Champion Non-Haltered Junior Heifer: She Devil, owned by Randy and Marsha Witte of Peyton, Colo.; reserve is Windy Point Penelope, owned by Ron and Lana Pearson of Fowler, Colorado. 

 

Grand Champion Non-Haltered Heifer: Awesome Aspen, owned by John and Darlene Nelson of Wellington, Colo.; reserve is CB Mordrag, owned by John and Darlene Nelson. 

 

Grand Champion Non-Haltered Mature Cow: Shadow Jubilee, owned by Tom Matott; reserve is Good Golly, owned by Clyde and Virginia Peek of Franktown, Colorado. 

 

Champion Non-Haltered Bull: Great Galaxy, owned by Randy and Marsha Witte; reserve is Windy Point Boris Iron, owned by Ron and Lana Pearson. 

 

Champion Non-Haltered Steer: Henry (92+inches, TTT), owned by Fox Ridge Ranch of Centennial, Colo., and Searle Ranches of Ellicott and Monument, Colo.; reserve is BN Jim Reeves, owned by Ryan Johnson of Big Horn, Wyoming. 

 

Top winners received a total of $5,370 in prize money plus trophy belt buckles, banners and ribbons. 

 

 

 

The Texas Longhorn Show crowd admired this class of junior heifers during the non-haltered classes. At left is the Champion Non-Haltered Junior Heifer, She Devil (Patriot Games x Mile High Lady) owned by Randy and Marsha Witte of Peyton, Colorado.

  

Awesome Aspen (foreground) enroute to being named Grand Champion Non-Haltered Heifer in the Denver Stock Show Texas Longhorn Show. Awesome Aspen (Awesome Black Cracker x Awesome Nora) is owned by John and Darlene Nelson of Wellington, Colorado.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Judge Lizz Huntzberry, pictured on the left side of the arena, named Good Golly (Mile High 3-1 x Molly Miss May) first in her class for females born '09 and '08. Golly is owned by Clyde and Virginia Peek of Franktown, Colorado.

ITLA/TLBAA Co-Sponsored Show in Denver

What would Wild West Night be without Longhorns?  They were the stars of the show.  This picture and others are all the courtesy of Gary Lake, President of the MSTLA.  The cattle enjoyed being on display indoors and out, during both night and day at the show.

  

The show was enjoyed by a fantastic crowd for the loose show and it was judged by Lizz Huntzberry.  

  

Below is what they would call in 'Shorthorn Country" called "being upstaged by a Longhorn." 

Maybe they can get a refund on the sign...CLEARLY this was Longhorn Country! Shadow Jubilee is owned by Tom Mattot of Rocky Mountain Longhorns (91"+).  She was the Grand Champion Female.

Ohio River Affiliate Hunkering Down (ORVTLA)

 

While much of the Ohio River Valley Texas Longhorn Association (ORVTLA) is still hunkered down with snow and subzero temperatures, breaking ice and rolling out hay is part of the daily routine. Hoping warm weather is just around the corner, spring calving begins soon and before we know it grass will start to green-up.

 

We will be holding our spring meeting March 7th at Peggy Sue's Steak and Ribs in New Castle, Ohio to discuss plans for the upcoming Ohio Beef Expo and our upcoming show to be held in July at the Wayne County fairgrounds. 

 

All members are encouraged to attend and bring your appetite. Peggy Sue's is well known for their homemade pies. 

 

March 20th-22nd the ORVTLA will be hosting a booth at the Ohio Beef Expo held at the Ohio State fairgrounds in Columbus. Vendors from all facets of the beef industry will be onsite to promote their products. The ORVTLA uses this  opportunity to promote our breed and educate other cattlemen and women of the benefits of Texas Longhorns to the industry. 

 

Best wishes to all with their upcoming spring calving.

Andrew Morris
President ORVTLA 

   

The miser's last request was to be alone with his lawyer, doctor, and best friend. "I know I am going to die" he said "but I would like to take my money with me, so I am going to give each of you $150,000 and I want you to each make sure the money gets in the coffin."

 

It was a few days after the funeral when his best friend, over flowing with guilt, finally confided to the other two that he only put $100,000 back. "I'm glad you brought it up" said the doctor, "because I have also been feeling guilty, I only put $80,000 back."

 

"You people should be ashamed of yourselves" stormed the lawyer "stealing money like that, am I the only honest person here? Here look at this" he said pulling out his check book, "look I wrote out a check for the full $150,000!"