By Randy Witte
The Texas Longhorn show at Denver's 110th National Western Stock Show isn't the biggest of the livestock events-there were 62 entries in the January show--but the Texas Longhorn has become ever more associated with the show.
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The NWTL Show Committee continues as a genial 50-50 split between the two regional affiliates. Nearly everyone who comes to this show has dual membership in both TLBAA and ITLA.
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For the tenth straight year, a herd of Longhorns led the popular stock show parade from Denver's Union Station up through the financial district and past the historic Brown Palace Hotel. An estimated 40,000 spectators lined the parade route. The same cattle also "dined" with the city's elite businessmen and women at a stock show luncheon, and were central to a Wild West Show held the following week during the stock show's 16-day run.
The star performer in these Longhorn activities is an eight-year-old steer named Shoot Em Up (Winchester x Lady Zhivago), and he's owned by Stan Searle and Gary Lake, partners in Searle Ranch of Monument and Ellicott, Colorado. Stan and Gary are responsible for all the extra-curricular Longhorn engagements at the stock show.
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Here's the celebrity steer Shoot Em Up, with his owner and handler Gary Lake. Shoot Em Up was named Champion Non-Halter Steer. A little earlier, Shoot Em Up decided to use his horns to begin signage removal on the back wall.
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But perhaps the most important thing Shoot Em Up did for the stock show occurred last fall when he appeared in numerous television commercials that urged Denver voters to pass a bond issue to secure funding for an expansion of the show grounds.
For the commercial, the steer was renamed Larimer (after a historic downtown street ). Larimer appeared with various public officials who urged voters to pass the bond issue while touting the stock show's importance to the city. The issue passed, thus insuring the National Western's future. Shoot Em Up, who was trained and is handled by Gary Lake, even appeared at a black-tie dinner on the third floor of Denver's plush Hyatt Regency Hotel.
Shoot Em Up also made his appearance at the National Western Texas Longhorn Show. He made up to the crowd while Gary Lake and Marlene Reynolds, of Yoder, Colo., sang the National Anthem at the show's opening.
Oh, yeah, Shoot Em Up was named Champion Non-Haltered Steer at the end of the show, which was held in the historic stockyards January 22-23.
The show is jointly produced by regional affiliates Mountains and Plains Texas Longhorn Association and Mountain States Texas Longhorn Association, and the competition is able to award show points for one or both national associations-the Texas Longhorn Breeder's Association of America and the International Texas Longhorn Association.
This year's show was judged by Mike Tomey of Bedford, Indiana. Mike and his wife, Jamie, drove to Colorado the week before and toured the Colorado Rockies, including a drive up 14,115-foot Pikes Peak, just west of Colorado Springs. Mike and Jamie have raised Longhorns since 1992, been active in various Longhorn organizations, and recently purchased a new bull-Win Win-from Darol Dickinson of Barnesville, Ohio.
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The youth division is always enjoyable, and a real crowd-pleaser at the National Western.
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The show opened with a
youth halter division that, as usual, was heartily supported by two Nebraska families, the Anders of Crawford, and the Damrows of Roca.
Junior Champion Female and overall Reserve Champion Female went to DV Peaches, born 3/14/15 (John Henry St x DV Butter Toffee) , owned by Del Vic Farms and shown by Rope Anders. Saltillo Cowgal Up 44, born 3/16/14 (Saltillo Roundup 7 x Saltillo Cowgal IV 031), entered by Bonnie and Rodger Damrow and shown by Dylaney Rose Georges was judged
Senior Champion Female.
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Rope Anders, 13, of Crawford, Neb., showed DV Peaches to first in her class of females born March through April of the previous year. This was part of the youth show.
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The Anders family took Grand and Reserve in the bull division, respectively, with Anders Rodeo Titan, born 3/25/15 (Jet Master Black Anders x Horseshoes Legend Gal), shown by Ty Anders, and Anders Cowboy Spice, born 2/16/15 (Cowboy Cassanova x James Anders), shown by Dalli Anders.
Showmanship competition saw Logan Georges and Cash Anders compete in the Pee Wee division, while Ella Wieczorek, age 9, Ty Anders, 7, and Dylaney Rose Georges, 7, took first through third respectively, in the junior division. Dalli Anders and Amelia Stephensen, both 11, were first and second in the intermediate, and Rope Anders, 13, won the senior division.
Open Haltered Show
In the open haltered show, Anders Rodeo Titan and Anders Cowboy Spice were again champion and reserve in the junior bull division. The senior division was won by Pecos Winds, also owned by the Anders family, while Anders Whirlwind took reserve. Pecos Winds was declared Grand Champion Haltered Bull while Anders Rodeo Titan took reserve.
Champion Haltered Junior Heifer went to SB Carasene, born 2/12/15 (Zigfield x SB Caraway), owned by Jeff Miller and Carol Erickson of Wellington, Colorado. Anders Maple Dust was reserve.
Champion Haltered Senior Heifer was won by Saltillo Super Sheri 30, born 3/14/13 (Super Fast x Saltillo Clarissa 705), owned by Bonnie and Rodger Damrow. Reserve went to Geez Louise, born 3/14/13 (Gee Whiz x Rangers Gun), owned by Kenny and Karen Richardson of Greeley, Colorado.
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Kenny Richardson and his daughter Jennifer Fanning enjoyed posing with their Grand Champion Haltered Mature Cow, KCL Kerosene. Kenny and Karen Richardson live at Greeley, Colo., while Jennifer resides in nearby Fort Collins.
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SB Carasene was named Grand Champion Haltered Heifer, and Saltillo Super Sheri 30 won reserve.
KCL Kerosene, born 5/1/09 (Sailor-23 X PV O Suzie Q), owned by the Richardsons, was judged Grand Champion Haltered Mature Cow, and the Damrows' Saltillo Cowgal IV 031 won reserve.
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Judge Mike Tomey was looking over the field of finalists for Grand Champion Non-Haltered Heifer. He went with the Junior Champ on the left, Hotsie Totsie 115.
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Non-Haltered Show (held following day)
Champion Non-Haltered Junior Heifer was won by Hotsie Totsie 115, born 3/7/15 (Bar H Jake x Mile High Lady), owned by Randy and Marsha Witte of Peyton, Colorado. Floozy Flossie, born 4/6/15 (Gee Whiz x Sweet Nothing 676), also owned by Wittes, took reserve.
Champion Senior Heifer was won by Windy Point Santuzza, born 5/19/14 (Drag Iron x Windy Point Samoa), owned by Ron and Lana Pearson of Fowler, Colorado. Windy Point Penelope, born 2/28/14 (Drag Iron x Windy Point Pocahonas Charismatic), also owned by Pearsons, won reserve.
Judge Tomey went back to the Junior champ and named Hotsie Totsie 115 Grand Champion Non-Haltered Heifer. Windy Point Santuzza was reserve.
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TIlmatar (right) was named Grand Champion Non-Haltered Mature Cow, while Fancy Shootin' (left), took reserve. Both cows are owned by John and Darlene Nelson of Wellington, Colorado.
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Grand Champion Non-Haltered Mature Cow was won by Ilmatar, born 3/9/08 (Grass Roots Big Super x Brandywine Graves), owned by John and Darlene Nelson of Wellington, Colorado. The Nelsons also took reserve with their Fancy Shootin', born 6/20/10 (Winchester x FL There-It-Is).
Champion Non-Haltered Bull was Respected Patriot, born 3/12/15 (Patriot Games x Jake's Sweet Hussy), owned by Wittes. Tip Top, born 2/20/15 (Top Caliber x TCR Daydreamer), owned by Stan Searle and Gary Lake, was reserve.
As mentioned before, Shoot Em Up was named Champion Non-Haltered Steer, and SB Pendleton, born 2/2/11 (SB Bonfire x SB Cherry Bud), owned by Miller and Erickson, won reserve.
"We didn't know how the Texas Longhorn Cattle would respond to the low flying and loud Black Hawks, so we had to test them." says ranch owner Joel Dickinson. Nicley and Aviator Lt. Matt Hasslock soon arrived to test the reception of the Texas Longhorn cow herds. Helicopters were carefully landed in different cow herds and while landed Dickinsons spread cattle treats around the aircraft. Test landings and take offs were practiced. Within minutes the cows lost interest and went back to eating grass as if nothing had happened. It was obvious the gentle cattle were not disturbed by the loud helicopter blade noise.
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. 