2011 - A Year in Review

Each New Years Eve we like to look back on the year and review it and also look forward to the year ahead.  Never do we imagine the way that things will play out. 2011 will be a year that we will never forget for a lot of reasons.  Lets have a look back.
January - We started the year with a cold snowy winter.  When all was said and done we would end up with over 7 feet of snow, and several weeks of -35C.

February - A sad month at High Country; we have to put our old faithful dog - Kurt down and ship Stacy's favorite cow - Ruffles.  Both were over 13 years of age.

March - We are almost done calving and very excited about the calves that we have.  Some out of new cows, new sires and our donors.

April - was a wet and cold month.  Cows were being bred and donors flushed with great results.  Rob decides to leave his job in the Oilfield and concentrate on our cattle and farm.

May - Crystal and Jon announced their engagement on May 28.  So very excited and happy for them.

June - A weekend trip to Iowa to meet the Blins and see where Crystal will make her new home.

 

July - A month spent painting fences and touring cattle herds.  Along with viewing a few junior shows. We meet Stacy's BF - Dan.  We have to put our herdsire Revolution down due to an injury.

August - A great trip to Vanderhoof and Williams Lake, BC to judge 2 4-H shows and the Angus Gold Show.  Met some great people and seen some very good cattle.  Williams Lake 4-H show has the only First Nations 4-H Club in Canada.  The leaders and members are doing a great job. We said goodbye to legendary photographer Walt Browarny.

September - Busy with getting ready for the fall shows and we have Crystal and Jon home for their engagement party.

October - We send Rob off to the Olds Fair where he claims Reserve Champion Female, while Stacy and I head to Chicago to help Crystal buy her wedding dress.

November - Filled with shows.  Reserve National Champion Bull, and all entries in the top 3 at each show.  Along with Dee being elected to the Canadian Simmental Association Board of Directors and her dad is inducted into the Canadian Simmental Association Hall of Fame.

December - RJY Rival 13Y brings $40,000 at the 17th Annual Checkers Sale.  Christmas and New Years is spent with family and friends.

There were babies born and weddings attended.  We are so blessed with the people that we have in our lives and the things that we get to do.  Thanks for reading our blog, keep coming back to see what 2012 holds.  We have so many great things to look forward too.  May 2012 be everything you hope it to be. Cheers - Rob and Dee.

Little Girls Christmas List

This blog goes back a few years to December of 1997. We were consignors to the 4th Annual Checkers Sale in Red Deer. Rob and the girls had taken our animals down to the sale a few days a head of time and I was at home doing chores until sale day.

As I walked in to the sale barn, the girls came running to greet me. I thought they had missed me over the last few days. They really were just looking for information...... "Mom have your bought all of our Christmas presents?" I was actually a bit organized that year and was done my shopping. They were very disappointed to hear this. You see they had found a very special red baldy heifer calf.....GFP Gloss 12G. They proceeded to tell me that I could take all of the gifts back if they could just have "Gloss" and they would even share her. Crystal was 12 and Stacy 10.

As it turned out our consignments were in the sale order prior to Gloss. Rob & I decided that the girls could try and buy her, but they had to do the bidding. We sat with them for a few lots and asked if they could understand the prices they were selling for.. they had no idea. Gloss entered the ring and the bidding began. I think they just held their hand up the entire time! When all was said and done, they were the proud new owners of a red baldy heifer calf. We asked if they knew how much they had spent they replied, "Not more than $3000, because Dad didn't tell us to stop."

The girls enjoyed Gloss for 4 years and as they were soon looking at needing a college fund, they decided to sell Gloss in the 2001 Checkers sale. She was purchased by Kopp Farms for $7,500 and her bull calf brought $13,000. This cow has gone on to raise 7 more calves for the Kopp family. They also have a few daughters in their herd out of her.

It was a fun day back in 1997, seeing 2 little girls want a Simmental heifer more than anything else on their Christmas list. There enthusiasm for Simmental cattle and the agriculture industry in general has continued all these years. When we look back on the Checkers sales over the years we also see how the cattle that have gone through the ring have enhanced our own herd and the breed. Our family has a long history with this sale and it is a day each year that we look forward to.  Over the past 17 years the kids have grown, the cattle improved and the friendships made cherished.

CDY Fantasy 
Still in production at 17 yrs. old

Sold to Reanne Sanford

Sold to Rainalta

Sold to Huxley Colony

If you haven't finished your Christmas shopping there are some great choices on Saturday December 17, 2011 at the next Checkers Sale in Red Deer.