We could of had a Superbowl Commercial

Ok so the superbowl was a couple of days ago.  A marketing opportunity that companies strive to have success at.  It is the one time that you are almost 100% guarenteed that the viewer is going to actually watch your message.  I had two favorties - Dodge's - God Created A Farmer and Budweisers - Brotherhood.  I commented on God Created a Farmer, but  would like to share a story about Brotherhood, or should I say Sisterhood.

Back in the spring of 1994 we were managing McDougal Cattle Station, at Breton.  When we first went there they only had a Red Angus herd but wanted to develop another breed.  We assisted them with the development of a Simmental herd.  The girls were young Crystal 9 and Stacy 7.  That spring they spent a lot of time with us doing chores and working cattle.  Stacy formed a unique bond with a red baldy heifer, right from the time she was born.  She helped name her MCC Red Dream 12D.  Dream could be out in the middle of a big pasture and if Stacy called out to her she would come over.  Without being halter broke, she would let Stacy scratch her.  Only Stacy.  That fall we entered into a production sale with Garth & Judy Sweet of 4S Simmentals.  Dream was selected for the sale.

On the morning of the sale, the girls and I were just about to drive out of the yard, when Stacy asked me to stop the car.  She quickly hopped out and went into the house.  She came back carrying a big object.  When she was back in the car I asked what she had forgotten, she showed me her piggy bank.  I told her that she really didn't need to take that to the sale and she informed me that she did.  She was going to buy Dream.  I knew this wasn't going to end well.

Stacy stayed by Dreams side all day.  She combed her and talked to her.  She hardly moved from her when she had to go to the sale ring.  We didn't buy Dream, she went to live at Lazy S Simmentals at Mayerthorpe about an hour away.  Stacy cried herself to sleep that night.

2 years later, Rob decided to go to the Lazy S Simmentals bull sale that they hold on their farm.  The girls went with him.  They arrived a bit early and spoke with Doreen.  They inquired how Dream was doing.  Doreen mentioned that she had just calved a couple of days prior and was in a pen near by if they wanted to see her.  Stacy was headed out the door.  She ran over to the pen (with about 50 cow calf pairs in it), climbed up on the fence and called out to Dream.  On the far side of the pen a cows head lifted from the feeder, turned towards the girl calling her name and came running over to the fence.  She stood there letting Stacy scratch her.  Dream still remembered her.

I wish we had this on video.  The bonds that we form with our livestock are very special.  I don't know a farmer or rancher that would ever do harm to them.  They usually go above and beyond for their care and comfort.  Budweiser made a wonderful commercial.  One that we can relate to in more ways than one.  I sure hope this colt gets to be on the Budweiser hitch that visits the Calgary Stampede.  Would love to meet him.

The Same...Only Different

October 20, 1984, Rob and I said our "I Do's"  Today the weather is over cast and a few showers are expected, 27 years ago we were recovering from the first major snow storm of the year and trying to figure out where we would take our wedding pictures, since we didn't book a studio.

A few things have changed throughout the last 27 years.  When we were starting out on our farm - High Country Cattle Services it was located at Bentley, Alberta.  Our herd consisted of 90% Horned Hereford cattle and 10% Simmentals - the traditional spotted and yellow variety.  Rob worked sales, clipping and fitting (we fitted all the sale cattle in those days) and showed for Goose Lake Cattle Company at Calgary and Kilmorlie Herefords at Bowden.  We received $.75/lb for our calves that fall and the steers averaged around 670 lbs in November .  The interest rate on our farm was 23.8%.  This was a deal for young farmers.

Today High Country Cattle Services is located further north at Breton, Alberta.  Our herd is 99% Simmental - the red and black variety and 1% Angus - recipient cows.  Rob still works shows and sales but now it is for ourselves. 
We concentrate more on growing and working hair on our cattle with minimal fitting.  The property that Goose Lake Cattle Company was on is now a gravel pit, Kilmorie Farms is now home to Simmental breeders Saugeen Farms.  Our calves this fall brought $1.40/lb and the steers and heifers together averaged 705lbs the middle of September.  Today you can get an interest rate for 3.8%

In 1984 gas was $.93 compared to $1.11 today, a new 1/2 ton truck was $9,000 where today you will spend double that.  Labatte's brewery came out with the twist off cap.  We took hundreds of pictures for sale ads that had to be developed before you knew if you got the right picture.  You anxiously awaited for the Hereford Digest and the Simmental Country to arrive to see what was the latest news in the purebred industry.  Today you almost know minute to minute by following Facebook, Blogs and websites. (We haven't started to tweet yet!)  Sales can be followed online and purchases made.

We are planning another wedding - no not ours, but our daughter Crystal's and Jon's.

 And their herd will consist (in the beginning) of 99% Hereford cattle and 1% Simmental.  Stacy and Crystal are the 4th generation in both of our families to raise purebred cattle.

So much has changed over the last 27 years, technology and running our farm more as a business with family values.  But somethings have stayed the same too......our love for each other
and being a part of the Agriculture Industry!

It Must Be Love

Happy Hearts Day.  From what I have observed and read from some of the other farm / ranch women, most Ag boys are not hopeless romantics.  Asking them to put on a suit and tie and taking you out for a fine dining experience (more than one fork on the table), showering you with roses and candy is a little bit out of their element.  But they do have their own special way of showing you how much they care.

I remember growing up how my dad would bring my mom Crocuses when they first appeared in the spring.  They are still one of my favorite flowers......maybe after a winter like we have had I just want to see any sign of spring.

Rob's not really big on flowers either but there are signs that we both really must care about each other.

How many wife's would go for this if it wasn't love:

• Baby calves on their new kitchen floor
• Turning the garage into a calving barn (the first winter we owned our place and had no barn)
• Walking across the freshly washed kitchen floor to get medicine out of the fridge.
• Transferring the reno / holiday budget to the new bull / tractor budget.

How many husbands would go for this it it wasn't love:

• Spaghetti or Mac n Cheese more than once in a week during calving season
• The lovely sight of you with no makeup and toque hair
• Baking consisting of a bag of Oreo cookies
• The piles of laundry that decorate our bedroom

In any relationship its the little things that make a difference.  I do love flowers, but the small things matter the most.  Enjoy your Valentines Day and I hope that everyone has someone special in their life to think about today. 

If you are dining out order a great steak or prime rib and show how much you love BEEF!

Man's Best Friend



"KURT" - March 1998 - January 2011

Earlier this week, I wrote about A Girls Best Friend, today it's Man's Best Friend.  Our family has always had a dog or two.  Usually purebred Border Collies that we use as working dogs.  Not only are they a part of our family, they also take the place of a hire hand and they are our best friend too.

Kurt came into our family 13 years ago.  He was the second dog that Rob got and trained to work the cattle.  He was very different from our first dog Jade.  She had tons of courage, and sometimes a mind of her own.  Kurt on the other had always had a gentleness to him.  He was so willing to please and when not out working with you was content to lie by your side.  He just wanted to be near you.  He was a great working dog as he would listen to any of us that needed to use him, but his favorite companion was Rob.

When we first got Kurt and needed to name him, Rob instantly said - Kurt.  Now this is not the most common name for a dog, but it was the name we would have used if we would have had a son.  So Kurt it was.

Kurt passed away today.  His health had been failing in the last year.  Crystal asked that if possible not to have him go before she came home at Christmas, so she could see him one more time.  We have a son of his Bud who is full of energy and willingness to work and be with you.  He won't ever replace Kurt but looks so much like him, he will be a reminder of our good friend. 

Here is the story behind the saying - Man's Best Friend -   The Phrase "Man's Best Friend" originated in a court of law. Back in October 28, 1869, A man's dog (named old drum), was shot to death by a neighbor. Animals had no rights back in those days, but the man wanted justice and so he hired 3 lawyers to sue the man who shot his dog. One of these lawyers, named George Graham Vest, is given credit for originally coining the phrase "Man's Best Friend" during his final summation to the jury. By the time he was finished with his speech, the jury only took 2 minutes to reach a verdict. The jury awarded the victim $5 (a very large amount of money back then). The jury also wanted the man to be sent to prison, but there were no laws governing this type of incident back then so the judge was not able to honor the jury's request for prison time.

This is a record of the final summation given by the lawyer...

Gentlemen of the Jury

The best friend a man has in this world may turn against him and become his enemy. His son and daughter that he had reared with loving care may become ungrateful. Those who are nearest and dearest to us, those whom we trust with our happiness and our good name, may become traitors to their faith. The money that a man has, he may lose. It flies away from him when he may need it most. Man's reputation may be sacrificed in a moment of ill considered action. The people who are prone to fall on their knees and do us honor when success is with us may be the first to throw the stone of malice when failure settles its cloud upon our head. The only absolutely unselfish friend a man may have in this selfish world, the one that never deserts him, the one that never proves ungrateful or treacherous is his dog.

A man's dog stands by him in prosperity and poverty, in health and sickness. He will sleep on the cold ground, when the wintry winds blow and the snow drives fiercely, if only he can be near his master's side. He will kiss the hand that has no food to offer, he will lick the wounds and sores that come in encounter with the roughness of the world. He guards the sleep of a pauper as if he were a prince. When all other friends desert... he remains.

When riches take wings and reputations fall to pieces, he is as constant in his love as the sun in its journey through the heavens. If fortune drives the master forth an outcast into the world, friendless and homeless, the faithful dog asks no higher privilege than that of accompanying him to guard him against danger, to fight against his enemies, and when the last scene of all comes, and death takes his master in its embrace and his body is laid away in the cold ground, no matter if all other friends pursue their way, there by his grave side will the noble dog be found, his head between his paws and his eyes sad, but open in alert watchfulness, faithful and true even to death.

Thanks for all of your hard work Kurt and for being such a good friend.  You will always be a part of our family and forever remembered.  It was hard to go out to do chores tonight and not have you by our side. 

Take care Good Friend.