Buying a BBQ- the priceless part

Last summer I had thought about getting a new BBQ or for our American friends a grill.  The time never seemed to workout so we got by with the one that we had.  This spring when the weather warmed up we were back to BBQ time.  I love my food cooked on a BBQ, as it is usually fast, involves meat and means less dishes to wash.   All positives as far as I am concerned.  I started to look around and then the flyers started coming with all the sales.  There just seemed to be too many choices.  My cousin has one that I really liked (she often invites us for BBQ's.......I mean she calls and says they are wanting to have steak and will I come over to cook and I can eat and bring Rob too.)

So I called to see what brand her's was.  It was instantly crossed off the list as I was not spending $1200 on a BBQ.  Last weekend Stacy and I did some scouting around and I had narrowed it down to 2.  The following day I was back in town to make my purchase.  It cost a lot less than $1200, was on sale and is now on my deck waiting for the rain to stop so I can use it.  Your probably all wondering about the priceless part.  That would be the $25 that I paid to take the assembled model out of their lovely display. 

 $25 is priceless to me and a marrige saver not having to wait or to help my husband try and put it together.  I'll start practicing with it soon and it will be well broke in, just in time for the Annual High Country BBQ following the Drayton Valley Livestock Show on June 12.  All our cattle friends are invited to drop by.  Now I just have to work on a few other outdoor assecories.

Visitor From Down Under

In February we had the opportunity to host Clare Bruggeman from South Australia. Clare is the first recipient of the Matthew George Young Stockman http://www.angusaustralia.com.au/Marketing/Angus_eNews/enews_09-09-30/MatthewGeorge.htm award.

She is spending several months touring farms and ranches across Canada. We were the first farm visit for her. Once Clare returns to Australia she will be asked to give a presentation on the management practices of beef herds in Canada.

It is always interesting to hear how others manage their operations. Although we may live on the other side of the world we often find that many of our challenges are the same. Whether it is drought, market conditions, consumer awareness or the high costs of production. We really enjoyed our week with Clare and are looking forward to visiting her stud when we travel to Australia in September for the World Simmental Congress.

During her week with us she wanted to experience what a Canadian lifestyle was really like. Now that took a bit of thinking.

What really is Canadian?

We decided to start with beverages first. Nothing like a Caesar. The next night was Pumpkin Pie. She is the first Australia visitor that liked this as a dessert not a vegetable.

Crystal requested Pumpkin Pie for her 25th Birthday

Of course there were Canadian Beef steaks. We also had to try Perogies, Pancakes and Maple Syrup along with bacon. I defiantly think this was a better breakfast than her toast and Vegemite. During the week we also took her to a Hutterite colony, a smaller dairy farm, the local auction market, learned about chuckwagon racing and to one of the largest Simmental bull sales in Canada.  We hope that she enjoyed her time with us and look forward to visitng the land down under this fall.

A Perfect Year

2010 has gotten off to an interesting start. Our calving season went very well. The decisions that we make last spring look very promising to start with. The calves stayed healthy and are growing well. Breeding season is almost half over and seems to be keeping us busy. The farmer that we have been purchasing our feed from has decided to make some changes, so that has brought changes for our operation. We have been anticipating the forecasted rain for this week. My silent prayers were for 40 hours of rain, not sure we even got 40 minutes of light drizzle. So this morning when I came across this blog entry http://cdycattle.blogspot.com/2010/04/american-farmer-paul-mobley.html of Crystal's I was reminded of why we do what we do. It's our passion. A rancher / farmer never has a perfect year......but that is what we are always striving for. The picture book of Paul Mobley's  is a good reminder of where we come from and why we do what we do. I'm glad he took the time to help us show the world our side of the story. This is a favorite quote of mine 'I've learned that making a 'living' is not the same thing as making a life.' ...Maya Angelou I am so thankful that Rob, Crystal, Stacy and I have been able to make a life through raising livestock. Now as our children have become adults, we still have a connection.

Calgary Stampede Jr. Show 2006

Drayton Valley Sr. Showman 2005

 Our farm keeps us in daily contact. It is a passion that we all share. Each of us brings a different skill and together we are striving for that perfect year. I hope that each of you come closer than ever to your perfect farming year.

National Volunteer Week

This week is National Volunteer Week.  Now you may be wondering what this has to do with Agriculture, but there are so many activities that take Volunteers to run.  Just think of all the work that is done in your area by Volunteers.  When our girls were showing we were often on the working committee or would just lend a hand on the day of the actual event.  Recently Rob has served as the President of the Alberta Simmental Association and I am helping with our local Agriculture Society's Livestock Show. Volunteering has always been in our family.  Crystal and Stacy were both on the Executive of the Jr. Simmental Board and Stacy served as the National President.  They took part in 4-H through all levels.  There is always a need for a Volunteer, whether it is for an hour at an event or playing a larger role, all Volunteers are appreciated.  Maybe one of these organizations in your area could benfit from a few hours of your time

• Agriculture Society's
• 4-H Clubs
• Livestock Shows
• Ag Service Boards
• Rodeo Clubs
• Beef Producers - Agriculture Advocates
• Breed Associations

If you know a Volunteer in your area, make sure that you thank them this week.  By the efforts they put into their organization they are helping to keep the Agriculture world active.  Here is a poem to salute them.

Ode To A Volunteer

Many will be shocked to find

When the day of judgement nears

That there's a special place in

Heaven set aside for volunteers.

Furnished with big recliners,

Satin couches and footstools

Where there's no committee chair

No group leaders or carpools.

Telephone lists will be outlawed

But a finger snap will bring

Cool drinks and gourmet dinners,

And rare treats fit for a king.

You ask,

Who'll serve the privileged few

And work for all they're worth?

Why, those who reaped benefits

And not once volunteered on earth.

Here are a few of the Agriculture Associations that we have Volunteered

• 
  
  4-H - Local, District, Regional and Provincial Committees
• 
  
  Breton & Drayton Valley Ag Society's
• 
  
  Young Canadian Simmental Program
• 
  
  Alberta Simmental Association
• 
  
  Canadian Simmental Association - Foundation Auction
• 
  
  World Simmental Congress - 2006

Learning Opportunity

This week we get the opportunity to attend the Tiffin Conference at Lethbridge College.  Our daughter Crystal is one of the speakers. 

We are excited to hear all of the speakers but also to have a quick visit with Crystal.  Although we have to take time from our jobs and rearrange our schedules, I know that this day will be more than worthwhile for many reasons.  It seems like the one thing that we don't do enough of in the Agriculture business is learn from one another.  We find a management practice that works well enough and just continue to do the same thing year after year.  If we want the world to think of Agriculture as a business, then we need to start acting like the CEO of the company.  Personal development and life long learning are two key factors of most successful corporations.  I encourage all agriculture producers to schedule one learning opportunity into their farm's business plan.  With todays' technology you can attend conferences or seminars through a web cam connection,  like the one I participated in by the Canadian Beef Breeds Council, physically attending a conference or workshop or through distance learning.  If you have a link to a agriculture learning site, we would love to have you share it with us.  If you would like to see the speakers at the Tiffin Conference, here is the Tiffin Conference Brochure. It's never too late to start learning.

There was only one Auger

Photo by Crystal Young http://cdycattle.blogspot.com/

We learned a few days ago that our good friend Auger - Bryce Poland passed away.  It's funny that at one time you could go to almost any show in North America and say the name Auger and people knew who you are talking about.  Bryce lived on the show road. 

 He lived for show cattle.  If they couldn't win him a Champion ribbon he didn't have that much use for them.  Bryce probably showed more Grand Champions in the Simmental breed than anyone else that I know.  He traveled all across Canada and the U.S, Brazil and Mexico.  He showed for some of the big Simmental outfits.  Shawest Farms, Ritland Simmentals and Poland and McCoy.  I met Bryce in 1978 at the World Simmental Congress.  We got to know his family well and went of a few holidays together.  Of course they were always connected to at cattle show.  He was one of a kind and although a little rough around the edges he had a huge heart.  I will always remember the way he wore his grey stetson a little crooked to one side. We will miss him at the shows, but always him for the competitor that he was.  Funeral services for Bryce will be held at the United Church in Sherwood Park on Wednesday March 3, 2010 at 1:00 pm.  I found this poem the other day that was written by fellow fitter/showman Levi Jackson.  It kinda describes what Auger loved to do.

Photo by Crystal Young    http://cdycattle.blogspot.com/

The Fitter

Sometimes I think that we’re crazy

Cause we’re up every morning near five

We work all day and drink all night

And wonder how we survive

In the mornings we’re in the washracks

Freazing off our behinds

Someone brings in some peppermint schnapps

And things start to look just fine.

The life on the show road’s been a mighty

Good life for me

I’ve traveled all across this land

And been from sea to sea

Met me a lot of folks

And better friends I’ll never know

This life on the show road

I’ll be doing when I’m old

 

The city folk they don’t understand

Why we’re brushing the hair

Why we trim and shin their hooves up

And stick them out in the cold night air

They ask us lots of real dumb questions

Saying “What are you doing this for?”

I tell them “hey, we’re a little bit crazy”

And they don’t ask us anything more

We pack up the tack and move today to be at

Another show tonight

We feed and water cattle, we might sit down

And get tight

In the show ring we fight like cat and dog

It’s a hell of a rivalry

But when the work’s done and we’re having

some fun

We’re just one big family.

A Great Man

"What is success?
To laugh often and much;
To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends;
To appreciate beauty;
To find the best in others;
To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed
social condition;
To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived;
That is to have succeeded."
Ralph Waldo Emerson

Jack Lewis

25 years ago, Rob and I packed up the few things we had along with Crystal - 10 months old and headed north to Spruce Grove, Alberta.  Rob had just taken a position with Lewis Farms.  2 months after our arrival they were hosting their first bull sale on the farm.  Now 25 years later on February 27, 2010 they will hold their 25th Bull Sale.  During the 7 years that we were at LFE, we participated in 2 sales a year both a bull and female sale on the farm.  We had the opportunity to exhibit their cattle across Canada, numerous times bringing back Champion banners and Preimer Breeder and Exhibitor.  Their sales were some of the highest averaging of any breed.  Their genetics were sold across North America and around the world. But the best part of our time there was that we got to know Jack Lewis. I remember prior to the first sale, Jack Lewis commenting that he didn't know if Rob would be able to handle these big Simmental bulls.  Following the sale he complemented Rob on a job well done.  This is the kind of man that Jack Lewis is.  I don't know if I have ever met someone that can start up a converstaion with anyone.  He is full of knowledge and very interesting to visit with.  We want to Congratulate Jack Lewis and all of his family - Ken, Corrie, Kyle, Kirbie, Sandy, Jordan, Jamie, Tyler, Roy, Carol, Colton, Callie and the late Laverne Lewis on their committment to Agriculture.  We are so glad that you are a part of the Simmental Family.  Here's to the next 25 years.  If you ever get the opportunity to visit with Jack - don't pass it up.  He is truly a remarkable man.