Happy New Year

Welcome to 2013.  I am not sure where the last year went but it sure seemed to fly by.  Time for blogging was limited, so I will try to be more diligent this year.  Or maybe teach Rob how to blog.  It seems when we are so busy that we sometimes forget all of the great things that happened in the last year so here is a recap.

January

• Calving begins and the first calves of Elegant Force and Sure Fire arrive.
• Rob and I attend the National Western Stock Show - first time in over 20 years.

February

• Mom & Dad celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary
• Drayton Valley Livestock Show committee folds after 20 years. :(

March

• Revolution sons sell well at Red Deer Bull Sale.  Bulls sell to Alberta, Manitoba, and New Brunswick.

April

• Crystal and Jon are married in Independence Iowa.
• Stacy & Dan Move into their new house.
• We get tickets to see Garth Brooks at the Calgary Stampede.

May

• Dad celebrates his 75th birthday.
• Spring rains bring early grass for cows to go to pasture.

June

• Robs mom celebrates her 80th birthday.
• We display cattle at the Alberta Simmental Association Tour and annual meeting.
• Bathroom renovation is completed.

July

• Garth Brooks Concert at the 100th Calgary Stampede.
• Stacy and Dan are engaged.
• Meet Brandon Callis and his family after many stories from Crystal when he was her judging coach.
• Celebrate Uncle Jacks 70th birthday.

August

• Rob helps Jon & Crystal at the Iowa State Fair, while I attend Ryan & Nanita's wedding.
• Attend pasture tour of Mappin Simmentals.
• Attend annual meeting of the Canadian Simmental Association in Nova Scotia. 
• Rob judges National Young Canadian Simmental Association show in Nova Scotia.

September

• Crops are harvested - poor quality from hail damage.
• Steer calves are sold = net $950

October

• Beautiful fall days to finish off some of those projects.

Res. Jr Champion @ Farmfair 2012

November

• Cattle shows take up most of the month. 
• Quick trip to Iowa to see Crystal and Jon. 

December

• Stacy buys her wedding dress, with a surprize visit from Crystal.
• Checkers sale is amazing - High Country has high selling heifer calf  @ $25,000 and her momma sells for $20,000
• Year ends with embryos and semen selling at the New Years Resolution Sale

Medals for Cattleman

Our family or at least me and the girls are followers of the Monarch.  We have watched the Royal weddings and funerals.  Crystal during her internship with the Calgary Stampede helped plan the visit of Prince Edward.  I like that we belong to the Commonwealth. Queen Elizabeth II began her reign on Feb. 6, 1952. She is celebrating her 60th Anniversary and Diamond Jubilee. 

The Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal — one of a series of national celebratory gestures to mark the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s ascent to the throne — was awarded to 60 Canadians Monday at Rideau Hall, 60 years to the day after the Queen began her reign. The medals were awarded to Canadians who have devoted themselves to the well-being of family, community and country.  The Agriculture community was well represented yesterday.

The medal presentation and other events will kick-start a year of celebrations in Canada and around the world to honour the Queen’s six decades on the throne, with a planned Thames River pageant in London in June — involving up to 1,000 elaborately decorated ships in a regal flotilla — expected to be the main jubilee show-stopper.  Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Gov. Gen. David Johnston presented the medals to the 60 recipients.

“Today, we once again affirm our bond with the Crown, which helps us to define our country and what it means to be Canadian,” Johnston said at the beginning of the ceremony.
Harper, in a speech following Johnston’s, thanked the Queen for a lifetime of devotion. The Diamond Jubilee Medal is meant to recognize thousands of Canadians for selfless devotion to their citizens and country, Harper said. A total of 60,000 medals will be given to Canadians throughout the year. 

David A. Chalack – Balzac, Alberta
For his contributions to the field of animal care and to the success of the Calgary Stampede.  Chalack, immediate past chairman of the board for the Stampede, even got a personal nod from Harper. “He said, ‘My goodness, David, I barely recognized you without your (cowboy) hat on,’” said Chalack. “I feel very fortunate to be selected — it’s a real honour to be a Calgarians here in Ottawa representing what’s important to Southern Albertans.

Travis Toews – Beaverlodge, Alberta
For his dedication to the field of agriculture, and for his support for farmers and cattlemen.



Congratulations to two very well deserving Albertan's.  You represent our province, and industry very well.  We're proud to call you a part of our family.

Commitment and Your Word

Commitment is a word that seems to have a different meaning than when most of us were growing up.  Rob and I can remember that we were taught that when we said we were going to do something, you did it.  Even if you found out early on that you really didn't like it.  If you joined a team or a group you were there until the year ended.

Growing up in the Agriculture world a "man's word" and hand shake was how most business got done.  I still panic a bit each spring wondering if some of our pasture rental is available as we deal with urban owners who are used to lawyers and contracts.  You just wonder if someone else came along and offered them five cents more if our deal would be over.

Their Wedding Day

50 Years ago today, a couple of people I know gave their word to each other and a commitment for life.  My Mom & Dad are celebrating their 50th wedding Anniversary.  Now I know that probably 99% of those that go through a wedding ceremony have good intentions to keep their word and commitment....until death do us part, but over 50% aren't able to succeed. I 'm sure if you could figure out all of the reasons why, you could be a very wealthy person.

50 Years Later

I like to think that part of the reason that they have made it this far, is because they knew that there would be hard times but staying and working through them was far more worth while than giving up.  Today we live in a throw away society.  Take out food, most everything is disposable and not enough people take responsibility for themselves. 

Rob and I have had good role models.  His parents enjoyed 59 years before his dad's passing, my parents are at 50 and we will celebrate our 28th this year.

We hope that when Crystal and Jon are married in April  their goal is 50+. 

Congratulations Mom and Dad, we hope you are enjoying your second honeymoon. We also want to congratulate Uncle Jack & Aunt Gaylene who are also celebrating their 44th Anniversary today.