Sweet Satin

We will be on the road to the National Simmental show held during the 40th Anniversary of Farmfair International in less than 48 hours.

 We are excited for the display that we have prepared - 4 bull calves representing the bulls that will sell at the Simmental Bull Summit on February 24, 2014 and 5 heifer calves, including 2 that will sell at Checkers on December 14, 2013 in Red Deer, and a very pretty little lady - RJY Sweet Satin 30A that sells in the Headliner sale on November 8, 2013 at Farmfair. - Lot 16.

Sweet Satin is out of our oldest cow in the herd. Combined with her sire McIntosh Sweet Talker she has a great future a head of her. 

We invite you to stop by the stall for a visit and a look at the cattle. Safe travels to everyone out on the show road this fall.

October here and nearly gone.

The days are getting shorter and these last few weeks and months seem to be flying by way too quickly as well.  Hope fully that is the same for January & February when we are getting a blast of the real cold stuff.

October has been a busy month for us. We were trying to get caught up on a few things after spending time in September celebrating the marriage of our youngest daughter Stacy to Dan Romanyk.
  

They couldn't take their real cows to the wedding site so Stacy incorporated these ones into the wedding. (The guests had to find their cow to know their table number.)



 

We usually sell our cull calves in September but this was pushed back to early October.  We were really happy with our steer calves netting $1085.00 for us.  Now I know that you will hear of other calves bringing more than that this year.  But remember this is the bottom half of our male calf crop.  Included in this were the March calves, twins, ect.

 

The bulls that will sell at Simmental Summit on February 24, 2014 are being fed down at Beechinor Bros., Bentley, AB.  We did keep 5 back at home that we will display at the National Simmental Show during Farmfair International - November 3 -9, 2013.

 

We made a quick trip to Iowa over the Thanksgiving weekend to visit Crystal and Jon.  During our time there we were able to take in a Hereford sale at Perks Ranch, Rockford, Illinois, Doug, Mary, Wade & Brie are great people if you are ever in the area.

 

 seen the corn get harvested                                                                                                

and enjoyed a traditional Thanksgiving dinner in Crystal and Jon's new home.

 

After returning home it has been full days of getting the feed yard full, working on fall show and sale cattle, picturing cattle for the fall sale catalogs, and trying to get everything in place before winter arrives.

 

We have some exciting breeding pieces (as Rob calls them) and a display of cattle for the National show that we are real proud of. We will be out and about for a lot of November so we hope to see you at one of the cattle events.  

 

 



Family Traditions.

Exhibiting cattle has been a part of our lives for over 40 years.  Rob first began showing in the Junior Hereford Shows and myself in the YCS - Junior Simmental shows as well as showing for my dad in the early years of the Simmental breed to promote these "exotic" cattle.

Then came the years of junior and 4H shows for our girls along with them helping also at the fall shows, Farm Fair and Agribition.

Stay and her heifer.

 Now as the fall of 2013 approaches we are only attending one fall show, the National Simmental Show will be held at Farm Fair International in Edmonton, AB  during the 40th Anniversary of Farmfair.  We may be only going to one show but this will be one of the biggest strings we have exhibited in the past few years.  9 calendar year calves are getting ready.  5 bulls that will represent the group of bulls that will sell on February 24, 2014 in the Simmental Bull Summit and 4 heifers.  One that is selling at the Headliner Sale at Farmfair


RJY Sweet Satin 30A - sells November 8, 2013

and 2 that will sell on December 14 in Red Deer at Checkers.  The fourth one is owned by Double R Farms - Stacy (Young) Romanyk and her husband Dan.  

 We see the exhibitions as a place to display our program, connect with past and future customers, and educate those that do not have a direct connection to the farm about where their food comes from.

Entries for Farmfair close on October 1st .  Why not join us at this great show.  It will be an exciting time. Hope to see you there.

The Opportunities Begin

I am beginning to feel like I am having the time of my life if the old age saying "Time flys when your having fun".  It seems like just days ago that we were preparing for the 2011 show and sale season and now we are just a couple of weeks away from heading out on the road of 2012.

 Farm and ranch people seem to define their lives by events, the drought of 2006, the cold spring of 2010, the record breaking bull sale year of 2012.  That or the year that they attended an event.  Farmfair 2009 or  the 20th Agribition that we attended.

With each new season that approaches we are all filled with optimism and high expectations.  There have been so many decisions that have gone into getting you to where your farming operation is, hoping to take you to the next level.  Your hopes may be a greater acceptance in the market place, a championship banner, making the highlights of a sale report, going home with a list of potential buyers for your bull sale, connecting with past customers and hearing their successes with the breeding stock that they purchased from you.  The list is ling.

One of the first events for us on the circuit this fall is Farmfair International., in Edmonton, AB. This show has a long history but through thick and thin it has treated us well and been a great place to market our cattle.  With the addition of the Ranch Rodeo, another sector of potential customers are stopping by to view our program. 

Our string is a bit smaller this year, but has some unique individuals in it. 

• The first daughter of McIntosh Sweet Talker will sell at the Headliner sale on November 9th in Edmonton.

McIntosh Sweet Talker 32X

• We will be exhibiting a Fullblood Simmental for the first time in 21 years.

Stop by the stall to see what Fullbloods in 2012 look like.

• We will be caring for cattle of Lyle Peterson's of Bar L7 from Calgary.

Stop by the stall for a visit and if you are looking for a really nice black baldy Simmental heifer for a youth project. RJY Sweet Dreams 44Z may be worth a look.  Hope to see you in Edmonton in a couple of weeks.

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.

Red is My Favorite - part 2

Yesterday I shared with you some of our favorite things that come in Red - Simmental cattle, Canadian mittens, scarfs and of course Red Red Wine.  But I forgot my newest favorite Red.  I never thought I would say this because of Toby Keith......but Red Solo Cup makes the list.





  I love this little tune and when I hear it, I think of a few things that he left out.  Like:

•  Caesers at Agribtion with the Tableland Crew
• Yukaflux at a cattle show
• Red Red Wine at a cattle show
• seems like beverages at almost any cattle function.

We haven't purchased JJB and CDY their wedding gift yet.  Maybe a set of Red Solo Cups would be a gift they'll never forget.

 "Red Solo Cup, let's fill you up.  Let's have a Party!"

It's Show Time

Each fall the excitement grows as we prepare to attend and participate in livestock shows across Canada.  This is something that Rob and I have done for over 30 years.  People often say to us "Your still showing cattle?" 

There are several reasons that we do this:

Rob showing at
Brandon Livestock Expo 2010

• To promote our farm and breeding program
• To gage the progress that our herd is making against other breeders
• To network with customers and potential customers
• To keep a connection between urban consumers and agriculture.

There are breeders out there that look down on the shows and the cattle that excel in them, but we would like to suggest that you celebrate the breeders that are taking the time, making the effort and incurring the costs to go to the shows.  By them making this effort they are promoting our great breed - Simmental.  We don't ask that you like or even agree with the judges choices at each of the individual shows, we just ask that you respect the efforts of these exhibitors and come and evaluate the cattle for yourself and your program.

Simmental Representatives
2010 Farmfair Supreme

IPU Revolution in the 2010
Farmfair Supreme Show

Each year we bring out a handful of animals that represent our herd and our breeding program.  We try as hard as anyone to take home the ribbons and championship banners, but we also know that at the end of the day, most importantly we are proud of the cattle that we are exhibiting and our breed.  We are excited to be showing at Farmfair International on November 10  (this will also be the 2011 National Simmental show) and Canadian Western Agribition on November 24.  Stop by the stall if you are visiting one of the shows, we would love to show your our string and have a visit.

Good luck to all the exhibitors this fall who have taken the time to get animals ready to show at

Good friend Chan Phillips at the stall last year.
Chan will  be judging the Toronto Royal this year.

 

• The Toronto Royal - November 4 - 13
• Brandon Livestock Exp -November 3-6
• Farmfair International - November 5-13
• Saskatoon Fall Fair - November 9-12
• Canadian Western Agribition - November 21 - 26

A Girl's Best Friend

I am sure that we all grew up hearing the phrase "a girls best friend is a diamond."  While I wouldn't ever turn something sparkly down, diamonds are not what I am referring to today.

Just over eleven years ago  Miss Westway 669K was born at Westway Farms.  That December Tom and Carol Hadway offered her for sale in the Checkers Sale.  Stacy purchased her for her YCS and 4H project.  Although her registered name was Miss Westway 669K the Hadway kids had affectionately named her "Ruffles".

Ruffles as Simmental Champion
Provincial 4H Heifer Show 2001

Ruffles exceeded our expectations.  She showed very well for Stacy claiming many championships in 4H at the district, regional and provincial levels.  She then went on to be a great momma cow.  Her first 4 calves were bulls.  They all made the bull pen and were usually the first ones to sell for some of the highest prices.

SLY Top Notch - herdsire for Darrell Moranda

SLY Dirty Money 119W
Granddaughter of Ruffles that sold to Colt's Cattle Co

She then started to give Stacy some females, again all of them were of high enough quality to stay in our herd or be offered through a breeding sale.

Ruffles paid for Stacy to go to college, bought her 2 cars (that's another story), and was a consistent source of agriculture income for her.  But more importantly Ruffles was Stacy's best friend.  I believe that they were soul mates.  Ruffles could be any where in the pasture and if Stacy called her name, she would come over for a scratch.  Stacy could get her to do things that no one else could.  I know that over the years they have had many heart to heart talks.

Miss Westway 669K - Ruffles

This morning was a sad one.  Ruffles got on the trailer for the last time.  She slipped her calf late in the fall and is open.  Although Rob had promised Stacy that she could stay on the farm forever, we all know that tough decisions have to be made.  It's not realistic to feed open cows - even if they are your best friend. Stacy made the hard decision yesterday and last night I gave Ruffles a good combing and I took out her ear tag.  Stacy will have that and so many memories of her.  Her daughters continue to make a big contribution to our herd and we will have fond memories of her.  She really has been a girl's best friend.

Thanks Ruffles for being a part of our family.  We will miss you.