TC Diary

Brazilian cattlemen	Celebrating Connie’s mother’s 96th birthday

We had a variety of activities this month and enjoyed all of them.

Enjoyed some prominent, large cattle operators from Brazil who came for a tour. We had a good visit and always learn new things.

Mother and I attended Football 101 for her 96th birthday. There were about a 1,000 people mostly women in attendance. The Nebraska coaches and some players made for a fun day with the proceeds going to breast cancer research in Nebraska. Mother was the oldest in attendance and had attended her first Nebraska football game 75 years ago.

We all enjoyed the State Junior Angus Show in Ogallala. Hannah showed a heifer and a steer and competed in showmanship. There are about five or six girls her age so she had a fun time. Went downtown to see the Old West Shoot Out and the evening play. The kids had a great time. Tavin took his play tractors and found a friend. They played in the sand all day and had the most fun. At night Tavin and Grandpa had a swim.

Hannah and friends at the Wild West Show	Tavin and his friend farming	Tavin and Grandpa having a swim

Have been trying to catch up from all the early rains. Finished with the first hay cutting and planting the crops. Even though we had excellent moisture early it has now turned hot and dry. We should not complain compared to most places as we have not had any hail, flooding or tornados.

With the dry weather the grass is getting harder. The calves are starting to take shape and fill out. As usual the heifer calves start to fill out sooner. Still a little early to decide the best sire groups. We have rotated the pastures once and all the herd bulls are out.

Vance and Craig enjoying a baseball game

Touring cattle herds in Alberta

It is hard to believe but Vance and his nephew Craig, who runs the Darr Feedlot, had a week trip and did NOT see one animal. Vance enjoys baseball so I sent them on a baseball trip back East. They began in Baltimore with a game at Camden Yards. Then they headed to DC to check out the brand new National’s Ballpark. From there they saw the Angels in Philadelphia and on to New York to see the Yankees and the Mets. Then ended with the Diamondbacks in Boston. This is the last year for the Yankees and Mets stadiums where so much baseball history has taken place. Think Vance liked the Boston stadium the best. They had a great time and it was good for both of them to get away — even if they did have cell phones.

Vance was only home one day when we flew to Canada. We started in southern Alberta and viewed many herds on our way to Calgary for the BIF Conference which will start July lst. Most of the farms had TC genetics. The pastures were green and the economy looked very good. The mosquitoes were big and they had many gophers and badgers...same problems we have except thus far we do not have many badgers. The cattle looked good and with all the green grass one would have to say they were happy cows.

Since Vance spent a week of this month going to baseball games, I leave you this month with...

“Baseball is the only thing besides the paper clip that hasn’t changed.”

– Bill Veeck