TC Diary

JULY JUBILEE
What an experience to see the country-side in the Czech Republic. My Mother, sister and I spent two weeks in the "country" and with the village folk. This is my Mother's heritage and even though we did not locate any relatives we did find the church where my great-grandparents were married.

My thanks to Miroslav Vrablik who showed me his Angus herd that was started in 1991 and is located in southern Czech Republic. About 25 % of the cattle in the Czech Republic are Angus and they have complete register of cattle with the government. One interesting fact is that barb wire fences are considered dangerous and they are not legal - most of the fences were electric.

I also toured Vrablik's slaughter house where they slaughter 17-to-20-month-old bulls, which are fed 60% barley and 40% haylage the last 70 to 80 days on feed. The Angus steaks, aged 10 days, are marketed under Cesky Angus *****. The steaks are sold to restaurants as well as private homes. While in the Czech Republic I only had beef once and that was in the Mastal Restaurace which featured the Cesky Angus *****, and it was very tasty.

On the way home we spent an extra day in New York City so we could tour Ground Zero. Without being there one can hardly imagine how the traffic, ambulances, dump trucks, etc worked through all the wreckage. The "Little Chapel That Stood" displays many memorial items and memories. The area is heavily guarded and the policemen all carry assault rifles. There is still a lot of rebuilding taking place in the area.
This is one of the good Angus cows I saw in the Czech Republic. Her dam was imported from Canada.

The Mastal Restaurace featuring Angus beef

The city square of Ceske Budjevice home of Czech Budweiser beer - has nothing to do with US Budweiser and they don't smell or taste anything alike.
Beautiful countryside in central Czech Republic where Connie's great, great-grandparents farmed. The yellow field is mustard.

Almost every town had a town square. In the Pisek square I found this meat market – notice all the sausage hanging at the top left.

The cattle are doing great. We have had many people stop and visit and we thoroughly enjoyed everyone. Have had a little rain but could use more for the dry land crops. Water will continue to be a big issue for years to come. We were able to get another well drilled and hit good water at 40 feet on the river bottom land.

Since I traveled this month taking my 92-year-old Mother back to her homeland for her birthday, I leave you with . . .
"We are all immigrants or descendants of immigrants. Some of us have just been here longer than others." — Anon.


What fun serving banana splits for 1,500 people at the NJAS! Hannah had fun serving the chocolate syrup.

 I was only home for a few days when it was time to travel to Kansas City for the National Junior Angus Show. Dru and Trude played in the golf tournament and Hannah and I attended the Queen's luncheon as guests of the National Angus Queen. It was a fun time doing the annual banana splits following opening ceremonies. We were pleased to see TC breeding at the top in many classes.


Hannah as Miss Angus with Miss American Angus, Wravenna Phipps helping at the Queen's luncheon.