mytfarms
Well-known member
Denver Show:
And the winner is NOT........ Cade Christensen!!! Well folks, I learned a whole bunch. Just because a heifer would whip the pants off of your county fair cattle doesn't mean she's going to compete at Denver. I thought I blew a whole bunch of money on my calves. Just over $5K total between the two of them. And when I got into class, not a heifer showed up that had sold for less than $10,000. The winner that was taken care of at the breeder's facility sold for $70,000 at sale time. The kids just grabbed the halter and marched into the ring with their perfectly fit female. Of course, I did most of my own fitting with the breeder dropping by on each heifer to help touch up the clip job. I sure couldn't have been prouder of them though. Never put so much work, time, and feed into two cattle in my life. Litter sister got to show my other heifer since they were both in the same class (6th and 7th out of 7), and we had the experience of showing in Denver. It has me convinced that I don't need to buy more of those Shorties. Just going to putz along with my one or two and show what I got. It sure was a blast though, and got me all psyched up for the coming show season. I am going to stick with the fuzzies through my eligibility in 4-H and breed shows simply because I only get to be young once, and I enjoy doing it.
Looking ahead in 2011:
For those of you who may know me a little but better than just over the computer, you might get the inclination that I am a bit of a mover and shaker when it comes to selling. And that includes selling myself. Last summer I put in 50 hour weeks pounding and pulling nails (building decks, remodeling bathrooms, laying tile, framing basements, etc) and cutting, raking, and baling hay from the seat of an H and a 350 Farmall. Made over $3500 last summer. This new year has brought new changes. I've had a job offer to sell "all natural" meat from a mobile unit with an established company. My dad knew the man through construction, and as we bumped into them during various gatherings, I soon got talking about jobs. Another long hours type deal, but it sounds like fun. I'll also be running a couple oat, triticale, and sudan grass test plots here at home with help from CSU. Yet another collegiate project for scholarship $$$. Finally, I'm working on seriously expanding my cow holdings. Not in club calves either. I'm working on getting most all of my weaning calves sold (might keep a heifer or two, and one bull calf) and culling my existing cows pretty deep. Probably going to sell 50-75% of my little herd. In exchange, with that money and what I make over the summer, I'm going to buy me some solid, honest grass cows and/or heifers. With the outrageously low interest USDA young farmer loans, I may bite the bullet and go into debt. I hate debt with a burning passion, but if ever conditions were right to borrow on cattle, it looks like a good next couple years. Hopefully I'll leave for college in fall 2012 with a herd of 50-70 solid young females at home. This first round may be a larger % short term cows who might just stick around for a calf or two, but eventually I'll get the quality in there. Thanks to those of you who read this clear to the end.
Cade
And the winner is NOT........ Cade Christensen!!! Well folks, I learned a whole bunch. Just because a heifer would whip the pants off of your county fair cattle doesn't mean she's going to compete at Denver. I thought I blew a whole bunch of money on my calves. Just over $5K total between the two of them. And when I got into class, not a heifer showed up that had sold for less than $10,000. The winner that was taken care of at the breeder's facility sold for $70,000 at sale time. The kids just grabbed the halter and marched into the ring with their perfectly fit female. Of course, I did most of my own fitting with the breeder dropping by on each heifer to help touch up the clip job. I sure couldn't have been prouder of them though. Never put so much work, time, and feed into two cattle in my life. Litter sister got to show my other heifer since they were both in the same class (6th and 7th out of 7), and we had the experience of showing in Denver. It has me convinced that I don't need to buy more of those Shorties. Just going to putz along with my one or two and show what I got. It sure was a blast though, and got me all psyched up for the coming show season. I am going to stick with the fuzzies through my eligibility in 4-H and breed shows simply because I only get to be young once, and I enjoy doing it.
Looking ahead in 2011:
For those of you who may know me a little but better than just over the computer, you might get the inclination that I am a bit of a mover and shaker when it comes to selling. And that includes selling myself. Last summer I put in 50 hour weeks pounding and pulling nails (building decks, remodeling bathrooms, laying tile, framing basements, etc) and cutting, raking, and baling hay from the seat of an H and a 350 Farmall. Made over $3500 last summer. This new year has brought new changes. I've had a job offer to sell "all natural" meat from a mobile unit with an established company. My dad knew the man through construction, and as we bumped into them during various gatherings, I soon got talking about jobs. Another long hours type deal, but it sounds like fun. I'll also be running a couple oat, triticale, and sudan grass test plots here at home with help from CSU. Yet another collegiate project for scholarship $$$. Finally, I'm working on seriously expanding my cow holdings. Not in club calves either. I'm working on getting most all of my weaning calves sold (might keep a heifer or two, and one bull calf) and culling my existing cows pretty deep. Probably going to sell 50-75% of my little herd. In exchange, with that money and what I make over the summer, I'm going to buy me some solid, honest grass cows and/or heifers. With the outrageously low interest USDA young farmer loans, I may bite the bullet and go into debt. I hate debt with a burning passion, but if ever conditions were right to borrow on cattle, it looks like a good next couple years. Hopefully I'll leave for college in fall 2012 with a herd of 50-70 solid young females at home. This first round may be a larger % short term cows who might just stick around for a calf or two, but eventually I'll get the quality in there. Thanks to those of you who read this clear to the end.
Cade
