Idaho Cattle Association - 2010 Hefier Of The Year Contest Winners

The winners of the Idaho Cattle Association Heifer Of The Year Contest;

Over all winner - Lauren Clark  from Eagle Idaho will receive a registered Angus heifer donated by the Idaho Angus Association. She also wins 10 bags of Pride Plus Show Ration from Western Stockman's, BVD & Pregnancy and Supplies from Bio Tracking LLC and a bag of feed from A&G Irrigation.

Cora Isaacs from Bliss, place second and will receive a $750.00 scholarship from the University of Idaho Steer A Year Program, a custom hat from Jaxonbilt Hat Company and a bag of feed from A&G Irrigation.

Jessica Lancaster from Jerome place third and will receive a $500.00 scholarship from the University of Idaho Steer A Year Program and a bag of feed form A&G Irrigation.

Mackenzie Peace from Meridian place fourth and will receive a $250.00 scholarship from the University of Idaho Steer A Year Program,and a bag of feed from A&G Irrigation.

Jeni Hagler from Meridian place fifth and will receive a $200.00 form Intermountain Community Bank,$25.00 scholarship from Bonners Ferry Vet Clinic and a bag of feed from A&G Irrigation.

Talya Murphy from Kimberly placed sixth and will receive a $50.00 scholarship from Hollingworth Inc., $50 scholarship from Robison Ranch and a bag of feed from A&G Irrigation.

Seth Christensen from Preston, place seventh and will receive a $50.00 scholarship from Fences Idaho and a $50.00 from Lemhi Large Animal Health and a bag of feed from A&G Irrigation.


Congratulations Lauren, and all the winners.

The Magic Valley Jr. Beef Classic

This was the first time I ever entered a show ring that wasn't  4-H. I was a mess but I tried my hardest not to let it show. I took all three of my steers; lucky for me they were in three different weight class. The hard part was they were one weight class after another, I showed one walked out of the ring handed it off and was handed the next one and walked right back into the ring.

It was a long day, my steer handled great. At the end of the day two of my steers received two second place ribbons and one third place ribbon in quality.
I think I did OK for my first time.

During your 4-H life-time; if you start showing when you are 8 years old you will only be in the show ring 10 times. If each time you enter the show ring, and you are there for 30 minutes you will have only showed for a total of about 300 minutes or 12.5 hours. Over 10 years that is not much time to perfect your showmanship skills. With each time you enter the ring the Judge will give you pointers to how to improve your skills and every Judge is different. My goal is to be grand champion showman and to have a grand champion steer. When you go to different shows you add a year of experience, receive lots of insight  how to improve your skill and learn the grooming skills need to enhance the appearance of you steers
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To have a 4-H Grand Champion Steer or Heifer it is very important to have the showmanship skills to show your steer or heifer at their best.

You , Your Steer, and the Grooming Chute

The weather here has had its good and bad day's. I hope you have had your steers on a regular feeding schedule, and that your steer is on full feed now and should be gaining at least 3 pounds a day. Your steer should now be touchable and leading should become easier each day hopefully you have been using the show stick each day (rain or shine);  Because the real fun is about to begin.

 The first thing I would like you to do is make sure your fitting chute is tied down. I know first hand the wreck you can have if it is not and you steer freaks out and takes off with it; your steer can become injured, and at the very least all the hard work you have done will be lost.

Now the fun part; you need to get your steer in the chute; if you have done all the ground work listed above it won't be to hard. If your steer is still a little hard to lead take your time, and add a safety rope tied to something I tie mine safety rope to the post that right next to the chute. Next take the lead rope and run it through the chute and hopefully they walk right in. If your steer does not walk in use the safety rope to get them back up to the chute and start again. Just keep working and talking to them and they will go in.

Once you have them in the chute for the first time you will want to tie their head up and just comb them; I do this with each of my steers; I want my steers to like the chute.

each one of my steers had their moment in the chute I like them to be in the chute for at least 30 minutes the first time.

I comb them talk to them and just let them know that everything is OK.

In a day or two I will but my steers back in the chute and use the blower and turn on a pair of clipper and before you know it your steers are loving the time in the chute.

 This is what works for me; when working with cattle sometimes you just play it by ear and go with what works.

Check out the Watch and Learn Youtubes for more info on clipping and other tips.

The Show Stick

Now is the time for your steers to meet the show stick. The way that I do this is while I have them tied up and they are eating. I let them see the stick, and smell the stick. I rub their brisket first and them their belly and last I just touch their feet. Start slow and for a short time Just a few minutes; then let them finish eating. Later in the afternoon I go back out and lead them around and use the stick a little more and try to set them up, now just do this each time you work with your calves.

Your goal is to stay calm, keep your cool, and just keep working with your calves and before you know it the touching, leading and setting up will all come together. You are trying to form a bond, gain you steer trust and built your own confidence.

When this all happens you and your steer will become a team.

I know that everyone has there own way to do this. This is just what works for me.

Added YouTube

Check out the watch and learn page

Ninja Knowledge

Would you like to have a blog? My mom just blogged this on her blog so I ask her if I cloud use it on mine.
this is what she wrote
When you look at my blog you might think; Man this is a real blogger, they know how to do all kinds of different thing and have some cool effects.

Well I am letting you know here and now that I am not very good at adding these different effects. In fact when I started I didn’t even know how to cut and paste; but there are some people out there that do. One of the people that lead me by the hand is known as Ninja Jen.

If you have a blog already or if you want to setup a blog you may or I should say you need to visit Jens blog http://ninjaknowledge.blogspot.com/ this is a must read. On this blog you can get some real nice GADGETS with step by step instruction on how to use them.

The Knowledge that Ninja Jen shares on this blog include: scrolling marquee, and how to change your template just to name two.

Check it out you will be glad you did!


My blog was set up by my Mom. for me, blogging is not hard but setting up and adding different gadgets may seem hard but there really not when you have step by step instructions. scroll down to the bottom of the Ninja Knowledgepage and check out the label cloud.

Why Meat Goats?

My interest in Meat Goats all started when I decided to learn about how to judge the different Market animals raised and sold at fair time as part of the 4-H market animal projects.

 Then one day I started asking questions and found out that one of my Dad's friends Son is making a very good living hauling meat goats to market. So I ask myself why Meat Goats?

This what I found out:

Goat is the most highly consumed meat in the world; and more goat’s milk is consumed worldwide than cow’s milk. In the United States, meat goat production is increasing because of goats’ economic value as efficient converters of low-quality forages into quality meat, and milk,  products . There are several reasons for goats’ growing popularity in this country. A large factor is the large number of ethnic groups,  who have a preference for goat meat, milk, and cheese products.

Another factor is the determination of many Americans to be self-sufficient. Where resources are limited, a small herd of goats may be the only livestock that a small, part-time farmer can raise to achieve self-sufficiency.

As well as being one of the most widely consumed meats in the world, goat meat is also one of the healthiest meats available for consumption.  Goat meat is naturally low in fat, saturated fat and cholesterol while containing a high quantity of protein and iron.

I myself have never eaten Goats meat but I found a few different sites that might be of interest to you.

I just found this so interesting that I thought I would share it with you.

For now I will stick with my Red and Black Angus.