The Comer Family Story

Our journey with the Chianina breed started in 1979 when we bought our first Chianina heifer at the National Sale in Louisville at the NAILE from Blue Sky Farms. Terry was raised on a farm and his family raised Angus cattle. After marrying Sue, they moved to the family farm and decided to continue raising cattle. After looking around the county at different breeds, they decided to go with something different and pursued the Chianina breed. We have two daughters, Lindsay and Jessica. Cody and Lindsay Bruns are the parents of Cade (7) and Hailey (3). Ryan and Jessica Cheesman are the parents of Claire (9), and twins Tanner and Jase (5). Claire showed for the first time last year at the NAILE, making it 3 generations to show Chianina cattle on the green shavings. Claire will be in her first year of 4-H and Cade will be in his second year of Mini 4-H. Sue’s journey with the Ladies Auxiliary began when she was invited to the annual ACLA meeting that was held across the road at the Executive Inn (which is no longer standing). Later on, the luncheon was moved to the fairgrounds and is now our “Come as You are Luncheon,” where we enjoy that wonderful Kentucky Silk Pie. The first meeting of the ACLA was held in November of 1980, with Kay Burk as chairman. Kay became the first President of the Auxiliary. Meeting with many wonderful ladies and the friendships we have made over the years is what has kept us involved in the ACLA. We believe in what the ACLA stands for and the good things they do for the juniors. Sue remembers the ACLA taking bus tours of Louisville and visiting different sites, such as Louisville Pottery and Churchill Downs. At the 1994 National Junior Heifer show held in Richmond, Ind., the ladies toured the Silvertowne Mint and Wick’s Pies in Winchester, Ind. Sue has been President, Secretary/Treasurer and Chairman of the National Queen Committee. The Ladies Auxiliary has been supporting the National Chi Queen since 1983. At the National Junior Heifer show in Murfreesboro, Tenn. in 1989, there were 14 Queen contestants competing for the title! Lindsay and Jessica began to attend ACLA meetings with their mother. Lindsay was on the Scholarship committee and Jessica later became President of the ACLA, serving in that roll for 10 years. The Chi Lady of the Year award began Ladies Auxiliary members touring Wick's Pies in Winchester, Ind., in 1994. in 1991, and was started in memory of one of the auxiliary

members. Sue was named "Chi Lady of the Year" in 1991 and Jessica was "Chi Lady of the Year" in 2019. The ACLA for many years had a booth during the NAILE and at that time we were there for a whole week. The Auxiliary sold t-shirts, jackets, hats, kites, jewelry, etched drinking glasses, nylon jackets, Chianina plates (numbered), cookbooks…etc. That was where Sue met Dana Schrick, who was in charge of hauling all the merchandise to shows. A wonderful friendship began and soon Sue began to assist in Jessica (left) and Claire (right) showing side by side at the 2020 North American selling Chianina merchandise and hauling. As trea- International Livestock Exposition. Claire is the third generation of the Comer family surer, she remembers having to find a bank in Louis- to exhibit in Louisville. ville to deposit up to $9,000 for the merchandise we sold. Many auxiliary ladies helped work the booth at Louisville, but how times have changed – now we are lucky to be in Louisville for more than two days. Sue is currently the Chairman of the Junior Chianina scholarship committee. The Junior scholarships started with the sale of Galen Struve bronze bull and heifer. Amazingly, $30,000 was generated from the sale. Starting in 1991 the Auxiliary began awarding scholarships to Junior Chi members. Since then the Auxiliary has given 75 scholarships for a total of $77,750. Through the generosity of breeders and items auctioned we are able to award these scholarships each year. At one time, gold flying bull pins and pendants were sold to help with the scholarships. The flying bull was once the Association’s logo.

Sue could write a book about all the wonderful times associated with the Auxiliary but words can’t express what being a part of this organization has meant to Sue, Lindsay and Jessica. The Auxiliary is a wonderful way to meet other ladies and become acquainted with our breed. As in the past, the Ladies Auxiliary’s main purpose is to help and support our junior members. The friendships you will make with being a member of the ACLA will last you a lifetime.

The gold and diamond flying bull pendant was sold by the Ladies Auxiliary to help raise funds for the scholarship program. Who still has one of these?