Notes From The Field…Dustin Hurlbut

NEWS FROM THE ROAD

By: Dustin Hurlbut, Director of Sales/Marketing, ACA Field Representative

dustin@chicattle.org 605.380.8052

It has been a very eventful couple months since the last article I wrote! We had a very good turnout at the field day in Champaign, Ill., where we are doing the sire test with the University of Illinois. We had a couple bull owners in attendance but the majority were association members there to take in the info that Dr. Dan Shike and his crew have compiled over the past few months on the Chianina sired cattle they are feeding out. You can find more info on sire test in this issue of the ACJ.

From there I did some herd visits in southern Indiana and then started my journey back toward South Dakota making some stops in Illinois and other states along the way. I have come across some herd bull prospects that I think could be breed changing sires for the Chiangus breed in my travels the past couple months. One thing is for sure, the quality of cattle I have seen is over the top. I have been to many places looking at sale cattle, from those with online sales to private treaty phone bid sales, and the demand for Chianina influenced cattle has been great with cattle bringing top dollar!

After being home a couple days I was off on a state fair run between South Dakota and Nebraska. First stop was Huron, S.D., for the open shows. Then I was off to Grand Island, Neb., for the open shows and the Western Regional Jr show. The Chianina breed was well represented in Supreme Row with the Chianina bull being selected as Supreme Champion over all breeds at the Nebraska State Fair! Congrats to the Satree’s on a well-deserved win! The Supreme Champion Heifer was also a Chianina shown by Hadley Dunklau! Congratulations to Hadley and the Dunklau family on a great win! Then it was back to South Dakota for the 4-H and FFA shows over Labor Day weekend where the Champion Chianina Heifer went on to be 4th overall in the 4-H show! Congratulations to Haleigh Holt on your win with your Chiangus heifer!

I then made a swing into Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska and stops in South Dakota for visits with members having upcoming pasture and online sales. I believe in the last month I have been to over 30 places and logged over 6,000 miles looking at cattle and talking to members.

Now for the interesting part of my next trip. I took off for Kansas and Oklahoma and everything was going well, then out of nowhere, BOOM, I blew the front tire on my vehicle! It was 5:30 pm on a Friday, barely had one bar cell phone reception on my phone and about 45 miles northwest of Lawton, OK! Let’s just say, that by 9:10 that night I was finally on the road again 2 and a half hours from where I had already booked a room for the night so I could make my herd visit I had set up for the next morning! There is more to the story that I will share with anyone who asks, but it probably shouldn’t be published in this article!

Like I said earlier, I have seen some very good cattle in my travels and have been looking at cattle that will be consigned to the -C- The Difference Sale in Oklahoma City on January 8th 2022! If you have something you would like to put in the national sale give me a shout. Consignment forms are now available. If you are looking for a new herd bull, replacement heifers, bred heifers or even a show heifer, let me know and I can be on the lookout for you! Look forward to seeing everyone in Louisville at the annual meeting!