August 2020 Longhorn Drover

Longhorn

August 2020

DROVER

The Official Online Magazine Of The International Texas Longhorn Association

Longhorn About the front cover “Calving Season” Photo Courtesy of Susie Stafford

Drover TABLE OF

CONTENTS

4 6-7 9 12 24 30 34

Letter From The President

Calendar Of Events

Letter From The Office Manager Texas Longhorn Values

August Candid Photos

30 Years - Change & Success Longhorn History

Letter from the

President This issue of the Drover is full of October events planned to celebrate the ITLA‘s 30th Anniversary in Glen Rose, Texas, home of the ITLA. Plenty of cattle shows are available to win one of the over 200 commemorative 30th Anniversary Buckles and we are setting aside additional time to meet and conduct the business of the ITLA. The Texas Agricultural Commissioner recognizes the significance of the ITLA providing 30 years of agriculture service and he will be joining us to celebrate. Your ITLA continues to show upward trends during these different times in our world. Every month in 2020 has out performed the corresponding month in 2019. This is an amazing statistic with the cancellation and postponement of so many Longhorn events. I believe everything the ITLA has to offer is being heard loud and clear, we will celebrate this prosperity and the 30 year anniversary when we socialize in October at the only member owned Headquarters in Longhorn history.

I am pleased to announce that Alexandria (Alex) Rodriguez has joined the staff of the ITLA. Alex is a strong advocate for agriculture, is involved with Longhorns, and is enrolled at Tarleton State University to complete her degree in Agricultural Education. Please help me in welcoming Alex to the ITLA. Your good staff just got better.

2019-2020 Officers Russell Hooks

Vice President & Secretary Term: 2020 McGregor, TX 409-381-0616 russellh@longhornroundup.com

John Moxley

Larry Smith II

Treasurer Term: 2021 New Market, MD 240-446-9950 crosswrenchranch@msn.com

President Term: 2020 Celina, TX 254-396-9185 larrypsmith2@yahoo.com

2019-2020 Board of Directors John Moxley

Joel Dickinson

Gordon Musgrove

Lizz Huntzberry

Dick Lowe

John Nelson

Director at Large #1 Term: 2021 New Market, MD 240-446-9950 crosswrenchranch@msn.com

Region 2 Term: 2022 Smithsburg, MD 240-291-1952 lizzhuntzberry@yahoo.com

T.J. Farnsworth

Region 5 Term: 2019 Mountain Home, UT 435-503-5229 tj@chapman-const.com

James Eyman

Region 8 Term: 2020 Marble Falle, TX 830-596-1604 ranchHQ@eblranch.com

Director at Large #2 Term: 2020 Barnsville, OH 740-758-5858 joel_d@texaslonghorn.com

Region 3 Term: 2020 Horton, MI 517-688-3030 info@rrrlonghorns.com

Region 1 Term: 2020 Patricia, AB 403-363-1729 onetreeranch@gmail.com

Region 4 Term: 2021 Wellington, CO 970-897-2441 jnelson@enganalytics.com

Terry Brink

Region 6 Term: 2020 Frederick, OK 580-335-5732 brinkauction@gmail.com

Joe Dowling

Connie Olive

Region 7 Term: 2020 Big Sandy, TX 903-780-0665 connie_olive@aol.com

Region 9 Term: 2021 Caldwell, TX 979-273-0277 dowlingoe@yahoo.com

Calendar of Events Great Northern Classic

Cheesehead Futurity August 1st, 2020 Location - 5D Ranch Gresham, Wisconsin For more info contact Dan Huntington 715-853-7608 or Ali Mast 715-495-4369

The Source Summer Showdown August 7th-9th, 2020 Will Rogers Memorial Complex Fort Worth, Texas Contact - Ryan Culpepper 940-577-1753 *Open to all registered longhorns

East Coast Classic

September 11th-12th, 2020 Culpepper, VA. Ray Bear Davidson 540-687-0050 Chase Vasut 512-917-8654

2020 Oregon State Fair September 2020 Contact - Cindie Boyle 541-232-2558 More details coming soon...

Dickinson Cattle Co 2020 Customer Appreciation Day Sept 26th, 2020 Barnesville, OH 43713 www.texaslonghorn.com

Montgomery County Fair

Top of The West Idaho Show

CTTLA Fall Shoot Out

The Great Frederick Fair

August 2020 More details to come

September 12th, 2020 3101 FM 51 - Decatur, TX Halter Judge - John Oliver Youth - Raelynn Stephens Show Chair -Danielle Mershon

September 2020 More details coming soon...

September 2020 More details coming soon...

MO KAN (BOTT)Fall Longhorn Sale September 2020 Passaic, MO

Calendar of Events 2020 ITLA Championship March Madness Show Show & Convention March 2021 Celebrating 30 Years !

October 7th-10th, 2020 Sommervell County Expo 202 Bo Gibbs Blvd Glen Rose, Texas 76043

* Championship Halter Show * Championship Youth Show * Championship Non-Halter Show * Championship ITLA Longhorn Futurity * Miss ITLA Youth Contest * End of Year Awards Banquet * ITLA Convention * Annual Membership Meeting * Miss ITLA Youth Queen Contest * Scholarship Presentation * Elite Heifer Sale All forms are located at www.itla.com For more information contact the ITLA office at staff@itla.com Judges - To be announced soon Entry deadline is September 15th, 2020

Circle T Arena & Resort Hamilton, Texas Contact - Cori at staff@itla.com More details coming soon...

ITTLA Heifer Futurity March 2021 Overbrook, OK. More details coming soon...

CTTLA Spring Fling April 2021 Myers Parks & Event Center McKinney, Texas Contact - Danielle Mershon 254-630-0053

Red McCombs Fiesta Sale May 2021 Johnson City, Texas Contact - Alan Sparger dodgeram52@yahoo.com More details to come ...

2021 Millennium Futurity May 2021 Somervell County Expo Glen Rose, Texas Contact - Christy Randolph 713-703-8458

Official Chute of the International Texas Longhorn Association

P&C Cattle Pens & Chutes PCcattlepens.com

Letter from the

Office Manager

Howdy

August is upon us and the 30th Anniversary Championship Show & Convention is only 2 months away ! The entry deadline for all Futurity & Show cattle is September 15th, and the deadline to donate, turn in forms, and consign to the Elite Heifer Sale is September 1st.

With everything going on in the World today we are very grateful that as of right now this show is still a “GO�. Due to the cancelation of many events this season the ITLA is waiving all non-qualifying fees at the Championship Show, so all entry fees for the shows are only $50 each, and all futurity entry fees are $125 each.

JOIN THE ITLA FUN !

We hope you make plans to join us at the Somervell County Expo Center in Glen Rose, Texas October 7th-10th, to help celebrate 30 successful and blessed years for the ITLA.

* Youth membership $15

#ITLAstrong

* Active memberships $60

Until next time, see you all down the trail !

* 10 Year memberships $400.00 * Lifetime memberships $700

God Bless you all,

Cori Garcia ITLA Office Manager staff@itla.com

2020 ITLA Youth Scholarship * Application deadline August 14th, 2020 * Application and qualifications located at WWW.ITLA.COM * Scholarship will be awarded at the Championship Show Banquet, October 10th.

ITLA YOUTH

ITLA YOUTH

ITLA Youth Building Brighter Futures

staff@itla.com

Affiliates Alberta Texas LonghornAssociation Cody Bailey, President Phone: (780) 361 - 8871 Email: albertatexaslonghorn@gmail.com

Best of Trails Texas LonghornAssociation John Dvorak, President Phone: (620) 382 - 2067 Email: jpdcrd33@netks.net

Canadian Texas LonghornAssociation Deb Lesyk, President Phone: 306-867-3039 Phone: 403-575-0114 Email: office@ctlalonghorns.com Website: www.ctlalonghorns.com

ChisholmTrailTexas LonghornAssociation Danielle Mershon, President Phone: 254-630-0053 Email: danielle@whistlingtxlonghorn.com

Great Lakes Texas LonghornAssociation Johnny Hicks, President Phone: 269-721-3473 Email: hicksamericanbulldogs@yahoo.com

Northeast Texas Indian Territory Longhorn Texas Association LonghornAssociation Jodi King, President Robert Van Liew, President Phone: 405-420-1720 Email: vanliewranch@gmail.com

TheLonghornPosse Judi Walker, President Phone: 254-796-2135 Email: jfwtx@att.net

Midwest Texas LonghornAssociation

Tim Mills, President Phone: 419-606-6184 Email: mountainview_longhorns@yahoo.com

MountainStatesTexas LonghornAssociation Marlene Reynolds, President Phone: 719-510-2151 Email: cowgirlmama83@gmail.com Website: www.MSTLA.org

Phone: 717-475-5819 Email: latimorevalleyfarms@earthlink.net Website: www.netlalonghorns.com

Ohio River Valley Texas Longhorn Association Amber Dunmire, President Phone: 330-231-0345 Email: bonnieglenfarm@gmail.com

Texas Longhorn AssociationofOntario Don Flemmington, President Phone: 519-323-7982 Email: don@trelanefarms.com

TopoftheWestTexas LonghornAssociation Shadow Seaman, President Phone: 208-420-2484 Email: victoryranch@earthlink.net

Know Texas Longhorn Values ...

By: Darol Dickinson In the 2016 Hudson/Valentine Stock Yards Sale, Lazy J’s Bluegrass fetched a final bid of $49,000.

He was consigned by Lazy J Longhorns in Kansas and purchased by John Viskup of Oklahoma.

Is that the established appraisal value of a really nice Texas Longhorn steer? It certainly was on that day.

Lazy J’s Bluegrass - The Hudson/Valentine organization had promoted Lazy J’s Bluegrass on TV and the front page of the Fort Worth Star Telegram, as well as in all the Longhorn publications and every type of media. With the recognition of this steer as the reigning Guinness World Record for wide horns, everyone came to bid who wanted to own the widest, prettiest, spotted, and most impressive steer in the world.

Is $49,000 the market price for a very nice Texas Longhorn steer? Just the following month, right up the road at the Decatur Livestock Market, a really nice steer sold for $955. Both sale managers would say that was the going market price on that particular day. Is this confusing? If it isn’t confusing enough, one might think Kim Kardashian is anemic.

Texas Longhorn appraisal values are not easy. A lot of factors are involved. Dozens of times every year I get calls from people who ask what their Texas Longhorns are worth. I can’t answer that question, but this article will help everyone know the value of their own cattle. Appraise your own cattle -- not with one up-or-down auction price but with a current average of hundreds of similar cattle. At a Texas Longhorn sale a few months ago, 7 of the first 10 lots were “pass-outs,” or no bids. What does that mean? People ask, “How was the market at a certain sale?” One sale will be high and another low. Does that mean the market is surging forward or tanking? What if several sales are all held during the same few days and dividing up the buying clients? What if the cattle are very high quality and promoted brilliantly like the Hudson/Valentine sale? Still a little confusing? Watching poorly or well-managed sales is no way to identify appraisal values. It can be more of an appraisal of the auction management than cattle values.

APPRAISAL RECOMMENDATION: At Dickinson Cattle Co (DCC), 90% of all cattle and semen are sold on-line with complete data, weights, measurements, photos, full pedigrees, and prices. Last breeding season, 559 cows were turned out with DCC bulls. From that number, about 500 calves were born, giving DCC about 500 cattle to sell. Each year that number is renewed by more births. About 200 calves are selected annually for meat product sold in the ranch store, and 70-85 prospective young herd sires are sold each year. Exhibition steers and cow/calf pairs are always available with a choice of prices and bloodlines. These total numbers compare with five to seven Texas Longhorn auction sales. This private selling process happens over and over every year.

This is how it works. DCC prices are posted for each critter. If they are priced economically, they sell right away. If they are priced above the going market, they may sell slowly, or the price may be lowered to fit the current value range. Older cattle are priced lower. Young, very promising breeding stock that have national high values are priced accordingly. Amazingly, everything sells in a few days or just a few months. DCC determines values by a wide variety of buyers who are all real – no auction “pass-outs,” no “accidental” bids. If appraised prices on the DCC list are too high, the cattle do not sell. If they are too low, the cattle are purchased and removed quickly. Fact is, DCC prices are right in the middle. The really good thing, no one raises your bid.

THIS IS HOW TO DO IT: Texas Longhorn cattle are appraised by conformation, age, horn length, weight, disposition, price, color, and pedigree. To appraise your own cattle, select something compared to your desired age, sex, and type from the DCC inventory sale list. If your animals are larger or smaller, that have better conformation or less, etc., use the DCC inventory as a base measuring stick to reduce or add to your own cattle’s appraised value. It isn’t perfect, but you will be very close to a current proven market sampling.

Here’s more detail: some owners have cattle that lack documented pedigrees. Those unregistered cattle are referred to as “grade” cattle. Their appraisal value is for producing beef, or for their sale value by the pound in a generic auction, or for ground beef product. Don’t compare registered cattle values to non-documented cattle.

Salvage value cattle are on their last leg. Their owners believe that their only and last value is for meat. These cattle can be liquidated wholesale at a generic auction for 30-90 cents a pound -- that is wholesale. These same cattle will yield an average of 34% lean trim with ground beef selling at retail for $7.50 per pound. Their wholesale value on the hoof would be about $400, but retail value for the same animal as ground food product would be about $2400.

WHEN COWS NEED TO GO: Consider a cow that weighs around 1000 lbs. With 34% lean grind multiplied by $7.50 per lb., that is $2550 retail value for ground beef. Processing could cost $450-500, leaving about $2100 profit.

When a 1000-lb. cow can net $2100, what is her appraised price? To avoid spending time in marketing retail beef, consider that perhaps something in the $1500 range would be a realistic base.

These are real numbers to think about. It is your call with your choice of marketing methods.

SEASONAL APPRAISALS: The price of breeding bulls is highest from March to June. This is the time when many are purchased for the breeding season. They have their lowest value at the end of the season when their usefulness is either over or not needed for another 8 months. Consider this fluctuation of values.

Cows that have been bred are one value. When a cow has a live healthy calf, her price increases with the quality of the calf. When she has a large calf at side and is rebred, she is at peak value as a 3-in-1 package.

When the calf is weaned off, she drops back to a bred-cow value. The further a cow is from calving, the less the fetus is worth. Going into winter, cow prices may be lower. After the cost of wintering, value increases as green grass becomes abundant. A cow preg checked positive is of more value than one “exposed” to a bull.

This article on appraising started with steers. Let’s wrap up with steers. On the DCC Exhibition Steer sale inventory, steers with over 100” horn that project to mature at 125” or better are priced up to $11,000. Prices for a young steer start in the teens for one with excellent horn blood that may become a huge exhibition steer. A current yearling, for example, is listed at $1200. Every animal has a printed weight, measurement, and full pedigree. Age, horn shape, size, and color are all important with exhibition steer appraisal value. Cattle for sale without valid data have a big reduction in value.

Every appraisal has a bottom line value. A steer that weighs 1880 lbs. like “Shot of Jubal” will yield lean trim of 639.2 pounds, which would retail at $7.50 per lb. and net $4794. Consider adding to that a taxidermy mount with a retail value of $5500 -- and that brings the total to $10,294. The cost above salvage of Shot of Jubal is $706 to look out the window and see a beautiful steer in your very own pasture.

Below this exhibition steer price, appraisal is solid-value-salvage. Whatever is above salvage is the price of the pride of ownership -- the perceived value of having a unique, beautiful steer in your own front yard. To know what that thrill feels like, ask John Viskup.

~ Editoral is an opinion written by: Darol Dickinson

$12

$15 $25

Email your merchandise order to staff@itla.com with payment plus shipping and postage. We accept credit card by phone, check by mail, or submit via Pay Pal by using the payment email staff@itla.com

“In The Mail Bag” The ITLA ~ “In The Mail Bag” is a special section to sgare all the positive comments, letters, mail, social media, etc. that the ITLA receives on a daily basis. Thank you to all of you that have shared your kind and uplifting kudos about the ITLA. We strive to serve each member to the best of our ability with a speedy turn around time on all services. From all of us at ... Your turn around time on registrations, transfers, and all office services is outstanding. ~ Danielle Mershon ... THANK YOU!!!! You are spectacular. I appreciate the speed of processing. ~ Julie ( Balzan Ranch ) ... I’m so thankful to have Cori in the ITLA office. She’s so friendly and really takes care of the members. She’s always quick to reply and I would not be able to put on a great show, here in Ohio, without her help ! ~ Amber Dunmire ... Absolutely amazing service from the office ! Quick, efficient, and always with a smile. ITLA is great because of the people who work there and many others that assiting in ITLA operations. ~ Weldon & Kyla Lovejoy

Do you have a positive comment to share with the ITLA ? You can email it to staff@itla.com

Something missing from your pasture ?

We can help with that.

Join us in October at the Elite Heifer Sale

2020 ITLA Championship Show & Convention October 7th - 10th Glen Rose, Texas staff@itla.com Celebrating 30 Years !

Easy to print and fill out - go to www.itla.com for all of the ITLA forms REGISTRATION APPLICATION 1.

Member Name (Applicant)

2.

Street Address

3.

City

4.

State,

Day Time Phone No.

4a.

Zip

P.O. Box 2610  Glen Rose, TX 76043 Phone: 254 898-0157  Fax: 254 898-0165

ITLA Member No.

Proper fees must accompany this application

Email

Size (please circle one): Miniature or Full Size 5.

7.

OCV Number

17.

19a.

20.

22a.

23.

24.

25.

26.

27.

28.

29.

8

Birth Date

10.

13.

6.

Name of Texas Longhorn (limit 24 characters)

11.

Twin?

Birth Weight

Yes 

Holding Brand (your registered brand)

No 

Location of holding brand

9.

12.

14.

18.

Sire’s Name



Bull



Steer 

A.I. 

Embryo



Clone

Cow

Sex of Texas Longhorn Natural 

Service



In Herd AI 

Color Brand ID (number branded on animal)

Location of number brand

19.

Sire’s Registration Number

Sire’s Brand ID Number

Signature of Owner of Sire

21.

Dam’s Name

22b.

Clone Parent Name (only for clones)

22.

Dam’s Registration Number

Dam’s Brand ID Number

Clone Parent Reg# (only for clones)

I hereby certify this to be a true and correct statement and I request to have same recorded in the International Texas Longhorn Association Registry, in consideration of which I agree to abide and be bound by the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, Rules and Regulations of the Association and amendments thereto.

Date Texas Longhorn Acquired Breeders Name Breeder’s ITLA Number

X

Signature of Applicant

Date

Owner of Texas Longhorn Being Registered

30.

Owner’s ITLA Number Owner’s Street Address City

State,

Send Certificate to:

For Office Use Only Zip

Owner  Applicant 

Easy to print and fill out - go to www.itla.com for all of the ITLA forms Received 0 - 60 days from "date of sale" = $15 _______

Received after 60 days from the "date of sale" = $25 _______

TRANSFER APPLICATION 1.

2.

3.

P.O. Box 2610 ◆ Glen Rose, TX 76043 Phone: (254) 898-0157 ◆ Fax: (254) 898-0165

4.

Proper fees must accompany this application Name of Animal

5.

7.

REGISTRATION NO.

6. SEX COW BULL STEER 8.

MEMBER NAME (APPLICANT)

ADDRESS

CITY,

STATE,

DAY TIME PHONE NO.

ZIP

ITLA MEMBER NO.

EMAIL ADDRESS

FOR OFFICE USE ONLY 21.

SIRE OF CALF AT SIDE

Brand/ID. NO.

22.

SIRE’S REG. NO.

23. SERVICE NAT A.I. EMB.

11.

DATE SOLD

24.

DATE CALVED

25. SEX OF CALF COW BULL STEER

13.

1ST BULL EXPOSED TO

26.

TRANSFER ANIMAL TO

9.

LOT NO.

10. FEMALE SOLD OPEN EXPOSED

(IF SOLD IN SALE)

14.

BULL’S REGISTRATION NO.

15. SERVICE NAT A.I. EMB.

27.

NEW OWNER’S ITLA MEMBER No. 28.

ADDRESS OF NEW OWNER

16.

DATES EXPOSED THRU 17.

2ND BULL EXPOSED TO

29.

CITY

STATE

ZIP

EMAIL

18.

BULL’S REGISTRATION NO.

19. SERVICE NAT A.I. EMB.

I (we) the owner(s) of this animal, or authorized agent of owner(s), hereby warrant the information contained herin to be true and correct and apply for transfer of ITLA Certificate of Registration, and will legally defend ownership as represented.

20.

DATES EXPOSED

X

THRU FOR OFFICE USE STA-3

FEE:

A.P.:

C.N.:

B.D.:

REVISED 1/9/2020 - k.d. - indd/PDF

Date

Signature of Seller 30. Send Certificate to:

Buyer

Seller

Please Print Three Copies. Mail two signed copies to the ITLA and keep one for your records.

Welcome New ITLA Members !

Landon Fellar Eli Esh Brian Ramer 4F Longhorns Brookville, IN. Ronks, PA. Greencastle, PA. Cleburne, TX.

Holt Ranch Sydney Thompson Austin Tarr Shady Maple Farm Lorena, TX. Calera, OK. Huntington, IN. Middfield, OH. Lon Crout Saint Leonard, MD.

Jodie Ging Yoakum, TX.

Jeff & Kristi Ging Yoakum, TX.

4S Longhorns Weatherford, TX.

Michael & Kyndle Nichols Greenville, NC.

ANB Ranch Seminole, TX.

Josephine Dinsmore Boonsboro, MD.

D3 Farms Boonsboro, MD.

Double C Ranch Star Bars Ranch Moss Longhorns Long Collar Farms Granby, MA. Mansfield, TX. Hico, TX. Horton, AL. Double F Farms Rafter Rocking R Ranch Joseph Gerlach Rebecca Jacob Ontario Canada Elizabeth, CO. Decatur, TX. Tillamook, OR. Rise & Shine Ranch Loving All Ranch Luckenbach Ranch Corn Cattle Co. Rhome, TX. Rhome, TX. Millwood, GA. Rochester, IN. Star G Ranch Burleson, TX

Chris Dommert Houston, TX.

Shane Krajnik Houstin, TX.

Andrea Wilson Houston, TX.

JJW Ranch Big Sandy, TX.

Darrell & ANgela Bivens Webster, TX.

David Richardson Cleveland Heights, OH.

Skinner Longhorns Pollok, TX.

Almost A Ranch Tolar, TX.

Kimberly Bay Mountain View, MO.

Rocking A Ranch Anderson, TX.

Hailey Roberson Paradise, TX.

Roberson Ranch Paradise, TX.

Mattisyn Townsend Seguin, TX.

Hyer Land & Cattle Stillwater, OK.

Dozer-Valley View Roseville, OH.

Damuth Flying D Ranch Horn & Hoof Farm Colby Fisher Shelby Mohr Eustace, TX. Roy, WA. Jamesville, NY Lost Springs, WY. Anthony & Kristin Thompson Lower 48 Ranch Porter, OK. Harper, TX.

Barry Farms Turner’s Station, KY.

Annika Lindt Sunset, TX.

Welcome New ITLA Members !

Andrew Lindt Chad Lindt Johnny & Jenifer Parker Asia Wiggins Sunset, TX. Sunset, TX. Four Oaks, NC. Honeybrook, PA. Sam Pequignot Wellsville, PA.

Hannah Pequignot Wellsville, PA.

Hunter Lawson Paradise, TX.

Andrew Wilson Houston, TX.

Thurmond Longhorns Daniel Carrozza Roger Hottle Bernet Agriculture Adkins, TX. Etters, PA. Knoxville, PA. Hanoverton, OH. Jeffrey Davis Joseph Cress NS Horns Hagler Ranch Jackson, OH. Concord, NC. Montgomery, AL. Taylor, TX. 414 Longhorn Co. Rocky, OK.

Leslie Osmera Austin, TX.

Laurie Daniel Benton Harbor, MI.

Morris Cattle Co. Kinta, OK.

Kory Wayment Brigham City, UT

Huck Dunmire Coshocton, OH.

Timber Ridge Farms Gap, PA.

Addisynn Goddard Southwest, MO.

Claudia Sandler Ottenschlag Austria

George & Jenny Banks Hamilton, MT.

B-C Ranch Lyons, MI.

Brent Gardner Elmo, UT.

Gabriella Pedraza Missouri City, TX.

Adriana Fabela Weatherford, TX.

Rocking P Longhorns Lamar, AR.

Frank Klassen Ontario Canada

High Rock Ranch Boyd R. Snow Travis Snow Justin & Tyler Smith Ola, ID. Jensen, UT. Vernal, UT. New Plymouth, ID. Casey Host Rocking BST Ranch Mason Blakenship Bob Miller Harrodsburg, KY. Ellensburg, WA. Powell, OH. Goshen, IN. Rocking R Longhorns Weatherford, TX.

Freedom Ranch San Angelo, TX.

Tomi Kivisto Jarvela, Finland

Snell Ranch Cisco, TX.

Martin Kucirek Martina Malinova BW Ranch Rocky Top Acres Czechia Czechia Amherst, WI. Fresno, OH. Kevin & Lisa Sanmann Boone’s Farm Ivanhoe, TX. Crawfordville, IN.

Stephen & Vivian Jeffers Sand Springs, OK.

Art Gutterson Greeley, CO.

Welcome New ITLA Members !

Moore Time Ranch Hidden Springs Ranch Melissa Angel Can Chute Argyle, TX. Denton, NC. Gallipolis, OH. Ontario Canada Curtis Duff J.A. Thomas Jeff & Rhonda Meyer Jaylin Krimmel Clinto, OK. Merced, CA. Ponca City, OK. Boyd, TX. Alberta Longhorns Andy Fisher Christie Thompson Mark Reynolds Alberta Canada Westcliffe, CO. Sadieville, KY. Schuyler, VA.

Lester Schlabach Ruffner Ranch Humberto Nobre Levi Nowlin Millersburg, OH. Argyle, TX. Goias Brazil Winnett, MT. LeRoy & Rosemary Gamble Dexter, KY.

Ralph Dozier Blooming Grove, TX.

Farabough Family Farm Michael Burns Ardmore, OK. Garnett, KS.

Garrison Farm Waverly, WV.

Hamell Farms Panoka, AB Canada

D and L Ranch Lexington, TN.

Eagle Ranch Solsberry, IN.

4th Line Cattle Co. Hillsburgh, Ontario Canada

Mark & Jenae Oliver Malakoff, TX

Adeladina Weiher Stigler, OK.

Tommy Thacker Duchesne, UT.

Kayla Kennon Jonathan M. Taylor Justin & Brodi Sutton Scott Rice La Grande, OR. Elner, NJ. Fredonia, KY. Hudson, MI. Aleena Elliott AOK Longhorn Ranch Briarpatch Farm Victoria Outlaw Weatherford, TX. Dothan, AL. Argyle, TX. Harrison, GA. Maggard Farm Dow Jones Ranch Jill Rosales Daisy Mast Corryton, TN. Grandview, TX. Paige, TX. Arkansaw, WI. Siegbert & Christa Roder Grunenbach Germany

Jacob Gawrys Douglasville, PA.

Peter & Jackie Richards Lena Mast Fellsmere, FL. Arkansaw, WI.

Jeff Earl Caldwell Brothers Cattle SDS Ranch David Wyrill Wauseon, OH. Brownfield, TX. Shelbyville, TN. Kirwin, KS. Payne/O’Bryan Partnership Eric & Jennalee Taylor Levi Blake Joseph Craig Grandview, TX. Genola, UT. Nettleton, MS. Ontario Canada

Welcome New ITLA Members !

Elizabeth & Michael Fritz Rockin’ Z Longhorns Alec Brown Susan Roberts Dallas, TX. Marquez, TX. Greenville, TN. Ontario Canada Peter & Yvonne Cappelano Karri Shayne Wilhite Tessa Tronzano Patrick HeB Sheridan, MT. Hamilton, TX. Richardson, TX. Denmark Ernie & Kandy Spader Eli Holmes Andrew Eckhart Balzan Ranch Reynoldsville, PA. Covington, IN. Delton, MI. Wheatland, WY. Freeborn Farms Julie Guthrie McCoy Farms Clarice Francis Elkhart Lake, WI.

Dickson, TN.

Sneedville, TN.

Angleton, TX.

Anna Smajstrla Winnsboro, TX.

Strate Family Longhorns Marietta, OK.

Gabe Wilson Twin Falls, ID.

Aliee Wilson Twin Falls, ID.

William Presley Oklahoma City, OK.

Burnt Hickory Farms Dallas, Georgia

Zebadiah Klinkhammer Jace Esh Valley Cneter, KS New Hollnad, PA

Steven Roberts Harpers Ferry, WV.

King Bo Cattle Ranch Bossier, LA.

Jordyn Dabelstein Millsap, TX.

Amanda Chavez Otisville, MI.

Jackson Russell Michael Blankenship Butterfield Longhorns Bryan Schmidt Edmond, OK. Powell, OH. League City, TX. Pierce, CO.

Ready to join the ITLA fun ?

Membership Forms are located at www.itla.com

August 2020 Candid Photos

August 2020 Candid Photos

August 2020 Candid Photos

August 2020 Candid Photos

Rush Orders Available Did you know the ITLA offers rush orders on registrations and transfers for just a $10 fee on each animal ? The ITLA already has a phenomenal turn around time on registration and transfer applications, but if you are needing them processed in 24 hours, you can apply the $10 fee to each application.

Here are the requirements for a rush order. * The order must received before 2:00 pm CST Monday - Friday in order to begin processing. * Rush Orders received after 2:00 pm CST Monday - Friday, or received on weekends and holidays, will begin processing the next available business day. * The order must be submitted with full payment to begin processing.

WI Longhorns Roland West * 816-255-5456 * wilonghorns@gmail.

Teanna WI DOB: 12/31/2016 WI Gunpowder x WI Tea Party For Sale - $1,500

Jefferson WI DOB: 4/24/2018 SADDLE ROPE x Queen Tuttess For Sale - $1,500

Deerfly DOB: 4/12/2005 TOMAHAWK 10 x Tijuana Taxi For Sale - $1,200

www.wilonghornsandleather.com

Ads starting at $10 per motnh ! Contact Cori at staff@itla.com for more advertising details.

New ITLA Approved Judge Mark Oliver - Malakoff, Texas The ITLA is proud to announce a new addition to our growing list of trained and approved Texas Longhorn judges. Mark and his family are from Malakoff, Texas and we are pleaesed to have them be a part of the International Texas Longhorn Association.

Mark has been active in the breed since 2004.

He has exhibited Longhorns worldwide and is currently serving in a few positions in the breed. Mark has a beautiful wife of ten years and four beautiful children that are all actively involved in showing Texas Longhorns.

Mark is a firefighter/EMT for the city of Athens and owns an off-duty excavation business. Mark has attended the ITLA judging clinic and has studied under several prestigious breeders and judges across the US. Mark hopes to continue judging, breeding, and raising Texas Longhorns in hopes that it will promote this amazing breed of cattle to others worldwide.

Please join us in welcoming Mark as an approved judge for the International Texas Longhorn Association and make sure to introduced yourself to him and his family when you see them at the shows.

Welcome aboard Mark ! * Anyone intwerested in becoming an ITLA approved judge can contact the ITLA headquartes via email at staff@itla.com

ITLA Welcomes New Office Administrative Assistant...

Alexandria “Alex” Rodriguez The ITLA is very happy to welcome a new office staff member, Alexandria “Alex” Rodriguez. Alex has been in the Longhorn industry for several years and will be a great addition to the staff as she possess great clerical and customer service skills. Please join us in saying welcome to Alex and get her know her a little better by reading her bio below.

Hello, my name is Alexandria Rodriguez, a proud advocate for the Texas Longhorn breed. I am so grateful to have the opportunity to represent ITLA’s new Office Administrative Assistant. I have been showing and raising Texas Longhorns for 5 years. I am excited to see what the future holds for this breed and for the outstanding community of people involved within the breed. I am Tarleton State University where I will continue to work on obtaining my Agricultural Education degree. Throughout showing and caring for this breed, I have learned a multitude of lessons. If I can say one thing through all that I have learned, it is this: “Follow your path even when it is not paved the way you imagined it. Success never comes from a flawless path. Hardships are bound to fall in your way and force you to take the winding road. How you accomplish those hardships and make it back to your path is your key to success.” I am honored to be able to represent the ITLA in this position and I look forward to meeting and serving those involved in the ITLA and assisting our members any way I can.

Celebrating 30 Years of Success ...

The ITLA was established in 1990 and has grown immensely in the last 30 years. The ITLA has succeeded in preseving traditions and history, while being able to change and grow for the future. For example, the ITLA newletter has brown from a black and white 3-4 page mail out, to a full color print magazine, to the online “Longhorn Drover” magazine we have today. The Longhorn Drover reaches tens of thousands of readers through the ITLA website and social media.

ITLA News Letter 1991

Longhorn Drover Print 2009

Online Longhorn Drover 2020

The way the ITLA gets news out to it’s members isn’t the only thing has that change over the years.

The ITLA logo has gone through a few changes too as graphic art technology progressed over time.

ITLA’s logo represents all of the International Texas Longhorn Association members from the United States of America to dozens of countries around the world.

Logo used in 1990

Logo used in 1996

Logo used in early 2000’s Current ITLA Logo 2020

The ITLA membership count has almost quadrupled since the Association was formed in 1990, and growing by leaps and bounds daily. Members can enjoy every day reasonable service fees, membership fees, friendly customer service, quality services, and extremely fast processing time on all orders. The ITLA is a member driven association that owns its own headquarters free and clear. The office is located in Glen Rose, Texas, overlooking the hillside view. The land was donated to the ITLA by Larry P. Smith and the office was built by past President John Hodges.

The ITLA has become the successful Association that it is today because of our members that volunteer, get involved, and support the purpose and goals of the International Texas Longhorn Association.

As a member driven Association, each voice matters and has played a big role in where we are today.

ITLA Headquarters - Glen Rose, Texas

The history of the ITLA is very rich and deeply cherished. We have to rember where we started from to know where we are going. Preserving the past to secure the future is a task we shouls all work togther on. The ITLA continues to grow, thirve, and represent the voice of Longhorn producers all over the World. Here’s to another great 30 years of success and growth.

Hand typed ITLA registration certificate

Current digital iregister certificate

30th Annual ITLA Championship Show & Convention October 7th - 10th, 2020 Somervell County Expo Center 202 Bo Gibbs Blvd.

Glen Rose, Texas 76043

ITLA Established 1990

* Convention * Halter Show * Youth Show * Non-Halter Show * ITLA Championship Futurity * Annual Special Awards * 30 Year Celebration * Catered Meals * Awards Banquet * Membership Meeting * Entry Deadline Is September 15th

2020 Championship Show & Convention Host Hotel

Room Rates - Use “ITLA Expo Rate” code for these rates ( must book by September 7th, 2020 for ITLA rates ) * Standard King - $84.99

* Standard Queen - 2 Beds $94.99 * Mini King Suite With Sleeper Sofa $99.99 * Mini Queen Suite - 2 Beds With Sleeper Sofa $104.99 * 2 Bedroom Suites $124.99 Dinosaur Valley Inn & Suites - Best Western 1311 NE Big Bend Trail Glen Rose, Texas 76043 254-897-4818

Texas Longhorns- A Short History Baby CalfThe cattle of the world, regardless of their wide and diverse body types and color patterns, are believed to originate from Bosindicus (the humped cattle of Asia) or Bos taurus (the wild cattle of Europe). Annals of history trace the movement of African cattle accompanying the Moors to Spain and their evolution into many cattle types. On the voyages of Christopher Columbus, the Spanish first brought long-horned cattle to the Americas in 1493. Descendants of these ocean voyagers were the first cattle population in North America.

The English, in colonizing North America, brought their native cattle in 1623, and as they moved west so did their cattle, pulling wagons and plows and providing milk. In 1821, cattle of North Carolina origin began to intermingle with the Spanish and English cattle. American Indians had developed their own strains of cattle from the Spanish and English strains.

Mexico, Texas, and what was then the Louisiana Purchase became the major blending pot for the evolution of this history-making Texas Longhorn breed of cattle. So old-timers contend the big horns, speckled colors and body types were derived from importation to the States out of the Longhorn Herefords of England. Others believe the blue and roan speckled stock reflected early Durham (shorthorn) introductions. The Spanish influence was represented by drab, earth tone colors.

Although “Mexican” cattle of the long horned variety provided the basic strain, historian J. Frank Dobie documented that an infiltration of cattle of mongrel American blood contributed to the evolution of the Texas Longhorn. Dobie estimated the Texas Longhorn evolved as 80 % Spanish influence and 20% mongrel influence. Thus, the Texas Longhorn was created, imported to North America from many different routes, defined and refined by nature, tested by the crucible of time and the elements.

Roundup DayThrough the mid-1800s, these range-rugged, big horned cattle multiplied without the help of man. Traits were genetically fixed, and as a result of survival of the fittest, resulted in ecologically adapted bovine families with extremely good heath, fertility, teeth, disease resistance, and soundness of body and limb. They multiplied by the millions. In 1876, an estimated 1000-head breeding herd was introduced into southern Alberta, Canada. By 1884, these cattle were estimated to have multiplied to 40,000 head with multiplication and importation.

A national convention of cattlemen in St. Louis in 1884 made plans for a national cattle trail right-ofway from the Red River north to the Canadian border, but they were thwarted when Congress failed to pass the bill. After this, the great trail drives began to dwindle as deeded, fenced property and rapidly developing civilization cluttered the trails. In 1890, the United States Department of Agriculture estimated the nation’s cattle population at 60 million head, mostly containing percentages of Texas Longhorn Blood.

In the early 20th Century, purebred cattle breeds from Europe and Asia became available to fit the desires of early ranchers. The foundation stock of introduced breeds such as Hereford, Shorthorn, and Angus were bred up to purebreds in this country from a native Longhorn base. Because of the great mothering ability of the Longhorn and the popularity of this “breeding up”, pure Longhorn blood was practically bred out of existence.

By the dawn the 20th Century, candles, had been the chief source of light for nearly 2000 years. Tallow, the main ingredient in candles is obtained by rendering animal fat. Soaps, lubricants and cooking also required tallow. “Hide and Tallow” companies, as early beef processing plants were known, were a major industry in the early days of the industrial revolution. Meat was mostly an economic by-product. The demand for the tallow and hides was the driving force of the cattle business. Cattle genetics required selecting for the heaviest tallow-producing animals. It is no wonder that the naturally lean Longhorn, with 80% less renderable tallow than the English breeds was not in demand. As a result of this high percentage lean carcass, the Texas Longhorn came close to extinction.

By 1930, much open range was fenced, and southwestern cattle barons zeroed in on their favorite breeds of fat cattle. However, the historic Texas Longhorn was the time tested choice of some serious producers. Although later trading occurred between Longhorn producers, six unique strains were selectively perpetuated by private ranch families before 1931. Several early producers were instrumental in providing Longhorn genetics when the United States Government realized the near extinction of these creatures.

The government herd, established in 1927 at the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, Cache, Oklahoma, was to become the seventh of the preserved Texas Longhorn families. These family genetics established in the early thirties and before are still maintained by family members and friends.

Today producers of Texas Longhorns either raise their favorite family bloodline in a pure state or mix and select combinations of several family bloodlines.

~ Information courtesy of the ITLA website at www.itla.com

ow h S mp e a h r C All orms a line f e on om l b a l .c avai w.itla w at w 2020 ELITE HEIFER DONATION CONSIGNMENT FORM Name of Animal _______________________

_____________ ID #___________________

Date of Birth________________________ ITLA Registration # _____________________________ Bangs Vaccinated: Yes___ No____

OCV #___________________________________________

If marked YES, ear tattoo symbol must be on health certificate. (OCV Required for females 4 mos. and older in several states.)

Heifer Exposed To________________________

From_____________To________________

To_________________________ From_____________To_________________ A.I. Bull_________________________________________ Calf at Side Information:

Sex_________________

Sire of Calf at Side_______________________________

A.I. Date________________________________ Date Calved____________________________ Pregnancy Check Results __________________

Comments: _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________________________________

Consignor’s Name (please print) _________________________________________________________ Address _____________________________________________________________________________ Signature____________________________ Email______________________ Phone _______________

Attach Registration Certificate, signed transfer form, and a quality photo pf the heifer.

You will be eligible for a Lifetime membership if the heifer sales for $800 or more.

Return by September 1st, 2020 to: ITLA Office Email: staff@itla.com

Mail to: P.O. Box 2610 Glen Rose, TX 76043

ITLA Elite Heifer Sale October 9th, 2020

Free Lifetime Membership ( For any heifer donation that sells for $800 or more )

Somervell County Expo 202 Bo Gibbs Blvd.

Glen Rose, Texas 76043

staff@itla.com

ow h S mp e a h r C All orms a line f on m e l b la .co avai w.itla w at w

2020 Championship Show & Convention Sponsor Packages

Name: ______________________________________ Ranch: ___________________________________ Address:________________________________________________________________________________ City_____________________________________________ State ________Zip Code___________________ Phone #:_________________________ Email: _________________________________________________ ITLA Youth Member That Sold This Sponsorship Package(s) To You - Please Note Below: ___________________________________________________________________________ Name: ITLA Youth Member #: Sponsorship Levels below: (see attachment for details on each Sponsorship Levels) Class Sponsor $125 x _____ Out Rider - $500 x Champion Buckle $175 x _____ Drover - $750 x ITLA Futurity Class $250 x _____ Point Man - $1000 x Joe R. Jones Level $2,000 x _____ Show Ad x

_____ _____ _____ _____

Total: _______________

Thank you for helping to make your Championship Show & Convention a success.

Pay with check payable to ITLA and mailing form & payment to: ITLA PO Box 2610 Glen Rose, Texas 76043 or email form to staff@itla.com and call the office to pay with credit card.

ow h S mp e a h r C All orms a line f on m e l b la .co avai w.itla w at w

Providing Quality Membership Services Since 1990

2020 ITLA Championship Futurity Entry Form October 7th – 10th, 2020 202 Bo Gibbs Blvd.

Glen Rose, TX 76043

FEMALE CLASSES:

Entry Deadline - September 15th, 2020 BULL CLASSES: 14.

15.

16.

17.

18.

19.

20.

Miniature Females: 1. March 2019 - April 2020 2. February 2018 - February 2019 3. January 2017 - January 2018

Standard Females: 4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

11.

12.

13.

March – April 2020 (Must be 180 days old) January – February 2020 September – December 2019 May – August 2019 January – April 2019 July – December 2018 January – June 2018

March – April 2020 (Must be 180 days old) January – February 2020 October – December 2019 July – September 2019 May – June 2019 March – April 2019 November 2018 – February 2019 June – October 2018 January – May 2018 January – December 2017

Animals Full Registered Name: __________________________________________________________________ DOB: ___________________ Class: ___________ ITLA Registration # : ________________________________ Registered Owners Name: ______________________________________Owners ITLA#: __________________ Address: ________________________________ Town: _________________ State: ________ Zip:___________ Phone #: _______________________________ Email: _______________________________________________ Forms must have a copy of registration certificates (front & back) attached for each entry along with the $125 entry fee for each animal. Make all payments payable to the: ITLA • • •

•

All cattle must have the appropriate current health papers from a veterinarian.

Don’t forget to purchase your “Convention Registration Pass”.

Awards will be given out at the banquet along with the announcement of the winners.

All exhibitors and entries must have a signed waiver form.

Mail Entries & Payments To:

International Texas Longhorn Association P.O. Box 2610 Glen Rose, Texas 76043 staff@itla.com

Longhorn Steer Feed Efficiency and Growth Performance The program has started for the feed efficiency and growth performance in Longhorn steers.

We are working with Olds college in Olds, Alberta, Canada. This is an agriculture College plus a research development centre. The program director from the college is Sean Thompson.

There are five Canadian producers involved in this project: Allemand Ranches from Shaunavon, Saskatchewan, Cody Bailey from Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Panorama Ranch – Dean Marte from Stauffer, Alberta, One Tree Ranching Co – Gordon & Charlene Musgrove from Patricia, Alberta and MSW Farms – Mark & Tina Stewart from Ponoka, Alberta. We had some producers from South Dakota and Utah that were trying to come up, however, due to Covid-19 border crossing issues, they were unable to participate this year.

The steers arrived at the feed lot from May 27 to June 4, 2020. Arrival weights range from 418 lbs to 659 lbs average 560 lbs. They were put on a low barley diet upon arrival consisting of 86.2 % barley silage, 10.3% B=barley and 3.4% supplement. Since then, they have been stepped up twice – first to a 76.9% barley silage, 20% barley and 3.1% supplement ration, to now being on a 65.52% barley silage, 31.03% barley and 3.5% supplement ration. We plan to move them slowly over the next month or two until they get on the final finisher ration. The steers have been doing great during the transition and no health issues to date.

On June 23, 2020 after the adjustment period the Performance testing program began with an average weight of 636 lbs and an average daily gain of 3.11 lbs since arrival. The steers will be taken right through to finish approx. 1300 lbs and slaughter where they will be evaluated for grade / yield and quality of beef.

We are looking forward to the results from this third party testing program. Tests previously have been very promising, however, they have been done privately. We are anticipating more acceptance and recognition because of the third party testing and will publish for the Texas Longhorn breed.

We will keep you updated on the progress.

Regards, Gordon Musgrove ITLA Director - Region 1

Steers Arrival May 27th, 2020

Steers Update Photos July 4th, 2020

Olds College 4500 - 50th Street Olds AB, Canada T4H 1R6 Phone: 403.556.8281 Toll-Free: 1.800.661.6537

Great Year ‘Round ITLA Service Fees * Registrations Under 15 Months $15 * Registrations Over 15 Months $25 * Transfers 60 Days & Under $15 * Transfers Over 60 Days $25 * Dual Registration $10 * A.I. Sire Enrollment $100 * Annual Membership $60 * Youth Membership $15 * Ten Year Membership $400 * Lifetime Membership $700 * Rush Order Fee $10

Secondary Lodging For The 2020 Championship Show & Convention Comfort Inn & Suites 1615 NE Big Bend Trail Glen Rose, TX. 76043 254-898-8900

Discount Rate Code: “ITLA Longhorns” King Bed - $95 2 Queen Beds - $95 * Call to reserve your room before September 7th, 2020 to receive the ITLA discount rate * Pet friendly ( Pet deposit required )

Cattle Branding Many people today have loyalty to their favorite brands of products, but ranchers of the West were more familiar with a different type of brand. The branding iron provided a way for ranchers to stake their claim on cattle and other livestock while deterring theft from rustlers. The earliest records of livestock branding date back to the ancient Egyptians, but the practice came to America by way of European travelers.

After they became more widely used by ranches, custom branding irons were made to differentiate one ranch’s herd from another. Variations of brands like crazy, lazy, flying, running and walking soon populated the West to ensure that a ranch’s insignia stood out. Besides the traditional hot branding, other methods include electric brands, which uses an electric heating element, and freeze branding, which uses dry ice or liquid nitrogen to chill the iron.

Today the branding iron’s use can be seen as a wood burning tool, custom branding steak or barbecue, and marking livestock in the same tradition that has been practiced for thousands of years.

~ Source “National Cowboy Museum”

www.natioalcowboymuseum.org

~ Photo at left courtesy of the National Cowboy Museum website.

The use of brands as a mark of identification dates back some 4,000 years. Inscriptions on the walls of ancient Egyptian tombs indicate that cattle were branded as early as 2000 B.C. The American custom of cattle branding was adopted from Mexico. The large Mexican cattle ranches marked their herds with their family coat-of-arms and, as the cattle industry moved northward into Texas, this method of indicating ownership gradually became accepted by American ranchers. Today there are hundreds of thousands of cattle brands registered in the United States. When a rancher decides upon the type of brand he wants to use, the legal procedure is to register his mark.

Brand History and Info Reading Brands: Brands are read from left to right, from the top down, or from ouside inside. A definite method of identifying characters has been established.

* If a letter or symbol is made backwards from its normal position, it’s read as a “reverse F” or whatever other letter it might be. * A letter partially over on its face or back is said to be “tumbling.” “Tumbling E” * If a letter lies horizontally on its face or back, it is called “lazy.” Lazy P Letters with a curving flare at the top and rounded angles are called “running.” “Running N” – Adding a dash to the left and one to the right at the top, you have a “flying” letter. “Flying V” – Add legs and it becomes a “walking” letter. “Walking T” A letter placed so that the bottom touches the inside of a curve is said to be “rocking.” A “rocking T” Curves not attached to letters are known as “quarter circles” or “half circles,” depending on the arc. Letters or symbols formed together are called “connected,” “Connected HE” except when one is below the other, then the lower symbol is said to be “swinging.” In registering brands, owners sometimes omit the “connected” or “swinging” Thus, “Diamond J” might be read simply Diamond J rather than Diamond Swinging J. Besides the traditional letter and figure brands, there are some marks known as “character brands.” For instance, this “Turtle” is read as the turtle brand. Other common picture brands are the pitchfork and the key. The reading of picture brands depends upon the owner’s interpretation, and it takes an expert to identify some of the more complex brands.

Below are descriptions commonly used in brands:

* Bar, a short horizontal line

* Rail, a slightly longer horizontal line

* Three or more rails are called stripes

* Slash, a slanting line

* Box

* Bench

* Cross

* Diamond

* Rafter, half diamond over a letter Photo courtesy of wikimedia - Taken in 1888

* Broken arrow

~ Source “The History of Cattle Brands & How To Read Them

Photo at left: Courtesy of farm5flickr

Photo at right: Orange Co. Archives

Cattle Brands

Courtesy of: Texas State Historical Association written by ~ David Dary

Cattle brands still play an important role in identifying an animal’s owner in Texas cattle ranching. The practice of branding is ancient. Some Egyptian tomb paintings at least 4,000 years old depict scenes of roundups and cattle branding, and biblical evidence suggests that Jacob the herdsman branded his stock.

Burning an identifying mark into the hide of an animal was, until the invention of the tattoo, the only method of marking that lasted the life of the animal. The practice of branding came to the New World with the Spaniards, who brought the first cattle to New Spain. When Hernán Cortés experimented with cattle breeding during the late sixteenth century in the valley of Mexicalzimgo, south of modern Toluca, Mexico, he branded his cattle. His brand, three Latin crosses, may have been the first brand used in the Western Hemisphere. As cattle raising grew, in 1537 the crown ordered the establishment of a stockmen’s organization called Mesta throughout New Spain. Each cattle owner had to have a different brand, and each brand had to be registered in what undoubtedly was the first brand book in the Western Hemisphere, kept at Mexico City. Soon after the Spaniards moved north into Texas and cattle raising developed on a large scale during the middle eighteenth century, the crown ordered the branding of all cattle. The early Spanish brands in Texas were more generally pictographs than letters. The Spaniards chose their brands to represent beautiful sentiments in beautiful ways. Most of the early Spanish brands found in the Bexar and Nacogdoches archives are pictographs made with curlicues and pendants. A cattle raiser would compose his own brand. When his first son acquired cattle, a curlicue or pendant was added to the father’s brand, and as other sons acquired their own cattle, additional curlicues or pendants were added to what became the family brand. Only a few Spanish brands found in the Bexar and Nacogdoches archives are made of letters.

Many early Anglo-American Texas ranchers were unable to interpret the brands used under the Spanish and Mexican regimes. Texans often referred to them as “dog irons” or “quién sabes” (quién sabe? = “who knows?”) since they could not be read. Most of the early brands of Texans, by contrast, were made of initials and could be read with ease. Richard H. Chisholm owned perhaps the first recorded brand, registered in Gonzales County in 1832. During the years of the Republic of Texas, the recording of brands was provided for but not rigidly enforced. The oldest brand records under state government are those found along the Texas coast. Harris County began keeping records in 1836. Stephen F. Austin recorded his initial brand in Brazoria County in 1838, about four years after he began using it. Galveston County records began in 1839, the year Gail Borden, Jr., first recorded his brand, the first one entered in the Galveston County brand book. When Nueces County was organized in 1847, brands were recorded, but the cattle industry in the county was not dignified by having a separate brand-registration book. During the first seven years brand registrations in Nueces County were sandwiched between marriage licenses, sales of slaves, declarations of citizenship, oaths of office, bonds for administration of estates, wills, and construction contracts. Beginning in 1848, Texas provided for recording brands with the county clerk, with the stipulation that an unrecorded brand did not constitute legal evidence of ownership. This provision was modified in 1913 after thefts went unpunished where unrecorded brands were involved. A considerable body of Texas law deals with brands. At one time the office of hide and cattle inspector was an elective county office.

Many western counties did not begin brand registration until the 1870s or 1880s. By then letters, numerals, and even names were popular brands in Texas. Though such brands were easily read, others have to be seen. Among them are the “Hogeye,” “Fishtail,” “Milliron,” “Buzzard on a rail,” “Coon on a rail,” “Saddle Pockets” or “Swinging blocks,” “Quién sabe,” “Grab-all,” and countless others with intriguing names. Representations of such common subjects as an anvil, truck handle, hash knife, door key, bridle bit, spur, pitchfork, old woman, doll baby, broadax, boot, shoe, hat, rocking chair, frying pan, and so on were commonplace.

In branding terminology, a leaning letter or character is “tumbling.” In the horizontal position it is “lazy.” Short curved strokes or wings added at the top make a “Flying T.” The addition of short bars at the bottom of a symbol makes it “walking.” Changing angular lines into curves makes a brand “running.” Half-circles, quarter-circles, and triangles were frequently used in late-nineteenth-century brands.

An open triangle was a “rafter.” If a letter rested in a quarter-circle it was “rocking.” There were “bars,” “stripes,” “rails,” and “slashes” that differed only in length and angle. When a straight line connected characters, a “chain” was made. A picture of a fish marked the cattle owned by Mrs. Fish of Houston. A. Coffin of Port Lavaca used a representation of a coffin with a large A on it. Bud Christmas of Seminole had his XMAS brand, and S. A. Hightower of Breckenridge placed “HI” beside a mushroom-like object.

C. C. Slaughter, who was instrumental in organizing the Texas Cattle Raisers’ Association, established his cattle business on the Trinity River in Freestone County during the 1850s. He became dissatisfied with his location and moved twice, finally locating the Long S Ranch at the headwaters of the Colorado River in 1877. His brand, however, was not recorded until September 1879, when it was subsequently run in Howard, Martin, Dawson, Borden, Cochran, and Hockley counties. Many old-time Texas cattlemen believed that during the latter half of the nineteenth century more cattle were sold in the open markets with Slaughter’s brand than with any other brand in the world. The famous XIT brand of the Capitol Freehold Land and Investment Company, once registered in nine counties, was designed by Ab (Abner P.) Blocker, a well-known traildriver.

No law dictated the exact spot on a cow’s hide for the branding, yet through the years the left side of the animal, especially the hip, became the customary spot. Nowhere in old documents or recollections does anyone say why the left side was chosen, but the recollections of some old-time cowboys suggest that cattle have a peculiar habit of milling more to the left than to the right; hence brands on their left sides would be more visible to cowboys inside the roundup herds. Still other cowboys recalled that cattle were branded on their left hips “because persons read from left to right” and thus read “from the head toward the tail.” As one cowboy added, “A right-handed roper would ride slightly to the left of the animal and could see the brand better if it were on that side.” Regardless of the reason for the position of a brand on an animal, the position was recorded in brand books.

Marks besides brands were used. Some ranchers marked their cattle with a wattle, a mark of ownership made on the neck or the jaw of an animal by pinching up a quantity of skin and cutting it. The skin, however, is not cut entirely off, and when the cut is healed, a hanging flap is left. Wattles, however, were not as common as earmarks, which were used by nearly every cattleman during the open-range days and were recorded along with brands. As the name suggests, an earmark was a design cut into one or both ears of an animal. Sometimes a portion of the ear might be removed. A semicircular nick was an “underbit” or “overbit.” A square clip at the tip of roughly half of the ear was a “crop,” while cutting the ear close to the head was a “grub.” A V-shaped cut in the tip of the ear was a “swallow-fork.” The same mark on both ears

became known as a “flickerbob.” A “double over-bit” was the mark made by cutting two triangular pieces in the upper part of the animal’s ear. One of the better-known earmarks in Texas was the “jinglebob,” a deep slit that left the lower half of the ear flapping down. Many cattlemen considered it one of the most hideous earmarks ever devised. It was the mark of John S. Chisum, whose great ranch lay in West Texas and southeastern New Mexico.

By the 1940s numerous brands that were no longer in use had been registered in county records. On April 14, 1943, the Texas legislature passed a bill designed to deregister many of the unused brands. The bill included a grace period until October 1, 1945, giving cattlemen the opportunity to reregister their brands. Among the oldest continual brands is the Running W of the King Ranch, which was originated by Richard King in 1869 and reregistered in 1943. See also RANCHING, RANCHING IN SPANISH TEXAS. BIBLIOGRAPHY: Oren Arnold and John P. Hale, Hot Irons, Heraldry of the Range (New York: Macmillan, 1940). David Dary, Cowboy Culture: A Saga of Five Centuries (New York: Knopf, 1981). Gus L. Ford, ed., Texas Cattle Brands (Dallas: Cockrell, 1936). Wayne Gard, Cattle Brands of Texas (Dallas: First National Bank, 1956).

J. Evetts Haley, The Heraldry of the Range: Some Southwestern Brands (Canyon, Texas: Panhandle-Plains Historical Society, 1949). J. Evetts Haley, The XIT Ranch of Texas and the Early Days of the Llano Estacado (Chicago: Lakeside, 1929; rpts., Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1953, 1967). Hortense Warner Ward, Cattle Brands and Cow Hides (Dallas: Story Book Press, 1953). Manfred R. Wolfenstine, The Manual of Brands and Marks (Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1970).

2020 ITLA Championship Show NO QUALIFYING FEES THIS YEAR !

Due to the current situation with COVID-19 and the cancelation of some ITLA qualifying shows, the ITLA is proud to announce there are NO extra fees for a non-qualified animal.

All 2020 Champ Show entry fees are only

$50

* Youth, non-halter, and open halter are only $50 each for every entry. ~ No qualifying fees for 2020 ~

ITLA Members !

2020 Championship Show & Convention Schedule

Wednesday October 7th, 2020

9:00 am - 6:00 pm Arrival & Check-In

Thursday October 8th, 2020

8:00 1:00 3:00 4:30 6:00

am Non-Halter Show ( United Ag & Turf Show barn ) pm Seminars ( Exposition Hall ) pm Affiliate Presidents Meeting ( Exposition Hall ) pm Board of Directors Meeting ( ITLA Headquarters ) pm 30th Anniversary Social ( ITLA Headquarters )

Friday October 9th, 2020

8:00 am Halter Show ( Wrangler Main Arena ) 5:00 pm Elite Heifer Sale ( United Ag & Turf Show Barn ) Dinner will be served during the sale & futurity 6:00 pm Championship Longhorn Futurity ( United Ag & Turf Barn )

Saturday October 10th, 2020

8:00 am Youth Show ( Wrangler Main Arena ) 3:00 pm General Membership Meeting ( Exposition Hall ) Followed By: Board of Directors Meeting ( Exposition Hall ) 6:00 pm Social & ITLA Queen Contest Fashion Show ( Exposition Hall ) 7:00 pm Awards Banquet ( Exposition Hall )

Sunday October 11th, 2020

All Cattle Out Of Barns Before Noon

Miss ITLA Queen Contest

Held in Glen Rose, Texas, during the Championship Show Oct 7th - 10th, 2020 * Email staff@itla.com for an application * Entry deadline is September 15th, 2020

2019 Miss ITLA Youth Queen Adalyn Hamilton Weatherford, Texas

2019 Miss ITLA Youth Princess Jade Wiggins Honey Brook, PA.

Email staff@itla.com for forms and details

2020 Championship Show Judges Championship Show Youth Judge - John Oliver John Oliver has been married to his wife, Brenda, for 36 years, they have 3 grown sons, and 5 granddaughters. The Oliver Family has been raising Texas Longhorns since 2004. God has blessed them with numerous champion show titles over the years. John has judged several shows including the: Texas Longhorn Australia National Show, Denver National Stock Show, Houston Livestock Show, Montgomery County Fair in Gaithersburg, MD, West Texas Fair & Rodeo, San Angelo Stock Show & Rodeo, as well as many others.

Championship Show Halter Judge - Lana Hightower Texas Longhorn Evaluation Experience: Judges Shows in Texas, Iowa, Colorado, Maryland, Oregon, Oklahoma, Washington, California, Nebraska, New Mexico, Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Autobahn Youth Tour, Millennium Futurity, Winchester Futurity, Texas Gold Futurity, and world show trophy steer divisions. Attended 3 ITLA judging clinics and was a presenter for the worldwide ITLA webinar, also an ITLA approved and certified judge. Major Beef Cattle Show Judging Assignments: Denver National Western (2), State Fair of Texas (2), Oregon State Fair (2), Austin Star of Texas (2), Washington State Fair, New Mexico State Fair (2), Houston Livestock Show & Rodeo (2), San Antonio Livestock Show (2), West Texas Livestock Show, Fort Worth Stock Show (2), North Montgomery County Fair (2), Heart of Texas Fair & Rodeo (2), San Angelo Stock Show, Louisiana State Fair, Nebraska State Fair, Keystone International Livestock Expo, York PA Fair, HOTLLA Hamilton Show, Colorado State Fair, ITLA Championship Shows (3), World Show (3) Texas Longhorn divisions. Born and raised in Iowa on a beef and dairy farm and have been involved with the cattle industry all my life. Dr. Gene and I began raising Texas Longhorns in 1994.

I always count it a privilege and honor when I am asked to evaluate Texas Longhorns in the show ring or in someone’s pasture. I always look for the traits that make up the “complete package” animal that will ensure its success in reproduction for the Texas Longhorn industry. These cattle are a unique beef breed with added value in their horns, color, and longevity. I want an individual to be structurally correct and balanced from front to back with the ability to move freely.

Championship Show Non-Halter Judge - Mike Tomey Thank you for the opportunity to be your judge at the 30th Anniversary ITLA Championship Show. Jamie & I have 6 children, 4 grandchildren and live in Bedford, IN. We raise registered Texas longhorns and corn, soybeans, and wheat. We have been raising longhorns for 29 years.

We run about 150 pair and crop about 3,000 acres with help from our children, Matthew, Courtney, and Michael that work on the farm.

I was the president of the International Texas Longhorn Association for 2 years. When we look at longhorns, we like conformation, body, horns, disposition, and color.

L.V. Baker, Jr.

July 20, 1928 - July 20, 2020 L. V. Baker, Jr., 92, of Elk City, Oklahoma was born to L. V. Baker and Hazell Siglin Baker on July 20, 1928 in Elk City, Oklahoma. He passed away on July 20, 2020 at Elkwood Memory Care in Elk City, Oklahoma with his loved ones by his side.

He graduated from Elk City High School and received a B. S. and an M. D. from the University of Oklahoma and served his surgical residency at Parkland Hospital in Dallas.

In college he was active in campus life, including Beta Theta Pi fraternity and playing clarinet in “The Pride of Oklahoma.” He began his career as a general practice physician and surgeon in Elk City and over the years delivered well over 3000 babies. He served as Chief of Staff of the local hospital during construction of what is now Great Plains Regional Medical Center. L. V. and Pat Kelley met in Elk City where both were living and working, and married July 13, 1960. As a member of the Elk City United Methodist Church, he served on many boards and sang in the choir for many years.

He was a charter member of the Elk City Arts Council, serving as President twice and helped establish the Elk City Red Carpet Theatre, serving as its first President and was a founding member of the Oklahoma Community Theater Association. He was appointed by two governors to serve terms on the Oklahoma Arts and Humanities Council.

He and his wife Pat helped create the museum complex in Elk City, soliciting grants and donations and collecting artifacts and exhibits. They were charter members of the Western Oklahoma Historical Society and were inducted into its Hall of Fame in 1979. L. V. and Pat received the Distinguished Service Award by the Oklahoma Heritage Association in 1977 and again in 2000, and in 2016 they were honored by the Oklahoma Historical Society with induction into the Oklahoma Historians Hall of Fame.

He served for ten years on the Elk City Board of Education, including as President promoting the bond election that made it possible to build a Fine Arts building and was also active in the Chamber of Commerce. He and Pat began raising Texas Longhorns and developed a great attachment to their cattle and their ranches. They began this journey in 1971 with the purchase of five head from the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, acquired their ranch in 1972, established the Safari B brand of Texas Longhorn cattle, and over the course of now five decades have raised over 3700 head.

Additionally, they raised several species of exotic animals, including zebra, giraffe, rhea, impala, oryx and blackbuck antelope, mouflon and aoudad sheep, and fallow and sika deer. Many became dear pets, including Yoda, a bottle-fed giraffe, Tarzan the zebra, Jane, a sika deer, and Grandma, the lead aoudad.

L. V.’s contributions to the Texas Longhorn breed spanned several decades. He served as national president, was a highly sought-after show judge, served as a mentor to numerous youth and adults, and was a breeder and owner of numerous champion cattle. L. V. loved his family dearly. His children, grandchildren, and great grandchildren brought him great joy and he loved to play with them, travel with them and be in the middle of whatever they were doing.

Memorial Services will be held Saturday, July 25, 2020 at 2:00 p.m. at the First United Methodist Church, Elk City, Oklahoma. Rev. Scott Rodgers will officiate. The family would like to extend the opportunity to those that cannot attend to view the service live on the Facebook page of Martin-Dugger Funeral Home. Services have been entrusted to the care of Richard and Tammy Dugger and the staff of Martin-Dugger Funeral Home in Elk City, Oklahoma. L. V. is survived by his wife Pat; their children Rand Baker and his wife Jeannine, and Karen Baker Renfroe and her husband Bruce; and grandchildren Brandon Baker and his wife Liza, and their children Graham, Clark, and Matthew; Brett Baker and his wife Nicole, and their children Hannah and Holden; Jack Renfroe and his wife Lauren; and Ally Renfroe and her fiancé Justin Lindner. He is preceded in death by his parents, Loren V. and Hazell Siglin Baker.

Memorial contributions may be made to the Elk City Museum Complex, the Elk City United Methodist Church or the OU Foundation designated for Pride of Oklahoma Marching Band in care of Martin-Dugger Funeral Home, P.O. Box 707, Elk City, Oklahoma 73648.

Idaho Longhorn 4H Clubs Are Soaring Submitted by: Shadow Seaman

Garret Guinn came to work at Victory Ranch part-time while in high school, feeding, training, and showing Longhorns in Top of the West TLA. He soon applied for his own business loan and purchased a Longhorn bull which he decided to try showing in FFA against the regular beef exhibitors. He was shunned by the judge and other exhibitors which made his first and last year with Longhorn FFA. A few years later Cody Campbell started training cattle for Victory Ranch with the help of his wife Koryl and children Gage, Treygan, and Kynizon. Cody has done a fabulous job training our current show stopping 9 year old steer Buckshot. Beau Schenkel started feeding and working at the ranch and loved showing Longhorns at the Fair. After all the kids showing in the Youth and Open ITLA Shows for several years, Beau and his Mom “Jenny� said we needed to try starting a club again. The local 4H office was contacted four years ago about starting a club with the Longhorns. After many discussions, they were willing to do a trial run to see if we could make it work with no problems; since Longhorns are thought to be so intimidating.

Cody and Koryl became the Leaders of the Happy Horned Critters 4H Club with 6 members at the Twin Falls County Fair. The stands were packed and many spectators were from other counties around Southern Idaho to see this new phenomenon of showing Longhorns in 4H. The office told us we had the 4th 4H Longhorn Club in the USA. We had many conversations about how to start clubs in other Idaho Counties immediately following the show.

With the grand success of the first year and having huge newspaper and television news coverage, everyone was very happy and 4H said the club was here to stay with their full support. The second year the Club grew to 10 members and coordinated with one FFA member exhibiting in the same show. This is the third year and membership has risen to 16 in the Happy Horned Critters plus 5 FFA exhibitors. And with the rapid growth, a second Club has added Longhorns with 3 members; High Hopes 4H Club with Parker Bennett being their Leader.

Parker won the Longhorn Showmanship her first year showing in Happy Horned Critters and later that day won the Round Robin Showmanship for the Twin Falls County Fair. She has graduated High School and is working as a Veterinarian Tech Assistant but her heart is in 4H and became a leader.

Some of the members have purchased their own cattle from ranches all over the country to exhibit, but many have leased, at no charge, from Victory Ranch giving them a project forming a mutual benefit of low cost, hard work, and working cattle for the ranch. At the Fair immediately following the 4H show, most exhibit the same cattle in the ITLA Affiliate Show.

Last year Top of the West TLA Longhorns with the added 4H Cattle completely filled one barn and overflow of 23 animals in the next barn. 4H has given our group a huge boost and we encourage everyone to add a club in their area of the country.

With the concerns this year of the Covid Virus, The Twin Falls County Fair has cancelled the Open Shows to make room for the 4H and FFA to be able to spread out. So Top of the West TLA will not be having our regular Show for the first time since 1999. But we wish the Best to all of our youth being able to still show their projects after all their hard work.

For more information on ITLA Youth programs, contact Cori at staff@itla.com

Thank You To Our Current 2020 Championship Show Youth T-Shirt Sponsors * Circle B Longhorns * Live Oak Ranch * The Longhorn Project * Oak Hill Longhorns * Rafter M Ranch * Twisted Cowgirl Longhorns * Twisted Hook Ranch * Leah Grove * ShowMe Longhorns * Lonesome Pines Ranch * KD Bar Cattle Co. * Briarwood Longhorns * Grove Cattle Co. * Cross W Ranch * Larry & Heatherly Smith, II * AK Ranch * Copperhead Farms * Whistling Longhorn Ranch If you would like to get your brand on the youth t-shirt email staff@itla.com for a sponsor form, only $25 !

Deadline is quickly approaching.

New ITLA Youth Scholarship Program Qualifications to apply for the ITLA Youth Scholarship: •

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Be a graduating high-school senior or college freshman that is still a qualified ITLA youth member.

Must have attended at least one ITLA affiliate show.

Must have attended at least one ITLA Championship show.

Must be an ITLA youth member for at least 1 year by the 2020 Championship Show.

If chosen, you must attend the 2020 Championship show and the awards banquet for the presentation.

Application deadline is post marked by August 14th, 2020.

If you would like to donate towards the 2020 ITLA Youth Scholarship program please email staff@itla.com , applications and details can be found at www.itla.com under the “youth” tab.

Thank you for your support !

Longhorn DROVER Making Advertising Affordable For All FULL PAGE COLOR AD $200 – One Time $150 – Per Month For 6 Months HALF PAGE COLOR AD $100 – One Time $75 – Per Month For 6 Months QUARTER PAGE COLOR AD $75 – One Time $55 – Per Month For 6 Months BUSINESS CARD SIZE $120 – For 1 Full Year All ads are in full color and must be received placement ready by the 15th of the preceding month