December 2021 Longhorn Drover

Have yourself a merry little Christmas Let your heart be light From now on our troubles will be out of sight Have yourself a merry little Christmas Make the Yule-tide gay From now on your troubles will be miles away

Members & Friends

Agriculture, in general, has seen some tough times. Forecasts say it is not going to get better anytime soon. The cost of fertilizer has incresed over 100% from November 2020 to November 2021, and agricultural fuel is 113% higher today than it was 4 years ago.

We could go on, but the end result is that prices are expected to continue rising at the grocery store. So, now may be the time to fill your freezer with Longhorn meat. Not only will you have a steady supply of healthy beef that you know where it came from, you will not have to fight the masses for overpriced grocery beef.

In a recent Baxter Black column, he stated that a poll showed 80% of Americans believe in God. I believe that number to be even higher in agriculture, and especially higher in the Longhorn world. No one knows exactly what the future holds, but during this Christmas season we have the opportunity to celebrate the birth of Jesus and to renew our faith that God is with us no matter what comes our way.

Along with our faith, it is also good that we have surrounded ourselves with the Longhorn breed that knows how to survive.

Merry Christmas. Let’s all have a Happy New Year.

Dear members and friends,

As 2021 ends, I think we can all agree is has been a year of many challenges. While our country is struggling with issues that have caused a great divide among Americans, I am hopeful this does not become accepted as the new normal. For some of our membership, their involvement in the longhorn industry is their full time occupation that sustains their family.

The larger part of the ITLA is a group that found great pride and satisfaction in even the smallest of herds. All of us will agree that our passion for longhorn cattle has been the common link that brought us all together. This year, we have even seen breeders from outside our country express a vested interest in joining our efforts to promote longhorn cattle through the ITLA.

Now, more than ever I think it is crucial that we all give the very best of ourselves in our diverse endeavors with our association. We have so many talented and devoted members that are contributing to the appeal ITLA has had recently. The desire to pull together and capitalize on our diversity was a founding principle for this organization back in the very beginning. In the upcoming New Year, I hope that we will concentrate on the individual talents each person has to offer and stay clear of any polarizing interactions that serve no positive purpose.

The outside world often feels outside of our control. Let’s step into the new year with integrity, fairness, and the desire to support all positive ideas to grow the industry we are the stewards of.

Wishing you all a safe and happy holiday season!

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

Ren’O DOB: 7/16/2013 Over Kill x Reneger

WI Rainy Day Woman DOB: 4/12/2013 Drag Iron x ZD Delta Texas Cash

Queen Tuttess DOB: 4/11/2007 Top Caliber x Jewel of The Nile

www.wilonghornsandleather.com

Dear Members of the Association, Board Members and Friends.

I would like to take this moment to wish you all the very best holiday season and safe journeys in the trying times we find ourselves in today.

The future is bright for all but if you asked me that 6 months ago I may not have agreed.

I am taking this moment to inform you all that with a lot of bittersweet feelings I will be departing the International Texas Longhorn Association to join my husband in Houston where he was hired November 1st as Department Head of Buildings, Grounds and Daily operations of the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo.

This is a year-round position in which he will also be directing the building of a new state of the art complex for HLSR to be utilized year round in addition to the Rodeo at NRG. As you can imagine this is bigger than both of us! I am so proud of him though as he has landed in his roll after all this time. (Some of you may know he was the director of the Somervell County Expo until COVID, that is what brought us to Texas).

I have learned so much about a breed I have adored from afar for so long, I have laughed with a lot of you and shed a tear or two over losses of your beloved breed. Much like Rodeo which is where my husband and I came from in Washington, Longhorn breeders and owners and “Cow People” are family.

I have truly enjoyed supporting you all and will be training new staff over the next several weeks and assure you I leave you in good hands.

I will still be around the barn and will keep in touch as much as possible, if ever in Houston you must look us up! Letting go of the camaraderie and friendships formed is the hardest of all!

Sincerely, and most importantly, respectfully, Lori Abbott

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays!

We hope you enjoy all this season has to offer. Read on to learn how our Youth members celebrate.

As we move into the winter months, we know many of you will be taking some time off from showing cattle. Here in Texas, the show season never ends. We have a new show taking place on January 7-9 in Tyler, TX. The ITLA Youth Winter Warmup, hosted by the Smasjtrla family, is going to be lots of fun!

Our NETLA youth are raising money with a bull and steer raffle.

Contact Jade Wiggins for more information.

We need your ideas and feedback! We invite you to apply for the Youth Advisory Panel. You will be providing your ideas and gathering feedback from other Youth members, to help us make the ITLA Youth activities even better. To apply, send an email to CTAlonghorn@gmail.com. Include your name, age, where you live, and a short paragraph explaining why you want to represent the ITLA Youth. Please send your email before January 1st.

Curtis & Tonya Abel

“My favorite activity is simply spending time with family. Going off to college has made me realize just how valuable those moments spent cooking meals, decorating cookies, and wrapping gifts are. Those moments are what I look forward to most this year as I head back home for Winter Break!” - Hailey Mann

“I love making holiday sweets and gingerbread houses! Always fun making food for the “reindeer” too. We can’t forget seeing your loved ones, love seeing my brothers Lane and Cole and friends.” - Cassidy Huntzberry

“Making bake goods, having time with the family and helping neighbors to remember snow.” - Adriana Norris “REST! We love rest!” - Smasjtrla family “Unwrapping presents, decorating cookies for Santa and watching Christmas movies.” - Karri Shayne Wilhite “My favorite holiday activity is definitely cooking Christmas breakfast! Or decorating the house Christmas-y! We make a breakfast casserole and homemade hot chocolate too! I’m also in our towns Christmas parade a lot and I really enjoy that.” - Morgan Riffe

“My favorite holiday activity is Secret Santa !! I love giving gifts anonymously. I also love wrapping gift. Best thing my mom taught me when I was young. - Jade Wiggins “I love making cookies and decorating because they are yummy.” Landon Thomas “I love watching Hallmark movies and trying to guess how they will end” (insert sarcasm) - Chapel James “I love going to the Christmas restaurant and looking at lights afterwards.” - Melissa Elizabeth “I love to send time with my family.” - Sophia Stoudt

Merry Christmas from Switzerland!

Photo Credits Susanne Sommer & Juerg Keller Switzerland

Christmas Cookie of the Month!

- Hailey Mann

Soft-Baked White Chocolate Cranberry Cookies You’ll love these white chocolate chip cranberry cookies because they’re soft-baked, wonderfully chewy, have extra vanilla, plus they combine sweet white chocolate morsels with tart dried cranberries. Set aside 1 hour to chill the dough in the refrigerator before baking.

Ingredients 3/4 cup (1.5 sticks to 170g) unsalted butter, softened to room temperature 3/4 cup (150g) packed light or dark brown sugar (I use dark) 1/4 cup (50g) granulated sugar 1 large egg, at room temperature 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract 2 cups (250g) all-purpose flour (spoon & leveled) 2 teaspoons cornstarch (cornflour) 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 3/4 cup (135g) white chocolate chips, plus a few extra for garnish 1 cup (140g) dried cranberries, plus a few extra for garnish

Instructions In a large bowl using a hand-held mixer or stand mixer with paddle attachment, beat the butter, brown sugar, and granulated sugar together on medium speed until combined and creamy, about 2 minutes. Beat in the egg and vanilla. Scrape down the sides and bottom of the bowl and beat again as needed to combine.

In a separate bowl, whisk the flour, cornstarch, baking soda and salt together. On low speed, slowly mix into the wet ingredients until combined.

The cookie dough will be soft and thick. Add the white chocolate chips and dried cranberries and beat on low speed until combined. Cover dough tightly and chill in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour and up to 3-4 days.

Chilling is imperative to prevent the cookies from over-spreading.

Remove cookie dough from the refrigerator. If the cookie dough chilled longer than 3-4 hours, let it sit at room temperature for about 30 minutes.

This makes the firm cookie dough easier to scoop and roll.

Preheat oven to 350°F (177°C). Line large baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.

As the oven preheats, scoop and roll dough, about 1.5 Tablespoons of dough each, into balls. The dough may be slightly crumbly, but will come together as you work it with your hands. Arrange dough balls 3 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets.

Bake for 11-12 minutes or until lightly browned around the edges. The centers will still look soft. If cookies didn’t spread much, lightly bang the the baking sheets on the counter a couple times while the cookies are still warm. They’ll stretch and deflate.

Allow cookies to cool on the baking sheet for 5 minutes. During this time, press extra white chocolate chips and dried cranberries into the warm tops. This is optional and only for looks. After 5 minutes, transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Cookies stay fresh covered at room temperature for up to 1 week.

Happy Holidays y’all! Wishing everyone a blessed holiday season and looking forward to plenty of snow covered cattle pictures!!

I’d like to thank all of the members for their continued support in the ITLA youth program and am excited for the growth that is soon to come.

Danalee Abel, Alissa Butler, and myself are continuing to attend jackpot shows to advocate for the ITLA and it has been an absolute blast working with these young ladies.

Over this holiday season keep an eye out (youth members especially) for some exciting new things happening in the ITLA. I’d also like to mention the first ever ITLA Youth Winter Warm-Up. Join us out in Tyler Texas for a fun weekend showing off these amazing cattle or drop by to see some of the best showmen in town!

Though show season is not in full swing during these winter months it is important to keep morale up and of course practice makes perfect! I am very excited for all of the new and upcoming plans for the ITLA and hope to see everyone at the show.

Your ITLA Queen, Aleena Elliot

It is our hope that you had a blessed and Happy

Thanksgiving.This time of year is set aside for

giving and love. Danalee,our Little Miss, and I

spent time stuffing stockings for our local Child

Advocacy Center (CASA). We learned that there

are hundreds of kids needing someone to reach out to them. Any small gesture of caring goes a long way,I,myself, was once one of them. I was a lucky one. I was adopted into a loving family. In this time of giving and love, I pray that each of you remembers that the reason we celebrate this season is the love that God showed in giving us the greatest gift of all. It is my prayer that each of us find a way to share that gift to others.

I wish everyone of you a very Merry Christmas.

Sincerely,Your ITLA Princess Alissa Butler

I am getting excited for Santa to come to my house. I asked him for a NERF gun so I can battle with my brother. I am also excited to visit my family in Florida. Right before Thanksgiving, Alissa and I went to CASA and helped stuff stockings for kids in foster care. I hope to see you at the ITLA Winter Warmup. I am working to have all my cows ready.

Have a Merry Christmas!

L to R - Tracy Mastri (makes great lasagna), Feral Fred, Professor David Richardson, Savanna Schar, Robert Mastri, Tim Mills, Carice Jameson, Pres. Jeff Morris, Kirk Dickinson, Linda Callan, and Ed Callan.

The Ohio River Valley Texas Longhorn Assn, held the Fall meeting of the (brain trust) Nov 20 with the kind hosting of Tracy and Robert Mastri, Granville, Ohio. The Mastri Texas Longhorn ranch is located up on a high Ohio hill overlooking a beautiful valley with stunning Texas Longhorns filling the green Ohio pastures. An awesome view.

Plans were discussed for the 2022 ORVTLA show at Wooster, Ohio on July 16.

Savannah Schar (Farm National Bank teller) is in charge of the show. Plans are to direct total emphasis on a great show at the perfect time of year when cattle have had enough time to get fat and slick from the winter.

For two years ORVTLA hosted the Buckeye Futurity. After careful evaluation the futurity will not be a part of the 2022 event. The futurity did not have ITLA points, the cost was extensive with “weapon awards”, the futurity required more work locating sponsors, there was no youth involvement, no educational reasons for placings, and more cost for judges. Considered the total effort required it was the financial hard part for ORVTLA. Robert Mastri and Ed Callan were reelected as directors for a 3 year term.

The next meeting of ORVTLA will be February 19, 2022.

To join ORVTLA send $25 to Sec, Linda Callan, 7688 Marion Rd, Newark, Ohio 43055. Or, a lifetime membership is only $200.

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