The Drover October 2026
it will be fun they said longhorns & all they provide The row by the fence
ISSUE 85
it will be fun they said
25.
longhorns & all they provide
24.
the row by the fence
11.
05. A LETTER FROM PRESIDENT BRAD WESTMORELAND 0 7. B E E F P R O D U C E R S L I S T
15 . THE LADY FINDS HER WAY
08. HEADQUARTER ROUNDUP
1 7. A L E T T E R F R O M I T L A Q U E E N ALISSA BUTLER
11. THE ART OF THE BREEDER 10. BOARD OF DIRECTORS 11. IT WILL BE FUN THEY SAID
19. A LETTER FROM ITLA PRINCESS ALLISON MINER 21. A LETTER FROM ITLA LIL MISS MACEN ROGERS 24. THE ROW BY THE FENCE
International Texas Longhorn Association PO Box 2610 Glen Rose, Texas 76043 254-898-0157
25. LONGHORNS & ALL THEY PROVIDE
To Our Wonderful 2026 Sponsors! casey ranch longhorns
freeman ranch
Oliver Longhorns
eichhorn custom design
zimmerer kubota
victory ranch longhorns
vida nueva ranch
tiburon oil & gas partners, llc
skybox cabins
john dvorak
mt. Pleasant ranch
preifert panels
lovejoy longhorns
double ought longhorns
snuff ridge herman ranch
quickfish custom apparel & promoations co.
best of the trails texas longhorn association
la hacienda trod
gang of 5 longhorns
white stone ranch
deuce ranch
diamond b cattle
hidden gems ranch
joel dickinson
cow patty customs
savannah belle farms
rustic sunset ranch
silverado ranch
kroeker texas longhorns
tomey farms
prairie palace farm
avery buffington
circle a longhorns
timberline longhorns
fossil rim wildlife center
cross wrench ranch
2m miniature longhorns
hoof ‘n it solutions
p & c cattle chutes
kenzie woycheshin
shooting star ranch
bull & barrel longhorns
the city of glen rose
cutn dried
71
1/2
“ M ONTHS
AT24
flair child
cowboy tuff chex
sweet jubilee
breeding excellence
Tomey Farms
For cows bred to or calves by these great bulls call
MIKE & JAMIE TOMEY
drop box
clear yea!
812-583-4622 since 1992 2418 Jasper Mckeaigg Rd. Bedford,IN
A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT P R E S I D E N T
214- 287-2303
B R A D
W E S T M O R E L A N D
brad@westmorelandlawfirm.com
www.gangof5longhorns.com
Western Women Make the World Go ‘Round At a gospel meeting that I attended last night, the preacher commented that without women doing work in our churches, there would likely be no churches. He’s right. Similarly, without our hard working and dedicated women in the ITLA there wouldn’t be an ITLA today. In next month’s issue of the Drover we will be highlighting our recent Int’l Championship Show and Convention. But in this month’s letter, I want to highlight just a few of the very many ITLA women who have recently shone like stars in Glen Rose. I could easily fill an entire Drover were I to address them all sufficiently. For the sake of un-biased-ness, I will not detail the three women in my family (Anne, Evie, and Andelyn: who are always at the top of my list). First, Meagan Minchew. Meagan has served as our Youth Committee Chairperson as long as I’ve been President. During her tenure, we have seen our Youth group grow from a few participants with nothing much to do, to a thriving group of outstanding young people excited about the increasing opportunities before them. We have a Youth Board of which to be proud. And the awards that have been presented to our Youth at the Int’l Championship Show/Convention under Meagan’s tenure (which she has selected) have been worthy of the competition. Meagan has been present at more Youth shows than I can keep track of, encouraging our Youth all the way. In short, Meagan is a rosckstar, pure and simple. She’s also a pretty decent cornhole partner, in a pinch. I hope that you will take the time to thank her for the hard work she has invested in our Youth. If you haven’t heard, she has handed over some of the reins to our newest Youth Committee Chairperson – the very capable Andie-Ray StilwellWilson – whom I am confident will build on the great foundation that Meagan has laid for our Youth program. Let’s give Andie-Ray our full support as she takes on this labor of love for our Youth. Second, Ren Wood. Some of you had the chance to meet Ren (our Office employee) at the Int’l Championship Show/Convention when it was evident that she was not feeling well. But I ask you: have you ever seen someone dedicated enough to come to an ITLA event when simply walking brings tears to their eyes? I haven’t: it was one of the bravest things I’ve seen. When I encouraged her to stay home and feel better, Ren repeatedly told me there was no way she was going to let me, the Board, or our members down by missing the Show. That’s loyalty, folks. That’s dedication. And that amazing ribbon cutting event? That was all Ren’s doing. Ren is feeling great now; and I am VERY pleased to say that she has been promoted to be the Head of our Headquarters. She’s absolutely earned it; and we can all expect great things from the Office going forward. D R O V E R
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Finally, a long but incomplete list. “Incomplete” because I know I will leave someone off. If I do, it is no reflection on you – oh hard working ITLA woman – it’s only because : (1) half of the recent Show/Convention is still a blur to me; and (2) I know I saw only a portion of the work that was being done behind the scenes. I’ll start with Brenda Oliver (who selflessly did more to make sure that the Show went forward than you’ll ever know); Tory Frazier (served us all great meals, greeted us warmly from the outset, did lots of office work as well); Heatherly Smith (once again showed our young ladies what it means to be a Queen); Cookie McKee (not only a faithful and generous sponsor along with her business partner Ben Herman, but also knows how to make a lost and confused little child feel safe – thank you, Cookie: you were a life saver that night); Angela Bivens (recall the cool White Stone Ranch Members’ Choice Awards? All her idea, and a great one it was. She and Darrell do so much more behind the scenes); Bonnie Seaman (that table where all the little kids had a blast so their parents could enjoy the Show? – thank Bonnie and Shadow for that. And was there ever a more professional Show secretary than Bonnie?); Lizz Fosheim (Lizz made sure that every person who showed or owned halter cattle understood her reasonings, and we should expect no less at our biggest Show of the year...just a stellar job of judging); Rebecca Scott and Sarah Frank (the dynamic announcing duo. I could say a lot more about my friend Sarah Frank, but I embarrassed her enough at Glen Rose – she tells me); Raelynn Stephens (she helped us have a fantastic Open House, and she broke and brought a ton of great cattle as well. I hope I have half her energy when I hit 29 like she has); Pam Kinsel-Hughes (took the time to attend and comment during our meetings, entertained us during the sale and auction, and promises to be a fine auctioneer one day); Kyle Rogers (the reason why so many cattle entered and exited the Show ring efficiently and timely); Andrea Wilson, the awesome Australian Offord girls, and Cassidy Huntzberry (who all did just fantastic as runners – and it was their very first time, I think!); Lillee, Lucee and Kadee Fletcher, and Charlotte Wilson (all of whom made riding a Texas Longhorn steer while holding a huge flag look as easy as riding a bike); Lana Hightower (who graced us all with what was announced as her “Texas Longhorn royalty” presence and helped form a very solid Futurity judging panel); Starlene Clawson (Star, thank you for holding down the ITLA booth with my girls and with Ren. Your smile brought in a lot of sales, I have no doubt); Sara Burris (who, among other things, helped us all see accurate horn measurements during Call of Horns); Suzanne Moxley (who worked very hard to make sure banquet decor was set up just right); and our entire Queen’s Court: old, new, and repeating (you make us all look good, ladies...thank you for representing us so well). I know I’ve left some off; but hopefully you’ll see my heart’s in the right place and will forgive me if you’re not listed. It doesn’t mean you’re not appreciated. I am grateful for ALL of our ITLA women who quietly, and always consistently, keep this herd moving down the right trail. May God bless all of you, your Gangs, and your cattle.
ITLA President & Parliamentarian General Manager, Gang of 5 Longhorns D R O V E R
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ITLA
BEEF PRODUCERS LIST RAIDER RANCH OWNER: JOHNATHAN AELMORE PHONE: (281)239-5812 email: johnathan.aelmore@yahoo.com
DICKINSON CATTLE CO. LLC PHONE: (740)758-5050 email: information@texaslonghorn.com
CASEY RANCH LONGHORNS O W N E R : T R AV I S C A S E Y PHONE: (719)650-5234 email: tcasey357@yahoo.com
DERBY CITY LONGHORNS OWNER: RICK BUCHANAN P H O N E : ( 5 0 2 ) 3 2 1-1 6 1 9 e m a i l : b u c h a n a n rl j r @ a o l . c o m
LAZY T-BONE CATTLE OWNER: J.A. THOMAS P H O N E : ( 2 0 9 ) 7 6 1-7 7 4 0 email: Jat1997@gmail.com
P L E A S A N T VA L L E Y PA S T U R E S OWNER: GREGG FENICLE & KELSEY STAAB PHONE: (717)682-4501 email: pleasantvalleypastures23@gmail.com
24/7 RANCH OWNER: TYLER & LESLIE LAWS PHONE: (423)823-0369 e m a i l : t yl a w s 2 0 0 9 @ g m a i l . c o m
M A YO R FA M I L Y L O N G H O R N S PHONE: (605)786-5808
ROCKIN’ V RANCH OWNERS: TINA & JEFF VIALARD P H O N E : ( 7 0 2 ) 4 6 1- 9 9 8 4 email: RVRLonghorns@gmail.com
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Headquarters
Ren RenWood Wood
ITLA HEADQUARTERS EVENTS & OPERATIONS MANAGER 254-898-0157 staff@itla.com ren@itla.com
News, notes, and a Little bit of Texas Longhorn love from ITLA Headquarters! Hi, everyone! It’s Ren! First of all, WOW! What an incredible Championship Show & Convention week! This was my very first show, and I absolutely loved it. Getting to meet so many of you in person made my heart smile! You all have some beautiful Texas Longhorns, and it was wonderful seeing the pride and passion you have for this breed and our Association. As your new Head of Headquarters, I couldn’t be more excited to be part of this amazing ITLA family. Thank you for making me feel so welcome and for the kindness and support you’ve shown me. Our members are the heart of this association, and you are the reason we’re here doing what we do! My goal is to serve you and help our association continue to grow, so please don’t hesitate to reach out. My door is always open! And did you hear the news about our ribbon cutting? We broke a record! The Chamber shared that we had the largest ribbon-cutting attendance they’ve ever seen in Glen Rose, Texas! How exciting is that? Ha! I’d say our ITLA family knows how to show up! Looking ahead, Halloween is right around the corner, and we’re already making plans to get the ITLA out in the community. I’ve secured a spot downtown where we’ll set up a table featuring the Dickinson calendars, Longhorn Buddies by Lois McCreary, and other ITLA merchandise. We’ll also be attaching QR Codes to the cow-tail candies we hand out, giving people an easy way to learn more about our association. Through our involovment with the Chamber and its Ambassadors Committee, I’ve been getting out into the community and finding more oppurtunities to put ITLA in the spotlight. My hope is that this increased visibility will open doors to new connections and sponsorship oppurtunities for our July Show! I’m so excited about what we’re building together, and I’m grateful to be part of it. Thank you all again for such a warm welcome and for everything you do to support the ITLA. That’s all from the Roundup at Headquarters! Until next time, y’all! D R O V E R
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ALBERTA TLA
ITLA ITLA
LIST OF AFFILIATES
BEST OF TRAILS TLA
BRAZILIAN TLA
CANADIAN TLA
CODY BAILEY
JOHN DVORAK
Mr. PAULO S Z DEDEMO
PRESIDENT
PRESIDENT
BRETT KOTT PRESIDENT
(780)352-6144
PRESIDENT
paulo@zdalimento.com.br
(620)382-7103
(306)861-1526
codylbailey1122@outlook.com
johndvorak25@gmail.com
ALBERTA, CANADA
SOUTH DAKOTA
BRAZIL
CANADA
CHISHOLM TLA
GREAT LAKES TLA
INDIAN TERRITORY TLA
LONGHORN POSSE
DANIELLE MERSHON
JOSH SHAW
JOSH DINWIDDIE
COOKIE McGEE
PRESIDENT
PRESIDENT
PRESIDENT
(254)630-0053
(616)212-8226
office@ctlalonghorns.com
PRESIDENT
(580)812-2436
plaindirtfarms@gmail.com
danielle@whistlingtxlonghorns.com
(281)451-3013
thewatercrew@att.net
McKINNEY, TEXAS
MICHIGAN
OKLAHOMA
MIDWEST TLA
MOUNTAIN STATES TLA
NORTHEAST TLA
NORTHWEST PREMIER LA
BRAD FIDLER PRESIDENT
CARTER HUNT
JOHN MOXLEY
WILLIAM DAVID MILLER
PRESIDENT
PRESIDENT
(720)245-1210
(240)446-9950
elkrancher2@gmail.com
(765)720-0913
PRESIDENT
bradley_fidler@yahoo.com
carterjhunt21@gmail.com
crosswrenchranch@msn.com
INDIANA
COLORADO
MARYLAND
IDAHO
OHIO RIVER TLA
OZARK TLA
TLA OF ONTARIO
TOP OF THE WEST TLA
DOUG BURRIS
AMY MAST
CLARENCE DEEKENDS
AMBER SLUDER
PRESIDENT
PRESIDENT
(740)680-5973
(262)720-1510
(519)524-0042 cdekens@tcc.on.ca
mcmurdocvt@aol.com
MISSOURI
CANADA
IDAHO
dougburris45@gmail.com
OHIO
PRESIDENT
D Rle.longhorncc@gmail.com O V E R M A G A Z I N E
D R O V E R
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PRESIDENT
(208)720-5732
Executive Board & Directors
BRAD WESTMORELAND PRESIDENT www.gangof5longhorns.com 214 287-2303
LARRY SMITH DIRECTOR AT LARGE #1 larrypsmith2@yahoo.com 254-396-9185
KEITH BERKLEY
VICE PRESIDENT kblb@frontiernet.net 304-725-4202
crosswrenchranch@msn.com 240-446-9950
LIZZ FOSHEIM
WES OFFORD
DIRECTOR AT LARGE #2 lizzhuntzberry@yahoo.com
DOUG BURRIS REGION 3
brigalowlonghorns@gmail.com
INTERNATIONAL
CRAIG KROEKER REGION 6
victoryranchlonghorns@gmail.com 208-428-2484
7brothersranch@gmail.com
JOHN MOXLEY TREASURER REGION 2
tcasey357@gmail.com 719-650-5234
SHADOW SEAMAN REGION 5
EZRA LONG REGION 8
TRAVIS J CASEY SECRETARY REGION 4
ckroeker5536@gmail.com 620-285-5536
RUSS THOMPSON
REGION 7 russ.thompson13@gmail.com 940-245-1411
JOHN OLIVER REGION 9 joliver210@yahoo.com 972-268-0083
BRETT KOT REGION 10
RUSSELL FREEMAN
brettkot@hotmail.com 1-306-861-1526
russell@thefreemanranch.com 254-396-9185
PAST PRESIDENT
D R O V E R
M A G A Z I N E
dougburris45@gmail.com
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It will Be Fun They Said By: Craig Perez www.itwillbefuntheysaid.Longhorn
101 Uses for Baling Wire Every rancher alive knows the unwritten rule of survival; you are only as good as the leftover baling wire bouncing around in the back of your truck. It’s usually a tangled, uncoiled present left over from winter – a rusted reminder of frozen fingers and broken hay bales that you threw into the bed months ago and forgot about. But to a rancher, that scrap iron is pure gold. It is the agricultural equivalent of duct tape, the temporary fix that holds broken gates together, secures a loose tailpipe, or patches a structural gap just long enough to get the job done. For generations, ranching was defined by that exact brand of localized hands-on grit. You solved the problems in front of you with whatever was rolling around in the bed of the truck. But while breeders were busy fixing gates with rusted scraps, the macroeconomic landscape around them was undergoing a massive, institutional shift. The history of modern commerce is a story of consolidation, survival, and rebirth. A generation ago, the downtown main streets of America were defined by family-owned small businesses. Then came the Big Box revolution. Massive entities built suburban footprints so large, and possessed capital structures so deep, that the small shop owner couldn’t compete on volume or visibility. Main street went dark. Then the wheel turned again. Amazon emerged, weaponizing digital scale to nearly dismantle the very Big Box giants that had crushed small businesses. For a moment, it looked like commerce would belong to a single, monolitic entity. But a funny thing happened on the way to monopoly: the maturity of digital e-commerce infrastructure handed the power back to the nimble operator. Suddenly, a boutique brand on Shopify could access the exact same global audience, utilize the same targeted logistics, and project the same brand authority as Walmart or Amazon – but with the agility, authenticity, and passion that large structures can never replicate. E-commerce didn’t kill small buiness; it saved it by leveling the playing field.
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#GotHorns To understand why digital ranching had to happen, you have to laugh at how we used to operate. For decades, marketing a program was less about data and more about who had the flashiest print ad. It was a world fueled by a very specific kind of localized chaos. The ramifications of that old-school setup were a masterclass in unintentional comedy: @oldtimer: Incredible breeding wisdom and historic photos weren’t in a centralized database; they were stuffed in shoe boxes, written on backs of old feed receipts, or locked inside the vault of the veteran breeder’s memory. If they retired, that entire historic archive essentially went to the grave with them. Rookietax1!: Newcomers didn’t have an open-source to platform study. They had to learn the baseline mechanics of value by surviving a highly guarded insider network – which usually meant buying the wrong animal twice just to figure out what the right one looked like. MySpace@aol.com: Visibility, not hard metrics, drove the market trends. It was the industry equilvalent of fighting for the Top 8 spots on a 2005 profile over a sluggish dial-up connection. The Longhorn guy was left competing on an uneven playing field where perception was bought through expensive ad pages, leaving everyone else trying to engineer real value in the dark while the hype train rolled by.
The First Eight What started with 8 bulls in the Club 70 quickly evolved into a much larger, structural mission. Over the last two decades, that initial footprint of the Gallery of Horns would grow into the largest, most consistently active, and most viewed reference website in the Longhorn industry. The goal was never to elevate a single brand above the rest, but to create a completely impartial, non-biased digital pasture where the history of the breed could live forever. It became an infrastructure designed to give the 50-year veteran a place to anchor their legacy and the newest Longhorn member a digital presence where their cattle can stand side-by-side with any herd in the country.
From Guessing to Gallery The reason the Gallery of Horns became the definitive “North Star” for enthusiasts isn’t because it was flashy, but because it traded folklore for raw proof. We moved the industry away from the era of pure guessing and old-timer hand-waving, anchoring it instead into a living, breathing archive. For over twenty years, I have lived behind the scenes of this data, spending tens of thousands of hours manually verifying, tracking, and validating the performance lines of Registered Texas Longhorns. It wasn’t built to chase fleeting, high-priced market fads. It was built to provide a bluechip analytical tool – a real time blueprint that lets any breeder look back three, four, or five generations to see exactly how a genetic asset performs when the romanticism clears and reality sets in. D R O V E R
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The Digital Migration The transition from the old way of doing business to modern digital ranching didn’t happen overnight; it happend one small, revolutionary step at a time. It is a path almost every modern breeder has walked. It started with trading trips to that little Kodak shack in the parking lot for digital pictures. It moved to getting that first, skeptical invite to Facebook. Then came the true turning point: finding the Gallery of Horns on a Friday evening, only to realize you are still sitting at the desk, completely mesmerized, scrolling through historical lines on Monday morning. Slowly, the friction of the old industry dissolved. We traded carbon-copy triplicate registry forms for online registration. We experienced that distinct jolt of pride seeing our own cattle on our own dedicated website for the very first time. And then the ultimate validation of the new frontier: posting a picture of a newborn calf online and watching it sell five minutes later to a buyer halfway across the country for more money that you’ve ever sold an animal for in your entire life. Over the span of just a few decades, breeders have fundamentally evolved from pocket notebook to phone apps. We didn’t just change the tools; we changed our entire economic trajectory.
The Modern Frontier Digital ranching was never about staring at screens or abandoning the dirt; it was simply about absolute operational liberation. The era where visibility could only be bought by the biggest budgets is over. Today, the tools are quietly distributed, the digital infrastructure can be built by anyone, and every pasture is filled with tall green grass and pretty sunsets – or at least, that is the way it looks online. The market no longer belongs to the deepest pockets; it belongs to whoever has the data, the drive, and the quiet discipline to build a legacy. D R O V E R
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About the Author: Craig Perez is the owner of Arrowhead Cattle Company – the home of the Gallery of Horns. He has over 20 years invested in the love, passion and non-biased promotion of registered Texas Longhorn cattle. Craig is also a former ITLA employee where he served as the Office Manager of the ITLA’s Headquarters in Glen Rose, Texas. He is a Lifetime Member of the ITLA. Look for more of his articles in future issues of the Longhorn Drover.
The Lady Finds Her Way Lorena Dillon
A broken heart that wouldn’t heal Had her pointing her headlights west. Even as she put the truck in drive, it didn’t seem real. She just needed to get away... for a week or two at best. Minutes turned to hours and those became a day, Miles and miles behind her; What would her friends even say? Too late to even wonder... The state line was a welcome sight After the doubts began to creep in She made it to the Lone Star state in the middle of the night And it certainly felt like a win. Her first day of travels led her to a sign: Ranch Tours Ahead, No Appointment Needed Of the west in her dreams, the place looked like a cowboy shrine. If she would’ve known what lay beyond the gate, she may have heeded. A cowboy with a gentle grin helped her up in the saddle; Off they went to see the sights And she felt as though she was riding into battle, Blame it on the sleepless nights. They came atop a small rise The field below was filled to the brim With Longhorn cattle and she couldn’t believe her eyes She was never so glad that she took this tour on a whim. The cowboy watched her closely, which made her uneasy. “You belong here, you know, I have a feeling about these things.” he said. Anyone else, that line would have sounded cheesey... But from the cowboy with no name, it wouldn’t leave her head. She left that day with a plan That she quickly put in motion. She was doing this for herself and had no need of a man. She headed back home to pack up her life and likely hear how this was a silly notion. A few months later, the ranch in Texas found itself with a new lady owner. This ranch was her dream and her wish And though she thought herself now a loner, The cowboy with no name, he stuck around and made plans to make her last name the same as his. D R O V E R
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Alissa Butler 2026 ITLA Queen
I h a d h o p e d t h i s w o u l d b e m y f i n a l a r t i c l e , b u t I a m e x c i t e d t o s h a r e t h a t I w i l l b e s e r v i n g f o r a n o t h e r y e a r ! I a m t r u l y g r a t e f u l f o r t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o c o n t i n u e r e p r e s e n t i n g t h e I T L A a n d l o o k f o r w a r d t o e v e r y t h i n g t h i s y e a r h a s i n s t o r e . I a m e x c i t e d a b o u t t h e p l a n s w e h a v e a h e a d a n d t h e m a n y o p p o r t u n i t i e s w e w i l l h a v e t o p r o m o t e t h e I T L A , s u p p o r t i t s m e m b e r s , a n d c o n t i n u e g r o w i n g t h e o r g a n i z a t i o n . A f u n f a c t a b o u t D a n a l e e a n d m e i s t h a t w e b o t h s e r v e d o n t h e Q u e e n C o u r t d u r i n g t h e 2 0 2 1 – 2 0 2 2 y e a r . W h e n w e w e r e s e l e c t e d , w e i m m e d i a t e l y b e g a n d i s c u s s i n g i d e a s a n d p l a n s f o r h o w w e c o u l d p r o m o t e t h e I T L A a n d m a k e a p o s i t i v e i m p a c t t h r o u g h o u t o u r t i m e s e r v i n g . I t i s e x c i t i n g t o n o w h a v e t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o w o r k t o g e t h e r a g a i n a n d b r i n g t h o s e i d e a s t o l i f e . I l o o k f o r w a r d t o t h e e x p e r i e n c e s , m e m o r i e s , a n d n e w o p p o r t u n i t i e s t h i s y e a r w i l l b r i n g . I k n o w w e h a v e a g r e a t y e a r a h e a d o f u s , a n d I c a n n o t w a i t t o s e e a l l t h a t w e a c c o m p l i s h t o g e t h e r w h i l e c o n t i n u i n g t o r e p r e s e n t a n o r g a n i z a t i o n t h a t m e a n s s o m u c h t o u s ! S i n c e r e l y , I T L A Q u e e n A l i s s a B u t l e r
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Allison Miner 2026 ITLA Princesss
Howdy ITLA! I regret to inform you that this is my last letter in my year as the 2026 Miss ITLA Princess. I had such a fun time being a princess this year and got to meet a lot of great people and do a lot of great things. The Championship Show at Glen Rose this year was a highlight for mehelping to hand out awards and hanging out with other Longhorn breeders. While we were in Texas we took some time to visit the Fort Worth Stockyards and see the Fort Worth herd which is always impressive. I ended this week by having the honor of crowning next year’s Miss ITLA Princess, Miss Danalee Abel. I know she’ll do a great job and I’m looking forward to seeing her reign as princess. It has been a huge honor to be your princess. Till next time ITLA!
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Macen Rogers 2026 ITLA Little Miss
T h i s y e a r a s L i l M i s s I T L A h a s b e e n a g r e a t y e a r. I h a v e b e e n s o e x c i t e d t o s e r v e a n d I ’ m h a p p y f o r t h e n e x t l i t t l e m i s s t o t a k e t h e i r r o l e . T h e c h a m p s h o w w a s a n a b s o l u t e g r e a t t i m e . I l o v e d s h o w i n g , I l o v e d w o r k i n g w i t h t h e o t h e r p r i n c e s s a n d t h e q u e e n a n d I l o v e d a l l t h e t i m e m e e t i n g n e w p e o p l e a n d p a s s i n g o u t a w a r d s a n d j u s t b e i n g a p a r t o f t h e L o n g h o r n c o m m u n i t y t h e r e . I l o o k f o r w a r d t o m a n y m o r e y e a r s h e l p i n g a n d s h o w i n g a n d s e r v i n g i n t h i s c o m m u n i t y a n d I h o p e t o r u n f o r p r i n c e s s i n t h e f u t u r e . T h a n k y o u f o r a l l o w i n g m e t o s e r v e t h i s y e a r. S i n c e r e l y , M a c e n R o g e r s
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Echo Valley DIGITAL DESIGN
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The Row By The Fence BY: LEWIS BRADEN
His mind wanders to the row by the fence Past the gate. A breeze brushes to tense Wispy tares, their waving tails as a whole Surround the struggling sprout by the pole.
Does not the blest Psalmist state Lines greave the farmer's brow in concerned gaze. Near chapter one hundred twenty-eight: A family sits around a table Though he stands in reality in the place-More fruit produced than barns are able! Lectern, table, plates, with Bible between-Midst chalices of the worship scene.
Joyful harvest, olive in full blossom Blessing mother and father, awesome Their effect. Howbeit one empty chair Decries stunted growth in garden share.
He picks up the plate, his mind at the gate Blurred eyes relate the scene in state: "Anon was it watered? Were not sunbeams Bent to its bed? Nights kissed with moongleam? God's mighty hand was not shortened to seed; Providentially brought blessing to need. Was it in planting, the basic natal mean, That the sprout sank in condemning chagrin? Same grace to each, yet differently partake Other seedlings sprang, raced toward the skies Of care and loving, the difference makes. Stock set in nurture, pearls of great price.
Again David's line belays the affection Cradled in wrinkled hand, weren't all the same For no greater home in no greater nation Experienced grief and loss, Solomon raised As the leafless; lifeless by the frame?" He takes up the collection down each row With Absalom-- him slain, his brother praised. But his heavy heart wanders, lost in woe.
Yet gracious God rains on just and unjust Each able to excel as it must. Money stacks as the plattered circuit laps Among green reaping, earned fruit protracts. Reason! As thoughts take him back to the row, Where God plants, a flourish, a bloom ensues Why, 'tis as though He made it not to grow? So men would think, so they would suppose.
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True, God reigns in earthly matters of men; Has His way over land and nation, Long as I live, I shall wonder to know Near the long-shadowed fence it be not so...
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& ALL THAT THEY PROVIDE th
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By: Sarah Frank
Since the 15 and 16 centuries, Texas Longhorn cattle have been found in the Americas. Descended from Spanish cattle, they are considered to be the heritage cattle breed of America, the Texas Longhorn was brought to Hispaniola by Christopher Columbus in 1493 and was later moved into Mexico and Texas by Spanish settlers. Throughout history they have made their mark as easy-keepers who continue to survive with little to no human intervention; enduring extreme heat, drought conditions and rugged terrain with only sparse vegetation. While other cattle ignore some of the native weeds and brush, Longhorns thrive on it. The timeless charm of the Texas Longhorn has captured the hearts of landowners for centuries. Their attractiveness is alluring and catches the eye of every passerby who happens by them grazing in the field. Renowned for their unique, colorful hides and massive, sweeping horns it is easy to forget all of the other things that Longhorns provide for us. Let us begin with the most obvious commodity that we get from our Longhorns: beef. Longhorn beef is genetically leaner, contains fewer calories, less saturated fat, and lower cholesterol than beef from Angus or even chicken breast. Longhorn beef is also higher in beneficial compounds like Omega-3 fatty acids and Vitamin A. The meat has a robust and “beefy” flavor but it will lack the marbling that comes from heavy fat. With so little fat, the Longhorn beef will cook much faster than other beef.
While the meat is likely the most common thing that we would think of when asked what we get from our Longhorns, there are so many more things that they provide, or have provided, for us. We have likely all seen beautiful rugs made from the tanned hides of Longhorn cattle. The colorful patterns have long been made the center piece in homes around the world. In some circles, seen as a status symbol, or a sign of wealth to have such a D R O V E R
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unique and sought after piece in your home. As with all, or most, successful trends; the rugs were a hit so interior designers were reaching out left and right to the highly skilled craftsman who created the rugs and asking for more! More rugs! Cowhide throw pillows? Why not! Lamp shades? Yes! There are even entire sets of furniture made solely out of cowhide. With so many highly skilled craftsman taking advantage of the love of all things cowhide, especially Longhorn hides, you would be hard pressed to not be able to find a piece, or pieces, that you simply need in your home. Afterall, is a home really a home without a little cowhide here and there? Those horns. We love them. We love to see a mounted Longhorn skull on the wall with a high gloss polish on the horns. Rustic decor has basically been built around the Longhorn skull above the mantle. And while these are a beautiful and artistic touch to any living space, what more can be done with those beautiful horns? Our ancestors utilized the horns to serve every day needs. They were the perfect shape and strength to easily be turned into a powder horn which not only looked nice but also kept gun powder nice and dry. The horns were also used as knife handles
From buttons to musical instruments we can find these horns used for many things throughout our history...the most exciting that I have found? Jewelry! Yes, wearable jewelry made right from the horns of our beloved Longhorns. With the unique variations in color and marbling, any horn would certainly make a statement piece. Speaking of large, statement pieces, the low density of the horns makes it easy to create the bigger pieces that everyone loves without them being heavy and hard to wear. By creating jewelry with the horns, we are also reducing ranch waste. From hues of ivory to deep black, the horns can be cut into small shapes to create the dangling earrings that we all love. Cut a different way, we have the option of curving hoops or even flat shapes polished to a high sheen. Larger pieces can be fitted into clasps or made into pendants in any shape imaginable; from crescent moons to miniature skulls the possibilities are endless. The small circumference of the horns tip can be cut into bands for simple, yet classy, rings. As you move up the horn, the larger sections can be cut into wider bands to create the most beautiful bangles that you can imagine. While looking at the cattle in your pasture, the thought of adding to your jewelry collection may not cross your mind, but now that you know the potential that those gorgeous horns hold I would bet that it will cross your mind from time to time.
I found one last use for the horns which I will mention here even though I feel that is would be quite a waste to use them in this way. Fertilizer. Yes, fertilizer to enrich our soil and grow healthier crops can be made from the horns and skull of Longhorns. By crushing both the skull and the horns you can create a powered, nutrient-rich additive for your soil. On to the hooves, which are most commonly made into long-lasting chew treats for our dogs. They can also be processed and used as a supplement to create higher protein animal feeds. Longhorns helping out the local fire department? Absolutley. The keratin that is extracted from their hooves and hydrolyzed is used to make the foaming agent in fire retardants. This same keratin is also used in hair treatments and hair strenghtening products. Glue and gelatin alternatives are also made from the hooves. While edible gelatin is made from bones and hides rather than hooves, hooves can be processed into glues and other binders. We have covered nearly every part of our beloved Longhorns. In a previous article we focused on the way that fat can be rendered into tallow which is then made into various balms, ointments and even soaps. Tallow has also been used to create candles and other wax based products for years. And of course, the most obvious use of cowhide: leather. Leather has been used for centuries to make just about everything you can think of. The most durable boots, and even shoes, are made from leather. Your belt and chaps and the saddle on your horse (or steer) are all made from leather. Likely the wallet in your pocket, your watchband, and even the cover on the Bible by your bed...leather. Bones of course can be used as treats for dogs, boiled for bone broth or ground and turned into bone meal to replenish some of the calcium we take from the Earth. Our ancestors likely used the bones for tools and untensils of some sort. From head to tail and horn to hoof, the Longhorn really is a vital part of our existence and provides us with much more than just meat to nourish our bodies. The things that we can make, or have made, from our Longhorns make our lives easier and more enjoyable as things, but do any of those things hold a candle to the pure joy and happiness that owning these beautiful creatures brings to our heart and souls? In closing, I would conclude that everything a cowboy needs, he can indeed get from his Longhorn.
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THANK YOU FOR READING PRODUCED BY: SARAH FRANK
International Texas Longhorn Association PO Box 2610 Glen Rose, Texas 76043 254-898-0157
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