Texas Longhorns at the National Western Stock Show
 By Randy Witte


Add Stan Searle rides point while leading his cows
 down through Denver's financial district
Denver's big winter event, the 108th annual National Western Stock Show, ran January 11-26, featuring some 70 livestock breed shows including the Texas Longhorn show. For the eighth straight year, the stock show was kicked off with a Longhorn cattle drive along downtown Denver's 17th street, and the crowd was bigger than ever.

Stan Searle of Monument, Colo., provides the cattle. Ranch foreman Gary Lake of Ellicott, Colo., provides the cowboys, and Denverites crowd along both sides of the street to cheer as they watch a bit of the Old West come alive. Gary said the crowd was the biggest yet-"at least 35,000 people watched it this year," he said. 
The good-looking Searle cows enthralled an estimated 35,000 spectators during the National Western Stock Show parade in Denver last month.



Stan always rides point, and visits with by-standers, reporters and photographers as the herd travels through normally busy intersections, passes over steamy grates in the street, and parades past the venerable Brown Palace Hotel.
Longhorns returned to the stock show grounds for five days, which included a two-day show that created a bit of history in that the show was sanctioned for the first time by both national associations-the International Texas Longhorn Association and the Texas Longhorn Breeders Association of America.

Seventy-three head of cattle were entered in the show, which was produced by the regional affiliates of both national associations, the Mountain States Texas Longhorn Association (ITLA) and the Mountains and Plains Texas Longhorn Association (TLBAA).

The two affiliates pooled their efforts for the first time a year ago, when Mountains and Plains invited Mountain States to help hold an open show at Denver's National Western, and then worked together to have the 2014 show sanctioned by both ITLA and TLBAA.

Since then, a lot of these regional Longhorn breeders have become members of both affiliates and both national associations. 

So, for the first time in the National Western show's history, cattle could be registered in one or both associations, with show points counting toward qualification in championship / world shows of both ITLA and TLBAA respectively. Cattle were shown and judged in classes together, and exhibitors had the option of having points tabulated for their cattle in one or both associations.

Another first for the show this year came in the form of beautiful trophy belt buckles for top winners, in addition to the ribbons, banners and $5,370 in premiums.

There was also a  youth/pee wee show, and Barb Fillmore of Elbert, Colo. (left, rear) assisted her grandson, Brody Weston, daughter Ashley Fillmore, and grand-daughter Savanah Weston, as they led their cattle around the arena.
Lana Hightower of Van, Tex., judged the show, and she was well suited for this role. She and her husband, Dr. Gene Hightower, have produced 13 TLBAA world champions, one reserve grand champion and one grand champion. She has judged Texas Longhorn shows throughout the country, including the ITLA Championship Show and the TLBAA World Show trophy steer division. Lana is also currently serving as a TLBAA director. 

Jim Civis of Lamar, Colo., served as announcer. He and his wife, Betty, have been longtime Longhorn breeders, although they are sitting out of the breeding business these days because of the prolonged drought in their part of the state. Jim was ably assisted with his announcing duties by John Nelson of Wellington, Colo., who with his wife, Darlene, also produced a slick, colorful program for the show. 

Lana Pearson of Fowler, Colo., for years has been the "go to" person at the Denver show, and again she was the "first to arrive and last to leave" during the five days the cattle were exhibited in the historic Denver stockyards. The show itself included a haltered and non-haltered division that spanned two days. The rest of the time allowed cattle to be viewed in pens by stock show visitors. Questions were asked and answered, and a hospitality tent was set up adjacent to the pens, offering hot drinks and snacks to visitors. A special "tent party" was held for exhibitors following the Friday show. 

Gary Lake served as ring steward for the halter show, and then ramrodded the cattle movements from pen to pen during the un-haltered show.  Kenny Richardson of Greeley, Colo.,  assumed ring steward  duties for the un-haltered show. Kenny is also current president of Mountains and Plains, and made a point of inviting "everyone from ITLA" to the Mountains and Plains annual banquet Saturday night. 

The National Western Texas Longhorn Show Committee, which consists of equal representation from both affiliates, cordially invites one and all to enter the 2015 show.  Entries are due in November - watch for details later. 

See below for the results of the 2014 show.
National Western Longhorn Show Results 
submitted by Randy Witte

Haltered Show
Tom Matott and his son, J.R., both of Castle Rock, Colo., with Grand Champion Senior Heifer in the haltered division, Cindra CB
Junior Bulls (born March 1 - April 30, 2013):
First is Anders Maple Syrup (Jet Master Black Anders x Anders MW Maple Wish), owned by Haley Anders of Crawford, Nebraska. Second is Rio Solomon (Warrior 11 x Café Rio), owned by Clyde and Virginia Peek of Franktown, Colorado.
Senior Bulls (born May 1 - August 31, 2012):First is Golly Moses (Bat Man x Good Golly), owned by Clyde and Virginia Peek.
Senior Bulls (born January 1 - April 30, 2012):First is Anders Midnight Shadow (Anders Safari x DL Jet Black Midnight), owned by Haley Anders. Second is Brave Heart (Mile High Magic x Ducey Lucy), owned by Gary Geisert of Calhan, Colorado.
Senior Champion Haltered Bull and Grand Champion Haltered Bull is Golly Moses. Reserve Champion Haltered Senior Bull and Reserve Grand Champion Haltered Bull is Anders Midnight Shadow.
Senior Heifers (born May 1 - April 30, 2013):First is M2 Rio Delilah (Samson 26 x BL Rio Dandy 818), owned by Tom Matott of Castle Rock, Colorado. Second is WF Rolls Royce (WF Checkers x Trophy Top), owned by J.R. Matott of Castle Rock, Colorado.
Senior Heifers (born January 1 - April 30, 2012): First is M2 Cooter Mountain (Cowboy Chex x Cooter Hill), owned by Tom Matott. Second is M2 Diamond Boogie (DNA Temptations Boogie x Inita), owned by Tom Matott.

Jodi Richardson of Greeley, Colo., showed her dad's cow, KCL Kerosene, to Grand Champion Haltered Mature Cow
First Calf Heifers (born 2011): First is Cindra CB (Cimmaron EOT 24/8 x Allmendra Gail 756), owned by Tom Matott. Second is FCL Gypsy Queen (Over Kill x Shy Speaker), owned by Kenny Richardson of Greeley, Colorado.

Champion Haltered Senior Heifer and GrandChampion Haltered Heifer is Cindra CB, owned by Tom Matott. Reserve Champion Haltered Heifer and Reserve Grand Champion Haltered Heifer is FCL Gypsy Queen, owned by Kenny Richardson.
Mature Cows (born 2010 - 2007): First is KCL Kerosene (Sailor x PV O Suzie Q), owned by Kenny Richardson of Greeley, Colorado.
Mature Cows (born 2006 and before): First is SV Buttons and Bows (Two Eagles 644 x Two Eagles Just Because), owned by Kenny Richardson.
Grand Champion Haltered Mature Cow is KCL Kerosene, owned by Kenny Richardson. Reserve Grand Champion Haltered Mature Cow is SV Buttons and Bows, owned by Kenny Richardson.


Non-Haltered Show
Junior Heifers (born May 1 - June 30, 2013): First is Merida (Gee Whiz x Prickly Sarah), owned by Gary Geisert of Calhan, Colorado.  Second is Keechi Blue Nellie, owned by Julie Balzan of Wheatland, Wyoming.
Junior Heifers (born March 1 - April 30, 2013): First is Geez Louise (Rangers Gun x Gee Whiz), owned by Randy and Marsha Witte of Peyton, Colorado. Second is Windy Point Delvira (Apishapa Black x Windy Point Dixie Charis), owned by Ron and Lana Pearson of Fowler, Colorado.

Clyde Peek and his Grand Champion Haltered Bull, Golly Moses, posed in the winner's circle with his son, Kevin, and wife, Ginny.
Junior Heifers (born January 1 - February 28, 2013): First is Windy Point Jada (Apishapa Black x Windy Point Shawnee Red), owned by Ron and Lana Pearson of Fowler, Colorado. Second is Windy Point Trixy (Apishapa Black x Windy Point Spice A 20x), owned by Ron and Lana Pearson.

Champion Non-Haltered Junior Heifer is Geez Louiseowned by Randy and Marsha Witte. Reserve Champion Non-Haltered Junior Heifer is Windy Point Jada owned by Ron and Lana Pearson.
Senior Heifers (born May 1 - August 31, 2012): First is CB Mordrag (Drag Iron x GT Mormoraia), owned by John and Darlene Nelson of Wellington, Colorado. Second is Texas Fancy Yahtzee (Little Big Horn 7 x Texas Fancy Domino), owned by Robert and Julie Balzan of Wheatland, Wyoming.
Senior Heifers (born January 1 - April 30, 2012):First is Jake's Sweet Hussy (Bar H Jake x Sweet Hussy), owned by Randy and Marsha Witte of Peyton, Colorado. Second is Pretty Savy (Bar H Jake x Mile High Lady), owned by Randy and Marsha Witte.
Champion Non-Haltered Senior Heifer and Grand Champion Non-Haltered Heifer is Jakes Sweet Hussy owned by Randy and Marsha Witte. Reserve Champion Non-Haltered Senior Heifer and Reserve Grand Champion Non-Haltered Heifer is Shamrock Angel Baby owned by John and Darlene Nelson.
Mature Cows (born 2010): First is Rangers Gun (Winchester x Rangerizm), owned by Randy and Marsha Witte of Peyton, Colorado. Second is Smokin Dot (St Smokeabull x 7-11 Pokadot), owned by Randy and Marsha Witte.
Marsha Witte and Gary Lake escort Marsha's heifer Sweet Hussy out of the pen and into the show arena where Sweet Hussy was named Grand Champion Non-Haltered Heifer.
Mature Cows (born 2009): First is Good Golly (Mile High 3-1 x Molly Miss May), owned by Clyde and Virginia Peek of Franktown, Colorado. Second is Keechi Ghost (Matador Monarch Ranger x Keechi Nellie), owned by Robert and Julie Balzan of Wheatland, Wyoming.
Mature Cows (born 2008 - 2007): First is Shadow Dancer (Superstitious x Unfeathered) owned by Randy and Marsha Witte of Peyton, Colorado. Second is RRR Miss Anna 809 (WS Road to Prediction x Anasazi Appeal), owned by John and Darlene Nelson of Wellington, Colorado.
Mature Cows (born 2006 and before): First is Hot Ta Molly (Senate Style x Hot Spot), owned by Barbara Fillmore of Elbert, Colorado. Second is Windy Point Dearest 2 Red (Windy Point Red Shadow x Windy Point Dixie Charis), owned by Ron and Lana Pearson of Fowler, Colorado.
Grand Champion Non-Haltered Mature Cow is Good Golly, owned by Clyde and Virginia Peek. ReserveGrand Champion Non-Haltered Mature Cow is Hot Ta Molly, owned by Barbara Fillmore.
Bulls (born April 1 - June 30, 2013): First is Golly Jasper (Warrior 11 x Good Golly), owned by Clyde and Virginia Peek of Franktown, Colorado. Second is Sunrise 2013 (Classic Sittin Bull x Gemelli Rossi), owned by Robert and Julie Balzan of Wheatland, Wyoming.
"Henry," Grand Champion All Age Steer at NWSS. Owned by Barnes / Searle partnership
Bulls (born January 1 - March 31, 2013): First is I'm Hip (Gee Whiz x Hippy Lady), owned by Randy and Marsha Witte of Peyton, Colorado. Second is Warrior's Beau Cephas (Warrior II x Mile High Molly), owned by Clyde and Virginia Peek of Franktown, Colorado.
Champion Non-Haltered Bull is I'm Hip, owned by Wittes. Reserve Champion is Warrior's Beau Cephas, owned by Peeks.
Junior Steers (born May 1 2013 - December 31, 2012): First is Bullett 242 (Bar H Jake x Celine 20), owned by Gary Cole of Penrose, Colorado. Second is Hoss (Patriot Games x I'm a Hossy), owned by Randy and Marsha Witte.
Senior Steers (born 2011 and 2010): First is Shoot Em Up (Winchester x Lady Zhivago), owned by Stan Searle of Monument, Colorado.
Senior Steers (born 2007 and before): First is Henry (Shadowizm x Country D'Lyte), owned by Doug Barnes of Centennial, Colorado. Second is PRL Son of a Sailor (Sailor x PRL Dangerous Curves), owned by Gary Cole of Penrose, Colorado.
Champion Non-Haltered Steer is Henry, owned by Doug Barnes. Reserve Champion Non-Haltered Steer is Homer, owned by Randy and Marsha Witte. 


Thank You to Everyone for a Great Show!!

Sincerely,
Randy Witte_2012Randy Witte (MSTLA President) and  Kenny Richardson (MPTLA President)