Nelson, Witte Top Mountain States Show

The 17th annual Heart of the Rockies Texas Longhorn Show, held last month near Colorado Springs, CO, provided an opportunity for breeders young and old to enjoy all the social aspects that go along with watching a display of great cattle.

The venue, just east of the Black Forest, is within a couple miles of the old Goodnight-Loving cattle trail, where Texas Longhorns first made an appearance in the area well over a century ago. Sponsored by ITLA affiliate Mountain States Texas Longhorn Association, the show offered an indoor arena at Latigo Equestrian Center, complete with good pens, plenty of fresh water and complimentary hay for arriving cattle.

Futurity and Trailblazer Judge Nik Nikodym

Once the cattle were settled, the night before the show, the participants adjourned for a beef-dinner picnic. The show started at 11 a.m. next day with the ever popular heifer futurity, the only show event that offers a cash payback in two classes, one for junior heifers and one for seniors. Judge for the futurity was veteran Longhorn breeder Dave "Nik" Nikodym of Newcastle, OK.

Nik and his wife, Kim, are both Commanders in the United States Navy, and they raise Texas Longhorn cattle at their Commanders Place Longhorns, located about 20 minutes south of Oklahoma City. Commander Nikodym has spent his career in the Navy mostly at sea, serving aboard a variety of ships and "driving" both submarines and the aircraft carrier Abraham Lincoln. But Longhorn cattle are his avocation and he relishes placing a class of good cattle and then telling you "why."

 Six junior heifers (yearlings) were shown, and the first-place winner was a red-and-white heifer named River Dancer (by Mile High 3-1 and out of Café Rio), owned by Clyde and Virginia Peek of Franktown, CO. First in the senior heifer class was I'm a Hossy (by Smooth Miles, a Mile Marker son, and out of Sweet Hussy), owned by Randy and Marsha Witte of Peyton, CO. This first-calf heifer was shown with a striking Top Caliber bull calf at side. Each first-place winner was paid $250. Second-place winners received $125.

HOTR Chairman Clyde Peek, presenting Trailblazer Champion Buckle toJustin Johnson of Ellicott, Colorado.

Nik Nikodym also judged the Trailblazer classes, a competition for breeders who have been in the business for six years or less. Champion Trailblazer was 24-year-old Justin Johnson of Ellicott, CO. Clyde and Virginia Peek, last year's Trailblazer winners, took reserve this time.

The qualifying open show kicked off at noon, following the Trailblazer classes, and this portion of the Heart of the Rockies was judged by Gary Bruch of Strong City, KS. Gary is an ITLA past president. He and his wife, Brenda, enjoyed a mini-vacation in conjunction with his show-judging responsibilities. They rode the cog railroad to the top of 14,110-foot Pikes Peak, and also explored the depths of the Royal Gorge, along the Arkansas River, aboard the Royal Gorge Route Scenic Railroad.

Gary always shows a real passion for Texas Longhorns during his remarks while placing a class, and his reasons for the placing are invariably interesting and informative.

 

Grand Champion All Age Female was won by
Doherty's Trace,  owned by John and Darlene Nelson
of Cloverbloom Ranch, Colorado.

Open Show Results

Champion Junior Heifer was Lady Mile Maker, by Smooth Miles and out of Mile High Lady. She's owned by Randy and Marsha Witte. Reserve Champion Junior Heifer was Mile High Molly, who was by Mile High 3-1 and out of Good Golly, and owned by Clyde and Virginia Peek.

Awards for senior heifer also went to the Wittes for I'm A Hossy. Smokin' Dot, a heifer bred by Jim and Betty Civis of Lamar, CO, was reserve.

Junior Cow Champion was RRR Miss Anna 809, by WS Road to Prediction and out of Arazi Appeal, and owned by John and Darlene Nelson of Wellington, CO. Reserve was Shadow Dancer, owned by Wittes.

Senior Cow Champion was Doherty's Trace 698/12 by Raley FJD and out of Lorna's Lady JW. Sassy Sabrina, owned by J.R. Ford of Pagosa Springs, CO, was reserve.

 Overall Grand Champion Cow was Doherty's Trace 698/12, owned by the Nelsons. Reserve was Lady Mile Maker.

Six year old, Doherty's Trace 698/12, took Grand Champion All-Age Female of the show. She is owned and exhibited by John and Darlene Nelson's Cloverbloom Ranch of Wellington, CO.

Bull winners were as follows. Hero, a Top Caliber son out of Bladed Lady shown by Randy and Marsha Witte, was Grand Champion.

Show Chairman Clyde Peek (Right) is shown handing a check to Randy and Marsha Witte, for taking first place in a futurity class. The couple also took Grand Champion Bull honors with their Bull, Hero, who is out of Top Caliber and Bladed Lady.

Reserve was Vato, owned by Clyde and Virginia Peek, a blue bull by Mile High 3-1 and out of Ebony. An impressive, flat-horned steer named Henry was Grand Champion of the show. He's owned by Barnes/Searle partnership, and is a Shadowizm-bred steer born in 2004.

Reserve went to Homer, a 2010 model by JR Grand Slam, owned by Wittes.

Henry, by Shadowizm out of Country D'Lyte was the winner of the Grand Champion Steer, owned by the Barnes/Searle partnership. Stan and Lorna Searle of Monument are pictured here (right), accepting the trophy on behalf of the partnership, presented by HOTR Chairman, Clyde Peek (on the left). The eight year-old steer's horns measure 88 inches tip-to-tip.

Show chairmen were Clyde and Virginia Peek, with assistance from Justin Johnson. A total of 8 exhibitors provided 46 entries for this year's show. John Nelson served as announcer and Darlene Nelson was show secretary.

Once again, the annual show was enhanced by an excellent dinner hosted by Randy and Marsha Witte's Red Ink Ranch. The finale, on the evening following the show, was the awards dinner directed by Clyde Peek, with Mike Heitmann of MH Bar Auction Co. calling the benefit auction.