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.

High Plains Longhorn Sale releases Sale Catalog

The High Plains Texas Longhorn Sale Catalog has been released.
Don't miss any of the details. See below.

CLICK BELOW for the WELCOME LETTER (pdf):
Welcome - High Plains Texas Longhorn Sale


CLICK BELOW for the SCHEDULE OF EVENTS (pdf):
Schedule of Events - High Plains Texas Longhorn Sale


CLICK BELOW for the CATALOG (pdf)(note large file size: 8.5 MB)
Sale Catalog - High Plains Texas Longhorn Sale ( large: 8.5MB)

We look forward to seeing you there!

Heart of the Rockies Show Registration

It is time to register!  Deadline is May 31st! 
Download your registration forms here:

CLICK HERE >>:  2012_Heart of the Rockies Registration Form

* * *

Heart of the Rockies Show Set for Colorado Springs

The 17th annual Heart of the Rockies Texas Longhorn Show is set for June 16 at Latigo Trails arena near Colorado Springs. The Mountain States Texas Longhorn Association will once again welcome all ITLA and TLBAA registered cattle and participants affiliated with any association-or none. The MSTLA show is the biggest, in number of entries and exhibitors, in the region. Judging the ITLA qualifying show will be Gary Bruch of Strong City, KS.

MSTLA's 2012 Open Show Judge Gary Bruch

"Our show committee always looks for highly qualified judges from various parts of the country, and Gary Bruch is just that--a highly respected Longhorn breeder and judge. That's why we're so happy to have him as our judge for this year's show," said Clyde Peek, who with his wife Ginny serves as co-chair for Heart of the Rockies.

Gary is a charter member and past president of ITLA, and is a Qualified ITLA judge. He is also a retired vocational agriculture teacher. Gary and his wife, Brenda, have spent their lives ranching and raising cattle in the Flint Hills.

In addition to the ITLA qualifying show, the Heart of the Rockies also includes a heifer futurity and a Trailblazers division for new breeders (those owning Texas Longhorns for less than six years).

The futurity has a $75 entry fee with a $250 grand prize and $125 second prize pay-out. The Trailblazer classes provide an extra chance to win for those new to the business, and those entries can also compete in the regular open classes, which have entry fees ranging from $30 to $40.

The judge for this year's heifer futurity and Trailblazer classes is Dave "Nik" Nikodym of Newcastle, Oklahoma. Nik and his wife, Kim, are Naval veterans who are devoted to raising Texas Longhorn cattle at their Commanders Place Longhorns, located about 20 minutes south of Oklahoma City.

The Saturday show will begin with the heifer futurity and Trailblazer division at 11 a.m. The Latigo Trails Equestrian Center is at 13710 Halleluiah Trail, to the northeast of Colorado Springs in the Black Forest. Entries are due May 31.

For more information go to: www.mstla.org; the show secretaries are John and Darlene Nelson, Cloverbloom Ranch, 51361 Weld Co. Rd. 17, Wellington, CO 80549; 970-897-2444.

Longhorn Sale to Serve Northern Plains States

The first High Plains Texas Longhorn Sale, to be held Saturday May 19 at Fort Collins, Colorado, is designed to facilitate buying and selling quality cattle at minimal expense. The sale will be held at Centennial Livestock Auction, conveniently located at Interstate 25 and Highway 14. A complimentary lunch will be served at 11:00 a.m. with sale starting at 12:30 p.m.

Sale chairman John Nelson comments that "We all enjoy the blue ribbon sales events when we have the opportunity to attend." However, he is persuaded that "There is a need for an affordable auction venue within a reasonable distance of folks in Wyoming, Montana, Nebraska, Kansas, Utah and Colorado." The High Plains Sale will put a good selection of cows, pairs and a few herdsire prospects within easy driving distance of a great many Longhorn owners for whom sales in distant states are not practical.

The sale will offer 80 lots of pre-screened registered Longhorns, "providing the opportunity for breeders to add replacements to their herds at the perfect time of year," according to Randy Witte, one of the event organizers. "Consignments include fancy, big horned cows as well as high quality replacement heifers," he adds, "so we expect to have buyers from several states."

The consignment fee is $95, with a yardage fee of $25 that covers straw bedding and hay. A sales commission of 8 percent will be discounted to 5 percent for participating buyers. Information and consignment forms can be obtained at HighPlainsLonghornSale.com, by e-mail at HighPlainsSale@gmail.com or by contacting John Nelson at 970-897-2444 or Randy Witte at 719-749-9071.

Photo Caption:

Wiregrass Courtly is one of the 80 registered Longhorns that will sell at the High Plains Texas Longhorn Sale on May 19 at Fort Collins, Colorado.

High Plains Texas Longhorn Sale Announced

Randy Witte

MSTLA to Spearhead Regional Sale; Elects Board

Meeting at Palmer Lake, Colo. in December, the members of the Mountain States affiliate agreed to host the High Plains Texas Longhorn Sale, to be held May 19, 2012 at Centennial Livestock Auction near Fort Collins, Colo.  A determining factor in choosing the location was to make it convenient and affordable for Longhorn producers in Wyoming, Nebraska, Utah and Kansas, as well as those in Colorado.  According to organizer John Nelson, "the High Plains Sale will be the only Longhorn auction in a wide region to offer consignment fees of approximately $100,"  He noted that several members of both registries have already committed to consign.  Consignment details are available from John Nelson (970) 222-6054 or JNelson@enganalytics.com.

Election of officers and directors was held at the annual membership meeting, President Randy Witte of Peyton, Colo. was re-elected by acclamation.  Barbara Fillmore of Elbert, Colo. was re-elected Vice President, as was Secretary Joe Brundage of Black Forest, Colo. Treasurer Darlene Nelson of Wellington, Colo. was given another term--along with an expression of extreme gratitude for her faithful and highly professional performance.     

Barb Fillmore

Joe Brundage

                                        Newly elected to the Board of Directors was Clyde Peek of Franktown, Colo.  Holdover Directors and those re-elected are Gary Cole, Penrose, Colo.; Greg Evans, Kiowa, Colo.; John Nelson, Wellington, Colo., and Stan Searle of Monument, Colo.  New member, Justin Johnson of Ellicott, Colo. was welcomed but needed no introduction, as he has worked on and exhibited cattle at the Heart of the Rockies Texas Longhorn show for several years.
The Mountain States Texas Longhorn Association has 31 members located in Wyoming, Nebraska, Utah, Colorado and Arizona.  Membership dues are $20 for Associate; $35 for Active voting membership, and $275 for Lifetime.  To join contact: Darlene Nelson c/o Cloverbloom Ranch, 51361 WCR 17 Wellington, CO 80549.   Email: clovrblm@ezlink.com  - (970) 897-2444. 

Darlene Nelson (rt)

Searle Ranch hosts Ranch Field Day

Ranch Field Day in Colorado

Cattle handling on horseback, cattle judging and socializing were the order of the day when Searle Ranch hosted the Mountain States Texas Longhorn Association on a recent Saturday. At just over 7,000 ft. above sea level, the temperature was perfect for these outdoor events. However, the barbecued beef lunch was served indoors, offering welcome protection from an afternoon shower that is typical in the front range of the Colorado Rockies.



Showing how it's done, Travis Casey explained the "hows and whys" of working cattle on horseback. Riding a green-broke mustang, he demonstrated the cowboy technique--emphasizing the importance of moving deliberately. Then the onlookers had the opportunity to step onto a quiet old gelding and practice what they had been learning about.

Following lunch, ranch manager Gary Lake went into considerable detail in discussing the pen of heifers to be judged. After they had marked their score cards, he put participants on the spot, asking for explanations of why they placed the cattle where they did.

By all accounts it was a valuable exercise, made more interesting by the competitive aspect. Winner of the judging contest was Nik Nikodym (pictured at right) who raises Longhorns in Oklahoma while commuting to Colorado Springs for his responsibilities as a Commander in the US Navy.



Field day host Stan Searle noted that the 40 or so members and guests seemed to appreciate "getting among the Longhorn cattle, actually doing something hands-on, rather than sitting around talking about cattle." And, he pointed out, getting tips from Gary Lake and Travis Casey provided a unique opportunity to learn from men with decades of experience working livestock.

Carol Kotzer cuts out a pair.

Marty Slebodnik sorts cattle

The MSTLA has more than 30 members representing five states. Cattle and people representing all Longhorn registries and organizations are welcome at events and meetings of the group. Information on events and membership is available at http://MSTLA.org .



Searle Ranch Field Day, July 2011

Heifer judging was taken seriously

Heart of the Rockies Results

The Mountain States Texas Longhorn Association enjoyed another tremendous show this year, in Elbert, Colorado, just northeast of Colorado Springs. So many beautiful Texas Longhorn cattle, and the day could not have been more perfect for it.

Stan Jernigan of Cross Plains, Texas was the ITLA qualified judge for Open Show , while Paige Evans of Kiowa, Colorado judged both the Futurity classes and the Trailblazer (New Breeders) Divisions.

Click here for the unofficial results
Buckles, chairs and customized duffel bags were earned for the top cattle, while everyone received a ribbon, enjoyed a great meal, branding a bench for the charity auction and overall, just a great day. Here's just a few of the pictures from that great day.

CLICK HERE to see just a few pictures of some of the winners from the day.

Or, you may want to look through some of the candids snapped during the day...below.

2001 HOTR Texas Longhorn Show