Life's Journey

So how do you wait for heaven?
And who has that much time?
And how do you keep your feet off the ground
When you know that you were born
You were born to fly.

These lyrics from "Born to Fly" by Sara Evans, inspired the path that my agvocacy blog has taken. We are all born to fly, we just have to find our wings and set off in the world. In these past months I have spent blogging, I have realized one of my goals now is to be an informative agvocate!

To be a true advocate for agriculture, I believe you must be informed and become knowledgeable about all aspects of agriculture production and to be able to speak about any species of livestock, not just the breed you raise. Try to understand the issues that affect production and speak intelligently about them. Understanding an industry is key to being able to share not just your story but others as well. I hope that I have been able to do this to some degree. For consumers to really understand, we as ag producers need to be heard but not necessarily with 1 voice as we often hear in political terms, but to quote my mom, "perhaps we need to be more like a choir- a multitude of voices- all equally important, and singing from the same book".

I can only hope that I become a true "agvocate" and leader in agriculture. The journey to becoming this has been long but I have had much help along the way. My inspirations and encouragement have all come from my family. I get constant support from my parents to keep going and succeed at many things. As most people read in a previous post, my grandma has been and always will be my hero, for so many reasons. My grandpa, who I wish I could have gotten to know better since he passed away when I was 2, has also been an inspiration to always learn and succeed. Grandpa wasn't raised in a beef cattle production, so when he married my grandma, he learned everything that would make him successful in the industry. In a few short years, he became a respected cattlemen who is missed by many people. My other inspirations are two of my cousins that are known and respected by many- Peter and Christine Boake. Peter spent many hours with my when I was younger, teaching me how to clip and fit my animals, and has always been there to offer advice. Christine actually inspired me in my future career path- to be a graphic designer and work in social media just like her. Having mentors encourages your personal success and leads you on your path.

As I'm sitting here talking about finding your calling, I remember back a number of years ago when I attended the National Junior Shorthorn Show. We had a keynote speaker, David Irvine, who spoke about leadership in agriculture. The things he said have stuck with me after all of this time. Your life's calling is inside of you, and it is yours to find. Make your journey your own. The four key points of calling are vision, passion, gifts, and contribution. Everyone is unique and has something different to offer, and we have to find that something. And that is what we are all trying to do in this world: embark on a journey to find out life's calling. We all have a vision for the future and a dream. I have found that there is no place I would rather have this journey than in agriculture. It has started here on the ranch, and continues here. I can't be too sure where it will end, or if it will end, but I will always know where my roots are.

Here is a poem that David Irvine included in his program that speaks to so many of us, and will stay with me forever.
Child: Where is Heaven, Dad?
Father: Heaven's a place where people can go and taste pure water,
And see in Winter, white snow.
Heaven's a place that's good and clean,
Where you can breathe the air,
And the grass is green.
Heaven is a beautiful park,
Where there are birds to sing,
And you're safe after dark.
Heaven's a place where there's lots of risk, but you've got support to deal with harm...
I lived in heaven once,... I lived on a farm

http://www.davidirvine.com/

See you at Synergy!

A Walk in the Country

So I think now we all know the importance of agriculture to the sustainability of the world, but agriculture also plays a part in tourism and recreation. Just southeast of Calgary, the Muchka family runs the place for agriculture fun- the Calgary Corn Maze, Petting Zoo, and Pumpkin Patch! From the end of July to mid-October, people of all ages from everywhere come to visit this new and fun attraction!

Corn mazes, as everyone knows, are mazes cut from corn crops. Many mazes are cut so that they show a design or some words. The success of the corn crop determines the success of the maze. There is often a range of stalk heights and the strength of them will differ as well. There should be about 20,000 plants per acre and the whole group should be planted from mid to late May. The corn will start growing taller in the summer months. In late July it will often be 5 feet tall, and at the end of August, it will be at its peak of 8 feet tall. The corn will then be harvested around mid to late October as it will be ready to be eat!

Almost all of the games and activities at the corn maze are agriculturally oriented. Besides the maze, there is also a pumpkin patch where people of all ages can pick pumpkins for Jack O'lanterns, painting, cooking, and for pies. The petting zoo is also a much enjoyed attraction. Young children love the small barnyard animals, such a miniature horses and donkeys, pigs, sheep, goats, and many more! Other activities include pig races, tractor rides, duck races, treasure hunts, and so much more!

Corn mazes have become popular tourist attractions, as it provides farm fun for people of both rural and urban backgrounds. Many people have also visited the maze through field trips, social groups, and youth group trips. The age range proves that you can never be too old to enjoy some classic farm fun. The corn maze is an excellent place for agricultural entertainment. It is really neat that agriculture can play a role in such a wide variety of things, including recreation. I am making sure that I will be able to take a trip to the Calgary Corn Maze this summer to experience the fun that so many people have enjoyed!

Please visit the link below to plan your trip to the Corn Maze!

http://www.calgarycornmaze.com/



Water, Water, Everywhere

I had mentioned in a previous post that our irrigator hadn't had to be turned on due to the rain we've had, but I thought I would talk about the importance of irrigation. First of all for those of you who don't know, irrigation is the application of water to land or soil through sprinklers. The water for irrigation may come from groundwater sources, surface water such as rivers and canals, and even treated waste water. There are a few different types of irrigators.



 

Here is a center pivot. The sprinkler
rotates around a pivot. They are run
by electric motors and may have a
GPS system.



This is a lateral move irrigator, which
is propelled on a number of wheels
that let's it move around to reach the
entire crop.



The flood system simply lets water
move across the crop in turn flooding
it. This is the oldest form of irrigation.



 Basically, farmers and ranchers use irrigation to assist in the growth of their crops and has always been used when there isn't enough rain to do the job. Only 5% of Alberta's farmed land is irrigated, but it produces almost 20% of the gross provincial agricultural production! Irrigation is so important to agriculture production in Alberta. Not only that, but irrigation provides water support for over 80,000 acres of wetland habitat. These wetlands provide habitat for an incredible amount of wildlife in the province.

There are 13 different irrigation districts in Southern Alberta. My family is in the Western Irrigation District, also known as the WID.

The WID, which began in 1944, (taking over from the Canadian Pacific Railroad who started irrigation in 1894) provides irrigation water to more than 400 farms and 96,00 acres of land. They also supply municipal water to over 12,000 people in four different communities.



Ducks on the canal, just a few of the many animals who
benefit from irrigation

 In 1929 my great grandfather purchased our ranch and promptly obtained irrigation rights, as he planned to use the ranch for summer pasture, grow a huge vegetable garden, orchard, tree lots and hay. One year thanks to flood irrigation, he even grew rice!

My family, including many others, have permanent water rights, which allows us to use water for crops and livestock. Others may just have stock watering rights, which is used for watering of livestock. The water is turned on May 1st and shut off October 1st. Water users pay yearly based on how many acres you irrigate.

Irrigation has helped many agriculture producers out in tough times, when rain shortages greatly affected the growth of their crops. I don't know what we would do without this great resource. In the summer months, there are many nights I go to sleep listening to the loud irrigator. Some may find the loud noise annoying, but to me, it is a comfort knowing that the water is there and that irrigation is sustaining us.




The "C" irrigation canal runs through our pastures
and is diverted to our hay fields.

My Hero

Agriculture has evolved over the years, in terms of the industry, economics, the machinery, and even the animals. But another thing that has changed drastically is the involvement of women in the business. In years past, women weren't at the forefront and they were just a force at home. While there were always women who were well known along side their husbands, they were not accepted in the role, as in many roles in society. But soon, the discrimination faded away as there were many respected cattlewomen. I am proud to say that my grandma, Leta Wise, was one of those respected cattlewoman in a time of men.

Mimi (the name my sister and I have called her since we were babies) grew up on a ranch outside of Acme, and was the youngest girl out of 11 siblings. Her father, E.J.C. Boake, raised Jersey cattle, until a barn fire wiped out his herd. That's when the family got into raising purebred Shorthorn cattle. At one point in time, they had the largest herd of Shorthorns in Canada. Growing up, they would take bulls to the Calgary Bull Sale, and Mimi would participate in the Baby Beef show for youth, which she won many times. While there was no problem with girls showing with the rest of the kids, they had better be out of sight come night time, so it was not always so comfortable.



Mimi with her Baby Beef steer, 1952

Along with the Acme ranch, my great-grandpa bought a second ranch east of Irricana for summer pasture for the cattle. When he died in car accident, Mimi inherited this ranch. And to this day, we all still live in this beautiful place. Just as Mimi was finishing high school, she decided to apply to Washington State College to study agriculture. But being a women, the college denied her entry, but wrote her letter telling her that they would love to have her in their home economics program.
Despite the disappointment of not going to study what she loved, Mimi stayed on the ranch. She married my grandpa, Berwyn Wise, when she was 21. Grandpa didn't know anything about raising beef cattle because her grew up on a dairy farm, so Mimi showed him her knowledge and brought him into the beef cattle world. Together they ran Boa Kae Polled Shorthorns. They raised many outstanding bulls and females and attended many shows. However, Mimi was almost always the only woman in the show ring; it was just her and the men. Mimi and Grandpa made all of the decisions together, opposed to her father making the decisions for everyone when she was a little girl. Things were changing drastically. Along with these changing times, my grandparents sold all of the Shorthorns in 1969 and began boarding exotic cattle and started a custom fitting service. From 1876 to 1986, they ran a bull test station.They also imported our first Maine-Anjou cattle, which we still have today. Since then, my grandma has run the Wise Maine-Anjou Ranch.



Grandpa, far left, and Mimi, second from right with their
Champion Pair of Bulls

Even in present times, gender discrimination still seems evident. Grandpa passed away in 1996, leaving just Mimi and two of her daughters on the ranch. At this time, there were many people telling my grandma that she should disperse the cattle and simply get on with life. It has been 15 years and Mimi is still raising her Maine-Anjou cattle and enjoying her ranch. Mimi still says she has no intention of retiring. "Retire to what?" she says.

Mimi still says that her life would have probably been much different if she had been able to attend college, but the choice just wasn't there. However, she is proud of what she has done in here years and what the ranch has become. I took a quote from her here that perfectly sums up what it is to "live the dream".
"I feel very fortunate to have been able to live my dream, to see the calves, the foals, the grass, my daughters, and now my granddaughters, grow on the ranch I love. I just love the clouds and the sky and the prairie sunrise and sunset, and the silence."


Mimi and I at my graduation

Meanwhile Back at the Ranch...

On June 23rd, I wrote my very last high school exam which marked the official beginning of summer holidays for me. Summer has been beautiful at the ranch. The sunrises and sunsets are breathtaking, all of the cows and herd bulls are out to pasture, and due to all the rain we have had, the irrigator hasn't had to be turned on. 

One of the many summer sunsets I have enjoyed

Besides the horses and a pen of custom beef fat cattle, the only other animals that are in the barnyard are my summer show cattle. Every morning before feeding time, I rinse my heifers and then put them in the barn under fans. I do this in order to grow hair on them. Many people do this to their show cattle because having more hair is often more desired when grooming cattle. Of course, there are many people who prefer their cattle slick. I have always preferred a healthy hair coat on my heifers. My older cows, on the other hand, I don't mind if they are slick.

While I have been focused on growing hair on the heifers, I have also been working on preparing some cow calf pairs and halter breaking the little calves that I will be showing. I have been working on 3 calves that I have come to love.



Jinny showing Tonic a little love after
he was born.

 The first is Tonic, the Maine Limousin cross bull calf off of my 2 year old cow Jinny. He has been halter broke since the middle of May and I guess I could call him the "good influence" on the other calves. I have worked with his dam, Jinny since she was a tiny calf as well. She was out of one of my 4-H cows and has been on the show road since she was a baby. You could almost call her an old pro. Jinny can get very cranky, but for the most part, she behaves well in the show ring.


Gem playing around in the snow.






Next is Gem. She is a purebred Maine-Anjou heifer out of my 4 year old cow Ruby. Gem is incredibly quiet and very sweet. I am not having too much trouble with her at all. Her dam, Ruby, was also a 4-H project of mine a few years ago, and has been one of my favourite females to date. She is quiet, friendly,  and looks pretty nice. This is a pair I am very excited about.

Chuck looking pretty innocent nestled
in the straw.



Last is my sister's bull calf, Empire, which we have both nicknamed "Chuck Bass". Chuck has a little spark to him and can be pretty feisty, but is getting better every time I work with him. My sister and I are extremely excited about Chuck as he may be a herd bull prospect. We are not showing his dam, but we are entering him in a couple bull calf classes this summer.

The ranch has been busy these last few days and will be for the rest of the summer with the preparation of the show cattle, but all this hard work pays off in the end, and the time spent with my animals is much enjoyed :)

A Vision for Care

There is nothing more important to me than that my animals are properly cared for and fed, and I think that I can speak for most people when I say this. All animals deserve to be cared for and live an easy life. Unfortunately, there are numerous animals in the world who are subject to inhumane treatment and improper handling. It is upsetting to see any kind of animal live through this.

Fortunately, there are people out there that are making all the difference.

Alberta Farm Animal Care, simply know as AFAC, is a provincial program that works toward improving animal handling and responsible care for animals in the livestock industry. The association started in 1993 by a group of livestock producers. The goals were to promote humane animal treatment, engage in public discussion, participate in issues, and encourage animal care research. The association realizes the growing concern of animal welfare and is working towards a positive change.

The AFAC has brought foreword

• open communication and discussion with livestock protection agencies
• an animal welfare curriculum with agriculture colleges
• livestock care and handling guidelines, training programs, and reports
• communicating with the public about the care farmers give to their animals by using interactive display, education resources and publications

In it's lifetime, the AFAC has accomplished a great deal of things toward the proper care and handling of animals.

Have a look at the AFAC's timeline-

http://www.afac.ab.ca/about/timeline.pdf

Not only has the AFAC made a positive impact in the Alberta livestock industry, but one woman's vision has changed animal handling forever. Not only has she changed the way we think about proper handling of animals, but she can even understand the stress and feelings of animals. Her name is Temple Grandin, she is a world famous doctor of animal science, professor, author, and consultant to the livestock industry. Temple also is a high-functioning autistic, which made many aspects of her life difficult. However, her autism let her understand the "flight-zone" and stress caused on animals during handling, transport, and processing. In the last number of years, Temple has designed low-stress handling systems for meat plants and farms. Her writings on the flight-zone and other animal behaviour have greatly helped many people on reducing stress while handling their animals. She has made a huge impact on the humane handling at meat processing plants.

She has even developed a scoring system for assessing handling of cattle and pigs at meat plants. Her scoring system is used by many large corporations to improve animal welfare.Temple's work and vision has changed the way we will understand animal handling forever.

Practising responsible animal care is necessary for the long term sustainability of the Canadian livestock industry.
"Animal welfare is a human responsibility that encompasses all aspects of animal well-being, including proper housing, management, nutrition, disease prevention, responsible care, humane handling, and, where necessary, humane euthanasia."
-Canadian Veterinary Medical Association

Thanks to a number of dedicated individuals who have a vision, the proper handling, care, and treatment for animals will be possible all over the world.

Home Sweet Home

Home, Sweet Home. While it may just be a simple saying, our homes play a larger role in our lives than we may think. Where we live defines us as human beings. The places we grow up shape us into the people we become. Our homes play a part into the type of people we are, they shape our morals and values, our comforts, and our futures.

No matter where you live, you will have a connection and appreciation for where you live. Those who live on the coast long for the smell of salt from the sea and the misty morning. The mountain men find beauty in the snow-capped peaks and the sun rising over the mountains. Even those in urban populations live for the bright lights and big city. Wherever, you live, you find something to come home to every night. As rancher, I feel an even deeper connection to my home and land since it is my entire life and it is what sustains my family. Without the ranch, I don't know where I would be.




The view from the trees


Who doesn't know what I'm talking about
Who's never left home, who's never struck out
To find a dream and life of their own

Of course, there are some people who want to find a dream and life of their own, far from where they grew up. My great-grandpa Billy Wise traveled from California to Alberta, and my other great-grandpa E.J.C. Boake settled in Alberta after growing up Ontario. Another person who left the home he grew up in to find a new one was my very own dad. Growing up as a dairy boy outside of Newmarket, Ontario, Dad was surrounded by trees, saw a farm every half mile, and never saw the stars. He had a dream to live in the wide open spaces.




The irrigator running on a calm Summer evening


Think I'll go out to Alberta
Weather's good there in the fall
I got some friends that I can go a' working for

Dad flew to Alberta when he was 16 years old to visit his older brother who was working for some Shorthorn people. Dad couldn't believe how open the land was. You could drive for miles and there would still just be open space. And he could see the stars. Just a couple years later, Dad met Mom, who was cousins with those very Shorthorn breeders that Dad worked for. They got married and had my sister and I, and Dad started the home and life he had always wanted. His dream came true. You can go anywhere and it can become home.



This is my sky


I'm proud of the house we built.
It's stronger than sticks, stones, and steel.
It's not a big place sittin' up high on some hill.
A lot of things will come and go but love never will.

My dad built my family's house when I was a baby just a few kilometers north west of my grandparents ranch. My house is built on the edge of our pasture on a hill that is overtaken by crocuses come spring time. There are ponds and sloughs north, east, west, and south of the house, and every sunrise and sunset is beautiful. There are a few trees but other than that, there is just wide open prairie. I go to bed listening to the snipes, frogs and crickets and wake up to the meadowlarks. The beauty all around me has given me a true appreciation to the land that I never want to lose. When I leave home this fall to embark on a new journey at university, I know that I will miss home. It is important, though, that I leave to start a new life else where to find myself and grow even more as a person. But I know that the distance won't change my love for the place that I grew up. You have to leave before you can come back, but along the way, you may just find home.

Hey, it's good to be back home again
Sometimes this old farm feels like a long lost friend
Yes, 'n, hey it's good to be back home again



Country roads take me home, to the place I belong


*Song lyrics used-
Wide Open Spaces, The Dixie Chicks http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nlDPPu53V80
Four Strong Winds, Ian Tyson http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC50XxmgDCg
Proud of the House We Built, Brooks and Dunn http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xNQk6gh4PK0
Back Home Again, John Denver http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k1sjOg8TFYw

Tatanka!

While many people situate the Boake name with beef cattle, there are also a number of Boakes who raise bison. This evening, my grandma Leta Wise and I made a trip up to north of Acme to my uncle Bob Boake's bison farm, Big Rock Bison. Big Rock was established in 1993, and another uncle, Matt Boake, has run Bonanza Bison since 1977. Two other of my grandma's brothers, Guy and Ken, have also had bison. It was neat to see a completely different operation that my family has, since I have grown up on a beef cattle ranch. Currently, my uncle Bob has a herd of 34 cows and 2 bulls, and I can honestly say that I don't think I have ever experienced a more interesting animal.



Some of the Big Rock herd


Bison are made for this country. They have been roaming this land for years and years and can up stand any elements thrown at them. The winter cold is not an issue what so ever. They are incredibly hardy and tough animals. Rather than finding the fence in a storm and turning away from it like beef cattle typically would, bison will face the storm head on. When shelter is needed, they find their own, often in trees or pits. Bison are incredibly easy keepers. They don't bloat, founder, or get scours. In the Winter when the snow is still soft enough, they use their heads to push through the snow so that they can get to the grass. They use their "beards" to protect their faces from any cuts from the snow by flinging the beards in front of their noses. The hair on their beards is extremely tough and can't be cut.  Once the snow gets too hard, they are fed a round bale of hay which can last them a whole week. Throughout the year, the bison receive natural salt and mineral. By consuming this, it actually kills and worm eggs in the bison, and as a result, the bison don't need to be wormed.

Calving often starts in April, and most of it will happen in May. Bison will calve until they are about 25 years old, or until all of their teeth fall out. Also, they will never calve during a storm. Just as in beef cattle, there will be the times when there are difficult births. Instead of getting any kind of help from people, the cow will roll around on the ground to move the position of the calf until she can deliver it. In order to prevent any difficult births from happening, my uncle won't feed grain to his females when they are in calf. The grain in fact causes the calves to grow too big inside of the uterus. Once the calves are born, they depend on their mama for milk, but they look after themselves quite a bit, but they don't give up easy.




One of the herd bulls enjoying the evening warmth


A number of years ago, there was a bison "hype", and everyone wanted to be a part of it. At that time, a heifer would sell for $5000.00 After a few years, the excitement died down, and prices weren't fabulous. Nowadays, heifers will sell for around $1.00/lb, raking in $1200.00, which is a very good price. Prices are increasing, and the market is good. For the longest time, Aboriginals had used their parts for daily use, everything from their heads and bones, to their tails and hooves, and the older the bull, the better. Their meat was a part of their diet as well. Their meat is iron rich and very tasty. I have eaten it before and absolutely loved it! In Sioux, bison are called "Tatanka", which I have called this very post :)

Bison are quite low maintenance. Yes, they do need taller fences made of steel wire and proper handling, but if they are happy and fed, they are quiet animals who don't need a lot of looking after. Lice is never a concern for them, as they are always rolling around in in their dirt "wallows". When they need to be moved, my uncle won't chase them, but rather, he will "haze" them. Bison are generally herd animals and like to stick together. In the herd, there is often a "lead" cow, who leads the herd. The bulls don't really have a part in looking after or moving the herd. The bulls are very smart though. During breeding season, a bull will never breed his own daughters, so there are never any inbreeding problems. Extreme caution should be used as they are very fast and injure people easily.

The herds' lead cow, center

When they sustain an injury, bison heal faster than any other animal. While a beef cow will need veterinary aid, a bison will get up and heal all on their own. It truly is survival of the fittest. Bison are wild animals and have lived in the wild for hundreds of years. It is now wonder that they have adapted so well to the climate and can take care of themselves, because they have done so for so long. They are incredible animals and I am so glad that I got to learn more about them and see these magnificent, ancient beasts up close.



A painting of bison by my cousin Jennifer Mack

 If you would like to learn more about these amazing animals, please visit The Bison Producers of Alberta!
http://www.bisoncentre.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=frontpage&Itemid=1

Colony's Contribution

Currently in agriculture, it is very important that operations are diversified in order to  be successful. A few generations ago, it was common that all farms raised a variety of animals so that they could have beef, milk, and eggs produced. Currently, the best model of diversification would be Western Canada's Hutterite colonies. Recognized by their clothing of black pants and suspenders on the men, and head shawls on the women, they are communal living, Anabaptist (adult baptists), and live a conservative, pacifist lifestyle. They came to Alberta in 1918 from the Dakota's and now there are 170 + colonies in Alberta, as well as many in Saskatchewan and Manitoba.




Traditional housing




The hog barn

 Colonies have their own  schools which follow the Alberta curriculum. Traditionally, students left school when they were 15, but many colonies now offer high school. My mom has worked at a colony school for a number of years and I have met many of the students that have gone through the school.

Hutterites are self sufficient and produce an amazing amount of agriculture commodities. Grain, oil seeds, forages, vegetables, dairy and beef cattle, hogs, sheep, goats, ranch horses, bees, chickens, eggs, turkey, geese, ducks are all in production. That is a long list! Not only that but they also run their own slaughterhouses, manufacturing shops, greenhouses, agriculture ventures, and make their own house hold articles, furniture, and leather goods!

No one comes close to the amount of production done by the Hutterites. In 1973, 7200 Hutterites owned 58,000 acres (1.2% of arable land). By 1997, 151 colonies owned 1.5 million acres= 1% of total farmland in Alberta. However, they produced 1/3 of all dairy products, eggs, and hogs! 10% of Canada's milk supply comes from Hutterite colonies. (source: ualberta.ca)

There are two colonies on either side of our ranch, the Tschetter Colony and the Mountainview Colony. The Hutterites are not only huge agricultural producers, but they are also good neighbours. My grandma's show barn was built by a neighbouring colony. I have gotten to know many of them over the years and have spent many enjoyable hours at the colony.




Branding day!


To view more on Hutterites in Alberta, click on the link below!
http://www.ualberta.ca/~german/PAA/Hutterites.htm

You Be the Judge!

In the cattle industry, the key to having a successful breeding operation is to have a group of good breeding cows. When it all comes down to it, every cattleman has their own opinion and thoughts on what makes the best cow. However, there are many key things that are important to the make up of a functional cow who will pass on her traits to her offspring.

First, here are the parts of the breeding cow.





A diagram of my mature cow, Jinquette, Copyright Keltey Whelan

  

And here are the traits that make a functional cow.






Copyright Keltey Whelan

   

1.  When judging breeding cattle, you have to work from the ground up. Feet are number one. In order for a cow to last many years, she has to have a strong set of feet. The hooves should have no cracks or lesions. There should be at a reasonable angle (about 45 degrees) and should have flex to them.
2. The legs come next. The hind legs should also have an ideal angle, but not have too much set to them, causing them to be "sickle hocked". They cannot be too straight either, resulting in "post legs". The bone should be clean and flat and the hocks should be free from swelling. The cow should have an even, free stride.
3. The udder of the cow is of much importance, as they can't afford for it to fall apart at a young age. The four teats (where the milk comes out) should be evenly placed and of a reasonable size. The udder should hang square and be well attached to the cow.
4. Depth of body and spring of rib are what make up the cow's capacity. She needs to be capacious in order to carry a calf. Width through the chest right through the her pin bones is very desirable.
5. The cow's hook bones should be places slightly higher than her pins. Having this correct angle makes her uterus at a more appropriate angle while carrying a calf for ease of calving.
6. A female with more length of spine is always more desirable.
7. The shoulder is important. A correct angle (about 45 degrees) is desirable and we want it smooth.
8. The overall femininity is important as well. There should be refinement about the head, neck, shoulder, and brisket. She should have lots of extension in her front end.

Along with all of this, the cow should be balanced (well proportioned from end to end) and eye appealing (style, alertness).

In a successful herd of cattle, the cow plays a huge role, but the other part of the operation is the herd bull.





Canadian, one of our herd bull, Copyright Keltey Whelan

  

1. The feet are very important to the longevity of a herd bull. There should be no cracks or lesions and the hooves should point strait. The pasterns should be at a correct angle and have flex to them.
2. The legs are also important. The need to have a good set to them, not too strait or too much set, and the hocks should be clean and free of swelling.
3. The scrotum is key to the fertility of a bull. Since this is where the semen comes from, they should be adequate in size, and hang strait (not twisted)
4. The bull's crest shows his masculinity. The size of it is determined my maturity.
5. The bull should have superior muscling throughout, especially in the hind quarter.
6. Though the bull can be more massive in the shoulder than a female, it should still be level in the lines and smooth. A bull can pass on a bold shoulder characteristic to his offspring, which can ultimately cause difficult calving for the cow.
7. The bull should be rugged and masculine in his head, crest, and neck.
8. As in a female, length of body is desired.
9. The sheath should be compact to the body.
10. Overall, the bull's parts should blend smoothly together, he should be thick and wide, and appear healthy and alert.

All breeds of cattle have standards that they are judged on, and these characteristics are taken into consideration when cattle are kept and culled from the herd. In the end, there may not be complete agreement between two people on what they like in cattle, but there are basics that should always be taken into consideration. I have a true passion for judging cattle, and I hope that some of my knowledge can inform you on the basics of picking and judging cattle.



Foundation of Support

Many people don't understand that in order for success to be achieved at agricultural events, support is often needed from outside sources. That is where generous sponsorship comes in. The financial support and time donated from individuals and companies allows for the success of any project.

Being involved in a number of programs through my youth, I have seen first hand the impact of sponsorship. Sponsorship is a major component of the junior cattle shows that myself and many other youth regularly attend. Without it, almost everything from the general set up of the show to the prizes awarded could not be possible.
Sponsorship not only funds the planning and of projects, but can really touch those who are benefited by it. I have been so grateful that all of the shows and programs I have been involved in are possible thanks to sponsorship from generous individuals. Without so many generous donations, I probably wouldn't have received all of the commemorative prizes that I have. I find it truly generous when people will invest their time and donate their own money to benefit others.

This year, I have even seen that gratefulness in another persons eyes. In  my 4-H club, my sister and I sponsored the Reserve Jr. Sheep Showmanship banner for the clubs Achievement Day. To see the look on the little girls face who won it really touched me, and I got to understand the satisfaction that sponsors feel as well. I know I will continue sponsoring because I know how it feels to win a prize for my achievement, but also because of the appreciation and satisfaction I have felt. Sponsorship encourages young people to move ahead in life and accomplish all that they can.

Without sponsors, everything that I have achieved in the last number of years would not have been possible and I send a big thank you to all of the sponsors that have helped me get to where I am today. Your kind support is much appreciated.

Sharing Our Story

Sharing the story of agriculture with the rest of the world has always been a goal of ag producers. Now with the increase of social media, producers are able to share their programs and message with others through the internet. Websites such as Facebook, Blogger, and Wordpress have allowed many producers to communicate with consumers and other producers in a convenient and easy way. Many farms and ranches have their own websites now, but having profiles on Facebook and blogs lets producers reach an even larger audience. Plenty of information is just a Facebook "like" away.

With this easy convenience, agriculture information is right at our finger tips. "Agvocacy" has given agriculture a bigger name, but has also given people the opportunity to go behind the scenes and see what its all about. There is so much more to a day in the life of an ag producer than many people would think. There is so much preparation, hard work, long hours, and patience that go into agriculture production. This website I found, Farm On, let's producers and consumers connect with each other and learn from each other as well. The site also features a number of educational videos, called "The Farm Virgin", that let's you have a look at the real deal. Here are two videos that give an inside look at two major aspects of the industry- breeding and meat production.

Of course, it is also important to remember that social media can be a double edged sword. As quickly as positive news gets out on the internet, false stories and facts regarding agriculture can be released as well. When posting, everyone needs to remember to always think twice about the things you post online and who could be reading it.

It is amazing what social media has let us do in the last number of years. It has let us, the producers, connect with the people we are feeding, and get the message out to everyone about the importance of agriculture. And that also happens to be the point of my blog-agvocating. Let's all celebrate and learn the importance of agriculture together!

I encourage you to check out Farm On and the Beef Information Center for more information!

http://farmon.com/index.php

http://www.beefinfo.org/

I also came across a news letter article from the Canadian Beef Information Centre about sustainability. Check it out!

http://www.beefupyourbusiness.ca/2011/issue-10/article-1.html?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=BEEF+-+A+Sustainable+Industry&utm_content=BEEF+-+A+Sustainable+Industry+CID_fbb0306af0690f2a222a9ce247f6fa79&utm_source=CM+Email&utm_term=Article+One

Exotic Changes

For anybody who is not actively involved in the cattle business, breeds of cattle probably don't mean a lot to them. Of course, almost everyone is familiar with the "Angus" burger sold at McDonald's, but what the people don't know is the number of beef breeds they consume every year!

There is an interesting history to the beef breeds in North America. During the 1950's and 60's, only 3 breeds were heavily used- Aberdeen Angus, Shorthorn, and Hereford. While things may have seemed simple, a number of problems were bringing down the beef industry. Weaning weight were low, cattle were very small in size, and ranchers struggled to sell their bulls. Cattlemen realized that changes needed to be made to improve performance, production, and find more efficient cattle. They started with performance testing, then line breeding- breeding of animals that share common ancestors, and crossbreeding- crossing more than 1 breed together. Through crossbreeding, many found the hybrid vigor a success. However, there was also the idea to use new, different breeds all together.



A Shorthorn bull from 1969 raised by my grandparents,
quite a bit smaller than today's cattle



While the 3 "British" breeds being used were already in North America, a number of "exotic" breeds were waiting in Europe. Through a process of applications and permits, the import of the exotics from Europe began!
Here are just a few breeds and where they originated in

Simmental- Switzerland
Fleckvieh- Germany, Austria
Charolais-France
Maine-Anjou-France
Limousin- France
Gelbvieh- Germany
* There were many more breeds that were imported but aren't quite as popular today

The exotics, now called "continentals", were admired as they were growthier and more heavily muscled. They had great potential and cash value. While many traditionalists remained with their British breeds, many others took a chance for a new future. By adding the breeds most exciting sires to breeding programs, herds became enriched with performance and strong bloodlines. Many were greatly rewarded and stayed disciples of their chosen breed, while others stayed as long as the market was hot. Commercial cattlemen also saw it as an opportunity and changed their breeding programs forever. Until 1970, my family had always been Shorthorn breeders, but we then saw the potential in the Maine-Anjou breed. I guess you can say that the rest is history.

There are still dozens of beef breeds in production all over North American. The size and of cattle have been up and down over the years as well. While cattle were small in the 50's and 60's, the exotics brought quite a size change to cattle. They were tall and very extreme. In the present, cattle are at more moderate size that works for all cattlemen.



A full blood Maine-Anjou bull from the 1980's,
very tall in structure



A purebred Maine bull in the 1990's,
slowly becoming smaller in size



A present day purebred Maine bull,
at a reasonable moderate size



Of course, all breeds aren't the same though, and each has something different to offer to the producer that he finds beneficial to his herd. I have always admired the docility, performance,and feed conversion our Maine-Anjou cattle have given us. My two best friends raise completely different breeds from me. Kaitlynn Bolduc raises Black Angus, while Sarah Nixdorff is a part of a Horned Hereford operation, but they both will say that their breeds have been good to them. We all see great things in our breeds that we can add to the beef industry and give to the consumers!

The Pasture

I thought I would share a poem with you by Robert Frost that I have loved for a long time.

I'm going out to clean the pasture spring;
I'll only stop to rake the leaves away
(And wait to watch the water clear, I may):
I shan't be gone long. --You come too.

I'm going out to fetch the little calf
That's standing by the mother. It's so young,
It totters when she licks it with her tongue.
I shan't be gone long. -- You come too.

When I read this poem, I relate it to my life. My home is in the middle of a native grass pasture, and there is no place I would rather be. I feel lucky to look out my window everyday and see miles of grassland. I love seeing the new calves with their mama's in the morning. I love the sound of the frogs and crickets when I go to sleep. I love the wild flowers, fresh air, birds, and all that the pasture has to offer. I could not ask for more. :)



The view outside of my window



 

Branding the West

This past weekend I attended a branding at my friend Sarah Nixdorff's family farm, SNS Herefords. For those of you that don't know, livestock branding a technique of marking cattle, either by a hot iron brand or freeze brand. Since the earliest times, cattlemen have branded their cattle because a brand was the key to ownership. The marking is clear and unmistakable. Every operation has their own brand, varying from letters and numbers, to geometric symbols, to pictorial symbols. Often, four typical brands were used.

 Monogram

Ofter a combination of initials, with running curves

to blend them together

Phonogram

Usually letters or numbers combined with geometric or

pictorial symbols. My family's original brand is a phonogram-

      

 ZT    *Read as Bar Z T

Pictograph

Letters and numbers combined to make a picture. In the

photo on the left, an 'L' and a '5' are combined to make a '45'.

This type of brand is no longer available.

Word Story

A simple word that may tell a story about the cattlemen.

There has been a long history of branding, as a brand prevented cattle rustling, a concern still today. The average cattleman may have a 500 head herd which he might pasture far from home and can't check on daily, if there is a break in the fence and a calf gets out, cattle with brands are easily identified and traced to the owner.

Of course there are rules when it comes to branding. Every brand must be registered and approved by the Brand Registrar. When the brand is applied, it must be in the place specified on the brand registration certificate. There are specific places where cattle and horses can be branded.

Cattle: Shoulder, rib, or hip on either the left or right side

Horses: Jaw, shoulder, or thigh on either the left or right side

In the earlier days, a range cow could have several different brands and markings. Not only would they have a number of brands on their bodies, but they also bore knife cuts on their necks, briskets, throats, and ears.



The different markings a cow could have

Nowadays with the increase in technology,cattle identification has progressed greatly.  These systems also serve a different purpose. All registered cattle (animals registered with designated breed associations with papers) must have a tattoo in their ears. These tattoos consist of the breeders tattoo letters as well as the animals number and year letter. For example, a cow I raised would have the tattoo 'KEW 140W'. All beef cattle, registered or commercial, are required to have an RFID (radio frequency identification) tag in their ears. Every tag has a unique number that makes tracing an animal easy. No animal is allowed to leave the property without one. Not only must they have this tag, but every livestock operation must have a Premise ID number as well.

While many producers are not happy with the costs of all of these new initiatives, it is important to the industry for traceability and food safety. Traceability systems help identify beef products back to the retailer, wholesaler, processor, cow-calf and feedlot producer.

After all of this time, branding still seems to be the easiest way to identify their cattle. No cattle can be stolen, they are easily indentified, and cattlemen are proud to see their brand right their on their cattle!