March 2013 Articles

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Just Rambling, March 2013

Our front cover this month features my youngest daughter, Blair, with her Brangus heifer, Jessie, the Supreme Champion Brahman-Influenced Heifer at the Northeast Louisiana District Livestock Show in late January of this year. She is pictured below as a champion in another way—the mama of a fine Brangus bull calf, born February 27, 2013. This heifer, named MS DMR Distinction 22242 (Blair calls her Jessie), came from Draggin M Ranch, El Dorado, Arkansas, owned by Mr. John Milam. Blair, having shown registered Charolais and commercial heifers since she was six, decided in the summer of 2011 that she wanted to show a registered Brangus heifer. After much discussion, I decided to call Mr. Grady Green, Ranch Manager for Draggin M Ranch, about purchasing a Brangus heifer for Blair. Grady graciously welcomed us to the ranch and patiently helped Blair with the task of selecting a show heifer from the many scattered throughout the pasture. As we surveyed the cattle, one heifer caught her eye—this was Jessie. Since I wasn’t sure about Blair’s choice, Grady volunteered to pen all the heifers in the pasture the next day, and then we could return and look again. This is what we did; however, we did not come alone. With Blair and I came the “Heavyweights” of livestock judging: Mr. Jason Holmes, Union Parish 4-H Agent; Blair’s older sister, Dana, who had shown cattle for many years; and Donnette, Blair’s mother, who had also shown cattle and participated in livestock judging in her youth. Guess what? After Grady penned the heifers and we sorted through all of them, Blair came right back to Jessie, even though Jessie was far from the universal choice. This was Blair’s choice, however, and she was determined to carry Jessie home—and she did! Jessie was a great choice for Blair, as their personalities are so similar. They ranged from sullen, to calm, to aggressive, and their personalities didn’t always coincide. When they conflicted, the livestock show did not go so well; when they meshed, however, Blair and Jessie did great. On our initial trip home after purchasing Jessie, Blair informed her mother that she didn’t want her working with Jessie at all. Blair knew her mother has a special way with animals, and that they all love her—Blair wanted Jessie to herself, and even informed me that I was not to help her halter-break Jessie. This was the first heifer or bull that I hadn’t helped her with, but I respected her wishes. It didn’t take long for Blair and Jessie to develop a special relationship. Blair loved Jessie so much, and in turn, you could tell that Jessie loved Blair. As Blair worked with Jessie each day, her hope was that she could win a trip to the International Livestock Exposition, to be held in November in Louisville, Kentucky. She had won a trip there with a Charolais heifer we’d raised, but she very much wanted to go back and carry her new heifer. While showing Jessie in the Louisiana State Fair in October, Blair was selected to make the trip back to Louisville with Jessie. Blair was elated, and in Louisville, she and all the other chosen young people had a great time. I even think Jessie enjoyed it since she was with Blair. Then, after returning from Louisville, Blair showed Jessie in the spring livestock shows, performing quite well, but not receiving a champion or reserve champion prize. But this did not upset Blair. Jessie was a champion to her, and that was all that mattered. Later that spring, as Jessie turned 15 months old, it was time to have her bred. I contacted Mr. Grady Green again about bringing her back to Draggin M Ranch to have her bred through artificial insemination or by natural service to one of their herd sires. Upon arriving at Draggin M, Grady asked Blair if she would be interested in breeding Jessie to a new young herd sire, TJM Coronado 535X, that they had recently bought from Suhn Cattle Company in Kansas. After Grady carried us to look at him, Blair thought he was the right mate for Jessie. Blair hated to leave Jessie there, but she did, and we headed home. About three weeks later, we contacted Grady about picking up Jessie to carry to the National Brangus show, which was being held in West Monroe, Louisiana. As we picked up Jessie, Grady informed us that she had been bred on May 29, but that we would need to bring her back after the show to make sure she settled, which we did. When we finally picked up Jessie for good, it was quite humorous watching her step into the trailer. It was evident that she was glad to see Blair and to load up to come home. There were two happy young ladies on the ride home! Blair and Jessie’s fall and spring show seasons have been really good. Blair had a good chance of being selected to return to Louisville, but decided not to try out, due primarily to Jessie’s being heavy with calf. Since Blair and Jessie’s last show in early February, we had all been amazed at how Jessie had blossomed prior to calving. We had been worried that Jessie’s temperament towards Blair might change after calving, but guess what: it hasn’t. Her love for Blair continues, even though she now has a young calf to tend to. Meanwhile, Blair’s love has expanded to include Jessie’s new offspring. How thrilling and rewarding it is to watch our daughter become a young lady, and her little heifer become a young mother! The livestock programs through 4-H and FFA teach so much to our young people—responsibility, leadership, compassion, a strong work ethic, the ability to care for others, and the ability to compete in this world. So many characteristics that are so lacking in our society today. Thanks so much to John Milam, owner of Daggin M Ranch, and Grady Green, Ranch Manger, for all you have done for Blair and Jessie. Look for Blair and Jessie, along with the new little man (Blair hasn’t decided on the perfect name just yet), at the National Brangus Show this summer in West Monroe.