We always enjoy making the trip to Fort Worth for the Southwestern Exposition and National Hereford Show. Our neighbors to the south put on a great event and it is relaxing and usually a warm retreat after Denver. It was relaxing this year but the warm part was MISSING. For those that didn't bring their heavy Denver garb...good luck finding any woolies to wear in Cowtown! The hospitality was more than warm and the Star Lake show string was HOT!
Activities began on Sunday with the Pen of Three bull show and we exhibited a group that consisted of Shock & Awe, Lock-n-Load and Kamikaze. After the judging was completed our group of three was selected as the Grand Champion Pen. We were presented a beautiful floral arrangement in a silver cup that was in memory of LCPL Vanessa Messner USMC. In addition as is the tradition in Fort Worth the champions are presented a gun which is put together by Jack Chastain and the Texas Hereford Association. This year we were very honored to have been presented a pistol and holster. The Cowtown Select Sale was held on Sunday afternoon and our consignment was selected to sell in the number two slot. Our offering STAR TCF Sportster 380W ET went to Rafter J in Abilene, TX...Thank you Larry!
In the National Show on Monday morning we started with the females and the five gals in our show string never lost a class. STAR KKH SSF Olivia 15U ET was named National Grand Champion Polled Female after claiming the Polled Junior Yearling Heifer Division. Olivia is a back to back Grand Champion Female in Fort Worth receiving the honor last year as well. In addition Olivia was named Grand Champion at the National Hereford Show in Louisville in 2009. At the 2010 National Western and '09 Junior National she was selected the Reserve Grand Champion. This 3-Time National Champion is owned by Star Lake, Kasey Herman/B.J.Herman & Sons and Buffalo Bend Farm.
Also in the Female Show, Mallorie Phelps led both of her young heifers to class winners in the very deep first Division of Polled Spring Heifer Calves. STAR KKH SSF HCC Venus 385W ET won Class P01A and went on to be named the Division Reserve Champion. Mallorie's other young heifer STAR KKH SSF Mirror Image 286W won Class P02C.
In the second Division of Junior Heifer Calves STAR KKH SSF Keyshona 25W ET was slapped the Division Champion after winning Class P06. Keyshona is a full sister to Olivia and is sired by Online out of Keysha.
Division 4 of Polled Intermediate Heifers went to the Stumpf boys of Columbia, IL who are as much a part of our Ranch family as anybody. Lucas was on the halter of a May '08 Bright Future daughter that had Logan and Corey cheering from the sidelines.
In the Bull Show we had a repeat of Denver as STAR TCF Shock & Awe 158W ET made his way to the National Grand Champion Polled Hereford Bull award. This is the second National Grand Champion award for Shock & Awe after he won the National Western Stock Show in Denver. Also at Denver he was selected for the prestigious award of Supreme Hereford over all of the Denver Champion winners. This outstanding young bull calf is owned by Star Lake, TCF, Tennessee River Music and Buffalo Bend Farm.
Our other Star Lake bulls did a great job all the way through as they completed the same feat as our Females...Each of the bulls we presented won their respective class AND none of our bulls was defeated in their Division other than by another Star Lake bull.
The first Division found STAR TCF Lock-n-Load 300W ET as the Polled Spring Bull Calf Champion. Lock-n-Load is owned by Star Lake, TCF and Turkey Feather Ranch. The next Division of Polled Junior Bull Calves was won by Shock & Awe coming out of Class P32. The Reserve Division Champion was STAR KKH SSF Kamikaze 41W ET who won Class P33. Kamikaze is owned by Star Lake, Kasey Herman, Sunnyside Stock Farm, Tennessee River Music, Lamb Bros and Towner Farms.
The final Division of the day, Polled Senior Bulls was won by MSU TCF Titleist 2T ET. Titleist calves have been sale features throughout this year. Titleist is owned by Star Lake Cattle Ranch, Pollard Farms, MCS Cattle, Mrs. Eva Hamman and Michigan State University.
To round out the show we also received the Championship banner for the Best Six Head, Premier Breeder and Premier Exhibitor.
We thank our crew, our customers, the judges and the many folks in Texas for a fantastic event.
For a complete show recap by class go to the AHA website or CLICK HERE
We will be posting pictures on our site...they can be viewed by CLICKING HERE
We want to take the opportunity to inform, educate, enlighten and encourage thoughts on topics that impact the technology and philosophy of Herefords and the cattle business.
