Wednesday, October 15, 2014

Dream Big

Anxious. Excited. Nervous. Thrilled. It's a pretty steady flow of these emotions...and then some!
 
In January of 2015, we are loading up the truck and heading west to Denver where we will be first time exhibitors at the National Western Stock Show. I will be the first to admit, I'm scared as hell. Scared of the travel with the cattle. Scared to show up and not have everything we need. Worried about not being ready. Scared people will not appreciate our cattle.  Worried this will be the year of record snowfall.. Basically you name it, I'm scared/worrying about it!  See, the reason why we are on this adventure at all is, well, my fault.  Let me explain why...
 
This all started from a childhood dream...Like 4 generations of my family before me, I grew up raising Hereford cattle and although it wasn't always easy, they have been VERY close to my heart since I can remember. Even when owning or showing Herefords wasn't the most popular thing in the barn. Isn't that a great example of true love and commitment?!  I had dreamed of "Living the Hereford Life" with a family that loved them too. As you fast forward through my 4-H days to adulthood, I was blessed with dreams fulfilled; a supportive family who loved Herefords too, a career in the industry I love and a husband and his family who also (with a little time) fell for my first love too-my Herefords.  
 
I believe then it was the Summer of 2012 is when the news broke that Star Lake was about to make a full dispersal. I was excited and saddened at the same time. I had always admired the cattle and identity Star Lake made in agriculture but I had yet to make it to see in person, this icon, at least in my eyes, and I knew the opportunity to do so was limited to just a few months with this news. My first call was to my father in law. He had a list in his office of farms/ranches he wanted to visit and Star Lake was on it. Phone call was made and it went something like, "Ben, Star Lake is dispersing."  "Really?" He said. "We better go!"  
 
Tod and Gail really weren't hard sells either and plans were made to attend the sale. We ended up with what Monte Soules said on the block was, "a good buy". A breed icon. Star Spiridge Kessey 321L ET and as I like to refer to her as, the mother of champions!  She may be a shoe-in for an AARP card in cow years now but she still has "it"...she has a January 2014 daughter that recently won the open Hereford show at the Wisconsin State Fair. This. Girl. Is. Timeless. 
 
Her first calves for us made sleepless nights in bitter cold January and February but they are the reason, (or maybe the credit is Kessey's), why we are headed for the yards of the National Western with two pens of 3 heifers. All from Kessey. Each pen is comprised of full siblings from two matings with the hopes of making the most uniform groups and putting Next Generation Genetics' best foot/hoof forward! We will also be offering the pick of our pens on the prestigious Mile High Night Sale.  I have nothing to worry about, right? 
We hope you will join us on this adventure!  Only 2 months and 23 day left.... :)