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The 2007 Annual Red Angus Summer Tour was held in South West Saskatchewan
(Moose Jaw and Area) July 19, 20, 21, 2007.
Four Breeders from Southwest Saskatchewan hosted the Canadian Red Angus Promotional Society and Saskatchewan Angus Summer Tour. Hosts who generously donated their time were Cockburn Red Angus, Howe Red Angus, Six Mile Red Angus and Wagner Angus.
Amidst sweltering temperatures enthusiastic cattle men and women attended, showing up to the Howe ranch early on July 19 to renew old friendships and make new ones.
The two day tour started with a delicious, unique breakfast of Beef Bacon served on a bagel and cooked on an open air grill. This delicacy was specially made by a local Butcher shop. Breakfast was hosted by Wagner Angus. Following breakfast the group was loaded onto a Coach Bus to begin the Trek.
Wagner Angus was the first stop on the day's travel. Upon arrival guests were greeted by two Akita dogs who were thrilled to have so many people to show around. The tour here started with an information session given by former Masterfeeds employee Candace Ippolito. The session discussed the importance of minerals and the benefits of creep feeding. This was followed by a much needed liquid break prior to looking at the cattle. Then supplied with a cow tag listing and genetic ID all made their way out to the white steel lined corrals to look at both Black and Red Angus cows and calves.
Next on the schedule was a bagged lunch eaten on the air conditioned bus. This was a welcome as the temperatures were soaring well into the high 30's. Lunch was hosted by Windy Hill Livestock.
As lunch was eaten the bus made its way to Fir Mountain home of Six Mile Red Angus ranch. The journey of two hours gave some relief from the heat. We were met by Corinne and Clayton Gibson who showed us into their sale barn where refreshments and snacks were served. Corinne gave us the agenda of activities, this included a further short journey to a very scenic pasture near the main farm. This pasture was located by a fresh water spring and much greenery making one think of an oasis. The cows and calves were confined in an old yard site making them very easy to examine. From here we returned to the outskirts of the ranch where a group of heifers were being held in a corner of the pasture by three very capable cowboys on horseback. These heifers were from several sire groups that demonstrated the excellence of the Six Mile program. The bus then returned us to the main ranch where several groups of cows and calves could be viewed further exhibiting the Six Mile genetics.
As this first day came to a close supper was served in the sale barn at Six Mile catered by local women from surrounding Fir Mountain . This culinary delight gave everyone a taste of delicious down home cooking found only in south western Saskatchewan .
Friday July 20th once again began at the Howe ranch with a continental breakfast hosted by Cockburn Red Angus. That morning we were off the Cockburn Ranch ( land where the cattle are grazed in the summer only) located in the remote Haunted Hills of south western Saskatchewan . Here Ward Cockburn had rounded up some groups of cattle into corrals for the tour group to view.
Lunch on Friday was back at the Howe Ranch and was hosted by the Howes. The BBQ burgers and fresh salads along with much liquid as the temperatures once again soared into the high 30's with a humidex factor in the 40 degree celius range. Following lunch, several of the Howes pastures were visited within the vicinity of the ranch. We saw groups of cow calves and finished off with the heifers right by the sale barn.
A short break was taken with many people returning to their hotels in Moose Jaw to freshen up prior to the supper and the bull calf jackpot in the evening at the Howe Ranch.
The supper was attended by the people on the tour,the National Showdown Juniors, their parents and others involved in Showdown which was occurring simultaneously with the tour dates. Well over 250 people attended the supper with various activities organized for the Juniors such as face painting, Junior BBQ cookoff and small group activities for the younger juniors.
Supper was prepared by Stan and Judy Rice with chef extraordinaire Stan spicing and grilling the juicy steaks to perfection.
Judging of the bull calf jackpot organized by the tour group included all who attended the BBQ as it was a People's Choice award. The juniors enthusiastically joined in making this award quite prestigious.
21 bull calves both Red and Black Angus with their dams were on display for judging.
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Champion Bull calf chosen by the people was Red Six Mile Full Throttle 171T sired by Red Ter-Ron Fully Loaded 540R owned by Six Mile Red Angus. The Champion bull calf won $500.00 cash, a full page ad in the Cattlemen's magazine valued at $1700.00, a Masterfeeds jacket, and a beautiful print valued at $200.00. |
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Reserve champion bull calf chosen by the people was SMW Tactics 81T ( a black calf) sired by Connealy Kincaid owned by Wagner Angus. The Reserve Champion calf won $400.00 cash, 2.5 litre bottle of Dextomax, $250.00 certificate for future flush work by Optimum Genetics and a Masterfeeds jacket. |
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Third Place bull calf owners. |
We would like to express our gratitude and recognize our sponsors who generously gave product which was used in our silent auction or as prizes.
Moose Jaw Animal Clinic
Pfizer Animal Health
Cargill
Masterfeeds
Sask. Angus (The Edge magazine)
Today's Angus Advantage
Merv Nidesh Q.C.
Canadian Angus Assoc. (Print)
Optimum Genetics
Thanks to all who made the trek to south western Saskatchewan and helped make this tour a success.
See you all down the road.
Submitted by Sharon Wagner (Wagner Angus)
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