Indiana weather update

Jared Bedwell Memorial video

Watch "Jared Bedwell - Memorial Video" on YouTube

Thoughts and prayers

Please keep both the Bedwell family and the Cunningham family in your thoughts and prayers. Both families suffered a devastating loss of a family member during the past couple of days.

This should be fun to clean up!

Winthrop coach Pat Kelsey on Sandy Hook Tragedy

This is a very good video on Coach Kelseys ideas following the Connecticut shootings 


Winthrop coach on Sandy Hook tragedy

Terri Keffer Memorial

RIP Terri Keffer

Our thoughts and prayers go out to the entire Keffer/Kinder family.

It's been awhile...

Today, as I was catching up on my friend Lindsay Bowman's blog and then got a phone call from my good buddy Kevin Mears I realized that it had been awhile since I had got on here and just rambled.  These two along with Rachel Cutrer are part of the reason that we decided to add some personal stuff to this blog, I thought it was a bit coincidental that in the last 24 hours, I had received a Facebook message from Rachel, read Lindsay's blog and got a phone call from Kevin....I figured it was Gods way of telling me that I need to recap Hoosier Beef Congress.

For those that have never been to the Hoosier Beef Congress, it is quite the experience.  There is approximately 1000-1200 head of cattle there, breed sales, junior shows and showmanship competitions, judging, photography contests, etc.  All of this takes place in the matter of 4 days.  It is busy, but it is a pretty cool deal.  In the past, I had always dreaded Hoosier Beef Congress.  Mostly because it meant trying to get 8-12 head clipped for a show by myself, while trying to get all the other work around the farm done as well.  And then getting to the show and trying to get all of these cattle fit with a 3 person crew. It was just to much.  This year was different.  I actually enjoyed the HBC. Why? Because we only had 4 head there and it was Kendall's first cattle show as a "big boy".  Now, we did not set the world on fire as far as how we placed, yes, I think we got screwed in a couple of classes, but you know what, there is another cattle show this weekend(figure of speech, we are not going).  I know there have been some people who have been rather vocal about some of the judges this year, even to go as far as accusations about "hidden agendas" to make sure some people win and others don't.  I am not going there, it was there opinion on that day, and there is a lot of cow showing left to do this year.  Right now, my main focus is getting him in the ring and getting him experiance.  I said on here one other time, the boy has more God given talent for showing livestock(cattle in particular) than most 8 yr olds I have ever seen, now, we just have to keep building confidence. I can't wait until some showmanship judge starts asking him questions, and he comes back and tells them the avg. gestation length of a cow, or the difference between a cow and a heifer, bull or steer, etc. He is ready. Some other things I learned from HBC:

- Bryan Kelly still knows how to get me fired up, and at the same time can keep me calm
- Puppies make kids happy
- Carlyn Blue is Kendall's "unofficial" girlfriend
- Don't ever count on the announcer to call your showmanship class, you might miss it
- I like the new lay out with the show rings in the Expo Hall
- Don't give your cow Draxxin, Banamine, Probios, and Fastrack all in the same week...it's ugly.
- Don't give your cow Zupervo the right before you leave for the show...you will possibly wake up with a bowling ball in it's brisket.
- My wife can flat cook anything in a crock pot!!!
- If you have a problem with someone/something, confront it directly and get it out in the open.  Stop the small talk and glares as you walk by each others stalls( if you are reading this, you know who you are)
- The purebred heifer check in lines need a little improving before next year.
- The majority of people are still willing to spend money on an heifer to win a banner, even though they have no idea how she can improve their herd once she is done showing.
- Nathan Apple has one thing on his mind at the cow show...and it ain't cattle.
- I am starting to take a liking to these Herefords.
- Luke Bowman is in fact as smart as he looks.
- Kevin Heath and I view the club calf business the same way
- Don Washburn is still the greatest ring help for young kids
- I love listening to Mike Rist talk about old time steer jock days
- Shane Blue....that's all I can say
- Brandon Jones still does the best "man tail" I have seen.
- Listening to Todd Caldwell reminisce about his glory days of roller skating is hilarious
- Clark Chamberlain may in fact be one of the funniest people I have ever met.
- YOU WILL GET THE HBC CRUD, IT IS JUST A MATTER OF WHEN



Thanks to everyone that helped us over the weekend.Nathan, Bryan, Pat, P Shuter, Neal, Cody, Ryan T. Steph and Bailey.  If I left someone off, I am sorry.  Beth and I are extremely grateful.

Dave

Terri Keffer Medical Benefit

Make sure to head over to liveauctions.tv and view this sale of outstanding offerings.  The Keffer family are second to none and are in need. CANCER SUCKS!

Hoosier Beef Congress Sale Heifer Lot # 458

For sale Privately

Simple Man x Hostage.  April 2012. 100% dog gentle, first year 4-her broke.  Contact Dave for details.

Sells This Saturday 10 AM EST

Lot # 458 of the Hoosier Beef Congress All Star Steer and Heifer sale. Sired by Monopoly out of our famed #81 donor. This maternal half sib to Simple Man is flawless in her design with all the power and balance you need. For details, call/text Dave at (317) 408-1085 or Beth at (765)-639-6450

Thanks!

Thanks to all the bidders at the 2012 Donors on Ice sale last Saturday night.  The whole sale was a huge success and our consignments sold extremely well.  Special thanks and best of luck  to Steve Holtz(IA, repeat customer) and Bo Teague(TN) for their purchase of gentetics.

Be on the lookout early in 2013 for information regarding our first online genetic showcase sales at www.cwcattlesales.com.  We have partnered with Bonell Farms to host "The Eggstravaganza" on March 20, 2013.  We will be offering the top end of our embryo inventory, special flush opportunities as well as some special consignments from other breeders.  Also, we will be hosting another sale at www.cwcattlesales.com  on March 27, 2013 titled "Forgotten Treasures".  This sale will consist of some of the most proven matings within each program that are very rarely offered for sale as well as full sib matings to past champions, past donors and past AI sires as well as a select offering of rare semen.

Don't Forget...sells Saturday Night@NAILE

Contact us or any of the sale consultants if we can be of assistance.

Good Times, White Lines, and Stock Shows

First off, we want to thank everybody that follows us here.  Although this blog was originally intended just for marketing, it has been fun to share with you all some of the craziness that happens in our life on a daily basis....kind of an "online therapy" if you will.  Obviously, there must be enough folks that follow us, as we received our very first Best of the Barns Nominations this year for "Best Ranch/Farm Facebook page" and for "Best Cattle Blogger".  We are really excited and honored to receive both nominations from the folks over at RHD, we have been dilligently working to gain new contacts through our Facebook page, and being that our blog is relatively new, we were extremely excited about this one.  I think people are able to relate with all the different things we talk about. So, thank you....

Now, about the title, "Good Times, White Lines, and Stock Shows".  This pretty much sums up this time of year for us.  The month of Novemeber generally becomes a little of a blur.  We just got back from Rd 1 at the NAILE with Kendall and his barrow Kermit.  Kendall did very well.  It was by far the best job he has done showing anywhere. He ended up making the sift in class.  We thought he would be a place or two higher, but at this age, it is about experiance. We are so proud of how far he has come in the past 2 years in terms of not only his showring presence, but also that he is starting to understand the whole big picture and and the sacrifices that are sometimes made in order to participate in this project. I will tell you though, he is also of the age, it is not getting any easier to let our animals go.  Below is a picture of Kendall and Kermit getting ready to show.  I have noticed within the past year, that although Kendall knows he will be getting a premium check for his pig, right before he shows, he gets in the pen and starts getting quiet and petting his pigs.  I think it is his way of dealing with the fact that he knows they are not coming home with us. One thing that we have taught him is the value of humane animal treatment and that first and foremost, animals are raised to provide safe, healthy food for people, so he knows that Kermit will become bacon, but it still does not make it any easier.

Kendall and Kermit

 He got to spend the weekend with his friends, oh, and of course he had to buy something at the giant country store.  I swear, that place is a shoppers weakness.

Steph, Taylor, Beth, Kendall at the pig show

  

Dusty, Beth and Kendall at the Cowpokes booth in the Giant Country Store



 I absolutely love showing in Louisville, whether it is cattle or pigs.  That Country Store, seeing old friends, making new ones, and of course...THE GREEN SHAVINGS!  Now, it is pretty neat that the pigs show on green shavings, but I am not going to lie, that view walking down into Freedom Hall and seeing the green shavings and all of the people in the stands is one of my most favorite things. It gives me goose bumps every year when I walk in there for the first time.  For those who have never exhibited cattle at the NAILE, Ranch House captured the view that I am talking about in this motivational poster:



 We got home Sunday night in time to get a shower to get the pig smell off of ourselves and get two loads of laundry going(thank God for a second washer/dryer in the basement).  We regrouped Monday and  today , getting ready for round 2 in Louisville next weekend. I( Beth) am working on getting the laundry done and suticases repacked as I have to be at Purdue Weds, Thurs, and Fri. for meetings.  Dave is busy working on getting the first round of fall cows bred, cattle moved around and some last minute clipping done before we leave. Oh, and Kendall starts basketball on tonight.   Even though it is exhausting being in Louisville 2 weekends in a row, we would not miss it.  We got to see all our pig friends last weekend and are excited to see our cattle friends over the next weekend.  Kendall is way excited to go back to Louisville to pick up part of an early Christmas present.  Kendall is finally( after a year of asking) getting a Corgi puppy of his own.  If you see a little blonde haired boy dragging around the puppy below, make sure to stop and tell him how cute it is. We have not come up with a name yet, we are working on it. 

We will be kinda all over the place this upcoming weekend in Louisville, so make sure to catch up with us.  Dave will be doing a clipping/fitting demo with Kirk Stierwalt, sponsored by Weaver in New Market Hall as well as we will have a heifer there and helping on some fat steers on Sunday. Also, don't forget to look for us at the Donors on Ice Saturday night at the Hilton.  We are consigning some outstanding embryo packages to that sale.  Thanks to Tyler Humphrey for asking us to be apart of it.

Now, the rest of the month----

Come home from Louisville(again), and we are off for 1 week(Yay!!).  Then, Thanksgiving, and on Black Friday we leave for Lima, Oh for the Heart Of it All show, come home, then, start clipping cattle for Hoosier Beef Congress the following weekend. Whew!!!

It is crazy how busy this time of year gets, but we would not change one bit of it.  Good luck and safe travels to all at the NAILE and all the other shows.  We look forward to catching up with everyone.

Dave and Beth

GO VOTE!!!!

Make sure to get out and go vote today.  This a pivitol election not only at the national level, but also in many states.  Make sure your voice is heard.

Best of the Barns- voting open

Best of the Barn polls were opened and nominations announced today. We were fortunate to receive 2 nominations.  We wiuld appreciate your vote, and don't forget, head over and like our facebook page, we only need 24 more likes before we give some Ranch House Designs gear away. Vote at www.bestofthebarns.com

Barn Therapy

We all have the one thing we do to help clear our minds after a a crazy day at work or home, and in our house it is "going to the barn". Whether it is to the show barn  to rinse show and sale cattle or  to run the head-gate as we are working cattle through the chute, it is to the barn we go!  Speaking of that, it reminds me of this picture I saw on Facebook a few weeks ago, I could not help but laugh as I read it, because everyone knows there is no truth to this.

Sometimes we will help out during calving season.  Kendall and I love to go to the barn everyday during this time to see all the new babies. They are all just so stinking cute!

I also like to spend time in the pig barn with the guys.  Kendall began showing pigs a couple of years ago, and it has been great.  Not only has this project helped him make new friends, but it has also taught him responsibility and has boost his confidence.

As I write this,  I realize the barn has always been the place I go to escape what I do not want to do, which is usually some type of housework (even as a kid).  We (like many others) all go to the barn for different reasons and all have different jobs when we go there:

For Dave, the show barn is a place that he can just relax and think.  It is often that he will come home late at night, and I will ask him "What was going on in the barn?"  And most of the time he will say something like "just working."  His idea of just working can span from a lot of things though.  He is always trying to figure out how to make things better at the farm. Whether he is looking at a bull magazine studying mating decisions, calving cows, or rinsing cattle, the barn is where he likes to be.   I often find him in the barn, with either his iPod in or the radio blaring, blowing on cattle working hair just lost in thought....yes I said lost in thought, not just lost. LOL!!  He truely is one of those people that is "ate up" with the business. 
For Me (Beth), it is my place to put things in perspective...  Dave usually avoids me while I am in the barn, since the "Honey-do-list" gets put together when I have a little time to think!  The thing I love most about the barn, are the talks that Kendall and I have!  It is the one place that we lose a lot of conversation barriers and he and I just talk about life and those things that are sometimes on an 8-year old's mind.

For Kendall, well it varies from day to day!  Sometimes it is to just have fun and play in the barn!!! He recently made a "strawbale slide" with his cousins that they played on for hours. Sorry, don't have any pictures of that, but it was funny watching all of them slide down all the bales.  He loves his time with the dogs and the kittens, but he loves to "help"  a lot too!  He will feed his girls (Ginger and Gee Gee) or push hay bales down from the  loft.  He will wash and blow out his heifers, or sometimes he will just lead them around the barn.  And, there are some days he just wants to be "in" the barn not really doing anything, but just be there.

Who says you can't grow up in a barn!!  In our family it seems to be the one place we all go when we need time to put our priorities into perspective and get back to life we love to lead!!

Old Yeller A.K.A Donor #75

Donor #75

Donor #75 makes her return to the Donors on Ice Frozen Genetics sale on Sat., Nov. 10th at 7:30PM at the Hilton Garden in during the NAILE.  We will be offering 1 package of Monopoly embryos that will be full sibs to Hunter Webers highly acclaimed 201-2012 steer.  Notable titles this steer gathered are Ch. Chi, Top 5 breed steer at both Heart of it All and Scarlet and Gray, Ch. Chi, 3rd Overall Illinois Beef Expo, Res. Grand at both Western Illionois Hoof and Horn and University of Illinois Preview and concluded the year as being selected Grand Champion steer at the Illinois State Fair Open Steer Show.  Full sibs to this mating have avgeraged over $19,000.  Contact us or any member of the sale staff if we can assist you.  Full catalog listing online at www.donorsonice.com

Grand Steer- Illinois State Fair Open Show

3rd Overall Steer- Illinois Beef Expo

Res. Grand- Universtiy of Illinois

Res. Grand- Western Illinois

Donor #81

Make sure to check out Lot #40 in the 2012 edition of the Donors on Ice (www.donorsonice.com).  We will be offering 1 package of 3 embryos sired by GOET I-80 x VCC #81.  #81 is the dam of the Goddard AI sire Simple Man and the grand dam of the Lautner AI sire Torrington.  We feel this could be the best, most consistent mating yet...so much in fact, that we are expecting 8 full sibs to the embryo's selling next spring.

Donor #81

Selling full sibs Nov. 10

The only opportunity this year to buy full sibs to this multiple time champion steer including Grand Champion steer 2012 Illinois State Fair Open Show will be at the Donors on Ice sale held during the NAILE. 

To view catalog online, go to www.donorsonice.com  

Redneck Can Crusher

Kendall displays an alternative use for a headgate.

http://youtu.be/213vkmX5wGM

Today's Motivation

These are two of our favorite Facebook posts from the past week.

Fall Break....What a week!!!

Hey all!!!  Well I am back to the “normal”,  my week of fall break with Kendall was AWESOME and busy!!!

We started off showing pigs @ Hogtoberfest in Tipton.  That was such a fun weekend. Kendall told me that best part was seeing all his friends!!! 

    

  

We spent Monday picking pumpkins!  Kendall was such a trooper, we picked 40 pumpkins for our Jr. Leader meeting on Tuesday.  My little helper also washed all the pumpkins the first time for me!  Kendall and crew painted pumpkins as part of the Jr. Leader meeting!

Another great thing about being home all week was that I had extra help and time in the kitchen.  Kendall loves to learn how to cook!  We were able to have a lot of meals at home this week and what a blessing it was that I got to have extra time with my guys!  Since I love to cook as much as I love to be in the barn it was a great week at the Vansickle’s!  I think our entire family has benefited from our cooking- vegetable soup, lunch for Dave, Chili, Apple pie and one of Dave’s favorite Mexican Chicken!

    

  

   

We even spent a day in Louisville and tried to do a little shopping on the trip home!!!  Kendall , Aunt Debbie and I went to the Louisville Slugger Museum and Factory and the Science Museum for a day.  Kendall had so much fun!!!  I am glad that my little guy loves a good road trip like his mom!  Here are a few pictures of our fun!  The sad part of the day, our shopping trip was not as successful, still no new winter coat for the little guy! L  In the pictures below, I think the little man’s smile says it all!!!

       

   

  

We even had time to have lunch and play time with one of little guy’s friends from Alexandria ( and his old school) !  AND, pick up feed for Uncle Eddy!

I glad this was all he needed; there was not much room left in the Jeep for us!  It was a fabulous week with my guys especially the little guy!  Believe it or not, we did fit some barn time in, but it seems I forgot to take many pictures of that!!!!  Below is the only one that I have of Kendall talking and petting his heifer "Ginger" I am one lucky girl to be blessed with great people in my life!  I think the last picture is a good take on the week ….it wore the little guy out!!!

See you all soon!

Beth

Don't get left out!!

If you are on Facebook, and have not done so, make sure you go "Like" Vansickle Cattle Co. at https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Vansickle-Cattle-Co/252010298178818.

We partnered with our friends at Ranch House Designs, and are going to be offering a special giveaway once we hit 500 likes.  Make sure you like Ranch House Designs page as well, they are some awesome people to do business with.  We would really like to give something away before we leave for NAILE on Nov. 8th, so that means we need 63 more likes in 23 days.  Once we hit 500, we will announce what the give away prizes are and give a code for redemption at the RHD online store. This giveaway will only be announced on our Facebook page, nothing on the blog until after the the giveaway is done.  So, hurry, up, don't get left out of the chance to win some awesome stuff from Ranch House.

Get Ready!!!!

Donor #75  Dr. Who x Wyoming Wind



Grand Champion Steer 2012 Illinois State Fair Open Show

 Your only chance this year to own full sibs to this popular champion is coming....stayed tuned here as well as "Like" our Facebook page- https://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Vansickle-Cattle-Co/252010298178818 for details on when and where these will be available.

Thoughts and Prayers for the Bedwell family

Please keep them in your thoughts as they deal with their loss.

Happy Fall!!!

Hey everyone!!!  While Dave is busy around the farm, Kendall and I have decided that we would help him with the blog this fall! J

For those of you that I have not had the pleasure to meet yet, I am Beth, Dave’s wife.  I am a full time wife, mom and 4-H Educator (or Agent) in Madison County (Indiana).  I love helping others and I am always up for a good road trip.  Here is one of my favorite pictures of me and my little guy, Kendall.

I am not going to lie; it is a little scary writing this blog….if you ask my family, they will tell you I always have something to say!!!  Anyhow, the little man and I decided that we would share with you why we love fall so much at our house!!!

Here are some of the reasons why we love fall:

ü  It’s harvest time!!!

ü  It’s sweatshirt and jacket weather!!!  I love jackets; I have a closet full of them and so does Kendall!!!

ü  College Football…BOILER UP!!!!!!!

ü  We also LOVE that we have little critters in the barn (We have Kendall’s first set of show heifers and his pigs for the North American)! 

ü  Baking sweet treats and taking food to the field!!

ü  And, we love to decorate with mums and pumpkins!!!

I promise to share some of our escapades (and pictures) this fall.  Kendall and I are getting ready to have fall break!!  I am starting to think that this new school schedule may not be a bad thing!

Happy Fall!!

Beth

The Queen Bee

The cornerstone of our donor program has returned to the flush rotation.  This time around, Hard Drive, next time, Believe In Me, after that, who knows. All that matters is whatever you flush her to, it works.

Don't Forget!!

Entries for all beef, sheep, and swine must be postmarked by Oct. 1.

Gotta get back after it

I just realized this morning that it has been 2 weeks since I have posted to this blog.  I gotta get back after it. I remember reading somewhere one time that the quickest way to kill your blog is to not post for a week, well, we will see who is still around.  Quick recap of the last 2 weeks....since the last time I have posted, we have been out finishing up looking at a few calves, working on the showbarn, finishing up fall calving(as of this morning we are officially done), working on the sale calves, and getting started in the field with harvest.  We don't crop farm ourselves, but I have helped a neighbor for the last few years, it is nice to get away from the barn some days.  Oh, I almost forgot one of the things I am most excited about, most all of the donors are either on shots now or getting ready to be, fall flushing is underway.  Make sure you keep checking in, we are going to be selling a couple of lots in the Donors on Ice sale in Louisville in November.  That will be the only place we offer genetics this fall and winter, we are planning to conduct an online frozen genetics sale in March with CW Cattle sales offering embryo packages on our most proven donors as well as flush opportunities that we have never offered before.  This sale will also have a few lots in it from some of our close friends, so keep that in mind...it is stacked.  We are working on getting the sale heifers in order and hopefully should have pictures and videos up on the blog and website within the next week or so.  Our spring born steer sales are officially done.  Thanks to everyone that came and either purchased or simply took a look around.  We have a new face that will be joining us this fall.  Bryce Jordan will be working in the showbarn beginning this fall after school and on the weekends.  Bryces dad and I have been very good friends since we were young.  Bryce is 14, but has been showing since he was 9, and in the last couple years, his interest to learn more about clipping, fitting, daily care, etc. has exploded and he is a perfect match to help us out and learn.  If you stop bu the barn, make sure to say hi to him.  I will try to get a picture of him to post. That is it for now, I promise I will try to do better.

Dave

BIDS DUE THIS WEEKEND

Mercedes Benz x Purebred Simmy(Meyer 734)

Monopoly 2 x Paleface

Don't forget, bids our due this weekend at Gray Show Cattle.  Make sure to stop by and check out these two outstanding prospects raised by us.