Hello March!

If March comes in like a lion and out like a lamb or vice-a-versa, then 2011 must have come in like a Texas tornado, because just this weekend I have had time to breath! I actually flipped my kitchen calendar yesterday from January to March--sorry February you were just a blur! And, I also took down my outside Christmas lights. Yes, I actually contemplated leaving them up and being ahead of the game for 2011 Christmas, but I'm not that St. Josephied yet!

So, you might ask, what did I do in January & February? I'd like to tell you I was setting around eating bon bons, drinking sweat tea and watching Oprah. But since I don't like any of those three, that would be hard to believe...so I'll fill you in: 1) Cow Shows and 2) fighting germs!

I actually kicked off my new year trying to get to KS from the Arizona National on New Year's Eve and got to my good friend's house at 9 minutes til Midnight so we could ring in the New Year with Sparkling Grape Juice and go to bed. Sooooo much different from my olden days of New Year's Parties! It was fun to kick off New Years with the Hammer's and Gabrielle loves posing for me, see:


Then, January was literally filled with 10 days of the National Western--one of my favorite events of the year; and a few days of the Fort Worth Stock Show. Angus events were great at both of these events, but in between, I felt like I got hit by a Mack Truck--I had sinus infection, ear infection, lost my voice, had the flu. I even took three sick days, more than I think I've taken in 12 years with the Association!

February=CHAOS! Started off the month at the Cattle Industry Convention in Denver. Attended some meetings, worked the Angus booth, and visited with a lot of great people. Also went to the YCC Alumni reception where I saw about 20 of the folks I toured with the past summer. It was great.

From there I went to Tampa for the Florida State Fair, and then to the Dixie National ROV Show. At these southern shows, I always play tourist: Mini Zebus in Tampa and the National Gert show in Jackson!






Made a couple quick trips to the Iowa and Illinois Beef Expos to visit with members. Participated in a quarterly Board meeting; helped my Dad celebrate his birthday. And, hello, March!

Oh, and in between, I still volunteered a few times to play Monopoly and Yahtzee with my little sis, Kat, and we took in the Nature Center and went bowling...

I'm really glad to be home most of this month--my power planning month--when I'm doing a LOT of event planning for the rest of the year. But, come April, watch out! I'll be ready to dust off those suitcases and travel the world again. I mean, it is who I am!

Oh the places you'll go!

Travel isn't a glamorous part of my job.

In the past 24 hours, I've been in five airports, in four states, slept in my own beds less than four hours, and spent about three hours in the office. Yes, I should have my head examined. But, I wouldn't trade one minute of these last 24 hours for anything! Well maybe the turbulence, wasn't the best, but I love the experiences of watching people, eating TCBY in Denver, and evening listening to the 'ding, ding, ding, ding,' of slot machines in Reno and Vegas.

I have been blessed with a career that allows me to travel to various places, and lets me meet a variety of people and take part in various events. Last Thursday through yesterday, I was in Reno, NV, for a Super Point Roll of Victory Show and Regional Junior Angus Show; both of which had record numbers. I got to spend time with Angus exhibitors, meet new people, play some blackjack, and oversee a show, which even went on without a glitch.

The next two days, I'll be driving this year's National Angus Tour in South Montana with regional manager Andy Rest. I'll get to see brand new country, meet some Angus people I've never met and get to see some old friends. These next two days will be spent on ranches, totally different from the show ring in Reno, and yet, I love both experiences.

Someone once said, if you love your job, it isn't really work. I totally agree. From now through July, my job will take me to Denver (three times), Virginia, Maryland, Illinois (twice), Washington D.C., Wisconsin, Kentucky, and perhaps some other stops along the way. Each trip will offer something a little different, and yet each trip will be rewarding!

Defining Success

I've been attending livestock shows my entire life, whether with my own livestock, helping someone else, participating in the judging contests or during the last 11 years representing the American Angus Association. I guess you could say shows are in my blood. And, as an exhibitor, I loved to win...who doesn't? But I also brought home my share of those "off-colored" ribbons and stood places in class I don't even care to remember. I always remember my dad saying, "If you don't want to get beat, don't go out into the ring," and "This weekend it is one judge's opinion; live with it, and next weekend, we'll have another show and a different judge."

So, now that I'm more in the show management mode, I get a bad taste in my mouth when I see grown men and women act childish because they didn't win their class or division. I guess their parents didn't share with them the same advice that dear old dad did with me. But, this past week in Phoenix, I witnessed something so AWESOME, I wanted to share it with you all.

First, it was refreshing to have a younger judge who did a great job evaluating all the cattle, and who said something positive about each animal in the ring. Phoenix is an ROV (point show) for the Angus breed, and we did have a large, competitive show, with cattle from Oregon, California, Kansas, Oklahoma, New Mexico, Texas and Arizona.

There was one rough and tumble couple from the Southwest whom I'd met the year previous who doesn't exhibit at other Angus ROV shows, but they come to Phoenix with a big string of Herefords and a few Angus. They aren't polished by any means, but they ended up in the largest class of the day--the Jan/Feb bull calf class. Once it was placed, they were third in class. As the lady lead their third place bull calf out of the ring, the judge Jake Scott talked about his merits being ideal for the range and the commercial cowman. The man in his faded jeans, scuffed up boots and bandana around his neck beamed from ear to ear and exclaimed, "Baby, that's as good as winning grand champion!" As I was working in the line up area, I couldn't help but hear his words and see both of their smiles. No, she wasn't carrying a purple banner or even a blue ribbon. But she was carrying the satisfaction of hearing one judge's kind words, and knowing she had beat six other bulls in class that day.

As we go through life, how do define success? Is it always being number 1? Is it winning the trophy? Or is it knowing that we did our very best? Or like this couple, hearing someone say something nice about us or the product we raise?

I know at the end of my life, the banners will be faded and the trophies tarnished, but I will never forget the kind words that are said about me.