Since the 1880's cattlemen have been gathering in the stockyards of Denver, Colorado.  There weren't really any organized activities until 1899, and 1906 marked the opening of the first official National Western Stock Show. 

The National Western Stock Show is still the place to be 111 years later.  

The Miniature Herefords move into the National Western for the last week of exhibitions.  This year, there were over 400 entries for the Miniature Herefords, which made them one of the top 3 breeds represented.  
Denver, Colorado is where the best of the best meet for head-to-head competitions that crown the best animals in the country.  

Several years ago, we added showing at the National Western Stock Show to our bucket list.  Our goal is to get the boys to Denver before they graduate.  Isaac is only 4 years away from graduation so we have to pick up the pace on our plans.  

Denver is very far away from Ohio.  It is about a 24-hour drive with a trailer.  I can honestly say that sitting in the back seat of a pickup truck with two boys for 24 hours is enough to make me want to cry.

The trip to the National Western is a huge undertaking.  Between travel time, vacation time, gas, hotel and food costs, this is not a trip to be taken lightly or on a whim.  Not to mention, you need some good cattle on that trailer.  

We knew that we needed to take a survey trip before we ever loaded our trailer.  We wanted to find out the lay of the land, see the show and just gather some info so that we weren't traveling blind.  

We also wanted to know if we were out of our league.  We have been to national and state shows, but Denver is a whole new level.  Could we even compete?  We don't expect to win, but would our cattle be at the bottom of the class?  If so, would it be worth the trip just for the experience? 

We just got home late last night from Denver, Colorado.  

Yes...we actually took a mini vacation.

About 2 weeks ago, Daniel came up with an idea...some cheap plane tickets...and a plan to get us all to Denver for the Miniature Hereford show at the National Western Stock Show.  

Our plane landed back in Columbus late last night and we are still swirling from all of the excitement.  

So while we are getting our land legs back underneath us...

And trying not to get caught sleeping at work...

Here are some of my favorite pictures from 2016.

​Enjoy!

l know it is only January...

And we just took down our Christmas trees this weekend (don't judge)...

But it is already time to start thinking about the Ohio Beef Expo.

Entries must be post marked by February 1st.  

This past weekend we were at another cattle show. 

In true fashion, the weather turned brutally cold just in time for the show.  

​It was a little bit warmer on Saturday and it was 1 degree when we left home for the show.  By the time we arrived in Columbus, it was a balmy 6 degrees.  

On show weekends like this, we know three things.

One...we are going to a show...no matter what.

Two...we are going to be outside for 12 plus hours.

Three...it is going to be cold.

So....learn to deal with it.  

But how do we deal with it?

The first thing we do is...

Complain.

​A lot.

How can it be 2017 already? 

Everyone says that the older you get the faster time flies.  

It is so true.

Many times we are so busy and working to get the next thing checked off our list, that we don't realize all the small moments are adding up to

Days...weeks...months...

And finally...

An entire year.  

​So did we actually get anywhere in 2016?