It's Hot in Oklahoma

Early Saturday morning we loaded the cows on the trailer and set off for Duncan, Oklahoma for the Miniature Hereford Junior Nationals sponsored by the Miniature Hereford Breeders Association and the Miniature Hereford Youth Foundation.  

The 2020 Miniature Hereford Junior Nationals was cancelled due to Covid, so it is good to be headed back to the show ring.  

It was going to be a long trip...and really hot, so at the last minute, we decided to hang over Saturday night in Buffalo, Missouri.  

​One of the great things about showing cattle is all the people you meet along the way.  Two years ago, when we were in Oklahoma for the Junior Nationals, we met a family from Missouri, and it has been great to meet back up and grow our friendship.  They graciously agreed to lend us some pasture space to keep our cattle overnight.  

Autumn and Trump did surprisingly well for not having much experience on the trailer...or much time away from home.  Autumn was at the Ohio Beef Expo with us, so she has a little exposure, but Trump hasn't been more than a few miles from home...and just for hoof trimmings...and he wasn't very happy about that.  

They were more than happy to get off the trailer Saturday night and enjoyed some time running around the new pasture.  They both ate and drank well and had a good hearty breakfast Sunday morning before we headed on for another six hour leg to Duncan, Oklahoma.  

Sunday afternoon, we arrived at our final destination to a balmy 96 degrees.  Our cows are not used to this...so we will see how they they handle the heat.  

Hopefully, the cows handle the heat better than I know these Ohio people will.  

This morning we are up bright and early to help set up for the events of the week.  Cattle will be rolling into the fairgrounds all day today...but sometimes being part of the setup crew gets you in a day early.  

We may be just arriving at the show, but the boys have been busy for weeks getting ready for all the competitions.  

One of the best parts of the Miniature Hereford Junior Nationals is that the competition is so much more than just your cows.  There are tons of contests and opportunities for the youth to exhibit their skills outside the ring and encourage them to take up new skills.  

I don't want to spoil any of the surprises, but there has been a lot of action behind the scenes.  

​Both boys have been hard at work on their craft entries.  

Walker always loves grabbing my camera to snap pictures for the photography contest.  

​This is one of the pictures that didn't make the final cut.  

Once again we drove right by the St. Louis Arch.  Maybe some day we will actually be able to stop.  

But it's O.K. because there is a whole lot more fun going on in Oklahoma.  

The boys are looking forward to costume contests, olympics, fun with friends, showing off their skills...and some cattle showing thrown in the mix.  

It's going to be hot...but it's going to be a whole lot of fun!