The 2022 North American International Livestock Expo

Things have been a little quiet over here on the blog lately, but it is not because things have been quiet on the farm.  It is quite the opposite.  Life on the farm has been full steam ahead, so I have decided to focus on each day, give myself a little grace and step away from the blog when life is too much.  

Walker spent many hours in the barn getting the cows ready for our trip to Louisville.  Isaac is now working full time and completed his final college classes the week before NAILE.  He is very relieved to have that chapter of his life behind him and now be able to fully focus on the farm.  

This year, Walker bore the brunt of working with the animals as Daniel and I spent our evenings ironing out the details of the show and all the behind the scenes details that have to happen to make a show happen.  

We took Lucy, Autumn and Colt with us to Louisville.  

Yes, Isaac did sell Autumn in March, but the new owners have allowed us to have an active part in her continued show career. 
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Walker has been working hard with Autumn to get her ready for the show.  Autumn's owners were supposed to join us at the show, but due to a family emergency, they were not able to make it to the show and had to watch on the livestream.  

While we wish they could have been there to share in the excitement, we are thankful we had already made arrangements to bring Autumn on our trailer...and Walker sure enjoyed sending those texts.

With me and Daniel busy in the show ring, Isaac and Walker were back in the barn by themselves getting the animals ready and to the show ring on time.  Chase wasn't able to come with us this year, so it was just Isaac and Walker.  

Thursday was a little stressful for Walker as he had 6 head he had to get ready.  Walker has really stepped up  and is doing a great job at fitting.  Timing is always the hardest part.  Knowing how early to start to allow enough time to get finished, but not leaving so much time that the cows are standing too long and exhausted by the time they get to the ring.  

Yes, we only took 3 head, but they helped fit 3 animals for another family on show day.  

Thank you to those that helped walk the cows up to the ring so that Walker could keep working on Colt while Isaac got the heifers shown.  ​

The Junior show was on Wednesday and Autumn took first in her class.  

Lucy also placed first in her class.  

Lucy and Autumn were in the final drive together.  

Thursday, in the open show... 

Autumn won the Senior Yearling Heifer division.

And Lucy placed second in her class.

The line up of heifers this year was phenomenal!  

We know our heifers didn't have a chance to be at the top, but were hoping Colt had a chance in the bull show.  

Colt looked amazing!

However, the bull that he was behind at Denver was at Louisville.  THF TB12 2721 was on point and we figured he would come out on top.  

Colt made it to the final drive as the Reserve Summer Senior Bull.

And Walker received the Reserve Grand Champion handshake!

Walker is so proud of Colt.  This is Walker's first calf out of Candy Cane, the 2020 Reserve Champion Junior Heifer and Wesson, our multi-champion bull.  

Colt is following in his dam and sire's footsteps.  

Louisville was good to us this year.  

Walker is so proud of Colt and we are proud of Walker and all the work he has put in to get Colt to this stage.  You have to start with a good animal, but also you have to put in a ton of work to get that animal national show ready.  All the days that he had to force himself out to the barn, sure were worth it.