Archive for July, 2009
St. Onge Livestock Market
Friday found me enjoying yet another South Dakota livestock market. The St. Onge Livestock Market has been a great promoter and supporter of the U.S. Cattlemen’s Association. Highly competitive bidding and impressive grass cattle make this sale a hard one to beat. A good friend, Justin Tupper, manages this market along with the help of a great group of ladies that run the front office. I give those ladies a lot of credit for the work they do in making this barn tick. As for Justin, well, he is a professional, and, as I mentioned, a friend, so I won’t tell all the good stories about his involvement in the March 2009 USCA fly-in. All I will say is that Washington really can’t handle Tup!
In all honesty, he is a great spokesperson for the industry and relays points and issues better than seasoned beltway lobbyists. Tupper is assisted at this market by a host of top notch auctioneers and fieldmen… and I place Doug Dietterle, Seth Weishaar, and Ron Frame in this category. I think they belong in a special category somewhere between characters and actors. I am joking, of course, as I have the good fortune of seeing these guys on a regular basis and always enjoy catching up and sharing a laugh or two. In closing, today was a hard one, because I wouldn’t know any of these guys without the introduction through my good friend Tom Connelley. Tom left this world way too soon this past June. We miss him dearly and his absence leaves a noticeable void among this group. Tom will always be with us, and this cast of characters will always keep him grinning as he looks down over St. Onge and the rest of South Dakota!
What’s next — well I plan to fly under the radar at the ranch in Hathaway this weekend. Next Monday, I will be at the Faith Livestock Sale in South Dakota [see http://www.faithlivestock.com/upcomingsales3.html for more information] … we’ll talk then!
Mobridge Livestock, South Dakota & the Kings Inn and Motel
Pat Becker and I went to the Mobridge Livestock. Seeing the young fellas involved in this livestock market was truly inspirational. Brothers Jason Anderberg and Tigh Anderberg along with their partner Casey Perman are charging forward as the next generation of sale barn owners. They pick up the reigns from where Tom Anderberg successfully left off. With the enthusiasm and interest in where the cattle industry is headed, these guys will do quite well. For me, it was motivational to interact with young professionals who are committed to ensuring that the Mobridge livestock market tradition remains strong and successful for both the ranchers and community that depends on it. Another young rancher, Rio Jones, was helping out at this livestock market. Rio is also an excellent spokesman for the U.S. cattle industry. He helps out with his family operation which hosts a guest ranch; check it out at http://www.handboycreek.com.
To summarize, Pat and I were pleased with the outcome of this meeting and things are looking great here getting folks involved in issues affecting the U.S. cattle industry.
Oh and I would be remiss if I did not mention that as day closed, I stayed in Belle Fourche at one of my favorite hotels in the entire country. The Kings Inn and Motel truly as they say “an unforgettable experience at an unbelievable price!” I could try to describe it, but all I will say is, if you are ever in the Belle Fourche area and need to call it a night, go see my friend Waldemar. Get checked into your room and walk across the street to his bar and grill, the Boomba. Experience the Boomba, hear a story from Waldemar (this time Waldemar actually shared some of his private mustard reserve with me), and walk on over to your room and crash with a smile on your face, because that is what I always do when I stay at the Kings Inn and Motel!
Visit (or buy?) the Buzzards Roost in Morristown, South Dakota
There’s another important landmark close to the petrified forest: the Buzzards Roost in Morristown, South Dakota. If there is one thing that keeps my luck going, it’s the wooden nickel from the Buzzards Roost. Anytime I need to pick between two options, I also flip my wooden Buzzards Roost nickel. Sometimes on rare and special occasion in Washington, D.C. or across the country, I will present someone with a wooden nickel. Since I was running low of wooden nickels, and I just can’t pass the Buzzards Roost without stopping in, Allen, Pat, and I turned the Dodge onto Main Street, Morristown. Soon we were having a good conversation with a wonderful lady whom I realized later as we drove down the road I failed to get her name. She was kind enough to let me purchase some wooden nickels with Pat’s money. I asked her to give my best to Buzz (he owns the place). It was at this point she informed us that Buzz has the place for sale. So if you are looking for a (or should I say, the only?) great bar/restaurant/convenience store in Morristown, South Dakota, give Buzz a call at: 605-524-3221. And if you are ever going through Morristown, you have to stop in. I am serious—this is one of the coolest places in the entire USA!
Again the pictures tell a better story…my favorite, it’s a dirt road leading to the Buzzards Roost… definitely no place for briefcases or taxis. But boots and saddles are all around!
Jess featured in The Hill’s 2009 Most Beautiful
Jess has been featured in The Hill (a Washington-based newspaper that reports on the business of Washington, covering the inner-workings of Congress) before; he was discussing meat imports from Argentina and the potential danger of Foot and Mouth Disease to American livestock. He’s smart and a talented advocate for his clients. And this time, he’s also beautiful. Check out Jess on The Hill’s 50 Most Beautiful list and the coverage of the list on The Huffington Post as well. As you might also expect, you can read about it on Twitter… search for #CapHill50.
USCA at the Lemmon Livestock Market
Today was another fun and exciting day on the road! Pat Becker and I met Allen Lund in Selfridge and made our way to the Lemmon Livestock Market. USCA Director Danni Beer met us in Lemmon, and we had a good chat with local cattle producers at the sale. We also had a good meeting with livestock market owner Paul Huffman. Paul was fired up about USCA and made my day when he gave me some Lemmon Livestock, Inc. caps and a jacket! I can’t wait to wear them in DC! Things are looking good here for USCA as we planned out a meeting for later in the year. We’ll keep you posted here.
The Petrified Forest in Lemmon, South Dakota
My friend Travis Jordan recommended that I check out a true hot spot in Lemmon, South Dakota: the petrified forest! It was very cool. The pictures tell a great story. You will see Pat Becker and I posing near the entrance. You will also see Allen Lund and his sharp Dodge pickup with I-BAND license plates!
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