Nothing Compares, The Jimmy, Sale Season

News From The Road Blog Exclusive:

As I See It…By Pete Burmeister on www.mattlautnercattle.com

August 20, 2013

“Nothing Compares, The Jimmy, Sale Season”

I took in the 2013 versions of the Iowa State Fair heifer and steer shows last week in Des Moines. As expected, they lived up to their billing as among the toughest shows in the country. Each year I’m impressed with the championship lineup of cattle that arrive in the historic Iowa State Fair pavilion the third week of August. The champion in female division represented both a look back to the days of the 1960’s and perhaps a glimpse into the future as the Hereford heifer took overall breeding female honors. I suspect the Hereford heifer winning came as a bit of a shock to some ringside that day. One gentleman I happened to be standing next to said, “did that just happen?” Get used to it folks… it’s going to happen more often going forward, and rightfully so.

The steer show was great. What made it that way was the fact that a dozen or more steers were probably tuned in to win it all. That coupled with the man from Boling, TX on the sort made for a pleasurable day at the steer show. The quality of the 2^nd division of crossbred steers was deep, perhaps not as deep as in years past, but stimulating and thought-provoking nonetheless—and you have to like your chances come 4pm, at the Parade of Champions and Selection of the Grand Champion Steer when you’re sticking the division 2 crossbred champion. As predicted, the grand steer was from that very division again this year. I left that day thinking, ‘Nothing Compares’ to the Iowa State Fair 4-H steer show.

On the topic of slogans, the Fair Board does need to consider “Here We Go” as the 2014 Fair tag line! Who cares if Bud Light used it first? It’s catchy, true, and will probably be used more than the last 5 year’s slogans combined. While I’m in the mood of handing out suggestions…Fair Board/4-H Beef Committee Attention Please: Do everyone a favor and ask Mr. Jim Williams back for a 3^rd consecutive year to judge the steer show!

I’m in the camp that we need more steer judges of the Jim Williams nature. What’s great about Mr. Williams is the simple fact that he gets it!  Winning a steer show the caliber of the Iowa State Fair can be much like capturing as he said in the final drive, “Lighting in a Bottle.” The fact of the matter is, any number of steers could have been named Grand Overall last week and yet he found his One– his One Young Person that is.

I’ve witnessed Mr. Williams judge a handful of times over the years. Most recently though, have been the last two years at the Iowa State Fair. His ability to find two kids in back to back years that give the impression of humble, well-deserving, and genuine young folks is next to astonishing. The best part, you know when…Jimmy’s been watching you. He speaks up when he likes your steer and offers constructive criticism when you need to get your steer setup and shown a bit quicker. His stories on the microphone are sincere & real; his reasons on the cattle—rational, and you know when…you’re Jimmy’s type. Just ask the last two 4-Her’s who exhibited the prize-winning steers; the sky’s the limit when…Jimmy is sweet on you!

All Seinfeld jokes aside, the 4-H market beef project is about so more than just who has the best steer on that given day. Watching multiple kids lead their calves through the show ring last Wednesday represented an entire year’s worth of blood, sweat and tears with their family & friends. Hours of thought & decision making on behalf of the breeders, countless times through the clipping and fitting chute throughout the year, and the miles, oh the miles down the asphalt highway. Not to mention, the financial commitment many parents make to allow their kids the opportunity to have this very positive experience.

Does everyone want to win? I’d like to think so. Would I like my kids to have the prospect of winning someday? You’re damn right! But practically speaking, each exhibitor deserves the opportunity to present themselves and their project to the judge and receive an honest appraisal. With Jimmy… you get that.

Well, the fall sale season is upon us. If it hasn’t officially started yet, Labor Day weekend is sure to remedy that. I must say, the options available these days for procuring a club calf project are seemingly endless. As a whole, I believe the supply of club calf breeders and calves outpaces demand (see most recent August issue of The Show Circuit). However, you probably know by now that this ‘industry’ is not driven by supply and demand economics. In large part, and at its core, it’s motivated by discretionary income spending in an effort to secure the most elite show cattle available. Each year the figures get more mind boggling and I’m confident that will be the case again this sale season.

The methods for buying the next steer or heifer have also increased. You can literally buy your next project without leaving your house. You can buy, sell, and trade any breed of cattle imaginable with your phone while you’re on the road, at work, or on the toilet. Heck, you don’t even need to talk to the person you’re buying the cattle from, if you don’t want too. All of the new marketing avenues today vs. 10 years ago have allowed breeders/traders to place cattle into homes that otherwise may have never been discovered. Many sellers have shared with me that in excess of 50% of the calves they sell online are purchased sight unseen. Picture and video marketing is filling the need to travel the miles to see the cattle in person. That function alone offers great value to the folks on the selling end, and most certainly has its place.

But, what if you’re on the buying side? What if you’re trying to find that prospect/project for the summer shows the following year? And heaven forbid; what if you’re trying to do it on a budget? Luckily, time and effort are the great equalizers when it comes to deciding the outcome of how a prospect will finish! Many times the initial price tag of an individual calf gives gets the headlines early on and gives its owners the false security of a winner. Don’t get me wrong, finding that special one it a tough task and takes a commitment financially. Please remember this statement as you set out this fall; the cattle business is simple, keeping it simple is the hard part. I’ll leave you with a quick checklist that may help answer some of the questions I posed above:

• Identify what the end goal for your project is before you start looking
• Get your butt in the car and go look at the calves– IN PERSON!
• Just about every club calf has enough muscle; maybe some other phenotypic traits are more important?
• Beware of fat and fluff early on; I know it looks good but please try to restrain yourself!
• Just because you bought a calf from someone last year does not require you to buy one there again this year
• It’s still early (August), be patient
• Keep calm, keep it simple, & keep it within your means