Bull Sales and Anniversaries

It's 7 A.M., Kansas time, on Saturday morning and I am sitting in a really cold sale arena with a scrapbook magazine in my lap and 2 hours until sale time. We've been up since 4:30 and drove just over an hour to get here (That doesn't include driving to Kansas yesterday).

Yesterday we left the dirt road before dawn but the sun soon caught up with us. 450 miles separated us from our destination. That looks like a sunset, but it's actually a sunrise:

We were headed to Kansas for the 3rd consecutive year for the Gardiner Angus Production Sale. We actually stayed in Dodge City where we left a trailer for Clint's Dad to pick up. We then stopped in at Boot Hill but unfortunately, it was closed :

What was once known as the wildest town in the West was pretty quiet so we checked in at the Dodge House Hotel ~ very nice accommodations:

before enjoying a delicious supper of Prime Rib and Fillet Mignon at Casey's Steakhouse. DH doesn't sleep well when he hasn't done anything physical all day. He's restless when he's in a vehicle for extended periods of time so we were up early. Well, actually, he's always up early. We headed out of Dodge early the next morning:


This morning I have been designated as the seat keeper. As DH registers and walks through the pens with a keen eye focused on potential additions to our bovine family, I am warming his seat. We know from experience that a good seat is hard to come by at this sale. 600+ people will be juggling for seats in a few hours. When DH returns, I will move over and give him the warm seat. He will tell me to sit still, but I'll move anyway. It's just a small gesture that shows him how much I love him. Yes, sitting in a cold seat is a sign of love.

Yesterday was our 21st anniversary and we are attending a bull sale. As I reflect on the sights and smells that surround me, I smile. There is nowhere else I had rather be. 21 years of blessings has cumulated and now finds me surrounded by eager cattle buyers. I am happy in this place, with DH by my side.

The anticipation of sale day is almost palatable. It's staggering to think about the amount of work that precedes this day. The catalog that lists each of the 1346 head of cattle that are for sale along with their pedigrees and a slew of other numbers such as birth weight, weaning weight and their avg. weight gain per day. DH has poured over the catalog since it arrived in the mail 6 weeks ago. The amount of shuffling that takes place to herd the correct bovine in it's proper pen. The record keeping. The food that must be prepared for supper the evening before sale day, breakfast in the morning, and dinner on the day of the sale. Pie anyone? Someone's been busy baking. If you hurry, you may be able to grab that last brownie. Most of the cowboys I know are die hard pie connoisseurs, but for me, it's all about the chocolate!

This is an amazing production and it's all put together by this neat family. Need to add some top notch genetics to your herd? Look into Gardiner Angus. Quality cattle raised by quality people. Very impressive.

Time stands still when you are swept up in the middle of the auction. The bulls are only in the sale arena for 10 seconds before they are herded out the other side. They sold 439 bulls in just over 3 hours. The 1st bull sold for $70,000 for 1/2 interest! How about one for $100,000? It was a long while before the bulls that were within our budget came up! We ended up with 10 bulls and the pace was fast and furious. I don't think I even took a breath between the first 6 bulls we bought. I ducked in later to take a picture but it was standing room only.

I really enjoy listening to the steady cadence of the auctioneer's voice. Two auctioneers actually shared the job. After about 200 lots, they switched off. I'll bet they're both exhausted today! Looks like it's been a long day for everyone:

Filling up with diesel on this trip was not a pleasant experience:

The kids are fending for themselves this weekend. It's the 1st time we've left them alone overnight. The mom in me was worried since they had to drive into town for a 4-H meeting on Friday, but so far I've done well and haven't plagued them with phone calls and DH and I enjoyed our time together immensely.

We took an alternate route on our way home to see some different country. I thought these windmills were neat and thought my scrapbooking and photography readers would enjoy them. See, I think of y'all even when I'm driving down the road.

DH just shook his head and said that I couldn't drive anymore because I was always wanting to stop and take pictures. Grin! He said it's a wonder we even made it home on the same day. He is generally a "from point A to point B" kind of traveler. We balance each other out well. So, at times, I have become quite adept at shooting photos from a moving car.

Lots of grain elevators in this neck of the woods. I took this one in honor of Donna. Those of you who are my scrapping buddies know she loved them. She is thought of often.

Yep. We went to a bull sale for our anniversary. How many people can say they got 10 Angus Bulls for their anniversary? Lucky? You bet! I spent an incredibly,wonderful weekend with DH! We ate like kings, visited with lots of new people from all over the country, bought 10 new bulls, and had time to catch up with each other. It was a perfect weekend. I feel so blessed!