“Never Look A Gift Horse in the Mouth” Most of us in Idaho have been finally receiving a little moisture, although some of it is arriving in a more solid form than is typical for May here in the Treasure Valley. We continue to move forward toward the longer daylight hours, spring turnouts, and fieldwork. It’s a busy time of the year. In our office, we are working to prepare for our summer meetings and events both at the state and national levels as we continue to preserve, promote, and protect our industry. Our ICA membership is the backbone of our association and we ask each of you that support Idaho’s cattle industry to find a membership level that will fit your needs. That being said, members sell memberships, so if you are a current member tell your friends and colleagues why your membership is valuable and encourage them to join as well. The staff and leadership can help answer any questions on a wide variety of industry issues and topics, but we all need to help our membership grow by sending out an invitation to our neighbors. Now that we have a little moisture in the ground bring on some heat units so we can get some grass a growin'! --Cameron Mulrony Executive Vice President |
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BLM & Maverik partner to reduce human-caused wildfires Humans cause an average of 80% of all wildland fires on Bureau of Land Management (BLM) public lands. Wildfires threaten people, homes and precious natural resources. Firefighters risk their lives to protect our communities and suppress these preventable incidents. In an effort to end these damaging human-caused wildfires, the BLM has partnered with Maverik — Adventure’s First Stop, a convenience store brand operating 382 locations across 12 western states, to educate the public about how they can avoid starting these incidents. Continue reading here, from NIFC |
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$78 Million in Tax Dollars Spent Caring for Wild Horses in Captivity In 2021, it cost $78 million in federal taxpayer money to care for nearly 60,000 wild horses and burros that were rounded up out of the wild and moved into holding facilities run by the Bureau of Land Management. Some horse advocates say that’s a waste of taxpayer dollars, but the BLM says it’s a necessary expense. Continue reading here, from CBS Denver |
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Nationwide number of new large fires or emergency response: 3 Nationwide number of active large fires: 12 Nationwide acres from active fires: 322.309 Nationwide large fires contained: 3 Western States Currently Reporting Large Fires as of May 4th: New Mexico (6) Arizona (4) Texas (1) Colorado (1) |
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Growing a Dream Contributed by Cassi Johnson www.huckleberrymtn.com You always hear from these men that are chasing these dreams that are challenging, inspiring and fun to watch grow. However, you never hear the wife’s side of the story….
My husband, Clint, was a bull rider when I met him. I thought I knew what I was getting into at that point and I watched and supported him in chasing that dream for many years. But as any bull rider knows that is a young man’s dream and eventually that ended. He had been dabbling in training cow dogs since 2007 when my mom introduced him to some nice cow dogs she had that were trained to a level he had never seen. What I didn’t know was that this would be the new passion that would come into our lives at a new level. |
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| While my house was once filled with bull riders and bull ropes my house is now filled with dog collars, an occasional dog and usually a mixture of dog treats and kid treats, buying dog food by the pallet, and the biggest challenge of coming up with a new name for each new dog that comes into our lives that is single syllable (short enough it can easily be yelled when your angry) and not something that has been used already. I really do enjoy it and while some of our dogs are only with us while they get trained to then go onto their forever home, others are with us for their lifetime. I’m happy to say that 13 years later we are still happily married despite the ever-growing number of dogs. |
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I made it clear a long time ago that I had no interest in training them, but only in using them as they got broke to help move cows and load the truck and anything else I help Clint do on the ranch. This comes at a frustrating price when we work together for if Clint is with me, and I give the dogs a command they will always look to him first to see if that is what HE wants them to do before fulfilling my request. And he takes way too much pleasure in that as you might imagine. When he first started participating in dog trials in the area it was a lot like going to a 4D barrel race which was more my cup of tea since I enjoy training the horses more than the dogs. The thing that added to my plate was he didn’t stop there. Having been a part of a very competitive atmosphere with riding bulls he craved creating more competition in the dog trial industry. So here we are now producing the Huckleberry Mountain Invitational Dog Trial. |
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This new adventure has become his dream and as I always tell him, “It’s your dream, I’m just living in it”. Beginning in 2021 I jumped in headfirst with him and we produced the first year of the Huckleberry Mountain Invitational with great success. My side of it steers more towards public relations, advertising, greeting contestants and spectators, making sure loose ends are tied up and issues get handled. While he makes sure cattle are sorted and even and the course is set up to be challenging, I keep track of money, make sure sponsors are happy and involved. If you have never put on a roping, rodeo, barrel race or dog trial you can’t understand the significant number of details that go on behind the scenes. This new dream and challenge has taught me a lot on both the business and competition side of things. My goal that I am working to accomplish with his dream is to make our trial known around the nation and in this process build the world’s understanding of how talented cow dogs are, the amazing connection between the dog and the rancher, and demonstrate the uniqueness of our ranching industry. I want the world to see how much love, work, sweat, and tears ranchers and handlers pour into their dogs and that those dogs are members of our families. |
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| So please join me for the 2022 Huckleberry Invitational Dog Trial in Sumpter, Oregon on June 18 & 19. I’ll be the one speed walking the area most of the day and you will see 3 small children most likely running wild as well. Bring a lawn
chair and enjoy some food at the concession stand and watch our contestants and their dogs tackle some hefty challenges in the competition pen. I hope to shake your hand and welcome you as that is my goal for everyone that visits our ranch. We are proud of our operation, our trial, and our dogs and I want to thank every contestant, sponsor, family member and visitor who takes the time to come see our amazing event. |
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Runyan Appraisal Service Donley Farms Inc. William McEwen AgRisk Advisors Sara Somsen-Fowler Thank you to all of our new & renewed members! |
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Fed Cattle steady compared to previous week Boxed Beef Choice $7.42 lower Select decreased $5.25 Market Cows $1 to $3 lower Calves $4 lower to $3 higher Corn $0.33 lower on July futures |
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Steak & Blue Cheese Wraps This easy wrap provides satisfying taste with spice-rubbed and sautéed Sirloin Tip Steak slices. Top it off with crunchy vegetables and blue cheese dressing! View the recipe here, from Beef. It's What's for Dinner. |
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