I miss Ireland.

I'm homesick.

Alright so I can't really call Ireland "home." But my dad's dad's dad's dad did...so it's close enough.

This time last summer, I was in Ireland for a two week long trip with my parents.

There was no particular reason we went other than that Dad and I wanted to see it and Mom wanted to see it again. In our family, no trip is made without doing a little cattle business on the side. Of course, Ireland was no exception.

This is sort of, kind of the route we took. It looks like a boot. How fitting.

We more or less took a "pub and farm" tour of Ireland. We stayed in a different town almost every night and visited farms referred to us by the Canadian Hereford Association and other agriculture contacts. Liam Philpott and Anne Pounds of Allowdale Herefords welcomed us in for two days to tour their farm. You can follow them on Twitter @allowdale and see their website.

A few shots from Allowdale:

Liam & Anne

I found the Irish style of Herefords to be surprisingly modern with a few differences from the North American herd. For one, more white splashes on the cattle. Here in Canada and North America, people are trying to breed towards a darker red Hereford with as little white as possible while maintaining the characteristic white face, belly, and socks. The Irish aren't nearly as concerned about this. It's a matter of preference and style.

Of course, we had to do a little touristing. Which just happens to be limited to excessive drinking, kissing, and castle-hopping in Ireland. We were perfectly happy with this, the Irish folk that we are.

Kissing the Blarney Stone. Because I needed more gab.

Mobile meat market! Very neat idea.

A lovely town called Youghal. Which is not pronounced "YOU-GULL" but rather "YOLL." Of course.

Pops, Mama, and I

Do you see why I loved it so much? Ireland is a beautiful place with an incredibly vibrant landscape and an innovative agriculture industry with great people behind it. In every town we found new places to discover and friends to make. 

I'd like to go back now, please. 

Have you ever been to Ireland? Or observed different agriculture practices in a foreign country? Or drank Guinness and looked at cows for two weeks straight? 

Canadian National Junior Hereford Bonanza

The Canadian National Junior Hereford Bonanza was, yet again, a great success.

Champion Sr. Heifer Class

It was hosted in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and boasted our highest numbers ever at 210 head of Hereford cattle showing. Unfortunately, work commitments prevented me from showing there all week, but they couldn't keep me away entirely. I drove out with my dad Friday afternoon to catch show day and the banquet on Saturday. I helped my sister with her cattle and even did a little showing.

Bonanza is one of my favorite events of the summer. I've participated in seven Bonanza's all across Canada, starting when I was 8 years old, and made lifelong friends in the process. I had the great privilege of being selected as one of this year's Future of the Breed Scholarship recipients for my contributions as a junior Hereford member. 

I love Bonanza. And I love Hereford cattle. And I love the people who own, breed, and exhibit Hereford cattle. 

I would strongly suggest any kids under 21 who have Hereford cattle to get involved in this awesome show. It will be in Calgary next year in conjunction with the World Hereford Conference and in Brandon, Manitoba in 2013. Check out the Bonanza section of the Canadian Herefords website.

Meet the Girls

I'd like to introduce a couple of my favorite new ladies to the world.

They're quite hairy, a little attitude-y, and newly pregnant (I hope).

These lovely girls are my summer show heifers.

Introducing:

 XTC Redneck Girl

This is a commercial heifer- meaning she is a cross between two or more breeds, in this case Red Angus and Hereford. 

XTC Impact Arcola 90X

This girl will show in the Purebred segment of the show. Purebred meaning she is the product of a full Hereford mother and father in this case, with no other breeds in her pedigree. 

They're very pleased to meet you. Please excuse them if they lick and/or bunt you. They mean well.

From now until showtime, my free time will be dedicated to getting these girls show-ready. This involves "training" their hair to go a certain direction and have volume, cutting their hair using special cattle clippers, washing them often, and training them to behave and stand correctly in the showring. 

I'm off to give the girls a much-needed bath and haircut!