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 Copyright © 2001 Angus Productions Inc
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| Nebraska Angus Tour |
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 North Central District Hosts 2007 Nebraska Angus Tour The tour headquarted in the historic Bassett Lodge for the 2007 Nebraska Angus Tour. The bus was loaded and headed to the Hall Ranch to view a pasture stop of bred heifers and a pasture stop of yearling bulls. The bus loaded and we went across the Niobrara River for breakfast at the ranch. There were approximately 125 people from 6 states attending the tour on Friday, September 14th. The second stop was Barstow Angus near Springview where tour-goers received a warm welcome from Neri and Patty Barstow and viewed several pens of top quality cattle. From Barstow’s the tour headed to Valentine Livestock Auction in Valentine to tour one of the most modern auction barns in the country and to view cattle from Dailey Angus Ranch, Joseph’s Angus Ranch, Kraye Angus Ranch, Diamond Lazy J Ranch and TK Angus Ranch. Greg Arendt, owner of Valentine Livestock Auction and each breeder gave everyone a welcome and introductions and talked about their operation. A delicious lunch was served at the Barn Café. Steaks for the lunch were provided by the Peppermill Steackhouse which is owned and operated by the Joseph family. From Valentine the tour headed to Ainsworth to Sears Angus at Ainsworth Feed Yards. Tour-goers got a tour of the Feed Yard and viewed several pens of cattle. Bob and Diana Sears welcomed everyone and had a drawing for prizes and explained their operation and their intensive involvement in DNA testing for carcass quality. From Sears Angus the tour traveled 7 miles south of Ainsworth to the Wind Turbine farm to see the 36 wind turbines that can provide enough electricity for 19,000 homes. The next stop on the tour was Hitchcock’s GBS Angus Ranch northeast of Stuart. Gary and Bev Hitchcock welcomed everyone along with Nichols and Sons Angus. Viewers enjoyed a snack and several pens of excellent cattle. The final stop of the first day of the tour was at the Darrel Smith Angus Ranch. Cattle were also displayed by Springlake Angus Ranch. Tour participants enjoyed a CAB steak dinner and entertainment was provided by one of Gary and Bev Hitchcock’s sons and friends. While at the Smith’s, some of the tour-goers got to take a bus back into Atkinson and visit a very unique gift store called Marilyn’s Something Special. The second day of the tour departed from the Bassett Lodge and headed to Bassett Feeding where Ray Carr gave a drive through tour and welcomed everyone and explained the operation. Then the tour was off to A & B Cattle for breakfast and to view cattle. Arlyn and Becky Sawyer gave a warm welcome to the 85 plus tour participants. From the Sawyer’s, the tour traveled southeast into the Sandhills to Smith Angus Ranch, where Kent and Faye Smith displayed an excellent set of cattle. The next stop on the tour was Mike Sitz Angus and the drive to get there was all Sandhills. Mike and Debra Sitz provided an excellent lunch and great cattle. Devon Ballagh from Ballagh Cattle Co. also displayed cattle at the Sitz Ranch. From the Sitz Ranch the tour traveled to its final stop at the Fred Ranch where Jamie and Kay Fred greeted everyone with a warm welcome and tour-goers got to see several pens of calves. Big thank yous go to the tour guide Ronna Morse and to the best dressed porta-potty driver in the west, Rex Aerosmith. The 2007 Nebraska Angus tour was 350 miles of great scenery, excellent cattle to view and great food to eat and good people to visit. By Dick Hollman |
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Nebraska Angus Suzy Hebbert |