I had a good trip last weekend.  Got through Nichols Cryogenetics & Hawkeye to look at bulls. 

Hit the Steele Angus Sale last Saturday.  A TC Grid Topper son topped the sale at $10,000, and a Grid Topper heifer topped the heifer offering at $5000.  The Grid Topper yearling bulls averaged $2530.  It was a coming out party for Grindstone!  His yearling bulls averaged $3481.  Talk about guts, butts & nuts, Grindstone is providing it! 

After the Steele sale, I went to Nichols Farms to visit Dave & Ross Havens.  Their Simmy X Angus F1 bulls are impressive.  Both Nichols & Steele are using Igenity tests.

On Sunday, I visited our Missouri office, where we were conducting an AI school.  There were people there from Oklahoma, Indiana, Missouri, and up by Omaha, Nebraska.  The Missouri Block & Bridle show was going on that day too, so I visited that as well.  Even got in a hour at the Bass Pro Shop.  My son, Tyler, says we need to use some red hooks this year while we Bluegill fish in summer.

 The office was busy with phone calls Monday through Wednesday.  I left Wednesday morning, and am still trying to play catch up on emails & voice messages.

-Lance 

A popular question that I get is "What's your best bull?"  I really dislike that question, because there are certain bulls that accel at certain traits, and I don't believe that the "perfect" bull exists.

Our lineup of AI bulls is extremely strong, and I'm sure we can find you a bull that will match up with the cows that you need mated this year.

Last week was a busy one, as I started out from home here in Wisconsin leaving about six inches of snow on the ground.  I went down to the Missouri office and encountered a few days of weather in the upper 70's.  Carl and I brought in some AI cows and sweated pretty good putting up some fence. 

On Thursday afternoon, I headed to the Ohio Beef Expo, and stayed there until Saturday late afternoon.  We were so busy at the booth that I didn't get a chance to see what the sales did.  The Frozen Gold sale is always a great time where excitement abounds!

I made it back to Wisconsin a little after midnight Saturday and was surprised to see a little snow on the ground yet.   The next day brought the WI Angus sale.

I'm here at home this week until Friday, then I'll head to the Steele Angus Sale in Iowa. 

-Lance

Well, it was a long road trip the past couple weeks as my wife will vouch for, but very productive.  Starting out at the Springer Simmental sale in Iowa, 22 SAS All Star bulls averaged $2684.  They were well received and are stout, eye appealing cattle that will work on a variety of pedigrees.  The top bred female was also an All Star, selling to Hart's, SD for $4000.

The Illinois Beef Expo had pretty good traffic.  I believe the bulls in the Angus sale averaged $2880 and the females about $3600.  The top selling female was an own daughter of our EXAR New Look bull, who was bred to WAR Cowboy Up., one of our hotter new bulls.  The Simmental sale was a little down from last year according to the consignors.

The Missouri Angus Futurity was a packed crowd on sale day.  $3700 average on about 80 females.  Bulls were about $2844 on 42 head.

I had the opportunity to see some Keep Dreamin, Bank Roll, and Positive Power females at Lee Simmentals, MO.  Also the first SS On Star calves look stout.

We are starting to pick up speed on semen orders, so remember to order a few weeks before you start breeding.  Our Angus bull flyer was sent out with the February Angus Beef Bulletin and Angus Journal, and we are getting many positive comments from that.

The TC Ranch sale averaged $3838 on 242 lots.  

I'll be in my Wisconsin office this week, and will be heading down to our Missouri office March 12, and will be going to the Ohio Beef Expo and Wisconsin Angus Sale from there.

--Lance