Morning Coffee – 2019 NWSS

With the 2020 Edition of the National Western Stock Show now in the books, it’s evident that even as things change, some things stay the same. The renovation of the National Western grounds is definitely underway, the roads, buildings and railways will never be as remembered. It appears they will be different and in almost all ways, better. They have a ways to go and it looks like we will get to see a yearly progress report as the events play out over the coming years. The National Western Stock Show is on the move and the Limousin breed is on the move with it.

Magness Land & Cattle hosted the breed and kicked off the festivities with the Mile High Elite Female Sale Saturday evening. The sale was solid and Buff Beef of Oregon added the top lot to their growing program. Many thanks to the Magness crew for their hospitality as a good time was had by all as buyers, sellers and sponsors who gathered in fellowship and business as this Stock Show tradition started the week with a bang.

Sunday’s National Sale also showed how technology and tradition can walk hand in hand. For those that haven’t been to Denver lately, the National Sale is now held in the National Western Club and you can participate online, in person or by proxy, and the breed held a great event with cattle and genetics crisscrossing the country.

Monday night saw the NALJA juniors headline the evening as they gathered together to offer benefit items and genetics in the Annual Genetics On Ice. $56,000 went to the Cornerstone program and 2020 National Junior Show. Wiley Fanta became the official hat rack maker, as his first-time consignment sold three different times before Denny Bauman of Lazy Brook Limousin became the final owner. Congratulations and many thanks to all who contributed and all who purchased.

As it seldom does, the Junior and Open shows on the Hill did not disappoint. One of the largest crowds in recent memory gathered around the stadium arena to watch junior and open exhibitors parade their cattle in the historic venue. At the end of the day, and as a testament to the true quality of both cattle and kids found in our junior program, many of the division champions in the open show came from junior exhibitors. In a feat that is hard to achieve, Sara Sullivan managed to capture the junior Lim-Flex and Open Grand Champion female titles with the same female, which coincidentally was bred by Madison Ratliff, whose family has a long-standing history of exhibiting quality cattle. Congratulations to all the exhibitors for putting on an outstanding display of Limousin cattle at the Super Bowl of stock shows.

Tuesday in the Yards was the scene of the First “Best Of The Yards Online Bull Sale” and a great set of bulls were matched with active online bidding and new owners. The top seller at $11,500 was consigned by Hunt Limousin while Lewis Limousin consigned a great set of three bulls that saw lots of action and an average of over $6,000. All in, 14 bulls sold to breeders and commercial producers at an average of $6,518. Congratulations to these breed leaders who took a chance and did their homework.

Wednesday’s Carload Show saw longtime exhibitors Coleman Limousin Ranch win the Purebred Pen honors and Magness Land & Cattle taking away the Lim-Flex Pen Show and the Carload Champion. Every year the quality gets higher and this year was no exception as there were great bulls to be found in every pen. The breed owes a debt of gratitude to all the programs that work hard to bring a great product to the National Western.

This year’s show had a familiar rhythm and a familiar pace and that is comforting, but changing things up can also be exciting. We have a feeling that Denver’s National Western will never be the same. Plan on coming next year to be part of the excitement, we would love to see you there.

CONTACT THE AUTHOR
Mark A. Smith
[email protected]
515-229-5227