Show Chow Experience at Stierwalt's

These lucky folks spent a weekend learning show cattle tips from our Show Chow ambassador, Kirk Stierwalt.

A Weekend Packed with Learning and Fun! Eleven lucky people from across the country were privileged to attend a private cattle demo at Stierwalt Show Cattle School in Leedey, Oklahoma on July 6-8. As part of a contest for Purina Mill dealers, these folks were selected to attend a special weekend clinic to learn proper clipping, fitting and showmanship techniques from renowned show guru, Kirk Stierwalt. 'We are always looking for ways to grow the awareness of our Show Chow brand and build business for our dealers, ' said John Zeloski, Marketing Manager of the Show Chow brand.'Dealers submitted a photo of a Show Chow display highlighting the features and benefits of feeding Show Chow brand products. If they were selected as a winner, they could send themselves, a good customer, or in some cases, dealers had 4-H and FFA kids submit an essay on why they should attend this private clinic.' Winning dealers and attendees included DeWayne Rosson from Coffeyville Feed & Supply, Coffeyville, KS; Kim Long from Global Ag, York, PA; Austin Joyce from Gulf Coast Equine & Pet, Friendswood, TX; Todd & Tricia Rosenbaum from Jake's Feed, Valparaiso, IN; Lauren Long from Northwest Feed, Omaha, NE; Logan Adams, Darin Rhodes & Kenny Adams from Rudy, Inc., Covington, OH; Henley Ledford from Saddle Creek Farm Supply, Athens, TN; Johnnie Braswell from Walden Farm & Ranch, Millsap, TX; and Winner had to cancel due to floods from Clausing Farm Center, Seminole, OK. Friday, July 6 started with a rendezvous at the Oklahoma City airport for many of the attendees. A two hour drive west from Oklahoma City puts you in Elk City, Oklahoma, where everyone had dinner at the best steak house in western Oklahoma, a great place called Simon's Catch. Saturday, July 7 was a jam packed, educational and fun day. Kirk started the day with daily home care and clipper/blade education. As a spokesperson for the Andis Company, Kirk did a great job explaining the proper use and need for each unique blade. This was critical education that came into play later in the day during the Fitting Contest. Kirk used chalk to highlight the high points, low points and areas to avoid when clipping, a great visual learning tool! Kirk's family (including wife Julie, daughter Kyra, and head cook mother-in-law Lomas Harrell) made a great lunch of spaghetti, garlic bread and salad at the Rockin ' H Arena in Leedey. After lunch, Kirk's final pointers led up to the Show Chow Fitting Challenge. We divided the participants into four teams with at least one adult. 'We followed the same format to the Fitting Challenge that we do at the Ak-Sar-Ben, Oklahoma Youth Expo and Ohio Beef Expo,' explained Kirk Stierwalt. 'This two-hour timed event gave everyone the opportunity to clip the animal and fit it like we were prepping for a show, including tail presentation.' Leedey Vo-Ag instructor Jay Muret and Stierwalt farmhand Aaron Bracken helped the teams with their preparation. This fun competitive event was won by the team of Logan Adams, Henley Ledford and Kim Long working on a Shorthorn. The team of Lauren Long, Darin Rhodes and Todd Rosenbaum came in a close second working on a Cross. The team of Johnnie Braswell, Tricia Rosenbaum and DeWayne Rosson came in third with a Cross and finishing last was the team of Kenny Adams, Austin Joyce and John Zeloski working on a Hereford (the thing had no hair on its tail!) After rinsing out the animals with eZall product, the group went back to Rockin' H arena for a hamburger supper. Next we loaded up the trucks and toured downtown Leedey (population 480) to see the high school agriculture department, baseball diamonds and the highlight of the tour, the town jail! Some of the attendees wanted to put Johnnie in there for the night, but it looks like Jesse James was the last visitor! Sunday, July 8 was a short half day before heading back to the airport. Kirk gave some basic instruction on showmanship positioning and tips to impress the judge. We then broke into two groups so everyone could get hands-on experience in practicing for the show ring. Kirk, Jay and Aaron led the event as judges and ring master. After just a few short days, these folks will not only take home a bunch of new information, but also several new friendships that hopefully will last a lifetime. Good-byes were said, brown bag lunches were packed and the group headed back home with more knowledge, more confidence and the competitive edge to make their animals better.