We've got 3rd cut hay down, hopefully with no rain -- and maybe even a fourth cut, depending on the weather!! John is busy preparing the animals for the sale (see the link on our home page for the catalogue). John and I will be travelling to Alberta for some touring and the Anchor D sale next week.

It has been a VERY busy summer. . . John and I were lucky enough to travel to the world Congress in the UK. We had a great time seeing old friend and making many new ones. Aside from getting sick (John even visited the hospital in Edinburgh!!) and got sick once I was home, we really enjoyed our trip. We've finished harvesting the wheat, and have put away the bales from our second cut of hay. Lisa and I (and Owen) even made it up to the cottage for a week!!

With the nice weather finally arriving, Owen was outside checking out the cows and calves.

Owen loves looking at the cattle.

We had a busy few weeks around the farm. The cattle were happily put out to grass, after de-horning and vaccinations. Calving is all but finished, the barns have been cleaned out, and John and I are starting to plan our trip to the World Simmental Congress in the UK. Lisa is back to work, and Owen is a happy boy at the babysitters.

Lisa and I travelled to the Houston Livestock Show. We did many things including attending the rodeo and Tim McGraw concert, the Simmental Sale, hanging out in the International Room and had a bit of time to be tourists. Many thanks to the friendly folks from Houston for making us feel so welcome. We will be back again!!

The Simmental sale is the perfect place for David Onstot to spend some time with his daughters.

Lots of people were in attendance to watch the simmental sale.

We're about half way through calving (26 on the ground). . . and things are going well. We've had calves sired by IPU Laramie, Bar 5 Kaptain, Bar 5 Pfalzer -- our herd sires, and then Bar 5 Banker, RLD Everest, Bar 5 Phidelity, and more to come. The heifers have caught up with the bulls, and we're just about 50/50 now. Weather is all over the map -- +15 Celcius to - 20 Celcius. . . not the best cattle weather. Stay tuned for some pictures of the calves.

I attended the annual Southwest Simmental Club meeting. I had a good time, a good meal, and there was lots of discussion about the future of the beef industry. Even the optimistic farmers are finding it difficult to be positive with the high price of feed and the low price of beef.

John and I travelled to Bar 5 to visit our bulls and heifer on test. It was nice to see Andreas and the progress our animals are making. We look forward to seeing our animals in the Bar 5 spring sale.

John and Andreas in the bull pen, review all the test animals.

Bruce Holmquist, from the CSA, stopped in for a visit at PHS. He was in London for a large feeder convention and was able to come and see us. It was nice to visit with him at the farm and show him our program.