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THE HIGHLAND HOOFBEAT NEWSLETTER OF THE NORTH CENTRAL HIGHLAND CATTLE ASSOCIATION   JANUARY 2008…VOLUME 20, NUMBER 4
Presidents Page: 2007 has come and gone leaving us with the start of 2008.   Recapping 2007:  Many NCHCA members attended the 2007 NWSS in Denver, proving once again that the breeding programs in the Midwest are some of the best. Moving into the spring brought the MAHA show in Mercer, PA.  A show full of warm hospitality and excellent food.  Several attended the Scottish Festival in Farmington, MN and enjoyed it immensely. The highland cattle were a popular addition to the festivities.  In June we successfully hosted the AHCA National Convention.  A very educational convention with tours of highland farms, ABS and UW extension in Arlington.  Attendees enjoyed Old World Wisconsin, a pipe and drum band and cloggers.  Our North Central Auction was a great success due to the hard work of the Weideman's and all the generous donations from all over the country.  We can be proud of our achievements in hosting this event. Several members also attended a new show in York, NE.  The Demuth Family hosted the Cornhusker Classic.  An incredible show facility and an unbelievably organized event in conjunction with York Fest proved to be well worth the trip. The NCHCA hosted two shows.  Billy & Barb Johnston organize the Gopher State Classic in Farmington, MN.  A wonderful banquet followed the show day.  Mike and Katie Parish organized the Badger State Classic, which also hosted its first ever highland games after the show.  Participants were of all ages.  A fun and hilarious competition with all events demonstrated by Mr.  Scotland himself.  A great time.  Thank you to all those involved in ensuring those shows ran smoothly.  They are a lot of work and it is greatly appreciated! Other events that the NCHCA were present at were the International Show in Goshen, IN-a beautiful day at that show.  The Minnesota State Fair, Walworth County Fair, Farm Technology Days, and many other local fairs and events.  One in particular you should take the time to visit if you have not yet is the Farmers Market on the Square in Madison.  An incredible site to see.  John & Dorothy Priske who have been very successful in their marketing of dry aged highland beef represent the highland presence.  Take the time and visit them at the Market.  A very busy but successful year. Throughout the year we have learned of some members that have had to endure health hardships.  We have kept them in our thoughts and prayers and wish them all a full recovery. It was with deepest sadness that we learned of “Doc” Demuth’s passing.  A member who cherished all highlands and loved the show scene.  Doc’s unending warm smiles, welcome hugs and forever genuine friendship will be greatly missed.  As with all passing the thought of looking forward is the hardest part, but in doing so we will watch his legacy live on through his family.  The Highland Association had the privilege of knowing a great man.     2007 is a year to remember. 2008 is a year to begin with the NWSS coming up quickly and the NCHCA Annual meeting in Hudson, WI February 16th & 17th.  Please mark your calendar and plan on attending.  Some excellent speakers will be presenting on Saturday. As I wrap this up, this also wraps up my last President’s page.  It has been an honor to serve as President of the NCHCA.  I would like to thank all the board members, our faithful Secretary, Treasurer and Hoofbeat Editor, and all those who have volunteered their time to ensure the success of the NCHCA.   To all members I thank you for your participation, membership and above all your friendships. Thank you and best wishes in 2008. Heather Nelson
CONSUMER CONFIDENCE submitted by Don Nelson Most of us practice a pasture/grass/hay based meat business.  We have the opportunity to teach our non-farming customers the concept of farms and farming people.  As the competition grows we need to change the look of the industry.  Farming is about food, but to our customers it is much more than that. Do we meet their expectations or do we cause them to ignore us?  It’s all about presentation and sales.  By opening up our farms to the customer, we have no choice but to keep our farms neat and clean.  This will build consumer confidence, set your reputation with your customer, and will be shared with their friends as well. What’s your sales pitch?  Keep your message fresh and have 2 or 3 different messages to fit the situation and the customer.  You must teach the customer about your product.  If you have a web site, make sure the customer knows your site.  Any information they didn’t get from a visit to your farm they can get from your web page. Health conscious customers will want to know all the benefits.  Do you have a money back guarantee or exchange policy?  Post any testimonials where new customers can see them.  This may help any skeptical customers.  Never assume that you have done all you can.  There are always new things to tell people so they can relate to you and want to buy your product	JUNIORS submitted by Heather Nelson Juniors-here is your fact for the quarter!  Maybe you know this maybe not.  Cows have 32 teeth!  They don’t have upper incisors, but they do have 6 premolars on top and 6 on the bottom and 4 sets of incisors (8 total) on the bottom.  Baby calves are born with deciduous teeth (teeth that fall out).  All teeth have fallen out and have been replaced by 4-5 years of age.  The teeth will change in appearance as the cattle age as well as how the gums look that surround the teeth.  The older they get the more you will be able to see the “neck” part of the tooth.  Keep an eye out in the feed pans and maybe you’ll find a tooth.
	COWS IN CLOVER submitted by Heather Nelson Complete each of the joke answers by putting 2, 3, or 4 of the letters from the word clover in the blank spaces.  The letters must be in the same order as they appear in CLOVER, and you can’t skip letters.  For example, you can use LO but not LE or VO. Q:  How do you fit 5 cows into a convertible? A:  2 in the front, 2 in the back and 1 in the G____compartment. Q:  How can you tell if there are 4 cows in your refrigerator? A:   The door won’t ___SE. Q:  What’s worse than 4 cows in you refrigerator? A:    FI__ cows in your refrigerator. Q:  How can you tell if there are 5 cows in your refrigerator? A:  There’s an empty CON___TIBLE parked out back. Q:  What’s worse than 5 cows in your refrigerator? A:  5 Cows in your _____N.

NCHCA OFFICERS Heather Nelson—President (262) 594-2542 Roger Weideman—Vice-President (715) 294-2249 Pat Zea—Secretary (218) 835-6426   Cindy Weideman—Treasurer   (715) 294-2249 Vicki Brittain—Hoofbeat Editor 218) 835-4376 Board of Directors Tom Stodola—(763) 420-2405 Emily Johnston—(651) 470-2675 Ed Larson—(763) 498-7265 NCHCA AHCA Board Members Billy Johnston—(651) 457-4449 AHCA Board Member-at-Large Larry Zea—(218) 835-6426 Tom Stodola—(763) 420-2405 Mike Parish—(920) 387-1317		Classified/Want Ads—Ads from members may be submitted for a dime a word or $5.00 for a business card per issue.  Remember it does not have to be just cattle.  It can be head gates, corral panels or any other equipment you wish to sell or purchase.   FOR SALE:   For Sale :  Highland Bull.  DOB: 6/1/04 .  Excellent sire.  Great leg and hoof, with structural soundness to carry through many breeding years.  Nice disposition. Used in registered herd and crossbreeding program. Call 262-594-2542 or go to NCHCA website classifieds for picture and pedigree. For Sale :  5’ Sullivan Showbox.  Excellent condition. 2  years old.  Can be seen at the Denver Stockshow in January.  $350.00  Call Sue Dyke at 402-586-2631 or email her at almostafarm@gpcom.net
		HIGHLAND CALENDAR OF EVENTS January 24-27, 2008-   NWSS National Highland Cattle Show, Denver, CO Contact AHCA                       February 16 & 17, 2008- NCHCA Annual meeting and Informational Cattle Seminars UW-Ext)
A Thank You to our “Friends at NCHCA” for the delightful surprise on our 50th Anniversary in St. Charles, Illinois.  The champagne was great; the chocolate covered strawberries were delicious, as were the other goodies.  Some people are sneaky!   Thank you again,   Larry & Pat
		POINTS OF INTEREST submitted by Heather Nelson UW Extension has begun a site called the Farmer-to-Farmer Hay, Forage and Corn list.  This is free of charge to both the buyer and the seller.  It is a great link to connect those who have feed to those who do not.  The website is located at: http://farmertofarmer.uwex.edu.  Check it out.
REMINDER THE NEXT HOOFBEAT INFORMATION IS NEEDED BY BY MARCH 21, 2008	NCHCA WEBSITE Check out NCHCA website at www.NCHCA.org.  Put this website on your favorites list and check it out frequently.  Frequent hits on the website moves NCHCA up on the search engines list so check it out often.  The NCHCA website is a great place to advertise your cattle for sale, in the classified section, or to describe your farm and operation in the Breeders page section or even to get your farm listed on the breeders map.  Breeder pages are $5.00 annually and the Breeders Map is $15.00 annually.  For more information contact: Tricia Ewing 12306 Wide Hollow Road Yakima, WA  98908 Phone:  (509) 972-8040 Email:  bzymom@gmail.com   Tricia tries  to keep our website up to date monthly.  She can always use new pictures to rotate and new information when available.
MINNESOTA STATE FAIR The Minnesota State Fair will be Aug. 23  - Sept. 3.  John Reiman will again be there throughout the 8 days that the NCHCA will be there.  Jim Anderson will be there Aug.23 – 26 and we are in need of someone to be there with or without cattle Aug. 27 – 30.  Please contact John for further information on testing etc. for you cattle.  It is great publicity!  John Reiman (320) 592-3036
2008 NCHCA Annual Meeting February 16th & 17th Hudson , WI The annual meeting this year will be located at the Best Western Hudson House.  Registration will begin at 1:00 on Saturday.  Saturday seminars will be presented by Dennis Cosgrove from the UW River Falls.  Dennis is a professor of agronomy and has an extensive background in forage production.  The second seminar will be presented by Juliet Tomkins also from the UWRF.  Juliet will be giving a seminar on Direct Marketing for Small Farms.  There will be a dinner banquet at the hotel that evening.  Sunday at 8:00 am we will begin our annual meeting that will conclude at 12:00 pm .  There are several board positions that will be open, vice president and two board members, as well as Junior leader.  We will have a NCHCA representative position to the AHCA board open as well.  Anyone interested please let a NCHCA board member know. The Best Western Hudson House is located at 1616 Crestview Drive Hudson, WI.   The room rate is $82.00/night.   Please call 715-386-2394 prior to January 15th to make a reservation.  Cost of the meal will be $20.00 per person.   Please contact Dale or Leanne Kicker at (715)222-2958 or mail check payable to:  NCHCA 2440 113th Ave Dresser, WI 54009 No later than January 28th
WELCOME THESE NEW MEMBERS submitted by Pat Zea Justin & Jennifer Martinez W2491  Swoboda Road East Troy , WI   53120 Jon & Jennifer Sawle Sandhill Pines S 9993 Exchange Road Prairie du Sac , WI   53578 608-544-2127 Thomas D Moore Amy & John Haben 20797 County Road 2 Silver Lake , MN   55381 612-229-6309   Jerry & Sharon Norin Yahara River Highlands 2165 Rinden Road Cottage Grove , WI   53527 608-873-4983 Steve Kaiser & Steven Korzinek Nu Funk Highland Farm C1351 Kaiser Road Stratford , WI   54484		NOTES FROM THE SECRETARY The year 2008 is here!!!  The year 2007 was truly a busy and active year for NCHCA.  Our annual meeting was held in February, where we planned out 2007.  In May, we had Highlands at the Minnesota Scottish Fair & Highland Games.  What a great venue to show off our animals.  Next came the AHCA Convention in Madison , Wisconsin , which our association hosted.  Then eight days at the Minnesota State Fair.  Finally, the shows: the Cornhusker Show, the Gopher Classic, and the Badger Classic, with Wisconsin Farm Technology Days between the first two shows.  We were all saddened by the sudden death of Dr. Demuth last fall.  He will be missed by all of us.  Now, we are ready to begin another year.  Our annual meeting is in February (details elsewhere in this issue).  Be sure to attend with ideas and be ready to give your input for another exciting and active year. Dues are now due for 2008; they are still only $30.00 At present time we have 81 members.
		****HEY COLLEGE BOUND JUNIORS**** National Cattlemen’s Foundation and Fort Dodge Animal Health have united to offer scholarships.  There are 5 scholarships available at $5000.00 each.  Application acceptance begins in February 2008 for the 2009-2010 academic year.   Winners are announced at the Cattle Industry Summer Conference July 15-19, 2008 in Denver .  All five recipients will receive an all expense paid trip to attend the 2008 Cattle Industry Summer Conference!  Information to be posted soon at: www.nationalcattlemensfoundation.org.  Keep checking for details!!  Parents or any producers can help support this cause by simply turning in any receipts with Fort Dodge Animal Health products from Sept. 1 through Nov. 30.  For more information go to: www.fortdodgelivestock.com.  Organic Valley opened a new 80,000 square-foot warehouse and distribution center in Cashton , WI .  Organic farming is booming in Wisconsin and Gov. Doyle is backing it with several grants to boost the organic industry and it’s research.
Minnesota/NO Bovine TB Found in 1,500 Cattle Herds taken from the Pioneer Press Test of 1,500 cattle herds found no trace of bovine tuberculosis, an encouraging sign for Minnesota agriculture officials in their effort to eliminate the bacterial disease and it’s threat to the state’s 2.5 billion cattle industry. The Minnesota Board of Animal Health launched a testing program in September 2006 after bovine TB was discovered in five cattle herds in Northern Minnesota since 1971.  TB also was discovered in deer shot by hunters. The state campaign included mandatory testing this year for all cattle exhibited at the Minnesota State Fair and tax credits for farmers who paid for testing. The process can be expensive, because it requires a vet to administer a shot and return 72 hours later to examine the animal. It is possible for bovine TB to sicken humans if passed through the food supply, but beef inspections and milk pasteurization make it slight risk.  States with the bacteria in their cattle population lose their federal “TB-free” status, which creates an economic burden for ranchers who often must pay for testing before transporting cattle across state lines. State officials hope Minnesota will regain the status as a result of the testing campaign.