"Annie"
Cowtown's Grey Fire
DOB 11 Feb 2008
People celebrate their anniversaries in many different ways. In 2008 Russ and I were married 20 years, and we celebrated by attending the Association General Meeting for the American Dexter Cattle Association in Belton, Texas. This was our first "breeder's convention," and we went ready to learn. We had a fabulous time and learned a wealth of information. We met wonderful "Dexter people" from all over the USA, learned a ton about bovine care, and I got to attend the children's class on showmanship and fitting. The kids were showing me up big time on knot tying and handling the calves they had for us to practice on.
A big surprise was everyone kept asking if we were related to "Mary"... we laughed politely and said not that we were aware. That would just be a bit odd that a relative were involved in the same breeders association... Well, we met Mary, and she asked if we were related to and Upton she knew in our area.. sure enough, it was Russ' father! How crazy! A cousin involved with Dexters! We had a fabulous time getting to know Mary, and even learned a little family history.
My highlight was the live auction sale the last day. I had not been to a cattle auction since I went with my great uncle as a kid, and had never been a bidder. Russ got me a number, and we looked over the sale listing. We had seen most of the animals for sale in the show the day before, and had a few in mind. I sat on my hands until the time came and I WON THE BID ON MY HEIFER!!! Cowtown's Grey Fire became my "Annie" short for Anniversary. Some girls get jewelry for their 20th wedding anniversary, but my honey knows me and got me a cow!
Annie the day we bought her June 2008 Annie grazing around the Middle Age Spread November 2009
Annie is loaded with personality, and is friendly almost to a fault. She has a very small "personal space" and is quite nosey, not wanting to miss out on anything new and exciting. After the 2010 "show season" we will have Annie bred so she can be the wonderful momma we know she will be.
Emma and I showed Annie at the 2009 Houston Livestock Show Dexter Cattle show. She was very young in her class, and while she got decent comments, she just didn't have the development - or the patience - to compete with the other heifers in her class. Emma then showed her at the Montgomery County Fair. She drew a lot of attention as she was the only Dexter there. We knew she wouldn't do well competing in the "breeding beef". But the show experience and the fun of sharing this delightful breed with the county fair was a blast. Em might argue the "fun" as Annie needs a firm hand in the show ring as her nosey self makes her a bit independent and she wanted to check things out more than stand and be judged. Fortunately, the judge actually knew a bit about Dexters and shared with the folks in the stands that she was not behind in development, but exhibiting the traits of her breed - an old heritage breed of dual purpose cattle. We were thrilled he was so up on Dexters and he talked with Emma for quite a while in the ring. Emma did a fabulous job of dealing with Annie, and we are very proud of both of them!
Emma showing Annie at the 2009 Montgomery County Fair.