Events

June 8-9-10 KC Scottish Highland Games & Celtic Festival, display of Highlands; E.H. Young Park, Riverside, MO
www.kcscottishgames.org heartlandhighlandcattle@gmail.com

Sept. 7-8 10th Annual SW MO Celtic Heritage Festival & Highland Games, Buffalo, MO 
Old City Park & Fairgrounds 417.345.0575 www.swmocelticfestival.com or heartlandhighlandcattle@gmail.com

2011 Events

The ninth annual Tartan Day Celebration was held at Dr. Alan Cameron's Scotland Farms of Louisiana in Minden, LA on Saturday, April 2nd.

 Saturday, April 30th, 2011 was the "Highlands in the Burg" Festival at the Johnson County Fairgrounds in Warrensburg, MO

May 4th, 5th, & 6th, were the Living History Days that were held at the Mark Twain Visitors Center and park in Warsaw, MO hosted  over 900  third and fourth grade students from four counties.  The Living History Days replicas the 1800's for students to view and ask questions on their class field trip.  The two animals displays there were the team of Oxen and the Scottish Highland Cattle.

4th grade students viewing the Highland yearling heifers and feeding them green tree leaves.

Students offering the Highland heifers some leaves and hoping they will get up from their rest.

Rick Lunceford talks about this oxen team to the students at Living History Days.
Owner of Grassy Ridge Oxen Farm from Oak Grove, MO displayed his 6 year old team of oxen.

 The 4th annual Highland Seminar was held on Saturday, May 14th at Red Willow Ranch and hosted by Gloria Asmussen, with attendees from Iowa, Oklahoma and Missouri attending. The seminar hosted twenty-two people including Highland Seminar attendees and Highland breeder speakers.  There were four seasoned Highland breeders who have raised Highlands from as long as 21 years to five years speaking on halter training, minerals, rotational grazing, and Highland conformation topics and networking answering questions from the attendees.  The day was dreary and cool, but everyone went away learning about the Highland breed.  They all enjoyed a lunch of Highland beef roast, Highland meatballs, and Highland summer sausage.  No one went away hungry and enjoyed eating the lean Highland beef.

The Seminar attendees enjoy lunch.

People attending the Highland Seminar

People attending the Highland Seminar

attendees viewing the Highland fold and asking questions

attendee hand feeding the Highlands

Gloria Asmussen talking to the group about body conformation

 Scottish Festival and Highland Games at Chatham, IL 

 Tom Thompson of Thompson Highland Farms had a great time at the Scottish Games in Chatham, IL on May 20 & 21.  The Mid-Western Drum and Pipe Association were very impressive.  There were pipe and drum demonstrations and contests going on all over the grounds.   The Central Illinois branch of the St. Andrew's Society welcomed me and the Highland heifer with open arms. 

There were alot of people asking questions and taking pictures  The kids at the event were thrilled at being able to feed range cubes to the heifer I took. 

I was asked to return with the Highlands again next year and expect this event will grow bigger each year and is well worth being involved in.

 
Attendees at the Scottish Games enjoying the events.

Even the youngest children checking out the Highland heifer.

American Highland Cattle Association convention took place in Ithaca, NY on June 15-18.  AHCA National Director, Gloria Asmussen, and HHCA Regional Director, Keith Bakeman attended the convention.  They both presented a Best Practices Workshop to the AHCA regional assocations on Wednesday afternoon.  They represented the HHCA regional assocation and explained to the other regions how they promote and educate the Highland breed through Scottish Festival displays, farm agricultural displays and HHCA member Farm Field Days. 

 
The HHCA display case was presented to the regional assocations attending the Best Practices Workshop. 
This display case shows cattle from the HHCA members, the geographical area of the members and the Calendar of Events.

AHCA National Director, Gloria Asmussen and HHCA Regional Director, Keith Bakeman are presenting information to the AHCA Regional Assocations.

The AHCA Regionals Association attendees asking questions at the workshop.

 Beautiful, hot, sunny day, with a nice breeze was July 4th, when the 5th annual HHCA Highland picnic was held at Lightening Ridge Farm, owned by David and Ruth Embury of Willow Springs, MO.  27 people were in attendance, new and seasoned Highland breeders.

Ruth Embury summed up the day nicely in her "Thank You" to all that attended:

"Our sincere thanks to all of you who made it a wonderful success.  It appeared that everyone had a wonderful time.  It is always an informative time, also sharing ideas and experiences.  You get to see old friends from the past who you normally don't see often, and make new friends who come and attend.  And all of the food was yummy.  Thanks to everyone who brought food for the picnic.  Hope to see you all next year."

Lightening Ridge silver Highland bull being scratched on the head by an attendee.

Some of the Highland fold coming for treats.

Dave Embury among the attendees talking to them about his Highland Fold and how the Cinnagar helps with fly control.

Greg Roberts addressing the group about marketing techniques.

The group listening and asking questions about marketing techniques and processing of Highlands.

Cheek's Farm, owned by Gary & Cindy Cheek, of Fair Grove, MO decided this year to enter two registered Highlands in the open class heifer and bull shows at the Ozark Empire Fair, in Springfield, MO on July 29th. Gary stated that it's been forty years since he showed cattle, so this was a relearning experience for him. Enjoying the excitement of the show, but not the hot weather, Gary showed his 15 month old registered heifer, Almosta Farm's Brea in the open heifer class. In the open classes you have to show against other breeds of cattle and sometimes that can be a disadvantage, but in Gary's case, his Highland heifer won second place and Reserve Grand Champion overall in the heifer classes.
Gary also showed his own 8 month old dun colored registered Highland bull calf and won first place in the open class and Reserve Grand Champion in the overall bull class.
Gary left the arena tired, but very proud. Congratulations Gary on a job well done.

Gary leading his Highland heifer, Brea, into the show area

Gary using his show stick correcting the heifer's posture

Brea winning second place and Grand Reserve Champion in her heifer class.
Brea is a dark red Highland with a blonde frosting, something new in the colors of Highlands

8 month old dun registered Highland bull won first place and Reserve Grand Champion in the open bull class.

The St. Louis Scottish Festival was on Saturday, October 1, 2011.  This year the Highland cattle came from McCallie Highland Coos Farm of Dittmer, MO Owners.  Don & Peggy McCallie brought a pair of yearling calves, a red heifer and dun bull.  These cattle had just been brought off the pasture on Friday, Sept. 30th and put in a holding pen until they were loaded to transport to the festival later that day.  Both calves had never been handled before, but were used to seeing Don and his son Mathew in the pasture several times.  After unloading them in the pen at the festival, Mathew started working with them to help them be calm, especially with people coming around the pen, kids running up to the pen, and dogs barking at them. 

Mathew started by walking in the pen with the calves and placing a stick on their backs and just walking around with them. 

That way they knew he was in there and not to fear him.  He worked with them for several hours on Friday night before putting them in the trailer for the night. 

They were left out on Saturday morning and he continued to work with them again, putting the stick on their back and then coming closer to them and scratching them on the back. 

Within an hour, the heifer let him scratch her head and then he used the grooming tool to start grooming her on the back, neck, and forehead.  He was also able to touch her horns.  The bull would let him groom him, but not groom his head.  By the end of the day, the heifer would stand to be groomed all over, under her belly, her tail, and her legs.  Mathew was patient and slow moving with these animals and they trusted him.  He showed people just how docile the Highland breed is to work with. 

Many of the visitors at the festival were very impressed with Mathew's accomplishment and the Highland breed.

Mathew McCallie talks to the festival attendees about Highland cattle.

St. Louis Scottish festival attendees gathering Highland information from the HHCA display table.

The Highland calves enjoying being petted.

 The Ozark Farm Fest was held on October 7,8, & 9, 2011 at the Empire Fairground in Springfield, MO.

Thank you to the HHCA members who came on Saturday and helped promote and educate people about Highland cattle.

This year there were two HHCA breeders who again brought their registered Highlands to display at Farm Fest.

Janet melton and Jerry Delcour of Hairy Cow Farm and Gary Cheek of Cheek Highland Farm both brought yearling Highland bulls and a white heifer calf. 

The event was a huge success as Highlands were again sold from this event.

It was good to see many othere Highland breeders stop by and visit as they were attending this large event that hosts over 40,000 in attendance.

A great way for the HHCA to promote the Highland breed.

Gary Cheek educating an attendee of Farm Fest about Highland cattle.

Another successful Highland sale at Farm Fest.

Janet and Jerry of Hair Cow Farm standing with their registered white Highland heifer, Princess,
they just sold to Griff & Lisa Roark & sons of Rock House Farm.
Congratulations to the new owners of this fine heifer.

Saturday and Sunday, October 15th and 16th were perfect days for the Heritage Festival at Warsaw, MO, beautiful fall weather, temps in the 70's and low 80's.
What a record crowd of people for this weekend, over 15,000 in two days. They were elbow to elbow on Saturday, standing around the cedar rail corral that held the
two 8 month old Highland bulls that were on display owned by Red Willow Ranch. All kinds of questions were being asked about the Highlands.
Are these full grown, how does the meat/beef taste, where can we purchase the beef? Gloria Asmussen provided samples of Highland summer sausage and sold out on the amount of sausage she brought. Sybil Campbell, of Blue Moon Farm, sold her Highland beef sticks and had a very successful two days. People couldn't believe just how lean and tasty the beef tasted. Greg Roberts, talked about the Highland breed until he was almost hoarse. Everyone left the festival on Sunday evening very tired, but happy about being about to promote and education all these people about Highland cattle. Also looking forward to returning next year! 

Red Willow display two Highland bulls at the Heritage Festival in Warsaw, MO

Greg Roberts describing the qualities of Highland cattle to attendees at the Heritage Festival

Sybil Campbell-Roberts busying selling Highland beef snack sticks and Highland summer sausage to people waiting in line

A bystander at the Heritage Festival asking how docile this Highland bull calf is and Greg Roberts sat down on top of Yarrow, the 8 month old Highland bull to demonstrate his docility

Randy and Christine Batz of Sac City, Iowa displayed their Highland bull named RB at the Sac County Fair last July.

They were welcomed by many attendees at the fair as they all had a chance to feed RB oranges that he enjoyed.

Here in the photo is the 2011 Sac County Fair Queen, Lexie Cook, taking her turn feeding RB.

A great opportunity to promote and educate the public about the Highland breed and the docility of the breed as well.

Sac County Fair Queen, Lexie Cook

Saturday, October 29th was a beautiful day for a Highland Field Day at the Coble Highland Ranch in Henryetta, OK

As the wind always blows in OK, this day was no exception, but 50+ people attended the Field Day to learn information about Highland cattle,

see the cattle on a working farm and also be able to taste the Highland beef.  HHCA members from Iowa, Louisiana, Indiana, Missouri, and Oklahoma attended to help host Blake Coble showcase his Highland fold.  There were attendees there to learn all about Highlands and everyone was able to get their questions answered.

Blake Coble pointing out some of his Highlands to onlookers.

Blake enjoying a Highland Burger

HHCA member Gary Trevorrow cooking the Highland burgers.

Blake Coble welcoming attendees and talks about his Highland fold.

Greg Roberts, HHCA Vice President addresses the group about niche marketing Highland cattle and beef

Dr. Alan Cameron, Highland breeder from LA, talks about processing the beef and carcass yields.

The Small Farm Today Conference was held this year on Nov. 3rd, 4th, and 5th in Columbia, MO
There were attendees from many different states coming to learn from the seminars and workshops held at this farm conference.
The people were again very interested in the Highland breed of cattle. Thirty-seven people wanted the free informational packet on the Highland breed that is provided by the Heartland Highland Cattle Assoc. Tom & Theresa Thomposon of Pocahontas, IL brought their 18 month old white Highland heifer to display at the conference. A picture of Tom grooming the heifer named Iris was featured in the Columbia Daily Tribune during the conference.

the youngsters wanting to feed Iris some range cubes

attendees being informed about the Highland breed 

Congratulations to John & Connie Howe of Huntsville, MO on their Grand Opening of their SELECT FARM FRESH MEATS store on October 10th in Moberly, MO.
Their motto is "MOVE OVER ANGUS, THERE'S A NEW BEEF IN TOWN!
Since opening their store, they have seen a volume of people coming to purchase the Highland beef because they no longer want to go to Walmart or the other food stores in town. John stated that they already have weekly repeat customers. Comments are how lean and tasty the beef is compared to the store bought beef. Also there is no waste one customer commented.
John & Connie are starting out by processing grass finished Highlands and Highland crosses for their beef sales and also have all natural pork available. As they grow, John has plans to deliver his beef to different outlets. He has plans to have barbecue's in the small strip mall area he is in this coming summer.

the store front of Select Farm Fresh Meats in Moberly, MO owned by John & Connie Howe

Great Grand Opening special on Highland Ground Beef

John Howe, entrepreneur, talks about his store and the goals he has for selling his Highland beef 

President Dean Adams and Board of Director Gloria Asmussen of the American Highland Cattle Association attended the American Livestock Breed Conservancy convention on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 11th and 12th.  The convention took place at the Sedgwick County Zoo and Hilton Hotel in Wichita, KS where both Dean and Gloria presented to attendees on the recovery of Highland Cattle.  The presentation was entitled "Back From the Brink and How to Stay There".  There were many workshops on how to market your animals/businesses.  The convention was very interesting and one was able to go away learning something.  Another HHCA member, Larry Sorrell of Glasco, KS presented information on Heritage Hogs on Friday.  Since Highland cattle are a Heritage Breed, their recovery in numbers has made them a well recognized breed.

Dean Adams introducing the presentation "Back From The Brink and How To Stay There"

Dean and Gloria answering attendees questions after the presentation

Gloria discussing the importance of having a regional association to help market Highlands and helping members to be involved