The Covergirl

Her name is Serena.

I get pretty excited when I open up a magazine and some of my work is in it, and this time it was a complete surprise. In December I went up the Boy's house to help him picture and video some of the cattle he would be selling in the Iowa Beef Expo. The Iowa Cattlemen picked up one of my pictures for the cover. Cattle marketing has become just as high tech as retailers swaying you towards certain brands.

Serena will sell in the Iowa Beef Expo Hereford sale on Feb. 17. For more information on this show heifer prospect click here. 

Today, Cattlemen can use Facebook, Twitter, Blogs, E-Blast, Websites, YouTube, Print Advertising and straight ole call you up and try to sell you something marketing. 

Cattle, pigs, goats, oh my!

Livestock everywhere!

This week I am in Oklahoma for the largest youth livestock show. This week more than 7,000 4-H and FFA kids have descended upon Oklahoma City to show their prized animals. Me, I've just been snapping pictures.

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I have a secret fascination with Brahman cattle.

I love fuzzy ears.

My first time ever taking hog photos. 

I'll post a video of all the fun later in the day! 

To see more photos visit Sure Champ's facebook page. 

She's Famous

Covergirl strikes again

Remember Serena's Iowa Cattlemen's cover shot, well now she is appearing in the Boy's local paper as part of National Ag Week.

What kind of relationship do you have with your local media? This picture provided an awesome opportunity for the Boy not only to promote JJB Cattle Company, but to also create a relationship with the newspaper. Hopefully, in the future when they are covering agricultural topics they won't google where their food comes from, and instead talk to a farmer.  

I remember a tweet from Debbie Lyons Blythe that suggested when the weatherman asks for pictures from you family why not send them a photo of your livestock out in the snow. Certainly, something that can be continued through this long awaited spring!

Things to see in San Antonio

An afternoon stroll in San Antonio.

A couple weekends ago I mentioned that I was in San Antonio. Remember the Texas Women style post, and me thinking it has to do with something in the water?

Well, I am pretty sure they aren't drinking any water out of San Antonio's River Walk, but it's pretty nonetheless. 

If you're in San Antonio you have to check out the River Walk.

There are a million delicious places to eat along the Riverwalk. The Little Rhein Steakhouse is one of my favorites.

And it was nice to see some signs of Spring. 

I stayed at the Menger Hotel, which is an old historic hotel.

Beautiful detailed craftsmanship.

And of course I loved it's turquoise walls. It didn't hurt that I could also look out my bedroom window and see the Alamo.

Hello, people walking into my shot. You now get to be apart of my things to see in San Antonio blog. 

And if I come how could have removed this gate and transported it onto the airplane, it would have been coming with me. I love it!

It's Sale Time - Star Lake Cattle Ranch

Going once, going twice, sold. 

One of the cows that sold

There is always something exciting about a cattle sale. Maybe it's the thrill of making a new purchase, or waiting to see what market value the bidders are going to put on your animals. There is also the fact that you get to catch up with old friends and the opportunity to make new friends.

This weekend I was in Oklahoma at the Boy's family's sale. People came from all over the United States and Canada to evaluate Star Lake Cattle Ranch's cattle and genetics. Purebred cattle sales are different than the sales that usually happen at an auction market. 1. These cattle are being sold for seedstock breeding purposes, 2. Not only do live cattle sell, but also frozen embryos and semen were sold, 3. On some of the lots you were only buying an interest in the cattle - half or a quarter.

At a auction market mostly market cattle are sold (those that are going for consumption) or commercial breeding cattle (those females that will go on to raise market animals.)

Here are a few of the pictures I took this weekend.

Everyone checking out the sale lots.

One of the older Hereford bulls selling in the sale.

Fun fact: The wind blows in Oklahoma all the time.

The brand found on all the Star Lake Cattle.

To see a few more pictures from the sale check out the Crystal Cattle facebook page. 

Camera Accessories - Turquoise Thursday

1. 2. 3. Smile.

You know me I love taking photos, especially of the farm and cattle. And I am always admiring my friends' amazing photography skills. I mean check out the recent pics from Our Little Ranch Photography and Wrenn Bird Photography. Fabulous. www.Not only do I love looking through their photos, but I'm always intrigued by what new gear they are carrying around, which has inspired this Turquoise Thursday.

This is actually a camera bag. Really. Thanks to my Pinterest buddy Holly Martin for suggesting it to me.

See, look at all that room. I love the lime green on the inside. You'll have to check out all the other colors at the haveaepiphanie.com blog. Some really neat stuff.

Have you seen these new camera straps that everyone is walking around with. When I was at the Oklahoma Youth Expo one of the photographers had a cowhide one. If you search on Etsy.com you can find tons of these handmade camera straps - like this fun turquoise one. 

This turquoise camera strap is pretty too. 

I definitely need one of these lens cap covers, as I am always misplacing my lens cap. This lens cap pocket slides onto your camera strap, so it is never far from reach. Again found on Etsy.com.

What are some of your favorite camera products?

Crystal Cattle photos turned into artwork

That's John.

My photo in pencil

I have this friend named John. He is a pretty cool guy. (He's probably going to read this, so I have to say those kind of things.) I met John while on the Livestock Judging Team at Butler, and John also ended up at K-State like I did. And although I like to think I am a pretty good evaluator of livestock, John is really good. At the National Western Stock Show John was the High Individual (best of them all) in the Senior College Judging Contest, thus earning himself a trip to Alberta, Canada, to do a little judging up there. 

I'll never forget John calling me a couple days before his trip asking if I had any idea of who was going to pick him up from the airport because he had lost the contact number of the lady helping organize the trip. I was spending the summer down in the States, but I put John in touch with my family and they took care of him for the week.

Last year, John was asked to judge one of the Sheep shows at the North American International Livestock Exposition (NAILE) aka Louisville. Since, I was also there at the same time for the cattle shows, and had my camera in hand I decided I would see if I could get a couple snapshots of him judging. (My DRIVE magazine cover actually came from these photos.)

Another one of the pictures I took.

But, this is the picture I want to draw your attention to.

Because this got turned into this

John's Judging Team had this picture drawn for him. The artist is Tonja Rose Shudy, and although we haven't met in person I think you do incredible work!

p.s. Don't forget to refollow this blog and update your bookmarks. This will be my new url. 

Instagram the greatest iPhone app

Click, Edit, Post

Recently, I made the switch from Blackberry to iPhone, and in the process I asked my facebook followers what their favorite apps were. I got some really great suggestions, but I have to say my favorite so far is Instagram. 

So what is it? Instagram allows to your take, edit and upload photos to your Instagram profile. The photoshop actions (those are the things that change your photos to black and white, sepia, etc) are awesome, and just take one click to apply. Once your photos are posted your followers can then like or comment on your images, and you can do the same back to them. The app even allows you to post the photos simultaneously to your Facebook or Twitter pages. It is also a simple way to capture your Wordless or Wordful Wednesday photos.  

Ever since I've downloaded the app I have been snapping photos our the Boy's cattle, the farm and all the things I've been whipping up in the kitchen! Remember this post about showing cattle? Those are all instagram photos. 

I wanted to share with you some of my favorite instagram photographers just incase you decide this app is for you. And search for Crystal Cattle if you want to follow me. 

I love the photos that kaitmcdee post. You can tell she is a farm girl with style. I am pretty sure I would pose with the Ivomec gun like that. (Side note: Ivomec is a dewormer that you pour on the backs of cattle to control parasites in livestock. Got to keep them healthy)

I follow Angsamp both on Instagram and on Twitter. She is always posting beautiful photos of her ranch. Plus she has a cool combination of jobs lawyer and rancher. 

I have talked about Our Little Ranch Photography before, and both Luke and Catherine has Instagram profiles. It just goes to show you don't need a high powered camera to take beautiful photos. Caution though Luke is also snapping pictures of delicious food - you might get hungry. 

Since I can't always be around for the crops being harvested I love it when other people post pictures. Kuhngirl1 also have picture of everything from cowboys to baby pigs to cupcakes on her profile. 

And finally I love Christina of Little Fashion Diary. Everyday she posts fun outfits and new finds, you can tell this girl likes to laugh and have a lot of fun. Her blog is definitely worth checking out if you love fashion or need some inspiration.

If you are on instagram or sign up let me know. I would love a peak into your everyday. 

An instagram week in photos

I'm back

I have arrived back in the Midwest after a wonderful week in Pennsylvania. I had an awesome time connecting with old friends, making new friends and enjoying some great cattle! Although, I have been a little quiet on the writing front I was busy taking photos and editing video.

Remember the amazing app Instagram I told you about? Well here is my past week in photos. And if you are on Instagram be sure to search for me as crystalcattle. I've loved following a lot of you, so be sure to leave your username in the comments below if you are also using the Instagram app.

I love this I Heart Beef silly band of my friend's, Katie.

Can't got anywhere with the turquoise back. The yellow thing is an eartag and on the other side is my contact information. The I Heart Beef sticker has seen some better days, but it is holding in there!

I love taking pictures of cattle. 

Everyone is chasing these blue ribbons at the National Junior Angus Show. 

The cutest showman of the entire show. This young Angus showman is from South Carolina. 

This is a tea towel that one of the teams was using in the Cook Off Contest. If anyone knows where you can get these please let me know! 

Home to Canada and Back to Midwest Home Again

Repack, unpack, repeat

In the the last 20 days I have been to six states and Alberta, Canada. I have been on eight flights. And I am about to do more traveling this weekend and next, so I apologize for a lack of blogging. Maybe next year I should instigate a vacation week from my blog. Just a little chance to catch up. Anybody do that before?

However, on my little break with my family I did manage to take a few photos.

This is Elle. She is one of my sister's and parent's Simmental cows. Last year they purchased her after I took a look at her at a sale in Kentucky. Elle's originally family are awesome new friends of ours. I love cattle, but I think I love the people in the cattle business even more. 

This is our family's Border Collie Bud. He is a working dog and helps up move our cattle. A good cattle dog is like having an additional man helping move cattle. Also, using a dog is a great stress free way to move cattle. That is something that is really important to our family. We want our cattle to always be treated in a low stress manner so they are more comfortable. I can't wait until the Boy and I have a good working dog one day. 

This was my view above Alberta. I love the patchwork of fields below. The bright yellow fields are Canola as in Canola oil. You don't see this crop often in the U.S., usually only in the northern states, but it  is common in Canada. 

This is what is looks like from the ground. I think Canola is one of the prettiest crops. I also try and show my love for Canada by always buying Canola Oil at the grocery store instead of Vegetable Oil. I know I'm a nerd. 

p.s. Remember that Canola is low in saturated fat, a source of omega-6 fat, high in omega-3 fat and cholestrol and trans fat-free. 

And finally maybe it was Canola Oil that were used for these French Fries. I love French Fries - I know not super healthy, but hey everything in moderation right. But do you know what I love even more than French Fries? French Fries and gravy. It is a Canadian thing, and for some reason has been hard to replicate south of the border. If they would have had it I would have order poutine, which is French Fries, Gravy and Mozzarella cheese!

Reminder all of these photos were taken on Instragram if you are on it let me know. I'm Crystal Cattle.