The Great Event Results
The Great Event 2007 held in Washington, Pennsylvania October 25th lived up to its name with a very successful pen show of Purebred Devons from nine states shown by twelve exhibitors, and a large increase in numbers from last year’s show. The first sale in over 20 years showed enthusiasm for the breed from established breeders and many first-time buyers of Devons.
The Second American Devon Cattle Association Show
The Great Event started on Wednesday Ultra Sound data collected on all animals over one year of age by Cathy Lacey of Tallgrass Beef. Measurements collected and anal sized were: REA (rib eye area), REA/cwt allows for animals of different age and weights to be compared, RES (rib eye shape) higher numbers are better, IMF (intramuscular fat) higher is better, BF higher is better to a point depending on age, Ten (tenderness) lower numbers are better, and Stress lower is better. Results to be posted later.
Linear measurements of the same cattle, both those to be sold and those to be only shown on Thursday, were measured by Jeremy Engh and assisted by a crew of interested breeders and buyers. The results were tabulated and made available on Thursday.
The Devon Pen show got under way Thursday morning with over fifty head on display. Veteran Texas breeder J Preston Carlton traveled the furthest with his impressive group of young cattle. Others exhibitors included Roffey Cattle Company and Lakota Ranch of Virginia, Lenoir Creek Devon of North Carolina, Keystone Devon’s of Pennsylvania, Scoggin Farm of Georgia, Full Moon Farm and Folly Farm of New York Beechridge Farm of Kentucky, Henderson Farm of Massachusetts, and Elm Crest Farm and Longacres Farm both of Maine.
Only the second show since the late 1980’s exhibitors showed their beautiful Devons before Judge Jerry Ballard of Ohio. Grand Champion and Reserve Champion Bulls were owned and shown by Tim and Pauline Henderson Wayland; Mass. Page Road Pete was the sire of both. The bull calf class winner Henderson Cherokee was Grand and Henderson Buckshot senior bull class winner was Reserve Champion.
Grand Champion female was Roffey Cattle Company senior heifer class winner Roffey Bayou Q91. This Bayou Boy Sr. daughter was also the winner of the ultra sound carcass evaluation. Bayou Boy was also the sire of the winning Get of Sire for the Event.
The Reserve Grand Champion heifer came from the intermediate heifer class winner Lakota’s R81. Paul Colucci, Full Moon Farm, Gardiner, NY was the proud owner of this fancy heifer.
More class winners and ultra sound data will be posted shortly.
The American Devon Cattle Association Sale
The American Devon Cattle Association’s first publicly held Devon sale in over 20 years was a success for both consigners and buyers. Association members supported the sale by consigning from the top end of their herds. The high quality was maintained throughout the sale. These consignments found new homes with established breeders as well as first-time Devon buyers. Buyers came from Maine to Washington State and New York to Georgia. Prices held up to the very end of the sale confirming the growing interest in Devons and determination to own some of the best available.
Folly Farm 09, a Purebred Devon cow, carrying a Rotokawa 688 X Buckeye’s Millicent IV embryo topped the sale at $4800 for consigner John Forelle of Folly Farm, Pine Plains, New York. The new owner is Paul Colucci of Full Moon Farm, Gardiner, New York.
In all 31 individuals, two lots of embryos, and several units of semen were sold. Live female animals averaged $2914; bulls averaged $2750 with 11 head bringing $3000 or more. High volume buyers were Alan & Barbara Headrick who are starting a Devon herd in Chittenango, New York, and Brian Parke from Gold Bar, Washington, where he reports he can raise five cows per acre on his sub-irrigated river bottomland.
The enthusiasm for purebred Devon cattle was at a high pitch during the entire event. Camaraderie among the members seemed to lessen the workload and created a pleasant atmosphere where Association members and new faces shared their appreciation for this breed and its resurgence. Established breeders pitched in where needed and offered information and advice to those new in Devon circles. One couldn’t help but feel you were in on the ground floor of a movement that will only go forward and accelerate. This first sale in over 20 years will serve as a springboard for those that will follow. The overall atmosphere during the sale was one of growing interest and excitement for Devons.
“Great Event” Chairman Bob Grant deserves much of the credit for the success of the sale. From procuring consignments, to putting together the catalog, to communication with potential buyers, to reading pedigrees at the sale, even to erection of the pens in the barn, Bob and his wife Traci capably handled details, large and small. A special “thank you” to Traci for clerking the sale and keeping Bob calm through it all.