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By Field Reporter Rebecca Moeller
This was going to be the first one in a few years so we all wanted it to be extra special. When TLBNM President Jim Johnson asked for a volunteer at the March meeting to host this year's field day, new members Michael and Frances Hernandez stepped forward. Having been to their "Santa Terecita Ranch" on the Western edge of Socorro County , I knew it was the perfect venue for a serious breeders clinic. Time to bring out Carolyn Hunter from the "Texas Longhorn Trails"!
Your hosts spared no effort or expense. With more than 100 enthusiastic RSVPs, they, and the TLBNM were prepared for 100. The bad news: only about 60 came. The good news: about 60 participants were there to learn either about longhorns or learn MORE about longhorns! The clinic was free and with 3 meals. What a deal!
The agenda was ambitious to say the least; hence the weekend idea. Some folks camped there and others stayed at nearby motels. A brief rain after lunch delayed the ranch tour so we went right into the clinic, held in the covered bleachers. Carolyn 'introduced' us to the breed, its' history, its' benefits over other breeds, told us about herself and the origins of the TLBAA. Dr. Fritz Moeller's intro was about having fun with longhorns, followed by the keys to a successful breeding program. A walk among the Hernandez herd in the arena involved evaluating the cattle's structure and conformation, a useful tool when acquiring longhorns or breeding for certain characteristics. Part of any program is marketing and that portion of the program was a collaborative effort by Carolyn, Fritz and Wade and Kristi Wilson. As testimony to a good photograph when marketing cattle, the Wilson talk on consignment sales was a natural introduction to Carolyn's photography clinic which would be held the following day.
Jim Johnson ended Saturday's session with an informative talk on longhorn beef and his crossbred program, complete with facts and stats. The rain had ended by then and as it turned out, late afternoon was the perfect time for a hayride tour of the ranch. Cocktails and socializing awaited our return, followed by an open pit BBQ dinner under the City tent. And what's a chuckwagon meal without a hoe-down. We had that too, courtesy of our hosts, in the ranch's airplane hanger.
Rise and shine Sunday morning. It was the best time for photography and Carolyn's time to shine. She began her lecture with remembrances of Alan Clemmennsen, her good friend, our good friend and 'Trails' photographer. She first showed us photos, good examples and bad examples and why and how these worked or didn't work.
After many pointers to look for and pitfalls to avoid, it was time to take photos, to put into practice what we learned. A unique opportunity came when neighboring cowboys moved the herd out of the arena back into the fields, giving us a chance to photograph a real cattle drive.
Suzanne Smith ended the clinic with her fascinating exhibit of the J.E. Smith collection of NM Territorial photographs. Awards and lots of door prizes followed.
There is much thanks to go around: to our hosts and guest speakers, to Lynn Starritt, Sylvia Johnson, Petro Rodriguez-Rivera, Walt Olmstead, Jim Taylor, the City of Socorro and the wonderful Hernandez longhorns. Special thanks go to those who attended and added to the success of this event!
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