MLA PARTNERS WITH CIRCUIT RIDERS COWBOYS FOR CHRIST FOR JAW DROPPING IOWA STATE FAIR PARADE ENTRY!!

Wednesday evening August 6, 2008 found MLA Treasurer and Circuit Riders Cowboys For Christ President Kent Krutsinger and his trusty sidekicks and trophy steers Special K Woodrow(right) and Special K Rio Lobo(left) parading down Grand Avenue in downtown Des Moines, Iowa for the annual Iowa State Fair Parade. Hoots, hollers and spontanous applause greeted Woodrow and Rio Lobo, with one lady proclaiming "I've never seen anything like that!!!" Many did doubletakes and stared jaw dropped while Woodrow and his over 8 foot horned span rolled down the parade route. The MLA/CFC parade entry of Woodrow and Lobo was featured in parade coverage on the local Fox TV Channel 17 parade coverage. Following the parade Woodrow and Lobo stopped by Kent's local church to visit with the Pioneer Club and pose for a photo op with their latest fan club!!(bottom pic)

CHICKENS WOULDN'T LIE--WOULD THEY??!!

PICTURES FROM MLA'S JULY 19, 2008 THATE CATTLE CO FIELD DAY

(Top pic) CLASSY CONNIE X BROWN BOMBER 2 YEAR OLD STRAIGHT BUTLER HEIFER

(2nd pic from top) JOHN THATE COAXING THE COWS UP FOR VISITORS TO ENJOY!

(2nd pic from bottom)JOHN AND JANE THATE'S NEW TOTEM POLE AT THEIR LAKESIDE CABIN

(bottom pic) MLA MEMBERS AND MINNESOTANS JOHN THATE(left) and GARY NELSON(right)

PICTURES FROM MLA'S JULY 19, 2008 THATE CATTLE CO RANCH TOUR!!!!

(Top pic) CLASSEY CONNIE, ONE OF THE THATE'S PREMIER STRAIGHT BUTLER COWS(2nd pic from top-Black Cow) THE $63,000 STRAIGHT BUTLER COW "DARK STAR" OWNED BY JIM STEFFLER OF MICHIGAN

(2nd pic from bottom) JOHN AND JANE THATE'S STRAIGHT BUTLER HERDSIRE--RM KING LEO

(bottom pic)RED/WHITE PAINT EMPEROR/PHENOMENON COW ON LEFT, RED COW ON RIGHT STRAIGHT BUTLER

THATE WINS MLA HEIFER RAFFLE--DONATES HEIFER BACK TO MLA!!!!

MLA MEMBER JOHN THATE OF FAIRMONT MINNESOTA WAS THE WINNER OF OUR JUNE 21, 2008 HEIFER RAFFLE!!! John graciously donated the heifer back to MLA and the heifer IWA ELLIE is now for sale with proceeds benefiting MLA advertising and breed promotion. Price is $750 and includes nylon halter and lead rope and show halter. Ellie is very gentle and is currently residing at Special K Longhorns near Chariton, Iowa. Ellie is registered with ITLA and TLBAA and has been shown at shows in Nebraska and Iowa. For pics of her sire and dam and pedigree click on the archive posts on this site dated January 2008. For more information on purchasing Ellie contact MLA Treasurer Kent Krutsinger circuitrider37@hotmail.com or 641-344-4716. VISIT OUR MLA WEBSITE AT www.midwesternlonghorn.com

CHAMPIONSHIP QUALITY TROPHY STEERS FOR SALE!!

FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT SPECIAL K RIO GRANDE(pictured above) and other Championship Quality Texas Longhorn Trophy Steers visit www.buymycattle.blogspot.com or contact Kent Krutsinger @ 641-344-4716.

5TH ANNUAL MLA/THATE CATTLE CO RANCH TOUR

YOU'RE INVITED!!!!!! TO THE 5TH ANNUAL MLA/THATE CATTLE CO RANCH TOUR Saturday July 19, 2008 10am-3pm Fairmont, MN. Continental breakfast and LH Barbeque Lunch courtesy of Thate Cattle Co. Door prizes for everyone!! Tours of John and Jane Thate's Straight Butler and Butler blend herds. BRING YOUR HERD PHOTOS TO SHARE!!! For more information and directions contact John Thate 507-235-3467 or Kent Krutsinger 641-344-4716.

LONGHORNS MEAN "EASY MONEY" AT LANGDON CATTLE COMPANY!

Pictured below is MLA Lifetime Member Charlie Henaman's Senior Straight Butler Herdsire Don Juan's Easy Money. Easy Money is sired by Don Juan of Christine the sire of Coach and is a 3/4 brother to the Herdsire Brown Bomber. Easy Money rides herd at Henaman's Langdon Cattle Company in NW Iowa near Hartley. For more information about Easy Money and the Langdon Cattle Co's straight Butler herd contact Charlie, evenings at 712-728-2044.

THE TABLE BELOW COMPARES VARIOUS TYPES OF MEAT PRODUCTS NUTRITIONALLY WITH LONGHORN BEEF. THE NUMBERS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES!!

HERE'S YOUR CHANCE TO ADD SOME PRODUCTIVITY TO YOUR BREEDING PROGRAM!!!!

PICTURED ABOVE IS THE STANDOUT HERDSIRE J&R PRODUCTIVITY born 4/27/05 sired by Grand Unlimited by JR Grandslam, Productivity's dam is Possum Queen. Productivity is a full brother to the Herdsire Peacemaker which recently sold at the 2008 Legacy Sale for $27,000. Productivity has a large horn base and a very gentle disposition and will walk into a trailer with a handful of protein cubes. Productivity is for sale at the bargain price of $6,000 from Roland West's WI Longhorns 6973 Odessa Hills Rd Odessa, MO 64076 816-255-5456.

MEET THE HERDSIRES OF ROLAND WEST'S WI LONGHORNS!!!

Pictured above are the Herdsires of MLA Active Member Roland West's WI Longhorns of West Odessa, Missouri. The top picture is the black/white lineback bull Country Liquorice born 3/06/04 sired by the bull Phenomenon's Reflection and out of the cow Royal Bet. The bottom photo is Roland's newest Herdsire Prospect purchased at the Glenndening production sale in 2007. He is GF 1/7 Heavy Better born 1/04/07 sired by Heavy Hitter and out of the dam Bet I Can. Heavy Better sports 43" Horns TTT at 14 months!! For more information about these Herdsires and the WI Longhorns breeding program contact Roland West @ 816-255-5456.

KENT KRUTSINGER'S SPECIAL K LONGHORNS A FRONT PAGE FEATURE!!

MLA Treasurer Kent Krutsinger's Special K Longhorns were the Front Page feature story in the Chartiton Newspapers Annual "Salute to Agriculture 2008" published on March 20, 2008. The article featured background on the Texas Longhorn breed, Krutsinger's 25 year breeding program and pictures of the award winning Special K herd. Krutsinger ranches north of Chariton, Iowa in SouthCentral Iowa. For more info on the Special K breeding program visit the Special K website @ www.buymycattle.blogspot.com

KRUTSINGER VOTED MLA 2007 "TOP HAND" AWARD WINNER!!!

Midwestern Longhorn Association members recently voted Lifetime MLA member Kent Krutsinger of Chariton, Iowa as the MLA 2007 "Top Hand" Award Winner. This annual award goes to the MLA member the MLA membership believes has sacrificed the most to propel MLA forward over the past year. Krutsinger is a founding Lifetime member of MLA and currently wears multiple hats for the association. Kent is the current MLA Treasurer, Webmaster and Show Chairman. Other MLA members recieving votes in the Top Hand Award balloting were Todd and Kathy Groharing of Davenport, Iowa who currently serve as MLA Youth advisors and donated our Longhorn heifer we are raffling this spring. And John and Jane Thate of Fairmont, Minnesota who host our annual MLA Ranch Tour each summer. (pictured below Kent Krutsinger)

PICTURES FROM MLA'S 11TH ANNUAL TEXAS LONGHORN SHOW AT THE WAPELLO COUNTY FAIR IN ELDON IOWA JUNE 2007. pics courtesy of Shadow Seaman

GOT HORNS??? HEY CHECK THIS OUT!!

You're invited to visit Special K Longhorns new weblog @ http://www.buymycattle.blogspot.com/ where

National Champion Quality Texas Longhorn Trophy Steers like the 96 1/2" ttt horned Special K Woodrow pictured above are for sale, along with Show winning cows and fancy pasture producing Texas Longhorn cows, heifers, herdsires and herdsire prospects, as well as fancy roping stock and grain and grass fed Texas Longhorn beef.

QUARTER HORSE JOURNAL MAGAZINES FOR SALE!!

FOR SALE 8 QUARTER HORSE JOURNAL MAGAZINES--$75 FOR ALL WHICH INCLUDES USPS PRIORITY SHIPPING TO YOUR ADDRESS. Magazines dated May 1998, October 1998, February 1999, March 1999, April 1999, July 1999, August 1999. For more information email: circuitrider37@hotmail.com

CHECKOUT MLA'S TEXAS LONGHORN HEIFER WE ARE RAFFLING IN 2008!! FIRST THREE PICTURES ARE IWA ELLIE'S SHOWRING DEBUT IN NEBRASKA APRIL 19TH, 2008!!

HERE SHE IS!!! IWA ELLIE, MLA'S 2008 RAFFLE HEIFER!! She is a May 14, 2007 model, halterbroke and dualed registered with both ITLA and TLBAA. Pictured above her are her sire Flying S Buckshot and her dam IWA Head Mistress. Tickets are $5 each and can be purchased by sending $5 per ticket to Midwestern Longhorn Association 55796 205 Trail Chariton, Iowa 50049, Make checks payable to MLA. Raffle drawing June 2008. Proceeds benefit the MLA Youth Association. For more info email circuitrider37@hotmail.com

MIDWESTERN LONGHORN ASSOCIATION MEMBERS CAPTURE ALL REGION 4 ITLA YEAR END AWARDS AND TROPHY STEER SPECIAL K COMMENCHEROS WINS NATIONAL GRAND CHAMPION

Midwestern Longhorn Association members brought home the Regional and National Hardware at the recent 2007 International Longhorn Association Convention. Pictured above is the Trophy Steer Special K Commencheros who is the ITLA National Grand Champion Trophy Steer for 2007. He is owned and exhibited by MLA Treasurer Kent Krutsinger of Chariton, Iowa. Krutsinger's Special K Longhorns also recieved High Point Owner for ITLA Region 4.

The following results for ITLA Region 4 (Iowa, S Dakota, N Dakota, Wisconsin, Minnesota and Nebraska) are 2007 High Point Champions in their age divisions.

REGION 4 HALTERED HIGH POINT SHOW LEGACY AWARDS

Champion Junior Heifer(tie)-LCC Pepper Pattie-Charlie Henaman and IWA Baby Doll-Todd and Kathy Groharing

Reserve Champion Heifer-IWA Unlimited Dreams-Todd and Kathy Groharing

Champion Senior Heifer-IWA Pocahontas-Todd and Kathy Groharing

Reserve Champion Senior Heifer-Hime 15-Cecil Hime

Champion Senior Bull-Hime 25-Cecil Hime

Champion Junior Steer-Watson 265-Cecil Hime

Reserve Champion Junior Steer-LCC Winter Hawk-Charlie Henaman

Champion Senior Steer-Freedom Aki-One Sky Ranch

REGION 4 NON HALTERED HIGH POINT SHOW LEGACY AWARDS

Champion Junior Heifer-Special K Type and Shadow-Kent Krutsinger

Reserve Champion Junior Heifer-Special K Hey Boo Boo-Kent Krutsinger

Champion Senior Heifer-Special K Peach Cobbler-Kent Krutsinger

Reserve Champion Senior Heifer-Special K Agape Love-Kent Krutsinger

Champion Junior Cow-Watson 484-Cecil Hime

Reserve Champion Junior Cow-Special K Show Me Measles-Kent Krutsinger

Champion Senior Cow-DR 203-Cecil Hime

Reserve Champion Senior Cow-D and M's 382-Charlie Henaman

Champion Junior Steer-Special K Show Me The Glory-Kent Krutsinger

Reserve Champion Junior Steer-Special K For God's Glory-Kent Krutsinger

Champion Senior Steer-Special K Red River-Kent Krutsinger

Reserve Champion Senior Steer-Special K Rio Lobo-Kent Krutsinger

Champion Trophy Steer-Special K Commencheros-Kent Krutsinger

Reserve Champion Trophy Steer-Special K Woodrow-Kent Krutsinger

MIDWESTERN LONGHORN ASSOCIATION ON SITE PROMOTIONS--COME JOIN US!!

OVER THE YEARS THE MIDWESTERN LONGHORN ASSOCIATION HAS DONE VARIOUS ON SITE PROMOTIONS AROUND THE MIDWEST. Pictured at top is a picture from a Cattle Drive MLA did on the Fourth of July in Leon, Iowa in conjunction with their annual rodeo. The riding steer picture is at an MLA Annual Meeting and promotion in West Des Moines where MLA members also branded the wood railings at the entrance of the steakhouse with their various ranch brands. MLA members also brought along Trophy and Riding steers to show off to the public and promote our unique and always fascinating breed of Texas Longhorns. Come join us in 2008 as we plan new promotions and events celebrating MLA, our members and our wonderful Texas Longhorn cattle!!

MEET MLA MEMBER ROLAND WEST!!

Roland West is an Active member of the Midwestern Longhorn Association. Roland purchased his first calves at the Witchita Mountains Wildlife Refuge sale in September 2005. Roland has since purchased more cows at various longhorn auctions in 2007. Roland's WI Longhorns and Leather has purchased some high power herdsires to propel the breeding program. Pictured directly above is J&R Productivity sired by GR Grand Unlimited and out of the cow Possum Queen. Productivity is a full brother to the famous Bob Loomis Herdsire Peacemaker. Productivity is owned in partnership with J&R Farms, his BD is 4/27/05 and Productivity is currently available for purchase for $8,000. For more information call Roland at 816-255-5456. Pictured at the top of the page are some of the WI Longhorns and Leather herd with Herdsire Country Liquorice(top left of the picture). Liquorice is a black and white lineback bull. Liquorice is sired by the bull Phenomenon's Reflection(Phenomenon x Cats Cross Over) and out of the cow Royal Bet(Emperor x Bet On Diamonds). Roland has recently added a

new young up and coming bull Herdsire prospect GF 1/7, aka Heavy Better sired by Heavy Hitter out of the cow Bet I Can. Heavy Better is a black and white paint with brown line back.

BLACKFORD CATTLE CROSSING LONGHORN DISPERSAL--THE END OF A ERA!!

MLA Lifetime Members Robert and Sarah Blackford of Blackford's Cattle Crossing in rural Lineville, Iowa recently bid farewell to the last of their straight Butler Texas Longhorn cattle.

With Robert's Nationwide dog transport business taking up most of his time, it was decided the Longhorns needed more attention then was available with Robert on the road for 7-10 days at a

stretch up to twice per month. Robert and Sarah were Founding Lifetime members of the MLA back in 1997 and were instrumental in organizing the grassroots beginnings of the MLA. Robert is pictured above several years ago with his then straight Butler Herdsire Don Juan's Easy Money now owned by MLA members Charlie Henaman and Jay Johnson of Hartly, Iowa. The herd dispersal brings to an end a 13 year breeding program that first started with concentration on breeding brindle cattle and quickly focused on breeding the best straight Butler genetics available. At one time Robert owned both famous AI certified straight Butler Classic sons Don Juan of Christine and Dixie Rebel. Don Juan of Christine is the sire of the famous longhorn bull Coach and of the pictured herdsire Don Juan's Easy Money. Don Juan of Christine's skull can be viewed hanging prominently on the office wall of fellow MLA Lifetime member Kent Krutsinger in rural Chariton, Iowa. Memories abound about Robert's time in the MLA from road trips to sales in Houston and Minnesota to his one of a kind used police car with 5th wheel trail hitch in the trunk!! All who have had the opportunity to encounter Robert are sure to have a good "Blackford" story to share!! Thanks for the memories Robert and stay safe on the road!!

START HALTERBREAKING THOSE CALVES FOR MLA'S 12TH ANNUAL LONGHORN SHOW!!

Start halterbreaking those longhorn calves and be ready to join us for MLA's 12th Annual Qualifying and Youth Shows at the Wapello County Fair in Eldon, Iowa Saturday June 21. All Youth entries will be FREE!! Don't want to bother with halterbreaking? Then enter our nonhalter show where cattle show loose in the arena!! It's a sight to behold when the majestic trophy steers take the arena sporting 7-8 ft horn spreads!! For more information visit the MLA website at http://www.midwesternlonghorn.com/ and click on the Eldon Show icon at the left side of the screen or email circuitrider37@hotmail.com

MLA-YEAR ELEVEN "DRIVING TOWARDS GREATNESS"!!

COME JOIN MLA AND JOIN THE "DRIVE TOWARDS GREATNESS" as Texas Longhorn Breeders from across the Midwest and the United States show, promote and market this historic breed of Texas Longhorns to the World!!

VINTAGE TEXAS LONGHORN MAGAZINES FOR SALE!!

Special K Longhorns has vintage Longhorn Scene, Texas Longhorn Journal and Texas Longhorn Trails magazines for sale. Whether you are an old hand at raising longhorns or new to the "Scene" you will want to gather up these historical records documenting the Texas Longhorn breed over the past 25 years. If you are looking to complete your collection or just starting one these are a must for every cowboy library. Magazines are $15 each plus USPS shipping via Media Mail to your address. Call Kent today @ 641-344-4716 or email your inquiry to circuitrider37@hotmail.com

CHARLIE HENAMAN WINS MLA LONGHORN HEADMOUNT RAFFLE!!

Congratulations to MLA member Charlie Henaman of Hartley Iowa for winning our 2007 Longhorn Headmount Raffle. Thanks to all the MLA members who bought and sold tickets and to everyone who helped MLA by purchasing tickets. Thanks to everyone our fundraising goal was achieved.

Watch for our 2008 Texas Longhorn Raffle kicking off in January '08 raising funds for our Midwestern Longhorn Youth Association and allowing us to offer everyone FREE YOUTH ENTRIES at our 12th Annual MLA Youth Show in June 2008 at the Wapello County Fair in

Eldon, Iowa(SE). BIG LONGHORN THANKS to MLA members Todd and Kathy Groharing for donating the 2007 model Longhorn heifer we will be raffling. The heifer IWA Ellie will be halterbroke and ready for the showring and dual registered with the ITLA and TLBAA for the rafffle winner. For more information on the Groharing's breeding program check out their website at www.iwalonghorns.com.