Everyone is invited to attend this meeting for our Association. The executives feel it is important to hear your thoughts and opinions regarding the Association’s operations. Discussions pertaining to advertising, showing, and the Association’s 25th anniversary celebration - requires member involvement. Your opinion matters!

The executives would like you to attend where your opinions or concerns will be heard.

Please take a moment to renew your 2007 membership. The A.T.L.A. depends on your support to promote the Texas Longhorn breed. With your membership, the association can continue to mail newsletters as well as attend Bull Congresses/Fairs for promoting the Texas Longhorn cattle including your farm or ranch.

January 19 & 20, 2007, the association once again attended the Camrose Bull Congress. Chris mentioned that the show was very well attended with numerous people stopping by the booth to inquire about the Texas Longhorns. Information and member directory maps were handed out to many people interested in purchasing breeding stock, roping cattle, meat and skulls or horns.

Steve and Lara purchased their first Texas Longhorn cattle in June of 1997 from the Budvarson Family of Spruce View, Alberta. They bought a bull and four cows. More cattle were bought from Barry Heinemann and their herd was formed. It did not take long before they were buying cattle at the sales and learning what to look for in this terrific breed. Their very first calf was named Squire’s Riser who went on to win reserve and grand champion accolades. He now decorates their living room floor!!

The Roths’ joined the association and it wasn’t long before they were volunteering and showing cattle. Steve and Lara helped plan the Prairie Classic Gala and Longhorn Sales. The family also enjoyed participating in the shows at Calgary, Red Deer, Olds, and Saskatoon. With their dedication to the A.T.L.A., Steve and Lara have also spent hours helping at the Bull Congresses each year.

As much as they enjoyed the participation in the association, once they started a family, they realized that slowing down was right for them. Daughters – Kaitlyn, who is 6 and Hannah, who is 3, are a real joy and they love their longhorn cows, Futures and Awesome. Kaitlyn showed a haltered steer for the first time when she was only 3 years old.

The Roths’ enjoy camping, traveling and entertaining good friends. They also sell longhorn skulls and are working on building up a supply of beautiful hides to sell in the hot Calgary market.

Roth Ranch has 36 cows which are now primarily bred to Black Angus. The pure bred calves go into their custom beef sales which they have done since 1997. Selling the longhorn beef has been a successful venture and everyone is impressed with the taste and marbling of the beef. It helps that the meat is low in fat and cholesterol – all for a heart healthy diet.

The Roths’ sell yearling bulls and heifers and even cows. So if you are in need of quiet and proven animals, give them a call.

You may have noticed that the website for the Alberta Texas Longhorn Association has not been updated since last spring. The A.T.L.A. would like to apologize to all new and current members. The young fellow of JR Web Design decided to pursue other interests which left the association looking for someone to update the website on a regular basis.

Mark Johnson has now taken on the duties and responsibilities of maintaining the site. He is in the process of transferring information and setting up a new host for our website. In a few weeks, he should have updated important areas of the site including current members, directors and newsletters.

Your understanding and patience are greatly appreciated. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the office at (780) 387-4874 or Mark Johnson at (403) 255-0235.

A young man agreed to baby-sit one night so a single mother could have an evening out. At bedtime he sent the youngsters upstairs to bed and settled down to watch football.

One child kept creeping down the stairs, but the young man kept sending him back to bed.

At 9 pm the doorbell rang, it was the next-door neighbor, Mrs. Brown, asking whether her son was there. The young man brusquely replied, “No.”

Just then a little head appeared over the banister and shouted, “I’m here, Mom, but he won’t let me go home!”

During the summer of 2006 Ken & Charlotte Beler put their steers (Rusty & Tex) to work at the Ukrainian Village east of Edmonton. Dave Laing (pictured with the steers) broke the steers to drive pulling various machinery and wagons when they were only two years old. Several years later, they still remember the task at hand proving how smart these animals really are. Dave has done a wonderful job working with these steers and has caught the attention of every person visiting the cultural centre.