whiteface & 15444

[InAHurry]

Hi Folks - looking for some tips. We're planning our first "official" open house and customer appreciation day - herd tours, supper, visiting & entertainment - all at the ranch. Have any of you hosted one? If you have been to one, what part of the event did you enjoy the most and what kind of information (how was it presented) was provided that helped you select your breeding stock?
Any ideas greatly appreciated.

[whiteface]

Thanks 15444, the weather for us here has been just about perfect this summer, the right amount of sunshine and rain, although I will say more rain than we normally get and thunderstorms scare the bejesus out of me. Yes, getting a lot of work done. Some strong interests from overseas, like I mentioned, I've gathered the calves together that we're keeping as breeding stock and taking herd videos, will get some of them clipped, photographed, website updates done and hopefully a few people in Canada still have a couple of bucks for the Polled power sale in Dec. Frankly, I'm scared to death, but we'll try to carry on with business as usual until all my operating money runs out! I sure appreciate your question, inahurry, I had to think about it for a minute, not very many people I feel really spend any amount of time thinking about what attracts a customer to their place and eventually buy the product. I think most people assume it to be shows, banners and more banners, it might help but I believe so much more. I believe all people like to be treated like real people and given individual time to recognize their personal requirements in selecting breeding stock. I mostley trust all my potential buyers to know what they are looking for but really make an attempt to go a step further in listening to their specific needs ( more milk, pretty udders, loads of performance, an extra dimension of muscle, the ability to sleep all the way through calving, an animal that can go out and win...whatever) we try to make them as "complete" as possible but I think people know what their specific goals are and what trait(s) they need for their own advancement. At my own open houses, right away what potential buyers respond to is the ability to see most of the cattle that I may have for sale (not just the "herd leaders" or "show cattle" but some good ones for sale up close on the hayfield usually ( I like an open house in the fall after second cut) where they are easy to look at, close to a bathroom ( preferably not a porta-potty, invite them into your home and use your facilities, hope that doesn't sound too much like George on "Seinfeld" but it's a little detail that adds some personal touch). Always offer food. The food depends on what your setup is, how many people, what your comfortable with. Finger food I find works for me. When people come to my place, they're looking at cattle, I'm not famous enough for them to see me or any other form of entertainment. I will say that I have been to several sales and open houses that were thrown by some pretty big cheeses and while they were impressive to be a part of the sheer amount of work that goes on to put one on, here's my opinion...( and keep in mind that these huge operations get big money and prestige and obviously something is working for them), I'm just one little guy but my observation is that if an outfit spends too much of their energy and resourses on the "party" who is making sure that the breeding quality of the cattle and the needs of the buyer are being looked after? I have yet to go to a "big bash" where I was given more than 2 seconds by the host and bought an animal that came anywhere near what I thought it was going to be on the day that I bought it. Way too much time spend on icing and flowers and no time spent on the cake.
So my summary is keep it simple. You're not trying to enter into the catering business and you don't need people comeing to your place for a party. They don't need to be drunk to buy your cattle, they need to be satisfied with your product and then not only will they not call you back next week complaing, they will tell all their friends the quality to be had at your place and how easy you are to deal with on top of that. Look after peoples needs. They need some real food ( they've probabley travelled a little way) they need to not have to work too hard to see your product for sale ( drive them out to a clean field to look at the cattle) and they need to relax and enjoy your company ( no pressure, let the good cattle you have sell themselves). I will say this also, from my own personal experience, one year I went to a sale when my son was only a few months old and while I was fully prepared to attempt to look at the cattle even though it was too cold for him and they weren't accesible by vehichle, I might have left early, but the wife of our host took my son inside, fed and played with him while I could be out looking at the cattle. I have since bought several, not out of obligation, the cattle are good and what I want, but also that kind of customer service rates high with me. My logic follows that if they would look after my son they would look after my needs if a problem ever arose. Honestly, I don't know how "normal" I am as far as what impresses me as a buyer but I do know that it is working for me the other way, in getting my cattle sold and positive comments are comeing back to me from satisfied buyers. Even people who don't "want" to like me (being a woman, didn't marry into this, wasn't born into it, just liked it and built from the ground up, with my own money and now being quite competitive with the "big shots") including Mr. Petrik (Alicia and 15444, you'll know him) was, I think "out of sorts" that the 2-year-old in his catalogue turned out so well, he figured for sure she shouldn't be as good and certainly not better than anything else he bought that year (and paid much more for, you know, the "names") but he wouldn't give me a compliment to save his life, it had to come from a few other people about her. This is long, so I'll go, hope it helps, please let me know!

[whiteface]

Hey, Inahurry, what kind of cattle do you have, where and when is your open house? I wouldn't mind going, if I'm not being too forward!

[ALICIA]

inahurry: Try to give avery one a pit of your time. A few words really mean a lot.

Whiteface & 15444- I had my speakers on and when I posted I didn't reallize that a cow mooed. Skared me. I thought the cows were all in my back yard.

15444- I tryed to get into your web by going throw CHA but it comes up (how to make a web.) That is how I got your prefix. Your name seem like I've seen it before or heard it.

[InAHurry]

Thank you whiteface and Alicia. Yes "simple" is our plan. The weather will guide us as to how we will view the cattle & horses (which are Black Angus & Paints)- and our home is our guest's home! We want everyone to feel comfortable and enjoy the afternoon and evening. Allow plenty of free time to talk, ask questions and visit, One on one and with everyone. We do not want to seem over-bearing & pushy with to much information directed at everyone, but no one in particular. I hope that made sense!

The cattle are quiet and we are thinking about expanding the field's holding corral with panels to allow cattle and people to mingle. Do you hand out an information sheet prior to viewing the herd - for reference then and later? I ask because I, personally, have a hard time remembering when visiting other's herds: who's who, by who, and out of which cow ... sort of thing! I'm thinking that holding multiple papers in the corral/field might be inconvenient, so would like to keep it as short as possible (with a pen to doodle) but still be informative. Maybe offer a more detailed package once back at the house? We have roughly 60 registered cow/calf pairs and 30 horses (cattle first, horses may be viewed when we return to the yard, for those who wish to do so) and don't want to rush them through the herd, nor the opposite. I expect that is something we will have to play by ear and experience. Our show trail is meager, mostly the past, the kids through 4-H, although they work for other breeders at larger shows. Therefore we can't offer to parade the cattle on halter, nor are the fitted in any manner.

Speaking of 'fit', today we thought we were going to have a "fit to be tied" moment. Found the purebreds 'mingling' with over 100 head of our steers. Could not have asked for better co-operation from everyone. Three riders in a near 2 section field - we had them sorted and back to their rightful field (with gate repaired) in under 2 hours!

The food department, hopefully most of it can be prepared before hand, I would like to spend it with the people not stuck in the kitchen. The menu will be decided once we follow up with calls to everyone and receive replies. The entertainment is free, thanks to some very good friends. I have arranged for a couple of people to watch younger children if the parents so wish, also a new sand pile is going in right next to the lawn area. A building is available incase of bad weather - which I truly hope we don't need.

I'm sure this first time around is going to be a learning experience and the "to do next year" list will be long.

Thank you again for your comments and helpful tips. Customer service is not breed specific that is for sure, and old and new ideas from posters here are much appreciated.

Whiteface, the date is August 26th. And we live in the very SW corner of Sask. You would be more than welcome, as would be others. That way you could make notes on what we should do different next year! LOL

I'll ask permission before posting our web site?? (which needs updating to correspond with the open house) As I am not talking with anyone specifically about Angus genetics, it would not be fair to post it here.

[cowman]

Maybe it is where I live or something, but I'm just trying real hard to remember if I've even seen a hereford bull out with a commercial herd around here in the last few years. I think some guy had a hereford in with some heifers about twenty miles away last year.
Around here they are virtually extinct...mostly angus and Char now with still a few Simmentals.
There are still a few purebred herefords herds around...I wonder who they sell their bulls to?
Occasionally you will see some straight bred hereford cattle come through the salesbarns. Quite often they are pretty fair quality, but they always seem to just get hammered on price? I assume this means they don't perform for the feedlot, or why would they discount them so heavy?

[whiteface]

Inahurry, I do think a little info sheet is handy and your other ideas are really great too! Sandbox for kids???!!! Genius!!! Thanks for the invite, I was thinking more along the lines that I would be stealing your ideas rather than giving advice! And those ideas are sure working for me! I don't do brochures any more since we got on the Internet. Accesible anywhere, updates in heartbeat, no one can "lose" the brochure. Only disadvantage is seriously not everyone is at that speed and some of our still very good customers are the old-fashioned "non computer" type and are worth as much to me as any internet junky. Brochures of some kind are handy for those, as open houses, personal visits etc. Black Angus and Paints, cool! I've always said black cows and spotted horses were the way to go and if I did it over again, that's where I'd be. I got saddled with "whitefaces" by accident when I was 9 and stupid and stubborn and just stayed with them. Well, not quite, I've got some pretty darn good polled herefords, that's why I stayed with it. Your paints interest me quite a bit, when I get a new horse or two they will likely be paints or appys (prefer a paint). Really loud, black overo mare or two, very althletic but gentle. Put your website on the forum, no one will bite you here I promise or email me dynamiteacres@sprint.ca if you don't feel like posting your site here. I look forward to seeing your horses. I'll be in SW Sask for a bunch of sales in Oct. I don't think at the time of your open house though, sorry, I might have to stop in at a later date, we'll stay in touch.

Cowman, I'm so glad you asked what the deal is with most Herefords. You bet they get discounted for finishing to fast with no muscle, growth or marbleing...the old kind sure does! Takes a loooong time to get cattlemen's confidence back but little by little, I've been doing not too badly. I've changed the minds of some pretty die hard Simmental and Charolais breeders now I'm going to Sask to change inahurrys mind (LOL!!!) That should be a challenge, haven't got a "black" breeder to go back yet! Seriously, I know where you're comeing from and I think that is one of my biggest reasons for staying in this breed is that I managed to get an extra degree of muscle and growth while keeping birth weight down, fertility and foraging ability in check. And there is absolutly no cows in my herd that need skateboards holding up their udders (I get complimented on udder quality very frequently) or any prolapse whatsoever, which has been a real hereford problem over the years. Feet are good, eyes are good and I know you must go to Innisfail auction on occasion cowman, the cowboys do actually know what they're looking at most of the time. I've been paid very well comparitively for my cattle. Breds, culls, calves, frequently my cattle are pretty high up there even compared to the buckskins and baldies. A little over $90 cwt for 5 weights a week or so ago, I was pretty happy with that. Our bulls just about always go into purebred herds because I'll only keep the very top of the crop and want a little money for them at that. I just don't have and don't plan to have the numbers to deal in volume and groups of commercial bulls. More work than I need but I am obsessed with quality and have sold very good bulls into commercial herds. A now very dear friend was one of those about 6 years back when he walked into a sale and outbid all the purebred guys to take home the bull to put on his white cows, he still has him! That keeps me motivated to keep doing this, those are the best rewards! Thanks for asking!

[15444]

Cowman:

I believe that the idea that 'Herefords don't perform in a feedlot environment' is a tool that has been created and passed on through the ages by backgrounders to get cheap cattle. A close neighbour and fellow purebred Hereford breeder switched to breeding Salers into the Hereford cowbase about 8 years ago and then switched back to Herefords about 3 years ago and is in the process now of ridding himself of all the Saler X females (The bulls went a long time ago). He switched to Salers because at the time he was marketing his weaned calves in October. Shortly after he switched to Salers, he began marketing his youngstock as yearlings. When he marketed his yearlings, he noticed that the Saler-looking steers (solid coloured) and the Hereford-looking steers (Whitefaced), sold basically the same. The only time he ever saw any price gouging was when he sold his Hereford youngstock as weaned calves.

I know that Hereford cattle do not put on weight as easily as the exotics during the period between weaning and yearling. And because backgrounders are looking for cattle that put on weight quickly so that they can get them back on the market quickly, they look more at exotics and (because the market is hot for them right now) Angus.

But because the packers are now paying based on the carcass grade of the animal and are less concerned with carcass weight, Herefords and other British cattle make sense for feedlots who want to capture some of the carcass premiums.

As more and more people begin to retain their cattle and sell them as yearlings or slaughter animals, I think Herefords will slowly become more popular, particularily in the cow/calf sector.

Anyways, thats just my two cents.

[15444]

Alicia:

I haven't sent my new web address to the CHA to update the one that is on the 'Links' portion of their site. Didn't want to until the thing is more complete.

[cswilson]

There's are thousands of HerefordX cattle up in NW Sask. and over towards Lloyd.-hard to beat a black baldie cow if your into british cattle or a Sim/Hfd if you go the exotic route-in my mind it was the ruination of the breed when they tried to compete growth wise with the exotics-really hard to find lighter BW Hereford bulls right now. Straightbred Hereford calves can be a tough sale but Hereford yearlings are another story-just be at ringside in Meadow Lake when the Diamond J steers roll through there a potload at a time-there won't be many cattle sell higher anywhere. As for me I'll take a black baldie cow every time-if the right cattle were used to make her.

[whiteface]

Hi wilson! Glad to have you back! Where the hell have you been?

[cswilson]

I just got back from ai'ing 500 heifers in SE Sask.-had a good time great crew to work with-nice cattle too. My 13 year old went and helped so it was good-my wife and three girls minded the fort while we were gone.

[ALICIA]

InaHurry- I bought a sorrel overo mare last year. breeding is NorfleetXFullPocket(thor). Im planing to increace to two or three more mare. Every year a breeder by the name of Thunder bird Ranch (Manitoba) brings a load of reg. Quarter Horses and Paint weanlings down and sell at our local sale barn. You ever heard of them.
How many paints do you own and do you offer any for sale, want are the blood lines

[cswilson]

You know why people ride paints?
They can't afford a quarter horse and they're too proud to ride a holstein.
Just kidding I got a few of them myself.

[ALICIA]

cs wilson- that is just want I want is a Quarter horse that got mixed up and had a overo paint. I found the one I like but I don't know much about the shipping costs of horses, she is in the Paint Journal (Aug)
My mare I still haven't sat on her, know time with this wet weather, but I have got as far as stepping up in the sturrip and laying across her back. Can bail off better, once you sit down their is only one way off, if she doesn't like the idea. And I don't much care for that way off. Sence I've got older, as I'm flying throw the air I keep thinking this is going to hurt.