As we look forward to the Houston festivities next week, we thought it would be fun to share some of our most favorite photos from the Houston Brahman Show over the last 40 years, and the stories that go with them.
Shown by Rachel, age 12.
This is a personal favorite, because today I tell people “I showed the champion heifer at Houston when I was 12, and they don’t believe me! But this picture proves it. I still remember this day so vividly. A month earlier, there was a show at Shreveport, but I couldn’t go because I couldn’t miss school. James showed Amber and she showed terrible! James said, ‘That heifer knows Rachel, she shows best for Rachel, Rachel is going to have to show her at Houston if she stands a chance to win.” So in they sent me, and in I went, with James Daniel right there beside me. This was my bred-and-owned heifer. And you can tell by the side eye Angie Eppler is giving in the picture that she probably wasn’t acting the best. But she knew me and we were a team. Very special people in this photo including l-r: Sloan Williams, Ed Cullers, Richard Sturlese, Wendell Schroni, me showing, James Daniel on the calf, my grandpa Gene Johnston, my grandma Mollie Williams in black, Angie Eppler the princess and Neely Young the queen.
Again, I love this photo for so many reasons, but mostly the people in this picture. She was the Reserve Grand Champion Female at that show. She was bred by Sloan Williams and I was able to show her in my junior career. The people in this photo are my Honduras family: The Canahuati’s. They owned an interest in Whitney and Eugenio, my Honduran brother, showed the calf with me. Pictured left to right are Andres Canahuati, Robbie Canahuati, Dr. Bill Turner, Wayne Eppler, Mike Partin, me and Eugenio showing, and then on the far right is Janie and Roberto Canahuati. Ironically, this year in 2020 – over 15 years later – the Canahuati’s will also be joining us in Houston. The people are what make this picture so special.
This one is the one I dubbed “My 4-H Project” because her mother, Pittman, was really close to getting in the Register of Renown, but 888 was the last progeny of her so I was really hoping she would do well and get points to get Pittman in the Register of Renown. So, me and Matt Karisch made a pact. I told Matt, I will commit to 888. I’ll show her. I’ll come to the show barn every day and practice her, and I’ll do everything with her. I’m 30 years old but it’ll be just like it’s my 4-H project. I’ll be there every day. And sure enough, she won her class and Reserve Division Champion, and got Pitman in the Register of Renown. That’s why Matt has that awesome smile on his face – because Rachel’s 4-H project proved to be a success.
This was our official “engagement photo”. This photo was taken on the heifer show morning, and we had gotten engaged the day before. We were so tired from working on the crew that we just at at Jack in the Box after we finished working the Houston sale that night. Bruce from Show Champions took this photo. We opted for a simple wedding to save money, and we didn’t take engagement photos, and so this is the one we have always used.
Reserve Grand Champion Female
Owned at that time by Adrian Land II
One of my favorite Houston memories again because of the people and the memories. That summer before, Adrian and I worked together at the V8 show barn. We had become best friends. We spent nearly every day, all day together, mostly listening to Fergie music. Adrian always loved Diva and bought her from my grandfather. Her name was “Diva” because of her personality – she was DEFINITELY a Diva! Diva was by far our favorite on the show string, she was just like what we thought was the PERFECT heifer of that time period. This picture represents so many good memories though, between me, Brandon, Adrian, Matt Karisch and Brandi Karisch. I never got to show Diva, and never owned her, but was just a full time Diva supporter, and loved every minute of it.
These next few photos all revolve around +Miss V8 382/7, and the wonderful/horrific memories of showing her at Houston that year. If you know this story, 382 wasn’t even really slated to go to Houston, because we also had 341 in that same class, and 341 was what we perceived as the better cow/calf pair. But, at the last minute, we put 382 on the trailer.
So initially, Brandon and Kolten were showing 341’s pair, and my dad and I were showing 382. I share this photo, because this is PROOF that I was showing the calf lol.
But this picture, is so special. Most people know that Mr. Jeff Smith, Brandon’s mentor, originally owned half of 382. She was an embryo Brandon and Mr. Jeff purchased before me and Brandon got married. Brandon moved to Texas and brought 382 with him. My grandpa let us brand her V8. Mr. Jeff and Mrs. Tammy gave us their half for our wedding present. And then, 382 has made us and our herd. She is the mother of Boom Shaka Laka and the grandmother of Dutton and Boom Town.
By this time, Mr. Jeff had been called to heaven. By the time the show was wrapping up, we honestly thought we had a chance for 382 to win. The entire Smith family gathered with us in the makeup ring, and prayed. We prayed a prayer of thanks to Mr. Jeff. And the entire Smith family was there pictured in this photo standing with us accepting our award: Dustin, Jessica, Mrs. Tammy Smith (holding the trophy), Brandon, Delle, Rachel, and Jason. Just amazing people and love.
This one was the beginning of a slight “shift in the game” for the type of cattle we were raising. From day one, we loved 259. We loved his moderate size, muscle, clean sheath, low birthweight. But, some critics of him said “Oh, he’ll never make a show bull because he’s too small!” We still believed in him, and believed that beef industry judges would appreciate all the good things he has to offer. And, it was true. 259 was Reserve Calf Champion here, and went on to be 2013 Reserve National Champion under a 3-man judges panel. Since, he has been one of the most widely used Brahman sires of all time. He was the first bull that represented our shift towards moderate frame, good carcass, but high quality visual bulls.
Reserve Grand Champion Female for Mollie
Under the 3-Man Judges System
Taken at like 11:30 p.m. that night, the 3-man judges system was a show to remember. This was during a time where many Brahman breeders were calling for show ring ethics reform. A 3-man judging panel was created to provide an opportunity for an equal playing field. JDH Locke Division’s JDH Babette was champion cow that year, and we were reserve with Mollie’s 709 heifer. It was a long, tiring day, but one we were very proud of. The judges for this show were Joe Mask, Doug Pierce, and Fabio Jaramillo of Colombia. 709 is one of our leading donors today at BRC.
This one is a funny one and an inside joke for me and Brandon. This heifer was SO hard to show. I mean, bull headed, stubborn, just plain tough. But she was GOOD. So we always had to bring her. On this day, the big screen at Houston was spooking her. So, Brandon turned her around and showed her backwards the entire time. I was in the stands freaking out. But, Brandon did what he had to do. She was a Reserve Division Champion. But I’m still glad this photo exists so I can tease him with “remember that time you showed 694 backwards in Houston…”
No. Noble never won Houston.
But I can’t tell you how many times people say that. There are people who will flat out argue with me, saying “No — I was there — I saw him win Houston.” It’s become an inside joke. But no, for the record, Noble never won Houston. His 2nd year, he was Division Champion, being shown here by Brandy Barnes. His last year, he was 2nd in class. We love him no matter what – Houston or no Houston. And, another little known fact is that Noble and Brandon hated each other. They had a “Come to Jesus Meeting” and Noble won. Brandon couldn’t show him. But we knew he was good and needed to be shown. So, we asked Brandy to take him. Everyone knows Brandy has this amazing way with animals. We thought – if anyone can turn him around, it’ll be Brandy. And she did. She did an amazing job on him and without Brandy, there would be no Noble showing.
These next few photos revolve around Miss V8 21/8, our beloved Boom Shaka Laka, the 2 time Houston Grand Champion and Champion of the World.
The thing I love about this photo is Sweetie’s face. And, call us crazy, but we believe these animals know. They know and understand what’s going on. Sweetie obviously had a darling personality, and she just was able to “turn it on” when she went in the show ring. I feel like her face here is just sheer happiness, and if she could talk, she would be saying “Thank you Brahman friends…”
There’s no doubt that the Houston Livestock Show is the biggest event of the year for USA Brahman breeders. We hope that this year you are able to make your own wonderful memories at the show just like we have through the years.
Check out our Houston schedule of events and be sure to come by our new BRC stalls at the show. We hope to see you!
