We reported earlier on the adventures of North American Devon president Greg Hickl whose Arkansas farm was ravaged by the flooding Fourche river in those recent storms.  Greg and neighbors have been working day and night to recover hundreds of cows (including Greg’s herd of purebred Devon). Now Greg emails that the loss at his farm is not as great as he feared, but still the flood  has inflicted great suffering on the area. Friends-  We have certainly been the beneficiaries of a miracle here, and we’re convinced that it is due to your diligent prayers.  The support has been unbelievable, as we’ve received dozens of inquiries from as far…

…in the most recent show, the Bath and West.  The judge took his time deciding between these two senior bulls…paraded them around the ring a few extra times.  Unfortunately, you can’t have a tie. Thanks to Juliet Cleave for the coverage.  She also got video as Stonegrove Norie 9th got the judge’s slap…the mark for first place!  Bath and West might be considered a regional show, one of four in England every year.  A multi-breed event, Devon always seem to be at the top of the shows. The video captures the camaraderie among the competition British breeders. https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kew-Herd-of-pedigree-Red-Ruby-Devon-cattle/231333727013128#!/photo.php?v=390608087727545&set=vb.367583890029965&type=2&theater

….as we reported earlier, a large Devon herd was threatened by flooding associated with all the storms in the Midwest.  Most of the cattle of the Fourche River farm were isolated when the stream went over it’s banks. A sheriff who went on a rescue mission drowned in the flood and a wildlife officer and the two women they were trying to help are all missing and feared dead.  The Devon breeder, Greg Hickl, president of the North American Devon Association, wrote the following for members of his American Herbataurus Association.  It’s quite an adventure: “When we went to bed on Thursday night, we were forecasted to get about 1.3 inches out of the…

….the heavy rains associated with the Midwest tornadoes is playing havoc with one of the largest Devon operations in the country.  NADA president Greg Hickl’s farm, which is bi-sected by the Fourche river, has been seriously flooded and half the herd is isolated and threatened…particularly with more rain forecast for today. A local sheriff, going to the aid of others, drowned in the rescue attempt and there are unconfirmed reports that perhaps four people in all lost their lives. The farm is home not only to a large Devon herd but to Artisan Beef which sells genetics to other breeders.

….in the Senate, where they’ve just killed a proposal that would permit individual states to require labels for Genetically Modified food products. The argument was that would be too expensive and is better left to the federal government.  (We’re in the very best of hands.)  Thanks to Ed Taylor for the link: http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2013/05/23/us/politics/ap-us-farm-bill.html?hp&_r=1&

….it’s always interesting to welcome visitors to Thistle Hill and listen to their reactions.  And if possible we time it so they can help move our cows.  You see them better when they parade single file right into the new paddock. Ed Taylor of Vermont, who came by this weekend, was struck by the uniformity of the cows and their docility.  He’s still setting up his farm but wisely he is using this time to see “what’s out there.” Sorry, not this one.  That’s “THF Jackpot”, who we used for the first time earlier this year on a small group of cows.  If his calves turn out as well as…