A big part of the fun in raising Texas Longhorns is the people you meet ... those folks that become your "Texas Longhorn Friends". This is especially true on the show circuit. While everyone wants to win, it is commonplace for exhibitors to help each other in numerous ways - sharing information on such things as nutrition, grooming and animal selection and helping with mundane stuff like washing calves and carrying tack to and from the trailer.

Here are a few of our "Texas Longhorn Friends".

This is the Jones family (Kourteney, Felecia, Glenn and Kelli) and their Christmas gift to themselves (SKH Cordelia). We first met the Joneses a few years ago when Kourteney was in high school and a part of the CCISD/NASA Texas Longhorn project. We got to know them a little better the past couple of years when Kelli entered high school and joined the CCISD/NASA Longhorn project. This season Kelli started showing with the Double H Longhorns show team and we have gotten to know them much better. If you don't know the Joneses, introduce yourself to them at one of the TLBAA shows. Felecia and Glenn are a "hoot" and you will enjoy listening to them. And while you are at it, ask them about SKH Cordelia.

These are some remarkable young ladies. We are glad they let us hang out with them. Photos by Ginny Henderson Photography.	Sara Jennings	Laney Hebert
Clarice Francis	Lydia Salsbury	Julia Salsbury

This is Tierney Leopard of Houston, TX. Tierney started showing cattle in 2010 with the CCISD/NASA Longhorn Project through Clear Lake High School. She started showing with the Double H Longhorn show team in 2011 and we have been glad to have her join us. In this photo Tierney is waiting to show Kathryn's heifer, Something Else 210, at the 2012 Houston Livestock Show. If you haven't met Tierney yet, just look us up at the next show; we will be glad to introduce you.

This is Kylen Harrell of Cameron, TX. Kylen started showing cattle two years ago and has experienced quite a bit of success. In this photo Kylen is showing off his senior heifer, KJH Warriors Calalilly, and her heifer calf, KJH August Rush (with the help of Allyn Ryan) after winning Class Champion at the 2011 Autobahn Classic. If you haven't met Kylen yet, just look us up at the next show; Kylen is a good showman and will be showing some of our cattle.

What a sweet girl! If you don't know Kailee Vuskov yet, ask me at the next show and I will introduce you. Kailee has been traveling with the Double H Longhorn show team since September, 2007. We love her like she is a part of the family. This photo was taken at the 2010 TLBAA World Expo. This calf was born at the show less than 24 hours prior to this picture. Kailee was enjoying the calf while it rested from the long walk from the barn to the show arena. I am sure Kailee is going to want to show this calf during the the next show season.

Are we sure Mr. Head wants us to move that bull and cow into the lane?	Do you think they can do it without our help?	Madisyn and Kimberly recorded the data for each animal.
Mr. Head, I really don't want to give this cow a shot. Maybe if I close my eyes, it will be easier.	Aaugh!!!	Yuk ... I think I'm going to "lose my lunch".
I may be working cows, but I still need to stay in touch with my friends.	See, Mom, I really am in Texas! I never got to do this in Berlin.	Thanks, guys. Double H Longhorns appreciated your help.

Photo courtesy of TLBAA Kailee Vuskov and MH Rex at 2008 TLBAA World Expo Kailee traveled with the Double H Longhorn family to eight (8) shows throughout the 2007-2008 season. We truly enjoyed having her with us. (Her folks are pretty neat, too.) Kailee won her first scholarship money at the TLBT National Show and I am sure that if she keeps at it, she will win much more in her future. In this photo, Kailee is petting one of Matthew's new bull calves, MH Rex, in the make-ready area at the TLBT National Show in Fort Worth, TX.

Photos courtesy of Laurie Heath, Wonderfully Made Studio Courtney Meets JR Boomer Courtney is soon to be a University of Texas Longhorn. For her high school senior pictures, Courtney wanted to have some photos taken next to our ranch gate which has a cut-out of a Texas Longhorn. While at the ranch, I talked her into taking some photos with real, live Texas Longhorns. She wasn't sure about it, but with a little prodding, she consented!

KH Bella Grace Has A New Admirer Who can resist a baby calf? Courtney may not have been sure about taking her picture with JR Boomer, but she took to KH Bella Grace immediately! The protective mama standing in the background is JR Proud Mary, a two-time Grand Champion owned by Kathryn.

Kathryn tries to head off a cow that breaks away from the herd...	while Josh, Rebecca & T.C. tip-toe through the mud. Meanwhile ...	Matthew shows the others how to calmly move the herd from the pasture to the corral.
Jesse, Kathryn & Rebecca check the labels on all the medications ...	Kat puts her future veterinarian skills to use filling a syringe with the proper dosage.	Phillip keept track of all the vaccinations and horn measurements.
Joshua took responsibility for the inlet side of the squeeze chute.	Rebecca didn't like giving shots so she helped with all of the horn measurements.	Josh eagerly awaits instructions on how to band a young bull calf.
Gabe was a big help moving cattle from the corral to the squeeze chute.	Whether she was giving shots or measuring horns, Ryan brought a smile to our work.	I have no idea what T.C. is doing to that cow ... or is it the other way around?

Photo by Carol Phillips	Photo by Carol Phillips
Cydni Rod and Kailee Vuskov These young ladies are two of the newest (and cutest) girls to start showing Texas Longhorns. Cydni and her family (El Campo, TX) are quite experienced at raising and showing cattle but are relatively new to Texas Longhorns. Kailee and her family (Rosharon,TX) recently bought their first cattle and are enjoying new experiences every day. We hope to see both of these girls showing Texas Longhorns for many years to come.	Youth Exhibitors at Heart of Texas show in Waco, TX On first thought, you may think that Texas Longhorn shows are about cattle, but the most important aspect is the kids, not the calves. The youth that show Texas Longhorns are a great bunch of kids. This picture was taken at the Heart O' Texas fair in Waco, TX, in October, 2007. The group pictured here has kids ranging from 10 to 17 years old, with experience level from beginners to nine years.
Tyler Schubert and MH Ice Man Matthew donated this black and white steer at the 2007 TLBGCA Spring Youth Show in Brenham, TX. Tyler Schubert was the lucky winner of MH Ice Man. We look forward to seeing Tyler and Ice Man on the show circuit during the 2007-2008 show season.
Outstanding Calf Donation	Newcomers of the Year, 2007
The 2007 TLBGCA Spring Show had a special class for the calves donated in 2006. Snow Drift, donated by Kathryn and won by Elizabeth Faske, was selected as the Outstanding Donated Calf. Shown with Kat & Elizabeth is the show judge, Mr. Jim Reeves of Brenham, TX.	The Faske family of Vida Nueva Ranch in Somerville, TX, was selected as the TLBT Newcomer of the Year for 2007. If you haven't met this family yet, you're missing a blessing. When you see them at a TLBAA event, take the opportunity to introduce yourself and visit with them. You will be glad you did.

Happy 18th Birthday, Neidy	Neidy Washing Pinky
Approximately 60 of Neidy's friends wished her a happy 18th birthday American style. Neidy, an exchange student from Bogota, Colombia, spent 2006 with us, and what a blessing it was. The party was attended by friends from church, friends from school, and several new foreign exchange students who just moved into Angleton.	It might be an understatement to say that Neidy wasn't particularly enthusiastic about cattle. However, there were times when she was willing to participate. At the State Fair of Texas, held annually in October in Dallas, TX, Neidy helped by washing Matthew's steer, Pinky. Way to go, cowgirl!
Jonah Faske, Elizabeth Faske & Kathryn	New Friends: Elizabeth, Kathryn & Snow Drift
Elizabeth is a new Texas Longhorn breeder. At the TLBGCA show held in Brenham in April, Kathryn donated a calf to be given away to some lucky youth. Elizabeth won Kat's donation. Elizabeth and her family - all 16 of them! - visited Double H Longhorns to select her calf.	In addition to a new calf, Elizabeth and Kathryn both got a bigger gift - a new friendship. We look forward to enjoying many shows with Elizabeth and her family, but even if neither family ever shows cattle again, we have a new friendship that will continue. Check out Vida Nueva Ranch to learn more about this wonderful family.
Four Friends	Show Preparation
Kathryn, Kelli Williams, Matthew & Marly Williams at the 2005 TLBAA World Show. What a good group of kids. Marly recently graduated from Clear Lake High School, while Kelli is a Junior at Clear Creek High School. We have enjoyed these two young ladies the past several years. We will miss Marly on the show circuit this season but wish her well in her studies at texas a&m.	Marly was getting some pointers from Stephen on how to groom her heifer before the Ark-La-Tex show in November, 2005. In the show ring, Marly handles herself and her animal beautifully, which resulted in numerous Showmanship victories in her four years of showing Texas Longhorns.
A New Friend	Is This The Way It's Done?
We met Garrett Tanner and his family at the 2003 East Texas State Fair. This was the Tanners' first Texas Longhorn show and we had the good fortune of being stalled across the aisle from them. Garrett and his brothers helped us wash the calves prior to the show. Later that day Garret got his first experience in the show ring when he showed Wildwood Wanda in the Junior Showmanship class.	Kelli Williams and her steer, J Boomer, give riding a try. Kelli won J Boomer from us in the calf donation program at the 2004 Ark-La-Tex show. Kelli had J Boomer halter-broke before he was weaned and showed him throughout the 2005 and 2006 seasons. Kelli has a closer bond with this steer than most people do with their dogs.