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| 2001 CAMP | 2002 CAMP | 2003 CAMP | 2004 CAMP | 2005 CAMP |
| 2005 SPONSORS | Thank You Sponsors - Our List Keeps Growing |
| Ohio River Valley Texas Longhorn Association Corporate Sponsor |
Metroplex Texas Longhorn Association Corporate Sponsor |
| the 4D farm Tim & Stacy Drake Anahuac, Tx. |
Rocky Oaks Ranch Stan & Jimmie Jernigan Cross Plains, Tx. |
| Geoff Thomas Liberty Hill, Tx. |
State Farm Insurance John Mark Davis Granbury, Tx. |
| Poston Feed Mill T-Shirt Sponsor Stephenville, Tx. |
Coyote Designs T-Shirt Sponsor Stephenville, Tx. |
| Easy Money Longhorns Jim Bill Dodson & Pat Ward Okmulgee, Ok. |
John & Angela Davis Colleyville, Tx. |
| Renee Carrington Granbury, Texas |
Craig Buchanan Glen Rose, Texas |
| Jeff & Valerie Keating Seneca, Missouri |
Dustin & Carmen Snyder Stephenville, Texas |
| Sandy Price All About Sports Granbury, Texas |
Joni Brand Energy, Texas |
| Coca Cola Stephenville, Texas |
Sonic Drive In Stephenville, Texas |
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RV Ranch youth camp started in 1999 with just a handful of kids. The
purpose for holding the camp was to introduce the kids to proper ring
etiquette, showmanship, cattle evaluation, judging, anatomy, and basic
procedures for raising a show calf. We had taken in several kids that
didn't have any experience in the ring, and thought that having a camp
would give us the chance to get everyone started off on the right foot.
The camps must be doing some good, as we have seen several of our kids
take showmanship and team judging awards at the affiliate shows, and
even the International Show.
We usually have a couple of ITLA Judges on hand to come talk to the kids and help
them with cattle evaluation, cattle anatomy, and what the good and bad
qualities are in the Longhorn breed. As the camps have progressed, we have
also tried to provide some sort of extra educational seminar in conjunction
with the camp. We have had hoof trimmers, nutritionist, and vets attend
the camp to talk to the kids. We usually have a full day of activities on Saturday. We have seminars and then serve lunch. Afterwards, the kids usually work with their animals and we put on a mock show with the judge evaluating them in showmanship and handling their calves. We usually plan for some games to keep the mood light, and have a bon-fire, nature hike, or hay ride thrown in for fun as well. Our 2005 camp is scheduled for Saturday February 19th and Sunday February 20th, 2005 in Stephenville, Texas. It’s an overnight camp with the kids sleeping up in the barn. Most of our instruction is on Saturday, with cattle evaluation or some other topic on Sunday, and generally we are ready to depart by noon Sunday. Travel trailers are welcome for the adults who wish to stay, or accommodations can be made in Stephenville which is about 15 miles away. The camp goes on regardless of what the weather throws at us, as we now have youth members who are traveling from out of state. We can conduct classroom activities inside the barn if we have to, but would rather provide the hand’s on experience and be outside. Our advanced youth will participate in a "Whole Herd Evaluation" this year in addition to the regular classes. This will give them an opportunity to evaluate a group of cows and calves and sort them based on their qualities. This will help build confidence in the future when purchasing cattle on their own. We always have some games planned for after the classes on Saturday, then we have our meal and light the big bon fire. This year, we are going to have a chuck wagon here for the dinner meal and breakfast. This is our second year to attempt something of this nature, but eating out of a chuck wagon will add some historical background about what it was like out on the trail. Well...we won’t actually make the kids eat an authentic meal of salt pork, beans and biscuits, so the meals will be more nostalgic than authentic, but we feel that a chuck wagon will be a great addition to the camp. Thanks to J & L Ranch, Johnny & Leonna Adkins for offering to come and cook for us again this year. The camp is offered free to all youth who have an interest in owning or showing longhorns thanks to the generosity of our many sponsors and volunteers. The instructors for the camp are ITLA judges, and the curriculum is based on ITLA show standards and judging criteria. Youth are welcome from either association or even if you don’t own a calf yet but want to get involved. We have seen a tremendous increase in confidence, public speaking, and showmanship skills from the youth who have attended the camp in years past, and we hope these skills provide a firm foundation for longhorn ownership and ranching in their adult lives.
Sunday we have breakfast, and then the kids can work with the animals and work on team judging. Our showmanship class will be held Sunday morning. We plan to be finished on Sunday by Noon. The event is free to all interested parties.If you have kids that would be interested in joining us for some fun and education, please contact me at the ranch for information and details.
We are looking forward to a fun filled weekend, fellowship for the kids
and adults, and having a group of knowledgable kids enter the show ring
this year. The future of the breed depends on the youth who will carry
it into the next generation.
Kids will need to bring a bed roll, change of clothes, etc for staying
overnight. The weather can be unpredictable this time of year, but
the weather has cooperated with us pretty well in years past. Jackets
and rain gear are suggested as it can get pretty cool at night. We
have held the camp in the rain, and stomped through mud in order to
have the camp, and we have also been blessed with very mild weather.
You should plan for a tropical heat wave, to an arctic blast, as most
of the activities are planned for outside, and inside activities are
limited to the barn. Cowboy up, (but pray for good weather as well).
Please contact us for further information, and be sure to check out
the links below.
John Ingle 13160 CR 401 Dublin, Texas 76446 (254) 965-4412 jingleville@yahoo.com
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| CHECK STEPHENVILLE WEATHER |
| MapQuest MAP OF STEPHENVILLE |
| MAP TO THE RANCH |
2865 W. Washington (254) 968-5256 2005 Rate For Youth Camp $60 |
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