Sunday, June 29, 1997

Only a few sale barns will be open this holiday week

By J.T. Smith

If you've got an ol' cow or two that you want to haul to the livestock auction this holiday week, be advised that most area barns will be closed before you hitch your trailer and hit the trail to town.

Here's a breakdown of the week.

-- Jordan Cattle Co. will have a sale at its Mason barn on Monday and also at its Brownwood Cattle Auction on Tuesday, but no sale in San Saba on Thursday.

-- Abilene Livestock Auction will have its regular sale Tuesday.

-- Eastland Livestock Auction will not have its Tuesday sale this week.

-- No sale at either Sweetwater Cattle Auction or Coleman Livestock Auction on Wednesday.

-- No sale at Stamford Farmers and Ranchers Livestock Auction or Ranger Livestock Auction on Thursday.

-- No sale at Haskell Livestock Auction, Colorado City Livestock Market, McDougal's Auction Barn in Comanche, or Mineral Wells Stockyards on Saturday.

So in this immediate Abilene region, the Abilene and Brownwood sales on Tuesday look like about your best chance to take a cow to the auction barn if you need to do so this week.

Then by the weekend, you'll be ready to celebrate Independence Day.

Speaking of the Fourth of July

In these parts, the Fourth of July means the Texas Cowboy Reunion in Stamford - the world's largest gathering of working cowboys July 2-5.

The Grand Parade is 4 p.m. Wednesday through downtown Stamford. The four rodeo performances are 8 p.m. each date in the TCR Main Arena.

Jody Nix and The Texas Cowboys will play at 9:30 p.m. every evening at the Pavilion.

Meanwhile, the Texas Cowboy Oldtimers will have coffee and fellowship at 9 a.m. in their Bunkhouse July 3-5. Everyone is welcome, said Oldtimer Bill Dennis of Stamford. Of special interest is the Oldtimers fiddlin' contest at 9:30 a.m. in the Round-Up Hall on Friday as the highlight of the Fourth of July, and the Oldtimers Memorial Service at 10 a.m. Saturday in the Bunkhouse.

Be sure and see the world-class western art in the John Selmon Memorial Art Gallery while you are at the Cowboy Reunion.

Important Note: The special Ranch Horse Sale that originally had been slated for 1 p.m. July 5 during the Reunion at Stamford Farmers and Ranchers Livestock Auction Barn has been cancelled.

Stamford has new monthly publication

Speaking of Stamford - the "Big Country Ag Journal" is a new monthly publication from publishers Dustin and Chandra Mathis.

The inaugural June issue features a full, front-page tribute to the late Watt Matthews, the beloved Albany rancher who passed away April 13 on his ranch at age 98.