OK, you asked for it...
Yesterday and today I attended the KLA (Kansas Livestock Association) convention and tradeshow in Wichita, KS. I had a tradeshow booth for my company, but we didn't end up in a very good location of the show and the traffic volume was very low. I am staying in the Hotel at Oldtown... BEAUTIFUL! It used to be an old warehouse where they made Keen Kutter tools. My room has a balcony that overlooks the atrium area. They have poinsettias everywhere, including about 6 on my little balcony. They have advertisements, old tools, and other things in lots of display areas arond the hotel that gives the history of the old building. All the decorations are very victorian and the room is beautiful. Too bad I never get to spend much time in the hotel room when I'm working!
Next week I'll be in Springfield, MO for the Missouri Cattlemen's Convention, but I doubt I'll be staying in such a fancy hotel, so my report may not be as interesting.
Tomorrow, I'm working on Christmas shopping while I'm in town!
Tobina, thank you for taking me into Old Town and the old Keen Kutter building. These are things that I probably will never get to do. I have wondered if the old building had been turned into something useful and from your description, I would say that it has. When you get back from Kansas City, I hope you will help me visit where you have been.
My wife and I stayed at the Oldtown Hotel last month while attending the Kansas Book Festival in Wichita. It was
a wonderful experience! You'd be surprised how many celebrities stay there when they visit Wichita. One anchorman for PBS comes
there frequently to work on a book he is writing. For the life of me, I can't remember his name.
Enjoy!
Hey Tobina, I live in Springfield, MO. Hope you have a good time here.
The tradeshow and convention is at the Springfield Expo Center, and I'll be staying at the University Plaza Hotel, right across the street. Not sure I'll get the time to enjoy much of Springfield, but if I get a chance to go shopping; do you have any suggestions, Roma Jean?
I know exactly where that is, on St. Louis Street. If you go west on St. Louis Street you will end up in the downtown square. There are places to eat and shop down there. More boutique kinds of places. One of my patients was telling me about a shop called Pastiche that she thought was really neat. I haven't been there yet, but it wouldn't be to far from where you would be. She said it is at the corner of Walnut and Jefferson, SE side of the street by the YMCA. You could go west on St. Louis to Jefferson, (just a few blocks), then turn left or south and Walnut is just a block or two.
The Battlefield Mall is further away, but that is the biggest shopping mall. Has lots of shops as well as Penny's, Dillard's, Sears, Macy's etc. Has a food mall and all of that. It is at the corner of Battlefield and Glenstone. From where you would be staying you would go east on St. Louis a few blocks to Glenstone, then turn right or south. You would stay right on Glenstone for quite a few blocks. When you go through the intersection at Sunshine you would only be a block from my office, but keep on going. After you pass the big cemetary on your right, you will almost be there. I don't think you would have any problem seeing it.....the right hand side of the street.....Battlefield and Glenstone.
You guys talking about Springfield just gave me a happy flash back. Many, many years ago when my sister and I were going to Kansas by train, to visit family, we saw a very familiar looking older lady in the seat across from us. She realized we recognized her and we had a nice chat. She was going to Springfield. It was Marion Lorne ( Mrs. Gurney in Mr. Peepers.) She also played in some of the ''Bewitched'' shows. Some of you might be too young to remember her. ;) :D Have a great time Tobina.
Thanks, Roma Jean! I do prefer the fun little boutiques and downtown businesses; can find a mall in most any town.
Diane,
I certainly remember Mrs. Gurney and the show. It was aired live.
Mr. Peepers was one of the few 1950s TV shows that my dad enjoyed and Mrs. Gurney was one of the few female actors he liked.
The show ran from 1952 to 1955. Both Mrs. Guerny, English, and Mr. Peepers, science, were teachers at Jefferson Junior High School.
Another teacher was Mr. Peepers girl friend.
Wasn't Eve Arden the principal on that show?
Roma Jean,
As I seem to recall from several years ago, the Battlefield Mall is either on or adjacent to the place where the first civil war battle took place in Missouri.
Eve Arden was an English teach in Our Miss Brooks.
I just went upstairs to get something but by the time I got up there, I forgot what it was I needed. However, at the same time it suddenly dawned on me.
Eve Arden was the principal in the GREASE movies of the late seventies. Sid Caesar was the athletic coach.
There was a "Mr.Bascom" in some school administrator role. Mr. Peepers finally married his girlfriend Nancy. That was a big deal in those days.
I'm not sure of the actual history of the land that the Mall is on. The actual Wilson Creek Battlefield park is several miles west and some south of Battlefield St. Then there is an acutal Battlefield, Mo which is very close by. When I moved here the first time in 1969 the mall was just being built. We couldn't understand at the time why they would build a mall ,(first one any of us had ever seen), clear out side of town in the middle of pasture land. Lots of changes.
I purchased a quite expensive (for the time) bedroom set from Dillards at the Battlefiield Mall in 1974.
I wanted one that would last forever.
Today, it is in our guest room looking as good as the day I bought it. I also purchased a lamp to go along with the furniture and it is on the night stand.
Before I came to Springfield, I had never heard of Dillards. They were out of Little Rock, maybe.
Now we have Dillards at all the major malls in the Denver area but those out here do not sell furniture.
Also, I saw Gone With the Wind for the first time in that Mall. I came away wondering what all the hubbub was about.
Now let me see if I've got this straight: Tobina is looking for Gurney Mall in Springfield where a teacher by the name of Dillard
sells furniture with his sidekick, Mr. Peepers?
This is sort of like the old time party game where several people get in a line.
The first person whispers a message to the second person, that person is supposed to repeat and whispers to the next, etc.
What the last person hears, has a totally different meaning than what started out.
Nothing like a little "Whisper Down The Lane" to get things confused. It's still fun to do with kids.
Alright, swerve back from the tangent...
Well, I left this morning in a sleet storm. My car was just starting to ice over, and I told myself that I'd turn around if it was icy when I hit the blacktop at Moline. Nope, just wet. Temp was starting to rise, too, so I continued on. Got up to 35 degrees at Chetopa, and then started sliding back down when I got into Joplin. Spent the day at the Joplin Stockyards sale, and still only got rain. Headed to Springfield early so to avoid dropping temps and icy roads. From my 8th floor room at the University Plaza Hotel, I can't tell if the roads are slick, but the cars driving slow on the street below might be an indication. Will hopefully find a restaurant close to take my customers tonight so we don't have to drive far (or at all). Not brave enough yet to get out and about to any shopping center, mall, OR battlefield. I used to be one of those crazy city drivers, so I know how we can get on icy roads. I'm a little more chicken now (and drive a nicer car). One more reason to love a gravel road!!!
Glad to know you are safely ensconced at the hotel. ;) Eat a nice chunk of good beef for me!
Tobina, you're so impressive traveling with your laptop and tapping into local wi-fi's. And, yes, I
agree with Diane --- a nice, thick, rare KC strip sounds mighty good tonight.
Tobina, if you get hungry and don't want to go far, just go up to the corner of St. Louis and National, just east of you and have a great burger at Steak and Shake. My favorite for cheeseburgers, fries and shakes. That particular Steak and Shake even has a carhop. If you get bored over the weekend, call me at 417-860-6752 (Cell)and I'll run over and eat a cheeseburger with you. I set my own schedule so can pretty well do as I please.
Well, I made it back home safe on Saturday afternoon. The tradeshow was good on Friday, but slow on Saturday (I assume since the ice storm was going to be moving in later in the day). I didn't make it to Steak and Shake, but I did take some customers to Cheddar's one night. Then we were fed at the convention the rest of the time. I did have time to go to Bass Pro for some Christmas shopping, but didn't find much for my hunter who has everything. I did find myself a new coat, though... too bad I have to wrap it up for Christmas!
No traveling for work until January. Then we'll go to Florida for our vacation, and I'll go to Denver 2 weeks in a row, and then to Reno in February, so more fun travel stories after the new year!
Definitely can't keep up with Tobina's weekly travel - but must say the Hotel at Oldtown is worth checking in to - plus to have so many options within walking distance is cool. Tried Cheddar's in Wichita next to the Warren Theatre - whoa - come with an appetite... they can stack on the food. Another great place is Texas Roadhouse on the west side of Wichita - two of our local gals work there - Jessica Zellner and Teagan Perkins... but call ahead - normal wait is 2 hrs...Girls and I headed to Great Wolf Lodge in KC this weekend- anyone with small children this is a must - indoor water park and hotel combo... plus shopping right next door (Cabelas, NE Furt. Mart, etc) - unfortunately the weather cut our trip short. So we came home yesterday to avoid the ice...(Boy traveling with small children sure does curb your adventures...you just don't take the risk you used to.) But the Lodge was very kid friendly and even refunded my 2nd nite's stay due to the weather... can't say that for condos in CO....
Time for an update! I've traveled lots of miles since my last post. After the New Year, Chuck and I went to Florida to visit his family for a week. It was a good time. They live in an Ag area, so it's like being at home... but different. Chuck helped his mom by fixing fences, hanging gates, and trimming trees. I repainted her kitchen! Last year it was bathrooms. Next year, who knows!
We got home on Saturday evening from Florida, and I left for Denver on Monday morning. We had staff meetings in Longmont, CO, where our corporate office is. It was good to catch up with everyone and see the focus for the new year. We did some "team building"... aka... bowling. I did break 100 on both games; barely.
I arrived home on Friday from that trip, and left again thisTuesday to head BACK to Denver. This time again in the office for some training on new software (Meat Inventory Tracking System), and then to Westminster for the National Bison Association Convention. I stayed in the Westin hotel the last 2 nights... very nice. "Heavenly beds", although I didn't spend too much time in one! They had activities in the evenings, and the tradeshow opened at 7 am each morning. Home later today. Home all next week (except for hair appointment, Elk Konnected meeting, etc, etc). Then headed to Reno on Feb 5th for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association meetings and tradeshow. That's our BIG one; we have the BIG booth set up. Not sure they'll be much time, but I at least want to try one slot machine while I'm there!
Side note; internet access in the tradeshow this week was very bad. I borrowed a Verizon Broadband card... pretty handy! I'm taking it home with me to try "out in the boonies" next week, and then we'll use it at Reno so we don't have to pay outrageous internet connection fees at the convention center.
You sure have been busy. I like Reno, had some good luck there. Have fun!
As you can tell by my numerous posts today... "I'm BAAACK!" ;D
The 2nd trip to Denver was good. I attended the National Bison Association tradeshow and meetings. We do a lot of business in that industry, and they are a very interesting group of people! VERY different from the cattle industry. I have lots of friends/customers and I got caught up with them all.
After Denver, I was home a week to unpack, do laundry, re-pack, catch up on e-mails (and the forum), and say HI to my hubby. And make him a batch of chocolate chip cookies (my peace-offering for being gone so much).
The National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) tradeshow in Reno was good... but I got SICK at the end of the week. I was in charge of supervising our booth being set up and getting it all stocked with computers, handouts, freebies, etc. Then we did the tradeshow-thing for 2-1/2 days. We also had a customer appreciation dinner one night. By Friday, I was sick. Saturday morning (4 am), I had a flight out. Flying sick is not fun. Coming home to flowers, soup, and apple juice helped (what a nice hubby). I only got the chance to gamble the first night we were there. I won $2.36 on the penny slots. Woo-hoo. Slots aren't as fun when you don't actually get MONEY thrown back at you when you win! It just goes on your "voucher" so you can keep spending it. I'm not a big gambler.
My "big" trips are done for a while. I have to go to California later in the spring, but not sure when. That should be a fun trip, as we'll be installing software in a multi-species packing plant. I'm sure I'll have all sorts of good stories after that! ;)
Glad to hear you are home safe, if not sound. I flew back to Delaware from Yosemite sick one time, I agree it's not fun at all. How are bison people different from cattle people?
Tobina, you have NO idea how much I enjoy your post. Since I am one of the "old ones" on this forum, it is soooooooooo exciting to read of all your trips, and you have such a great gift of writing that makes me feel I am right there with you, having fun, fun fun.
Stay safe and happy traveling to you in the future.
Tobi, I agree with Jo. I can't travel but your travels sure help brighten my day.
Thanks, Gals, for the encouragement! And hello from Grand Island, Nebraska! I went to my folks' in Atwood this weekend, as my mom's birthday is today. I had a work meeting on Monday afternoon, and then headed up here to NE for a couple meetings. I'll swing by Manhattan on Thursday night to see my sister on her birthday (Friday), then head home. Out of the 6 people in my family, 4 of them have birthdays in February! I got to see both my Grandmas when I was home, and they're doing well and handling the weather good, too.
Sunday night, we had pizza with the "Hobby Club". An old neighbor of my family says she has friends in Sedan that she visits, someone who makes pies for Toots? Anyone know who that is?
As for the difference between bison people and cattle people; (I'm being generalizing here, keep in mind) a lot of the bison people are very environmentally conscious. They tend to be less "cowboy" and more "tree hugger" (not in a bad way). They usually have other conservation programs on their ranches.
The pie baker would probably be Louise Chrisman who lives in Sedan. Her daughter, Debbie Roebuck, owns Toots Drive-In, and I think Louise bakes pies every day and also comes up to serve breakfast at Toots every morning.
What a small world! Tell Louise that her friend Maxine Wright used to be my neighbor! Maxine and Harvey now live in town, but they used to live across the creek from my grandparents, and about 4 miles from where I grew up.
Well, I've been out and about once again! Last week I was in sunny Newman, California. No, not spring break. Not even a very populated area! It's East of San Jose, and about 1.5 hours south of Sacramento. I was doing a software installation in a livestock packing plant (so I really wasn't even out enjoying the sunnyness... and no, it wasn't "THE" CA packing plant from the news). The plant is using the system to track the meat from the harvest area, through the coolers, to the fabrication floor where they break it into cuts, and then to the shipping area where they pack it into boxes to be shipped out. The idea is that they can tell which specific carcasses were in each shipment, so if something goes wrong or they have a recall they can track back to the harvest group and then back out to other shipments that may need to be recalled. It is also very important for inventory purposes so they know what types of cuts they have and how much at any time. This was a small plant, so it was a friendly atmosphere and the staff was very excited to get technology to help make their jobs easier and give them accountablility.
I also got to see lots of cool things on our way to/from the hotel... fields of broccoli, almond trees in bloom, and eucalyptus trees (they grow like oak trees there; very large and wild along the creeks). We also drove by a frozen vegetable plant where they had truckloads of spinach that they were freezing and packing. I even saw some Bird's Eye shipping containers, so I imagine that the spinach was being packaged and shipped for that company! Like always, it was a business trip, so I didn't get to do a lot or see a lot. But the "valley" was beautiful!
I flew in and out of Sacramento. On Sunday on my way there, I flew through Dallas (via American Airlines). On Thursday on my way home, I flew through Denver (via United...good thing since Dallas was flooding!). My flights were fine, albeit a little bumpy here and there. KNOCK ON WOOD... I haven't had very many travel issues all the many times I've flown. A lost bag once, but it was found and delivered (1:00 am after I'd already purchased contact solution, etc).
Here's a pict of the broccoli in the field. I was having a hard time attaching to my first post.
Love the picture of your Jack Russell, the broccolli's looks good too.
So, I'm filling you in again on the latest of my travels! Since my last post, I have traveled to Longmont, CO, to our main office about 3 times, but they were boring trips and nothing to interest you.
Last week, however, we had our company retreat and summer meetings in Grand Lake, CO! It was a fun time! We started the week off by going to the Rockies game (they got stomped by the Dodgers), and then drove up to Grand Lake on Tuesday. Half of us went via I-70 after we picked up one guy from the airport, the other half went over Rocky Mountain National Park (I, of course, went the boring I-70 route). We stayed in a "dude ranch" just a little North of Grand Lake. It was beautiful! They had a stream running through the property, and horses running around. You could go horse riding, but we did not take the time. Although it sounds relaxing and restful, we still did have meetings and presentations (I gave 4 presentations!). But the atmosphere was nice and we didn't have to sit in a stuffy meeting room the whole time. We had team building activities and breaks throughout the meetings, including sand volleyball, horseshoes, Apples to Apples game, and Imagine If game. The theme for the week was "Change", so we changed teams with each activity, and sometimes in the midst of playing, too!
Wednesday, we had meetings all day long at the ranch. It hailed and rained all day! The hail was as thick as snow!
Wednesday night, our CEO joined us and we went to dinner at The Rapids restaurant. It was beautiful (see picture below)! They had great, expensive food and wine.
Thursday, we had more meetings in the morning and wrapped up by noon. In the afternoon we rented a pontoon boat and went out on Grand Lake. The water was COLD, but the sights were beautiful. We pretty much just puttered around the lake looking at all the houses. They have some amazing houses! There was one for sale and we found out later it was only 3 bedroom... for $3.5 Million! We were joking that the company should buy it for a get-away lodge... but we're not quite THAT large yet!
Friday morning we just loaded up and drove back to Denver. I stayed at my parents' house in NW KS the weekend before and Friday night, and then came back on Saturday. It was a LONG week! But, I'm happy to say that my hubby kept my garden picked and watered while I was gone, so I had a TON of cucs and a few tomatoes when I got back! Yum!
Grand Lake, Co, is where Marvin Heemeyer when berserk in 2004.
He built a 55 Ton tank and proceeded to take out a good part of downtown, then put a bullet through his brain.
He was PO'd at the mayor and city council.
Tobina, thanks for sharing...Love those photos.
Well, I finally got to go a different direction this trip! After all my trips West and mostly to Colorado the past few months, I made it into the SE this time. I flew from Tulsa to Houston to Mobile, AL, and then met a customer and we drove to Lucedale, MS. I did a training there and helped with a producer meeting at the local stockyards. It was a short, fast trip; left on Monday morning and got back last night. I didn't get a to see a lot of cattle country, but I did get to see a lot of trees. It was mild and moist down there, which is usually different than the hot and muggy they normally have. Fay played havoc on my trip back, though, as my flight out of Mobile left a little late due to rain delays in Houston, and by the time I got to Houston I missed my flight. Barely, apparently, as my bag made it. But I had to switch terminals to catch it, so it took me a while to get there. I flew standby on the next flight out, and was the 2nd person called, so that was good.
If I would have had more time, I would have taken the Winns out for coffee as I passed through B-ville, so hopefully next time.
One thing that was really neat down there was all these blooming trees. Someone said they're a type of myrtle tree? I did take note and noticed a few growing in yards in this area, too, so now I'm on a quest to figure out what they are and maybe get some for my own yard!
Crepe Myrtle trees? Our area can grow some kinds of them, and they are nice because they bloom late in the summer. The most common ones here are a pretty magenta pink. It sounds like you had a good trip in spite of Fay.
Tobina,
the Crepe Myrtle around here are growing well.............Coming back from Bartlesville yesterday they have a lot down there and it is just beautiful.
Grows like a tree.....but I think it is more like a Rose of Sharon than a tree.........but, I haven't tried to grow them.
Usually the ones the most showy are the oldest......I think they are just beautiful. One of the last flowering bushes of summer........not the end of them, by no means......just they bloom later in the summer.
Now it is time for the Morning Glory and all the vines that have been growing all summer.
I can't get enough of growing things either to grow or to look at (now, my allergies usually cry UNCLE!!,) but I still admire them from another yard......LOL
Crepe Myrtle is one of my favorites. I love all the colors, especially the girly pink, but I must admit that a hedge of the white ones is breathtaking. We have some of the old fashioned dark pink ones, and they have really gotten tall this year. Crepe Myrtle is tough and one of those plants that is almost permanent once established, although people often think they are dead in the spring they are so late to come out. I think they are among the last things to leaf out. A great investment for your yard.
OK, I didn't travel far this time, but thought you might like to see some "cow crew" picts from yesterday. It was a beautiful day! The nicest we've had up on "the hill", where the weather is twice as bad as it is anywhere else. Mud hole in the back, but I wasn't back there, so it was OK. ;)
Tobina, that brings back fond memories.
Frank
Thanks Tobino.. I appreciate you taking the time to share with us.
Those pictures remind me of something also. Where is my scanner? PDA? Wand? You show us pictures of cowpokes but not pokettes. Do we discriminate?
Who is the model you hired for the photo shoot? Local boy?
PEP; if I remember right, "baby steps" were the preferred method of introducing technology to the B&D clan.
Yeah, I was the only pokette up there that day, and I was behind the camera (although Cuz KP came and visited one time previous, and "Renae Rulz" comes and delivers lunch). Local boy got free help that day in exchange for the poses. I call it my "field day", and we're updating our website pictures, so I could justify being out there instead of cooped up in the office.
Any pictures from your day that day? Or were they all obscene? :-\
No pictures just some blue language. Very, very R rated.
Another travel update! Last week, I was down in Osage County, OK, north of Pawhuska on The Nature Conservancy Tallgrass Prairie helping work their bison herd. We worked 2,300 head of bison from Wednesday morning through Sunday afternoon. They are finishing up the calves today, and have about 220 head of those.
TNC rounds up their bison once a year and sorts off all older animals to sell, along with weeding out some of the young animals. They are trying to keep their numbers around 2,000 adult animals, which is the number that the grazing can support. All the bison have the RFID tags in their ears, and they use AgInfoLink software to help manage the data. When an animal comes into the chute and the tag is scanned, the animal's data shows up on the screen... all the data for their entire life. They mostly just collect weights each year, and indicate if the animal has been DNA tested for Cattle genetics (TNC is trying to become more of a "pure" bison herd). They also vaccincate the animals against disease.
Here are a couple pictures from the bison works. The bull in the picture was about 1600 lbs. The largest one we saw was close to 1800.
I did get to ride in the trucks again this year to help bring them into the corrals... which is a very exhilarating experience! You feel like you are running with the buffalo!
Golly is this a timely post, my sister is coming in from Illinois, and she and her husband have visited The Nature Conservancy Tallgrass Prairie and love it. They will enjoy your post on the working of the bison. Dale and I went for a little drive there a couple of years ago and we sure need to take a little day trip again. Beautiful place. Thanks for sharing.
It's too bad they don't open the bison works up to the public, but, like anything public, they'd run the risk of getting bad publicity or people using aspects of the works to furter they're own agenda. But, donate to the NC Tallgrass and you'll be personally escorted around the works! Donate even bigger, and you might get your picture with a bison in the chute!
Here is a good slideshow from the Tulsa World News. The female voice at the end of the clip is me! No picts, though.
http://www.tulsaworld.com/webextra/content/2008/slideshows/BisonRoundUpNov08/index.aspx
I really enjoyed reading about this, and watching the video. You may have already said, but, how many acres are there in the
N. C. Tallgrass Prairie?
Thanks for posting this, it's very interesting.
23,000 acres is the latest acreage, I think. Not all of that is used for bison, though, as they do have cattle grazing leases on some of the land.
http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/oklahoma/preserves/tallgrass.html
In a couple of weeks (I'll let you know when I get an exact date), there will be video of the roundup on the Today Show!
thank you tobina for the video that was amazing
I haven't been very good about keeping you all up to date to my travels! Other than January/February, it's actually been pretty slow (travel-wise), which was good (especially during those early pregnancy months!).
My latest travels were just last week and I was up into Iowa. I stayed in Ames, IA, a nice college town. Reminded me a bit of Manhattan during the summer when the students were gone. We traveled north of Ames a ways, as well as a little bit West. It was HOT. One place we went to didn't have a/c in their house and I was about sweat-soaked by the time the audit was done! The temp in the house when we left was around 89 deg.
We did run into quite a storm one afternoon; it was so humid during the days that it really stoked up the storms in the afternoon and evenings. Unfortunately, one of the feedyards that I visited had lost 29 head of cattle in one day! They were spraying the cattle with water, but couldn't keep ahead of the heat that day. The next day, they made a trip to town and stocked up on hoses, sprinklers, nozzles, etc. I'd heard that a feedyard in Nebraska had lost 50 head that same day!
It was interesting to see the difference in the crops from KS to IA. Even between southern IA and central IA! The corn in the South IA areas was about waist high, whereas the corn in Central IA was only about knee-high. When I got back to KS; our corn had already tasseled out! Interesting, though, it seemed like the soybeans were about the same; maybe even a bit more mature in IA compared to KS. That's one thing I really enjoy when I travel; is to compare the differences in crops and land.
Brush ramadas for 20K+ cattle... that'd be a sight! :o Of course, with the winter wind and spring storms, they'd have to rebuild them every year! ;)