THE LONGHORN WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FROM A KID’S PERSPECTIVE
Thanks to Mary Stahl sending in a school paper written by her daughter, Tyler, readers get the opportunity to know what the Longhorn World Championship is like from a kid’s perspective. Tyler did an excellent job, and we are so glad she chose to write about an awesome event. Mary, Brian, and Tyler Stahl own Middlecreek Farms located in the beautiful Laurel Highlands of Southwestern Pennsylvania. They have been raising Longhorns since 2001, when Mary bought Brian a heifer for his birthday. They are prominent breeders on the East Coast and support Longhorn events like the Longhorn World Championship and the Cherry Blossom Sale.
Did you know that the longest horned Longhorn ever had a span of 121 inches (about 10 feet) from one tip to the other? That’s really long! I’ve never seen one with horns that long, but I see Longhorns with horns almost that long when my family and I go to the Longhorn World Championship each year for two days.
Our last day is always my favorite. It starts at about 7:30 when my family and I get up and get ready. After we have dressed, showered, and eaten breakfast, we walk over to Cox Convention Center, where the event is held. Before they start, while my dad feeds our cows, my mom and I get us seats, and we look at our information books. While we are looking, I say, “Mom, there are a lot of cows in this class!”
“Yes,” my mom responds. “We are going to have some tough competition!”
Next, they start the bull futurity. Once they have judged all of the bulls, they start the horn measuring. When one with big horns comes out into the chute, I say, “That cow has a big measurement, so she might win!” After they are all done with measuring the heifers, we all go shopping before the banquet starts. My favorite store in Oklahoma City is Langstons. I like it because in the back is a kids’ section filled with clothes and stuffed animals. When I see something I like, I say, “Mom, can I get this?”
She usually answers, “Yes, you can, but only if you spend your own money!” When we are done shopping, we walk across the street to The Cattleman’s for lunch. My parents get steak, and I get a corndog.
When we are done eating, we go back to our hotel and change clothes. Then, we go to the second floor of our hotel, where
50 TEXAS LONGHORN JOURNAL i MAY 2017
the banquet is held. Before we are allowed inside the main room, everyone crowds outside of the doors and talks. Once we get inside the main room, our dinner is served, and everyone keeps talking. My favorite part about the dinner is the chocolate cake. After everyone eats, the awards start. When we win, I say to my mom, “Hey, we won! I never thought it would happen!”
After we are back to the hotel and I fall asleep, I dream of how much fun we had, and the awards we won. Most of all, I think about what our trip will be like next year.
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