Getting A Start ...

Hi, my name is Katie Parker. I am 12 years old and live in McCoy, Colorado, with my six horses, three dogs, three cats, and now, three heifers. I compete in Little Britches Rodeo and have been in 4H since I was five years old. When I was nine, I showed my first Angus steer. I will be showing an Angus steer at the county fair this year that I won in the Catch A Calf contest last year. He is so big! My next fair I hope to have a Lowline steer, but I will show my new Lowline heifer calf in the breeding show.

About two years ago we were at the National Western Stock Show and I saw the miniature Herefords. They were so cute. Later, I learned about the Lowlines. I dont live on 1,000s of acres and I have always loved the black Angus, so the Lowlines are perfect. I have wanted to raise cattle since I was 4 years old. This year I was able to go to the NWSS and show a fullblood bull calf owned by Cimarron Lowlines, Joker B Ladd. We did really good. I also bought a 3/4 heifer from Muddy Creek Ranch and a purebred from Double D Ranch. I did this with my own money that I received from a great loan program just for kids. I am planning on coming back to NWSS in 2010 with my own herd. I cant wait! My big sister now wants to be my partner and show and breed Lowlines with me. My company name is Open Diamond Bars Cattle Company. I named it after my brand. Last fall, Laurie Neilson from the USDA came to our 4H banquet and talked to us about a great program they have for kids, like me, wanting to raise cattle. You have to be 10 years old to 21 years old. In November, I applied for the loan just for kids offered by the USDA. You can borrow up to $5,000. It is really easy to do. First, call your local USDA department in your state.

For Colorado, it is 970-241-3459, ext. 2. You will talk to a really nice lady named Laurie Neilson. They will send you an application. You need to get three letters of recommendation and write a short essay why you want this loan and what your plans are. You then send it in with $8. I took my money I had earned from selling my 4H steer and opened up a checking account. I also started my own company and applied for my own cattle brand. You dont have to do that, but its cool to have your own company and brand. You can do two things, you can borrow money for a 4H steer, then you pay it off when you sell your steer. Or you can do what I did and do a seven-year loan for a breeding program. I get 3.5% interest and have one payment a year. I can buy equipment, fencing, cattle, semen, embryos, anything to do with breeding and my business. Grain and hay is paid for with my money from my 4H steer, but you could itemize that for the USDA andthey will tell you how you pay that separate from your other expenses. I just e-mail Laurie every time I buy something and tell her what and how much.

After you send your loan application in, Laurie calls you and sets up a time to meet you. It only took four days. She came to our ranch to see where my cattle were going to go and our ranch. She explained to me that everything I bought with the money was not mine until I paid the USDA back. So they have a lien on your cattle and things. She is so nice and she makes you understand the importance of doing a good job and working hard. You sign the papers and the next week the money is in your checking account. When you do buy things, you send her what you bought and how much. This summer she will come back to see my new herd and the equipment I have bought. It is a really good program and it is all on you, not your parents. So when I pay this back I can get another loan if I need it. I will be a cattle breeder then and have good credit. Laurie is so nice and she didnt really know anything about Lowlines. When she met my bull calf she could see the value in this breed. I sent her a bunch of stuff I got off the Internet about Lowlines. So now she knows more about this great breed. She was very excited about my winnings and my new heifers I got at the NWSS. So kids, go for it. The ranching future depends on us kids. And there are programs for adults, too. I am excited about this spring and breeding my heifers.

If you have any questions call us 970-653-7673 or my new e-mail address is OpenDiamondBars@hotmail.com.

I hope to have a Web site this summer.

Have fun!