Strait Ranches- Santa Gertrudis Beef Cattle

	strait Ranches would like to thank the buyers, bidders and sponsors of the Annual Bluebonnet Classic Santa Gertrudis Sale. True Gert Cattle Co. of Robstown, TX purchased our high selling bred heifer as well an excellent open heifer. Circle 3 Ranch of Mission, TX purchased our pair with an top bull calf at side sired by Hellacious 750. Alexander Farms of Kenedy, TX and Texas Oaks Ranch of Brenham, TX also purchased yearling heifers from us. We greatly appreciate all buyers of our cattle as well as those who expressed interest by placing bids- Thank You.

	Thank you to LMR Farms and Guevara Ranch for purchasing herd sires for their purebred operations from Strait Ranches. LMR Farms purchased an ET son of Briggs 023 and SR Holly 033 while Guevara Ranch purchased a top young son of LR Code Red out of one of our best females, SR 207. We wish both ranches the very best with their new bulls.


	Congratulations to Lauren Thomas of Raymondville, TX for winning Reserve Grand Champion Santa Gertrudis Female with SR 42/0 in the Junior Heifer Division at the Rio Grande Valley Livestock Show.


	Many thanks to the buyers of our cattle at the 2011 South Texas Pioneer Sale. Sidebottom's Lazy JV Ranch purchased our pair while True Gert Cattle Co. and J Star C Ranch purchased our bred heifers. We are really happy as all of these ranches are repeat buyers of Strait Ranches genetics. In addition, we would like to thank a new buyer, Garza's Double G Farms, for purchasing our young herd sire prospect, SR 973. We expect great things out of this young bull.


	Congratulations to Eddie Gomez, Ernest Molina, Kalli Kimble and Harrison Kimble on your placings at the San Antonio Livestock Show. We appreciate the great job you have all done with your Strait Ranches heifers.


	Strait Ranches appreciates Solomon Butler's hard work with his 2010 National Junior Heifer Show donated heifer, SR Fiona 11/0. Donated heifers are given to every purebred class winner at the annual National Junior Santa Gertrudis Heifer Show. We believe the National Junior Santa Gertrudis Association is one of the best youth beef organizations in the country.		We would like to thank Reese Ranch for purchasing SR 915 from Strait Ranches during Pearsall Livestock Auction's December Special Replacement Sale.

	We appreciate Larry Sidebottom of Lazy JV Ranch in Edcouch, TX for selecting a heifer to add to his program and are grateful that he has continued to select top cattle from Strait Ranches. We would like to thank Jillian Williams, Ernest Molina, Eddie Gomez, Harrison Kimble, Kalli Kimble and Solomon Butler for selecting show heifers from Strait Ranches. We wish you the very best on the show road. We appreciate Joe and Linlea Shelby of True Gert Cattle Co in Robstown, TX for selecting a top group of young heifers to add to their program. These are some of the best heifers to ever leave Strait Ranches. When looking for Santa Gertrudis show steers and Star Five Santa Gertrudis show heifers please contact True Gert Cattle Co.


	Thanks to Wyatt Ranches and Krueger Ranch for purchasing the two bulls we consigned to Pearsall Livestock Auction's October Replacement Sale.


	Thanks to Bob Keeter of Clark Farms in Mena, AR for purchasing SR 879 at the 2010 Polled Gold Santa Gertrudis Sale. SR 879 has great carcass (4.66 IMF, 14.89 REA) and gain test data (4.00 ADG). We look forward to seeing calves sired by this top herd sire prospect in the future.		Thanks to Don Yates of Yates Farms and Joe Shelby of True Gert Cattle Co. for purchasing our bred heifers at the 2010 Mid-Coast Cattleman's Opportunity Sale.

Strait Ranches would like to thank Robert Silva of Krebs, OK for purchasing SR 908, the high selling bull at the 2010 South Texas Pioneer Sale. This bull should work great in Robert Silva's progressive breeding program.

We would also like to thank the buyers of our other lots at the 2010 South Texas Pioneer Sale: Schuster Farms (San Juan, TX), Wunderlich Farms (Brenham, TX) , Sidebottom's Lazy JV Ranch (Edcouch, TX) , Hefte Ranch (Hondo, TX), Justiss' Four J Cattle Company (Hallettsville, TX) and Cargill's Four C Ranch (Los Fresnos, TX).

SR Cynthia 828 was named Reserve Grand Champion Santa Gertrudis Female (Open Show) at the 2010 Houston Livestock Show. This heifer was also recently named Grand Champion Santa Gertrudis Female (Open Show) at the 2010 Dixe National Livestock Show as well as 2010 San Antonio Livestock Show. SR Cynthia 828 is owned by Casey Pitchford of Athens, TX. Congratulations to Casey.


	Congratulations to Hillary Trant of Iola, TX for winning Grand Champion Santa Gertrudis during the junior heifer show at 2010 Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo with AL Miss Fiona. AL Miss Fiona is out of a Strait Ranches bred cow, SR Isabella 557, who was the Grand Champion femaie at the 2007 National Junior Santa Gertrudis Heifer Show

HAPPY NEW YEAR to you from Strait Ranches…we wish all of you, our family and friends the very “Best” in 2011! Honestly…I don’t know where the months of October, November and December went…but I’m going to excuse myself and move into January 2011! I know we didn’t miss any meals because most of us got a bigger size pants for Christmas! This is my absolute favorite time of year in the kitchen. There’s always big pot of soup or beans on the stove-top and something baking in the oven, filling the air with a rich warm aroma! Here at the ranch we cook a lot with what we have on hand…not much differently from the way it was in the ‘40’s and ‘50’s…no one wants to stop what they’re doing to drive to the grocery store in town. So, gather your family in the kitchen, give everyone a job and let the fun begin…that’s the way we cook when the kids come home to the ranch! Easy couldn’t taste any better than these recipes! Try ‘em out!

Mexican Soup
2 medium onions, chopped
4 Tablespoons of butter
2 pounds hamburger meat….mix the onions, butter and meat in a skillet to brown,
Add 1- 17 ounce can whole kernel corn, 1- 15 ounce can ranch-style beans, 2-4 ounce cans of green chilies…cook ‘til “hot & bubbly”

Serve over tortilla chips or Fritos…sprinkle with grated cheddar cheese…add a dollop of sour cream.
Sometimes we spoon this into a flour tortilla…add cheese and roll it up to eat….hmmmmmmmm!

Chunky Potato Soup
6 slices of bacon & 1 large, white onion, chopped…brown in a big “stock” pot,
5 large potatoes, peeled & cubed…add to pot to coat with bacon drippings,

Add 7 cups of water, 2 cups of tomato sauce, 3 teaspoons of salt,2 -10 ounce cans of green chilies/chopped…reduce heat to simmer and cook for 1 hour
Grate 1 pound of sharp cheese to sprinkle on top of soup in individual bowls when you’re ready to serve!

Apple Muffins
2 cups of flour                       1 cup of sugar
3 teaspoons cinnamon        1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda      4 cups Granny Smith apples, unpeeled & chopped
½ teaspoon salt                     1 cup walnuts, chopped
2 eggs
1 cup canola oil

In a small bowl, mix flour, cinnamon, baking soda & salt
In a large bowl beat eggs until foamy, add oil, sugar & vanilla
Stir in flour mixture until blended…add apples & nuts…stir
Spoon into muffin tins lined with cups and bake for 15 to 20 minutes in a 350 degree oven
Remove and serve…we like ours warm with real butter…..

Pecan Pralines

1 c. brown sugar
1 c. granulated sugar
3/4 stick butter
1/4 c. white Karo syrup
5 Tbsp. evaporated milk
Pinch of Salt
1 c. pecans
1 tsp. maple flavoring
1 tsp. vanilla flavoring

Combine first six ingredients and cook to soft-ball stage. Add pecans and flavoring. Stir mixture until it is pliable, then place on buttered wax paper by the spoonful. Let cool and serve.


				STRAIT RANCHES ■ Y. N. Strait Family ■ Carrizo Springs, Texas ■ 830.317.3310 ■ ynstrait@straitranches.com