My article and photos of the first annual Stockyards Beef Festival at the 2023 National Western Stock Show in Denver, CO seems to have gained some traction after it was published online by The Fence Post magazine on 01/20/2023. There were a lot of social media shares and interactions, which is a good thing for a great event like that one. You can still find it on The Fence Post’s website.
You can also go straight to Hereford America’s magazine archives and look at the issue there or you can read it right here. It is a good industry magazine and (again) my article starts on Page 51.
My latest article with photos about the inaugural Stockyards Beef Festival at the 2023 National Western Stock Show has been published on The Fence Post magazine’s website and will be in the upcoming print edition this coming Monday. You can go to the article here – https://www.thefencepost.com/news/nwss-stockyards-beef-festival-is-crazy-good-idea/
There was great beef, good wine, excellent cattle on the hoof, a large ticket-buying crowd, and a smooth band playing country music at the NWSS’ inaugural Stockyards Beef Festival held in the Stow L. Witwer Memorial Show Arena on Thursday evening, January 12, 2023. Unsure what to expect in its first year, organizers were thrilled with the enthusiastic response.
I had a great time meeting the people who organized the event and those who participated in it, as well. Judging by the enthusiasm of the crowd packed into the Witwer Memorial Show Arena, it looks like this event should turn into a stock show mainstay. That would be a good thing.
Okay, let me get this out the way first. I like other people to enjoy good products as much as I do. It makes me happy to share great personal experiences so others can experience the same. I am not a spokesperson or paid representative and I do not receive compensation in any fashion for these kinds of posts. With that being said, I had the opportunity at an event held during the 2023 National Western Stock Show (NWSS) in Denver, CO to taste some 45-day, dry aged, bone-in ribeye steak from Connealy Angus Meat Market — the private label, farm to table arm of one of the top producers of registered purebred angus beef genetics in the world, Connealy Angus out of Whitman, Nebraska.
Chef Adam Siegfried, who runs the culinary portion of Coppermill Steakhouses in Nebraska, holds up a 45-day dry-aged, bone-in angus ribeye from Connealy Angus that were being sampled out during the NWSS’ first annual Stockyards Beef Festival on January 12, 2023. Siegfried uses Connealy beef at his steakhouses, so came with them to chef it up at the event. Image by Lincoln Rogers, 2023
Now, I am not a “top chef” or a “food expert,” but I am an avid griller and love putting good steak on the outdoor grill with the wood chips smoking, so I think I have tasted a lot of good beef. But I was absolutely blown away by how tender and full of flavor the Connealy Angus Meat Market ribeye tasted at the event. So much so, that I approached them at the event’s conclusion and purchased several ribeyes at full price for myself. I discovered the Connealy family are incredible, down-to-earth people who are passionate about their beef and are willing to answer any and all questions asked. How much nicer is that than buying pre-packaged beef at the grocery store from whoever-they-are-from-who-knows-where? The Connealy Angus Meat Market steak was packaged and frozen when I took it home, but it looked amazing even in that state and I was hoping it would be as good as what I tasted at the stock show. The following image is what it looked like, still frozen in the package, on my countertop at home. It is a 1.0-pound package.
14-day dry aged registered purebred angus ribeye steak from Connealy Angus Meat Market in Whitman, Nebraska. Image by Lincoln Rogers – 2023
A few days later it was 50+ degrees in Colorado, so I thawed the ribeye out, seasoned it with just some salt and pepper, and fired it up on the grill until it was medium rare. I have to say, it was the most flavorful and tender steak I have ever grilled, and over the years I have grilled a lot of ribeye, NY strip, flatiron, and tenderloin. This Connealy angus ribeye was flat out superb. Is it inexpensive? No, but they are also not gouging you for what is a premium product of *14-day, dry aged, prime-level, registered 100% angus steak. That is very close to the level of steak you are served at a high-end steakhouse.
As Jerry Connealy said to me while I spoke with him at the NWSS event, “I like to think what makes us maybe a little bit different is that we have really honed in on marbling and quality and we are very particular genetically as to what cattle we pull out that goes into our system. We never want anyone to have a bad eating experience. Ever.”
In my opinion, if you are looking for an amazing, at-home steak experience with high-quality beef where you can KNOW the people who raised it and exactly where and how it was raised, then you need look no further than Connealy Angus Meat Market. Great steak from great people. That is my story and I am sticking to it!
I still can’t believe how good that ribeye is. Now I have made myself hungry and need to order more…
*Edited to note the private label beef from Connealy Angus Meat Market is 14-day dry aged, while the bone-in ribeye from them served at the event by Chef Adam Siegfried was 45-day dry aged. I can sincerely say the 14-day dry aged that I grilled up at home was just as amazing as what was served at the event!
The Greeley Stampede Rodeo is celebrating its 100 Year milestone in 2022. Originally billed as the Greeley Spud Rodeo in 1922 to honor the area’s potato farmers, the Greeley, CO event has been a long-running staple of the region. I spoke with Justin Watada, the Greeley Stampede’s General Manager, by phone about their upcoming 100th (running June 23-July 4, 2022) and the Q&A with historical photos from the early years, along with a number of my photos spanning 2005-2021, has already been published on The Fence Post magazine’s website and will be in this coming Monday’s print edition. Click the link or the image to get to the Q&A on The Fence Post’s website! https://www.thefencepost.com/news/gearing-up-for-100th-greeley/
Cowboy history and tradition are always honored at the Greeley Stampede and the Longhorn cattle are regular sights inside and outside the rodeo arena. In this photo, the Longhorns create a western spectacle for the fans before the start of the 2013 championship round of rodeo on July 4th.
“You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” ~ John 8:32
You can also find Lincoln Rogers on www.lincolnrogers.com and the conservative, Pro-America social mediaplatform USA.Life I like it there!
I’ve been on a a bit of a self-induced content creation blitz the last week or so as the award winning Elizabeth Stampede Rodeo is coming up quick (first weekend of June). This latest video is a fast-paced piece that is a compilation of my photography of that rodeo over the years 2003-2021. It’s been a pleasure to cover that rodeo for publication in numerous magazines over the last couple of decades. Click on the link or the image to go to the video on the Rumble platform.
The Elizabeth Stampede’s Blazing Saddles drill team impressed the crowd with a patriotic routine during Sunday afternoon’s Red, White and Blue Rodeo (June 05, 2016).
I hope you enjoy!
“You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” ~ John 8:32
You can also find Lincoln Rogers on www.lincolnrogers.com and the conservative, Pro-America social mediaplatform USA.Life I like it there!
On the last weekend of the 2022 National Western Stock Show in Denver, CO, the cattle dogs showed their stuff. Watching top-notch working dogs in action is always a treat and this year was no different. My article and photos about the cattle dog competition are now online at The Fence Post’s website. Use the following link — https://www.thefencepost.com/news/dog-day-afternoon-2/ — or click on the photo to take you to the article.
As one of the cattle decides to run in a different direction, the dog is there in a burst of speed and attitude to remind it to cooperate. Athleticism, quickness, and even the flash of teeth are requirements in a good cattle dog. “(Your dog has) to have that strength. That presence,” said 2022 NWSS Cattle Dog competition winner James Butler when discussing cattle dogs at the NWSS venue.
“You shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” ~ John 8:32
You can also find Lincoln Rogers on www.lincolnrogers.com and the conservative, Pro-America social mediaplatform USA.Life I like it there!
The Fence Post magazine has previously published my article and photo spread images from the 2021 Cheyenne Frontier Days championship round of rodeo. One thing about Cheyenne is that there are always more photos to be shared from there than can fit into magazines!
As a result, I thought I would post on this blog 10 victory images from the 10 categories that win titles and buckles at the historic Wyoming rodeo. Due to space limitations, most of these images did not make the pages of the magazine, so I wanted them to see life here in this blog.
I hope you enjoy.
3-time PRCA world champion bareback cowboy Tim O’Connell rode MLW’s Irish Eyes to an 89-point score and a Cheyenne Frontier Days title during Sunday’s championship round on August 01, 2021. The win was O’Connell’s second Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo title.
Sawyer Gilbert of Buffalo, SD (middle) poses in front of the big crowd with her championship saddle after winning the 2021 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo Women’s Breakaway Roping event. 2021 was the just the second year of CFD hosting the event and the first year they added even money with the rest of the rodeo events.
7-time NFR qualifier Marty Yates went first in the Tie Down Roping and posted the championship round’s fastest time of 10.3 seconds to win the 2021 CFD buckle on August 01, 2021.
Utah cowboy Stetson Wright rode a high kicking Feather Fluffer for 90 points in Sunday’s (August 01) championship round for the saddle bronc title at the 2021 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo.
Heeler Jade Corkill was in process of throwing his loop for a successful run of 10.2 seconds to help win a Cheyenne title with Clay Smith. The win was Corkill’s third Cheyenne buckle (’09, ’13, ’21).
Montana Steer Wrestler Newt Novich tied a Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo arena record with this 5.1-second time in Sunday’s (August 01) championship round to win the buckle and a big check.
25-year-old Kansas Steer Roper Cole Patterson was all smiles when he was congratulated and interviewed inside the stadium arena after winning the title at the 2021 CFD.
3-time world champion barrel racer Hailey Kinsel and her popular mare “Sister” nailed down the fastest time of 17.30 seconds in the short go to win the CFD buckle on Sunday August 01, 2021.
Australian bull rider Ky Hamilton rode a leaping bull to earn the best score of the entire Cheyenne Frontier Days rodeo and take home the 2021 CFD title.
Utah cowboy Stetson Wright acknowledges the applause of the big crowd as he was awarded the All Around title at the 2021 Cheyenne Frontier Days Rodeo in Cheyenne, WY. Wright won the title by earning money in both the saddle bronc and bull riding competitions (placing 1st in saddle bronc and 4th in bull riding) to become the only roughstock cowboy to earn consecutive CFD All Around buckles since the legendary Jim Shoulders did it way back in 1963-1964.
One of the great things about county fairs are all the young people raising and showing animals. Raising and showing animal projects teaches and imparts respect, accountability, work ethic, and yes… humility (farm animals will always end up teaching everyone humility at one time or another).
A pair of brothers at the 2021 Douglas County Fair in Castle Rock, CO learned all those lessons and more. Job Knight (15-years-old) and Silas McQuate (9-years-old) also learned how to be respectful and gracious while sweeping the top Market Beef Steer awards at the fair and setting auction records in the fair’s 2021 Junior Livestock Sale.
I was able to get a chance to talk with Job and Silas, along with their parents Seth and Jenn, on the last day of the Douglas County Fair. You can find my article and photos about their accomplishments on The Fence Post magazine’s website: https://www.thefencepost.com/news/oh-brothers/
Big brother Job Knight and Diesel (left), along with younger brother Silas McQuate and Superman (right), made a family clean sweep of the Grand Champion Market Beef Steer and Reserve Grand Champion Market Beef Steer at the 2021 Douglas County Fair in Castle Rock, CO. On top of those awards, Job picked up the Reserve Sr. Showmanship award and Silas won the Jr. Showmanship Champion buckle. As if that wasn’t enough, the Larkspur, CO brothers both set auction records for the winning bids on their Maine Angus cross steers in Douglas County Fair’s 2021 Junior Livestock Sale.
Sitting here watching the thermometer hover at zero degrees today brought to mind the toughness and spirit of the cowboys who used to drive the massive cattle herds to market rain, sleet or snow in the old west. Then I caught myself, because contemporary cowboys are still working the massive cattle herds no matter what mother nature throws their way.
This cowboy poem of mine is dedicated to cowboys past and present and was published in 2005 by the good folks at CowboyPoetry.com.
A Life Untamed (by Lincoln Rogers, 2005)
Dedicated to the working cowboy – past and present
The western trails bore Longhorn,
Over oceans of grass Plain,
And Cowboys rode like captains,
Through the waves of sun and rain.
4-inch brims and rowelled spurs,
Along with chaps and Latigo,
Matching leather on face and saddle,
Of a seasoned, working pro.
Some say the era of the Cowboy,
Is but a faded dream at best,
But that independent spirit,
Remains the heartbeat of the West.
Miles removed from concrete jungles,
On open vistas kissed by sun,
Modern Cowboys ride the range,
Just like those days the West was won.
So word and song is raised in honor,
To everyone who bears the flame;
Who stokes the fire of admiration,
For a life no one will tame.
I thought I’d leave you with a cowboy poem I wrote back in 2003 and which was published online by the good folks at CowboyPoetry.com, the best dad-gum cowboy poetry website in the world.
Honorable Mention (by Lincoln Rogers, 2003)
I hear the name of “Cowboy,”
Thrown about the world today.
By the sneer on those who say it,
It ain’t respect they aim to pay.
Their voices drip with insult,
As they mock those of the West.
The ones in times of trouble,
Who weren’t afraid to face a test.
Every time I hear the term,
It does remind me of those men.
Sweat and blood spilled on the earth,
Before they’d saddle up again.
There were lawmen with a badge,
Like Wyatt Earp and Masterson.
Or Jesse James and Billy the Kid,
Two outlaw heroes on the run.
But the image I can’t shake,
Its picture branded in my mind.
Is horse and rider on the trail,
Through day and night and storm unkind.
Those ‘pokes did work I can’t imagine,
Riding mounts close as a brother.
Running cattle through the plains,
And lookin’ out for one another.
I’ve read their tales and history,
And I believe the words are true.
Men tough enough to work the range,
Were not the many but the few.
So when you speak that sacred title,
About a Pard with boots and hat.
To honor those who rode before us,
Make sure you smile when you say that.
Have a great day and don’t let your horse come home without ya!
Lincoln's Thinkin's 