If you are not familiar with our "Get with the Program" it started in 2003 at Showdown in Olds.  We sat down and decided the future of the Angus Breed rests in the hands of the Junior Breeders that where getting involved in Junior Program, so we decided to start with the "Get with the Program".  At the time it was just to get kids to buy Prime Time Genetics and we soon realized we where not just selling these kids a heifer we where selling them a chance to make new friend and a heap of new memories!

In 2005 when we found out that Showdown was going to New Brunswick we had tossed around the idea of not having the program, since it was so far.  But we decides our entire objective was to help these young people buying our heifers meet new people and see new things.  So we decided what a better opportunity than a 55 hour drive across Canada!  Our next question was who would we get to do this with us, and to our pleasant surprise we sold a dozen potential Junior Show Cattle in our October sale.  There ended up being 9 head go on the truck and three extra kids that showed some of the other heifers, but did not send there own all the way out there.

When the Truck loaded at our place July 15th we had a very mixed FULL truck to say the least: Hugh, Nicki and Carter, Brock from Illinois that had "got with the program in 2004, Christie from Australia who had just met us a few days before, and Dustin from Alberta who was just too nice to say NO! when Hugh asked him if he could help drive.  When they loaded in the truck that day I honestly don't think they realized what an opportunity they where in for. 

Some of the highlight from the 2006 trip:
*We met an entire country of new people, since very few of the regular Junior Show kids where there.
*The crew that drove has there picture in front of  8 Provincial Signs.
*We stood in the Bay of Fundy, Brock was completely in it!
*We had lobster (3 times), mussels, clams, PEI potatoes, and Jessie Crosby's secret sauce.
*We crossed the Confederation Bridge
*We where at Anne of Green Gable
*We had another feed of lobster with the Argue's and the Crew from the Valley
*We visited the Canadian Parliament building with the Argues
*We drove go carts in Thunder Bay
*We swam in every province we stopped in!

We aren't heading very far in 2007 Moose Jaw, SK but if your are interested in having this much fun "Get with the Program!"

Congratulations to our 2006 Showdown Participants;
Herdsman Award - Prime Time Crew
Spirit of the Youth - Allison Argue
Print Marketing - Reserve Junior - Nicki Ross
Reserve Intermediate - Brock Swalve
Champion Senior - Allison Argue

Sales Talk - Reserve Junior Alec Drury
Showmanship - Reserve Junior Alec Drury
Show Ring Judging  - Reserve Junior Team- Nicki Ross & James Worth from the Maritimes
Team Grooming - Junior  Champion Nick Ross and Christopher Hargrave from Ontario
Senior Champion - Brock Swalve and Dustin Lamb
Art Competition - Reserve Junior - Nicki Ross
Scrap booking - Reserve Junior - Nicki Ross
Graphic Design -  Champion Junior - Nicki Ross
Public Speaking - Reserve Champion - Alec Drury

Champion Owned Female - Allsion Argue
Reserve Owned Female - Brock Swalve
Champion Open Bull - Dustin Lamb
Reserve Open Senior Female - Mathew Hargrave
Open Heifer Calf Champion - Christopher Hargrave (She was out of a PTTV Cow)

Thank you to everyone who "Got with the Program" 2005-2006
Some of these kids did not go to Sussex, but participated in other Junior Shows
Brock Swalve - Illinois
Allison Argue - Ontario
Dustin Lamb - Ontario
Alec Drury - Alberta
Wyatt Hiller - Alberta
Colby MacQuarrie - PEI
The Hargrave Kids - Ontario
Buddy Laone Family - PEI
Arthur Conrad
The Dolliver Family
The Early Family
All the kids who showed Prime Time Cattle - Kyla Kelly, Nicki and Carter Ross, Micheal and Jennifer Jones.

Thanks to everyone who helped with our cattle at all the Junior Shows - Andie and Will Hadway, Ricki Flemming, Tim (Dimples) from PEI and everyone I may have forgot!!

A HUGE Thanks! to everyone who made this trip possible,
- Hugh, Christie and Dustin our drivers
- The Argue's for letting us lay over and for the great hospitality both ways, and the trip to the Parliament Building
- Ken Lissen for purchased 2 of our heifer in Sussex
- Wayne and Jessie Crobsy for the great hospitality on the Island
- The Loanes for the tour of their cattle
- The Mutch's for the tour

Congratulations to Belinda and the entire National Board for a great Showdown 2006!!