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Cattle family celebrates century in show ring

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Published: October 24, 2002

LETHBRIDGE, Alta. – Showing purebred cattle is a multi-generational

passion for the Buldoc family of Stavely, Alta.

For eight-year-old Kaitlyn Buldoc, it is her tentative introduction to

the adult world as she leads her 800 pound heifer through the sawdust

before the judges.

The 40 lb. third grader is allowed two shows a year. She competes in

junior classes at the Bashaw summer youth show and the Chinook

Livestock Classic in Lethbridge.

Nervous?

“My heart was pounding,” she said after her class at the Lethbridge

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show.

Her red Angus heifer was a bit skittish but with the help of her

14-year-old cousin, Mathew Buldoc, and an indulgent ringman, both

females were guided back under control.

“I’m so scared that something might happen to me,” she said, her blue

eyes wide as she described her moment of struggle. From the stands, she

looked composed and even remembered to watch the judge.

Too young for 4-H, Kaitlyn has been showing cattle since she was four

years old. Her experience comes from learning to do by doing, said her

mother Adrianna.

“I watched the big kids do it and I just go in the ring and do it,”

Kaitlyn said. She prefers the walk through the ring rather than the

hard work of washing, clipping and combing. At home, she has to help

with her two cows and their calves.

She has competed and won against her two older brothers, although this

time her brother Kevin won grand champion heifer.

Later in the day the adult Buldocs readied their Angus entries.

This family has been showing in Edmonton for 100 years, starting with

David Buldoc and his brother Dyce’s grandparents, Steven and Annie

Swift.

The family were originally Shorthorn breeders and when they moved to

the Stavely area in 1952, they reversed the family name and created

Cudlobe Angus with three cows in 1967.

“They’ve been good to us. Mom and Dad really knew cattle well and my

grandfather was an excellent stockman,” said David.

The two brothers starting showing cattle as teenagers, travelling

across the country. They had a choice between farm work and socializing

at the shows. They chose the shows.

Cudlobe Angus cattle have been sold around the world and set sales

records including a $52,000 windfall at Canadian Western Agribition

last year.

This year the family is holding its third annual production sale on

Dec. 11, offering 100 home-raised animals.

While David was at the Chinook Classic, his brother Dyce was hurrying

to finish harvest at their farm. This year’s harvest is late but

promising after three years of drought. However, many customers have

sold off their cows due to feed shortages and the Buldocs are wondering

how many people will be shopping for bulls from purebred herds like

theirs.

“We’re lucky we sell to a widespread population who are in it for the

long haul. Time will tell. There are no sure things in this business,”

said David.

About the author

Barbara Duckworth

Barbara Duckworth

Barbara Duckworth has covered many livestock shows and conferences across the continent since 1988. Duckworth had graduated from Lethbridge College’s journalism program in 1974, later earning a degree in communications from the University of Calgary. Duckworth won many awards from the Canadian Farm Writers Association, American Agricultural Editors Association, the North American Agricultural Journalists and the International Agriculture Journalists Association.

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