LIMOUSIN TODAY December 2017 - January 2018 | Page 20

Feature
It’s a Tradition
By Amy Blum, original work first published in The Cattle Business Weekly and
Chamberlain/Oacoma Sun.
With nearly four decades breeding, selling, and
exhibiting Limousin genetics around the country,
the Rod Peterson Family of rural Pukwana is no
stranger to winners’ circles or accolades. The
family has exhibited pens of Limousin bulls at
the National Western Stock Show in Denver
for decades, and their annual production sale
draws interest from around the nation.
One of the family’s most special events, however,
surpassed a
specific breed.
Fifty-one years
ago, two teenage
boys loaded
themselves and
their 4-H steers in
an International
stock truck and
headed west to
Rapid City, S.D. for
a 4-H event called
“Western Junior
Livestock Show”.
“Darrel told me we ‘needed to go’ to this
Western Junior show, and I didn’t argue,”
Rod Peterson of L7 Bar Limousin recalls. “We
loaded up and headed out to Rapid.”
Five decades ago, overnight accommodations
included sleeping in the same portion of the stock
truck used to haul cattle. Fresh straw bedding, a
couple bed rolls, and the ability to shower at a
family member’s home made the arrangements
comfortable.
“I can still hear my
youngest son Quin ask
me, ‘But, Dad, where’d
you swim?’,” Peterson
says. “Back then,
sleeping in the truck is
just what you did. It’s
pretty hard for kids to
understand that now.”
Showing Strong
Peterson was among
the group of young
people selected to
Chisum, Delaney, and Rod Peterson of rural Pukwana, S.D. display the grand
compete for the honor
Their decision to
champion senior beef showman honors each of them earned at Western Junior
of grand champion
participate in 1966 Livestock Shows in Rapid City. Rod won showmanship 50 years ago in 1967;
senior showman
set many moments Chisum earned the same title 25 years later, and Delaney captured the buckle at
in both 1966 and
in motion; however, the 80th anniversary event in October.
1967. Peterson was
the best friends’
new to the show but
decision to return in 1967 was the cornerstone for
not
to
the
show
ring,
and
his
calm, confident
a rare moment shared three generations later.
demeanor earned him top honors consecutively.
Setting the Stage
Western Junior is often an anticipated family
tradition. Thanks to Darrel Reuer, previously of rural
Reliance, the Peterson Family of rural Pukwana is
one of those families.
18 | DECEMBER 2017 - JANUARY 2018
“There were people in the crowd tasked with
watching each class of livestock show. The
judge in the ring was evaluating the animal
while the people in the stands judged those of
us showing,” Peterson says. “We were asked to