A huge thank-you to all of you who helped to make Stockmen's first year a great success! I had hoped to send out more newsletters but I have just been too busy. That is good news!

Overall cattle, horse, and ranch prices are down but the market is steady. There are deals to be made; it just might take a little longer to get them done. The major slow down in the residential market has trickled down to the agricultural real estate market. The investment and speculation boom of 2005 has all but gone away. The dust has settled and real estate prices are starting to shift back to pre 2005 pricing. The good news is that the market is still there, it is not dead and there are buyers for properties that are priced right.

Stockmen's Realty is committed to keeping our advertising and presence in the market strong in an effort to serve both our buying and selling clients. If you are selling property with us you can expect to see it advertised in most of the following publications: Arizona Cattlelog, Western Livestock Journal Properties Magazine, New Mexico Stockman, The Record Stockman Real Estate Guide, Arizona Republic, Bridle and Bit Newspaper, Ranch World Ads and America West Farm and Ranch. And of course it will appear on our website at www.stockmensrealty.com. Below are some highlights of what Stockmen's has been up to this past year. In addition to these events you will also find me and/or Stockmen's Realty flyers at the major cattle auctions that occur on a weekly basis. I also attend the larger bull and horse sales and I am a regular at the monthly Robertson horse auction in Benson. Stockmen's has signage at the Prescott, Willcox, Pacific and Demming livestock auction barns.

First on my list of special sales was the Dunn and Morris Cattle Company Fall Sale in Marana, selling Black Angus range bulls, cows and commercial two-year-old pairs. The sale was a great success. Dunn and Morris sure know how to raise a good set of cattle!

Stockmen's started out 2007 with a trade show table at the Cattleman's Weekend in Prescott. The bull and remuda sale was well attended. I got to meet with a lot of great folks and gave away a lot of Stockmen's Realty work gloves. If you missed out on getting a pair watch for me at one of these events this coming year!

The next stop was the Willcox Livestock 31st Annual All Breed Bull Sale where Stockmen's had a table of information and gave away more gloves. The grand champion bull this year was a Black Angus bull raised by Black Diamond Ranch. Stockmen's was proud to sponsor the reserve champion bull, which was a Hereford bull raised by Davenport Cattle Co.

Perhaps one of my most colorful stops was the Cow Puncher's Reunion Rodeo in Williams. It was colorful because, praise the Lord that country got a lot of rain, and all those good looking cowboys and gals were decked out in yellow slickers and mud! There must have been a foot of mud in that arena, but I think everyone had a great time. I got to meet a lot of great folks at that rodeo. My hat goes off to all those diehard cowboys and gals who got to play in the mud soup they called the arena.

Immediately following the events in Williams I was off to the Cattle Growers Convention in Globe. This convention was exceptionally well attended and had outstanding trade show participation. That is where I gave out the rest of the Stockmen's gloves but don't worry if you didn't get a pair we already have a new shipment and we're ready to go.

Just back from Prescott and the Yavapai County Cattle Growers Annual BBQ and Calf Sale. Those folks sure know how to do a pit BBQ. The weather in Prescott was beautiful and the folks at the sale sure did a great job. Man there were some nice looking calves at that sale. Those are some lucky 4-H participates who ended up with one of them.

I would love to name and thank everyone individually who was a special part of my year but I would regret leaving someone out so I won't attempt the impossible, but you all know who you are and it is to you that I say thanks.

Stockmen's 2007 Sales:

Empty saddles - I would like to remember my friends and clients who passed on this past year and a half. It is with a heavy heart that I had to say goodbye, but with a smile that you are remembered in my heart.

I am, as always, committed to working hard for you!

Nancy Belt