Bridle Bit

BRIDLE BIT SIMMENTALS AWARDS •

• Colorado Cattleman Assoc “Seed Stock Producer of the Year” 2006
• Colorado Simmental Assoc “Breeder of the Year” 2005, 1985
• Honorary 4-H Members” 2004
• “Baca County 4-H Family of the Year” 2002
• “ Baca County Outstanding 4-H Boy 2002 (Brad)
• “FFA Honorary Chapter Farmer”
• “CSA Life Time Member”
• Colorado State Fair Premier Breeder & Exhibitor (5Xs)
• CSA “Youth of the Year” 1985 & 1986 (Chad)
• CSA “All Around Youth” 1979 (Chad)
• American Royal Premier Breeder 1985
• Numerous Beef Showmanship Awards, Market and Breeding Beef 4-H Championships have been won by all the Cook boys during their 4-H days, a trend the grandchildren, Christopher, Darin and Montana are continuing.

INTERESTING TIDBITS •

Erroll was a member of both the Lamar Community College, Lamar, CO and the Colorado State University Livestock Judging teams while earning a BS degree in Animal Reproduction. He also managed the Animal Reproduction Lab at CSU and collect semen on many of the great Simmental bulls including Parisien, Galant, LaCombe Achilles and LaCombe Ajax among others.

Erroll judged several livestock shows over the years including the Arizona National Simmental Show, North American Livestock Expo, Louisville, KY, Mid American Livestock, Oklahoma City, OK, Utah State Fair and Muskogee OK LivestockShow. In addition he judged many local shows.

LEADERSHIP POSITION IN THE BEEF INDUSTRY •

Together, Erroll and son, Chad, have served a total of 26 years on the Colorado Simmental Board of Directors. Both severed terms as President as well as holding other position. Erroll was instrumental in getting the Simmental breed recognized to exhibit Simmentals at the National Western Stock Show and supervised the first Simmental show on “The Hill”. Erroll & Gayle managed a number of the National Western Sales and CSA sales. Erroll also headed up the CSA bull tests and state bull sales for several years. Chad served as the CSA Junior Advisor for a number of years, taking CSA junior members and their cattle to Regional and National Junior Classic. Gayle also played a roll in promoting the beef industry. She held the position of Secretary/Treasurer of the Colorado Simmental Association for six years. Gayle clerked many of the Simmental sales, including the National Western Simmental sales, CSA bull test and fall females sales and has been in charge of clerking the Wild Wild West Simmental Sales since its conception. On the local level, Bridle Bit Simmentals and the Cook family are great supporters of the local 4-H Clubs and FFA Chapters. The Cooks are great believers in these two outstanding programs and are grateful their sons had the opportunity to be a part of both. They continue to help youth with their market and breeding beef projects any way they can by sponsoring various awards at the county fairs and do what they can financially to support the youth beef programs.

LEADERSHIP POSITION IN COMMUNITY •

Erroll has severed on the FFA Advisory Board for the Walsh High School FFA Chapter and FFA Scholarship Committee. Gayle severed on the Walsh School District Accountability Committee. Chad has been the beef leader for the 4-H club and has set on several scholarship committees. Erroll and Gayle served two four year terms as the Walsh High School Alumni Association President and Secretary/Treasurer. Brent and wife, Heather, are current WHS Alumni President and Secretary. Erroll was president of the Walsh Elevator Association which was formed by individuals to preserve the elevator for the local farmers after the co-op closed its doors. In the sports arena, Erroll has coached baseball for the Walsh Recreation Department for 15 years concentrating to instill on the youth the importance of organization, discipline, sportsmanship andteam work. Chad is currently Walsh Rec Baseball director and coach.

Erroll serves on the Board of Directors of the Walsh Community Grocery Store which was conceived in 2007 at which time the community united to purchase and reopen the only grocery store in town after the town found itself without a store which was devastating to the community. The store has been very successful and a great asset to the area.

Heather continues to serve on the Walsh Rec Board. Kristi successfully writes grants for both school and community projects. Both Heather & Kristi serves on the Walsh School Accountably Committee.

OTHER BUSINESS VENTURES •

In 1986 the Cooks left northern Colorado and returned to their home town of Walsh, CO to purchase Cook Oil Company from Erroll’s dad who wanted to retire. Cook Oil Company is a fuel distributor, parts store with a service bay. Since then the Cooks have added a Cook Oil ATV Sales and Service Dept and the Bridle Bit Feed and Supply business. Chad is the herd manager and day to day custodian of the Bridle Bit cattle, he also delivers fuel to area farmer and ranchers. Chad’s wife, Kristi, a second grade teacher, does a lot of the computer and photography work for Bridle Bit. Brent is manager of the ATV Sales and Service Dept and is very knowledgeable about the ATV units. Brent's wife Heather is employed by the Walsh School District as elementary custodian and youngest son, Brad, returned home and joined the family businesses in August 2008 and is Parts Manager at Cook Oil CO. Brent and Brad take over the chores when Chad has to be gone and then it's "All Hands On Deck" anytime the cattle needs gathered, worked and moved.

Other family interest: The Cook clan enjoys sports of all kinds. Erroll & Gayle, married in l965, enjoy watching their grandchildren take part in various sporting events both at school and during the summer. Christopher, Darin and Montana have been very successful in 4-H with their beef breeding and market animals, showmanship and record books. 2010 will find all five grandchildren is 4-H as Austin and Dakota are old enough to join.