The Scott Shelby Story Part 2

Ok for those of you who missed the video early when I posted it, let me shared it again... Now while most folks might think this is embarrassing, me. it may be the only time time I get to sing with a Hall of Fame country super star...

Now back to the Scott Shelby Story..... 

After about 20 or so Socials where Scott would perform cover tunes as well as some of his own original songs folks would ask if he had some stuff on iTunes where they could download it, and the great thing is it mattered not if there were five or fifty at the socials he treated it like the most important thing in the world, Scott is great with a crowd, very likable and can make up a song about anything at a seconds notice....

Folks started noticing his talent and requesting him to perform graduation parties and wedding receptions. 

Now last week when the rest of the world was waiting to see who the next American Idol would be

Scott, Matt, Matt's fiance' and myself were driving to Nashville to make our own American Idol!

I had been held up in a motel in Columbus, Neb. working on customers pictures and videos to ensure I would stay on target, and was thinking about where I would go the next few days to see some cattle and make impromptu stops and herd visits before I headed east for some booked appointments. 

The phone rings and Matts on the other end, 

Matt: "Mears, get to Adel, Iowa ASAP. We are going to Nashville leaving at 5:00PM, Whereare you anyhow?" 

Me: "Well, in a motel in Columbus, Ne." 

Matt: "Good thats a 3 hour drive, you'll have a hour to spare." 

Me: "Is this a joke?'

Matt: "No!" 

Me: "Do we have a plan?'

Matt: "We will make one on the way, see ya in a few hours......CLICK.......

To be honest, I really wasn't that surprised by the call. I don't know why I wasn't.... It was almost like I knew it was coming... I know it sounds strange, but so much about this trip, the way it came together, the contacts and folks we met in such a small amount of time seem so unlikely that anyone of faith would have to believe there was a much greater power at hand....

Ok, We gather in Des Moines, Iowa and pack way to much stuff in Matts very dirty SUV and head off to Music City....But wait, before we get to nashville we need to have a ScottShelby.com website working.... with one phone call our web designer was in for a UP ALL NIGHT task. How ever she needed needs some content, some nice pictures, maybe a video recording or two of Scott performing, she needs all this, AND we are driving to Nashville, it needs to happen overnight!!!! 

Before we ever get out of Des Moines we find a very small musical instrument shop in a out-of-the-way part of town that we were randomly driving though...We pull in and they just happened to have a  very small sound-proof teaching room that was going to be empty for about 10 minuets, which was just perfect for us to get video with acceptable audio to put on Scott's website... 

                                 

Next we need some high quality photos for Scott's Web sight, now while I download the recored video the other head off to find some rail-road tracks to get a few shots for the web-site.... all this happens in less than thirty minutes and we are back on the road again.....

TO BE CONTINUED...

STAY TUNED TO PART 3 ... THIS WHERE THINGS GET GOOD...

The Scott Shelby Story Part 1

Ok, I guess those of you who are friends with me on Facebook have noticed the last few days posts from or about Nashville..... 

Seems like my city friends really don't understand what I do...other than its something with cows and sometimes I do something with bull semen. So the last week has had folks really wondering about my recent Nashville connections 

Let me start by saying this.... 

I have a friend named Scott Shelby and he is going to be a star... but he is going to need your help.

In a nut shell let me share what I can as it pertains to this event.

Scott Shelby is a second year vet student who has been doing a spring/summer internship with Matt Lautner Cattle. MLC  is a customer and also has been a great asset as we bounce ideas to help our customers, off each other....

Matt Lautner has a great mind for marketing and customer service, let me share some back story with you. A year ago Matt started traveling around the country putting on "Socials" for his customers. Now Matt started his business of selling semen on some of the best show quality beef bulls in the country a few years back and each spring travels thousand upon thousands of miles delivering semen right to producers door steps.

Now back to these socials, but before you know more on that, you need to understand those in the cattle production part of agriculture have a grueling couple of months in February and March, during calving season. Farmers and Ranchers spend about 20 hours of a days' 24 hours in the calving barn, checking cows fixing to calve or that have just calved. Take it from me if you have not experienced this its wonderful but very tiresome. You eat, and sleep in the calving barn and sometimes you may go a few days between showers. Doesn't sound glamorous but its the truth, theres not much time to go and hang out at the coffee shop or the feed mill to catch up on the local news.....

This is where the "Social" comes into play, last year Matt thought what a great idea it would be in April and May, after calving season slowed down, to, as he was traveling across the country to offer his customers a night on the town. Nothing fancy, a nice meal some drinks and a chance for all his customers in a area to shake the dust off there boots and come to town, a great way to visit with other area cattlemen, and enjoy a nice meal and maybe a few beers.

Marketing is my career and this idea is genius, in my humble oppion and I can't believe it hadn't already happened.

Ok Fast forward a year to present time, Matt hires a intern to asset him selling semen and driving each spring and this year he found out about a young man who had full ride academic scholarships all they way at Texas A&M who was taking time off from vet school to earn some money to finish his education. After about a ten minute phone interview,  Scott was hired....

Scott is a singer and musician, and someone thought it would be fun if, during the socials he would pull out his guitar and play a little and sing a few songs......Now remember he was hired to sell semen and drive the truck......None of us knew just how gifted he was...

Little did anyone know where the road would lead us.........

Stay tuned for more tomorrow night....... with a never before seen video of a a performance by Scott Shelby that left this writer very emotional......

Memorial Day / Memorial Weekend

Memorial Day / Memorial Weekend

It hasn’t really been until the past six years that I had started taking part in the whole Americana experience that is this extended early summer party weekend.

I honestly never remember much ado about Memorial Day and all the festivities that go with it when I was younger… As a kid growing up on a working farm it was more time to work around the farm. Perhaps we may have taken some time to go and decorate a love ones grave.  At times over the years we could go enjoy a jackpot steer or pig show.

Families across the country make quite the ordeal out of this weekend, gathering for BBQ and fellowship…. I have at times went to, and got invited to these events, with a serious case of jitters thinking of all the work that could be getting done rather than sitting around eating, even years after production ceased at the home farm I would be at these functions thinking…. “If I was home I could be spreading manure” or “Today would be a good day to clean out that fence row we didn’t get to last fall.”

Perhaps is jealousy that all these people have the TIME to KILL…. Oh, I know that time with family is a great thing but what I am saying is shouldn’t we put more effort in to loved ones and family members EVERYDAY???? While there here on earth rather that covering there grave with flowers on Memorial Day or picking a few holidays to gather.

With that said shouldn’t everyday be Memorial Day, should we honor our love ones memory every day living our lives to the fullest, live a live filed with love and honor, and the greatest way to honor there memory; In service to others?

I see piles of folks out on motorcycles; I think bikers are the kings of the slackers… I know I will have at least one friend maybe two (Karen & Tom) who will give me grief over saying this but, I don’t get it…

I have a friend who, with some buddies just rode bikes all day, they will ride motorbikes all weekend, never going anywhere, not seeing really anything different than the last time they rode, just riding there motorcycles around. I see these folks and just want to ask….”Really? Don’t you have shit to do?” I guess it must be nice to be so simple minded that spending the summer holidays on a bike is all that it takes to curb or satisfy your minds desire. Some will say “Now B.S. Kevin, you just said you live your life to your fullest…. Didn’t you?”  Yes, I did say that but this looks more like a way to squander the precious time given to us, enough of my ranting.

As you enjoy your FREE day of fun and relaxation, please remember the reason behind it is to serve as time to give thanks to the Men & Women of the U.S. armed forces who gave their life in service to this country where you can squander a whole day… and your life if you chose.

Thank you for stopping by and God Bless

Some Sights from the ROAD, Wyoming Vlog

I am so lucky and blessed that I have a career that allows me to travel, see interesting parts of the US and DO WHAT I LOVE....

However, being on the road and living out of a car and Holiday Inn's for almost three weeks does get really old and when, OR IF, I every have a family it will cease.....

Until then, I get to play cowboy everyday, well most days..... Now it may be out of a rental car with a cell phone....Not quite the Ole West cowboy days but... "Times they are a' changing"

Had to pull out the Flip camera the other day and get some footage of where I was at...Enjoy