The use of longhorns also goes back to the heritage of Texas and Oklahoma because longhorns were the original cattle in the two states, said Wilson Scaling, chairman of the Rehab Auction Committee. LaVerne Bevers, Smith's friend and neighbor, said bidding on one of the longhorns is easier for many people who want to help the Rehab Center than donating calves for sale. The year Luke was donated, people at the auction bid on him without ever seeing him. In 1994, he was still on his mother, and we didn't take him up there. It's been great.
Any fundraising activity needs new life and fun things to do from time to time.
Hollis Dickey, longtime chief auctioneer for the Rehab Auction, has been Arlon's caretaker this year. David Coleman, who has worked for Baldwin Agriland for the past 20 years, is Luke's caretaker this year, and said like all longhorns, Luke was easy to take care of this year. But Smith said Luke has had close calls in the past. When he was two years old, and I was keeping him, he stuck his head in a pump jack. Bevers said she thinks Luke was spared through divine intervention.