Western Cowman July/August 2016 by EDJE

Western Cowman

July/August 2016

Western Cowman

J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

RayMar Ranches a EZ ANGUS RANCH

Commitment u Performance

Angus Bull sale THD ©

SELLING 135 hEad

aNGuS & baLaNcEr buLLS

100 – Ray-MaR bulls 35 – EZ angus bulls

every sale bull comes with a complete dna profile utilizing either the Zoetis Hd50K or i50K test.

rEfErENcE SIrES • AAR Ten X 7008 SA • JMB Traction 292 • Baldridge Waylon W34 • G A R Prophet • Deer Valley All In • R/M Upshot Z681 • V A R Reserve 1111 • V A R Discovery 2240 • Basin Advance 3134 • WR Journey-1X74

Sat., September 3 escalon livestock market Escalon, CAliforniA

Lunch 11:30 a.m. • sale 12:30 p.m. raymarranches.com ezangusranch.com

Looking for Multi-Trait Excellence in Volume?

Backed by the most elite and maternal cow families in America, an amazing 80% of this offering rank in the top 25% of the breed for $Beef Index. Whether you're making replacements or selling your calves by the pound, these 135 bulls will meet your needs!

r/m TEN X 5a80

4064 Dodds Rd., Oakdale, CA 95361 Ray Alger, Mobile, 209 652-9601 Ray & Mary Alger, 209 847-0187

Angus

Sire: AAR Ten X 7008 SA • Born 2/18/15 Dam: Sitz Henrietta Pride 303U CED BW WW YW Milk MA RE $W $B 8 .4 60 117 29 .65 .34 66.31 143.47

r/m upShoT 5a93

Sire: R/M Upshot Z681 • Born 2/18/15 Dam: R/M Rita 1F93 CED BW WW YW Milk MA RE $W $B 16 -.5 54 100 33 .77 .74 69.16 134.82

RAnch

21984 Ave. 160, Porterville, CA 93257 Chad Davis, 559 333-0362 Travis Coy, 559 392-8772 Sale Managed by:

EZar TEN X 5008

John dickinson 916 806-1919 Jake Parnell 916 662-1298 www.parnelldickinson.com

Sire: AAR Ten X 7008 SA • Born 1/9/15 Dam: Deer Valley Blackbird 7951 CED BW WW YW Milk MA RE $W $B 6 2.4 54 100 26 .89 .77 45.95 146.34

EZar dIScovEry 5038

Sire: V A R Discovery 2240 • Born 2/2/15 Dam: 44 Blackcap 1752 CED BW WW YW Milk MA RE $W $B 6 2.6 79 138 36 1.00 .71 86.52 155.93

Western Cowman

July/August 2016

THD ©

Western Cowman

J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

Western Cowman

July/August 2016

ZOETIS HD 50K TESTED

Tested PI Negative for BVD Semen-Tested Fully Guaranteed $50 Rebate for each bull loaded out sale day or free delivery

‘Partners for Performance’ Bull Sale wED., SEPTEMBER 7, FIREBAuGH, CA STEAK LuNCH 11:30 A.M., SALE AT 1 P.M.

Selling 125 Bulls, including Sons of these Sires and more ...

A A R TEN X 7008 S A

MLC EF DRIVE 2276

mytty in Focus x S a V adaptor 2213

g a r new Design 5050 x e&B 1680 Precision 1023

reg. no. 15719841 DoB: 2/9/2007

ceD

25%

+66

30%

marB

+64

+.2

10%

+1.13

+.66

Fat

25%

-.036 10%

+128 2%

+1.46 15%

reg. no. 17213026 DoB: 2/11/2012

cem

milK

30%

40%

+10

ceD

+25

+10

20%

+83.93 +103.92 +49.84 +198.71

40%

+.8

marB

10%

+51

+91

+53

+.83

10%

+103

cem

milK

95%

20%

25%

-.18

25%

+11

+27

Fat

55%

25%

10%

+.017 +58.30 +75.47+44.40 +175.15

2 BAR ASSAuLT 1876 OF SB

SILVEIRAS PRIORITy 9419

B/r ambush 28 x riverbend mile High 3718

S S objective t510 0t26 x Silveiras total 5076

reg. no. 16961563 DoB: 1/31/2011

ceD

+46 15%

+.9

35%

45%

marB

+1.29 1%

+66 re

+119

10%

Fat

cem

milK

ceD

25%

10%

85%

15%

30%

+1.25

+13

+18

65%

+11

+.88 -.046 +41.22 +86.67 +58.89 +173.56 10%

reg. no. 16562538 DoB: 8/18/2009

Rick & Allison Blanchard ..559 217-1502 Darrell Silveira ...................559 217-1504 Garrett Blanchard .............559 978-2778 Carole Silveira .....................559 240-6004 Matt Leo, Herd consultant ......209 587-5338

Sale manager matt macfarlane 916 803-3113

mmacfarlane@wildblue.net m3cattlemarketing.com

auctioneerS

rick machado & John rodgers

marB

15%

+55

+.2

+.80

+65 10%

+.74

15%

+122 3%

cem

milK

45%

30%

40%

+.88

+10

+25

Fat

25%

10%

15%

-.012 +68.92 +80.15 +42.82 +162.34

VISIT www.silveirabros.com FOR more on the genetics selling in our female sale

‘Partners for Performance’ angus Female Sale

THD ©

Sat,, october 8, FIREBAuGH, CA, 3 P.M.

address: P.O. Box 37, Firebaugh, CA 93622 EMAIL: silveirabros@msn.com FAX: 559 674-9097 6 W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

ANGUS

WedneSday

SePT. 14

Angus Bulls like this AAR Ten X 7008 SA son will sell again this year.

Selling 105 Bulls... 65 18-Month & Yearling Angus Bulls 40 18-Month & Yearling SimAngus™ Bulls

1:00 PM SaLe GonSaLveS Ranch BuLL deveLoPMenT cenTeR ModeSTo, caLIFoRnIa SIM-ANGUS

Selling 50 Females... 40 Fall Open Commercial Females 10 Elite Registered Spring Bred Angus & Simmental Females AAR TeN X 7008 HooveR DAM GAR PRofIT vAR ReSeRve IIII CoNNeAly CoNfIDeNCe eXAR UPSHoT 0562B ColeMAN ReGIS 904

SIMANGUS SIReS

ANGUS SIReS

SIReS fRoM THeSe TWo GReAT BReeDS: W/C UNITeD GW PReMIUM Beef GW-WBf SUBSTANCe GW RoBUST MR NlC UPGRADe Jf RANCHeR GlS INTeGRATe CCR CoWBoy CUT Hl Tool TIMe

SimAngus™ Bulls like this GW Substance son will sell again this year.

Steve Obad 209-383-4373 or Cell 209-777-1551 1232 W Tahoe St, Merced, CA 95348 Joey & Kristy 209-765-1142 • Mike & Stacy 209-531-4893 Joe & Debbie 209-523-5826

DOUBLE M RANCH Greg Mauchley & Sons 435-830-7233 11375 N. 10800 W, Bothwell, UT 84337

Sale Management:

Roger & Andy Flood 530-534-7211 636 Flag Creek Rd, Oroville, CA 95965

Western Cowman

Office 507-532-6694 Val Cell 612-805-7405 Kelly Cell 406-599-2395 www.ebersale.com

July/August 2016

TRIPLE

OPPORTUNITIES THIS FALL

BIG EVENT SALE

FALL BULL SALE

HEREFORD EVENT

Fri. & Sat., AUG. 19 & 20 at the Ranch

Mon., OCT. 3 at the Ranch

Sun., OCT. 16 at the Ranch

600+ ANGUS FEMALES

300 ANGUS & HEREFORD BULLS 300 COMMERCIAL FEMALES

60 ELITE HEREFORD FEMALES

CALL THE RANCH FOR MORE INFORMATION ON THESE THREE PRIME OPPORTUNITIES. WE’D LIKE TO EARN YOUR BUSINESS. BOB FUNK, OWNER - JAROLD CALLAHAN, PRESIDENT 2202 N. 11th ST. - Yukon, OK 73099 - 800-664-3977 - 405-350-0044 - www.expressranches.com

Western Cowman

J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

S c hoh r

H e r ef o r d s 50 Hereford Bulls Sell!

September 13th, 2016 1 PM

Auctioneer: Rick Machado

Farmer’s Livestock Market Lunch 11:30 AM

Horned 15010

S 2015 Top Selling Bull Bulls like this one sired by UPS Domino 9525 will sell in 2016!

DOB: 2/23/2015 • BW: +0.2 WW: +54 YW: +85 MK: +31 RE: +0.44 MRB: +0.41 Sire: Churchill Sensation 028X

Horned 505

Horned 15030

DOB: 3/30/2015 • BW: +3.5 WW: +57 YW: +94 MK: +24 RE: +0.60 MRB: -0.03 Sire: UPS DOMINO 9525

Polled 15052

DOB: 3/27/2015 • BW: +3.3 WW: +58 YW: +98 MK: +24 RE: +0.48 MRB: +0.31 Sire: NJW 73S W18 HOMETOWN 10Y ET

DOB: 3/22/2015 • BW: +1.1 WW: +50 YW: +84 MK: +24 RE: +0.39 MRB: +0.14 Sire: KJ TMG 236X TEBOW 646Z

Free Delivery in California!

DOB: 4/09/2015 • BW: +2.9 WW: +50 YW: +78 MK: +23 RE: +0.21 MRB: +0.30 Sire: UPS SENSATION 2241 ET

Horned 529

DOB: 6/03/2015 • BW: +1.9 WW: +52 YW: +86 MK: +30 RE: +0.34 MRB: +0.33 Sire: UPS SENSATION 2241 ET

Polled 15124

For more information & the catalog, visit:

www.cabullfest.com

View Bull Videos at: www.genoalivestock.com Bob Coker: 916/539/1987 Jared Patterson: 208/312/2386 Office: 775/782/3336 640 Genoa Lane, Minden, NV 89423

Horned 515

S c hoh r

H e r ef o r d s

DOB: 5/10/2015 • BW: +1.8 WW: +59 YW: +97 MK: +21 RE: +0.40 MRB: +0.32 Sire: GENOA THM DURANGO 11070

www.schohrherefords.com

Carl & Susan Schohr: 530/846/4354 Steven, Amanda & Joe Schohr: 530/864/2855

ricencows@schohr.com•sschohr@gmail.com W e s t e r n CPo.O.Box w m a n 391, - Gridley, J u l y / A uCA g u 95948 st 2016 9

46 14 F EA T URES Opportunities 14 Recreation Complement Grazing. Cattle Drive

By Heather Smith-Thomas

Gear Up for 60th Cattle Call Brawley Boasts PRCA Season Kick-Off! By Kindra & Bridger Gordon

Your Voice & Tell Your 26 Use Story. Agvocate

Video Market 62 Western By Heather Smith-Thomas Marketing Nationally

68 Flair A Unique Offering for the

Furniture With Cowboy West Coast. By Kindra Gordon

By Kay Dee Gilkey

Your Guide to the Best! The Cattlemen’s Western Art Show & Sale 27 Years of Western Art Heritage. By Heather Smith-Thomas

Herefords 40 Heritage A Visit at The Potter Hereford Ranch.

96 Obituary of Dale Runnion Remembering A Legend

McCormick 106 Hooter “Winshield Economics”

The World According to By Wes Ishmael

By Heather Smith-Thomas

Best Clams 46 California’s A Cow Palace Favorite. By Kindra & Bridger Gordon

106

Abortion The Disease and the Vaccine 50 Foothill to Prevent It. By Heather Smith-Thomas

Favorite Meet Rex Allen Jr. 58 Western By Kindra Gordon

regulars 11

Trails

Time for Change By Sherry Danekas

100

Wanted

104

Index

Featuring Lewis Livestock.

40 10

Thank you for your great advertising support.

W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

108

Riding the Gap

110

The Bull Board

Declining Prices Magnify Cost Focus By Wes Ishmael

COVER “American Cowgirl”

Making America Great Again Photography By David R. Stoecklein

BUSINESS&ADVERTISING

Editor

Sherry Danekas sherry@jdaonline.com

Associate Editor

Mercedes Danekas-Lohse mercedes@jdaonline.com

Advertising

Mercedes Danekas-Lohse (916) 837-1432 (916) 685-8980

Graphic Artist

Circulation

Hannah Ballard hannah@jdaonline.com Morgan Fryer morgan@jdaonline.com

Mailing Address P.O. Box 8629, Woodland, CA 95776 Office Phone P (530) 668-1224 or (530) 668-1226 National Sales Representative. THE POWELL GROUP, INC. 4162-B Carmichael Court Montgomery, AL 36106 (334) 271-6100 Attn: Davy Taff

Website www.westerncowman.com

Western Cowman, is owned and published monthly except May/June and July/ August combined by James Danekas & Associates, Inc., P.O. Box 8629, Woodland, CA 95776. Subscriptions are $20.00 per year. Presort Standard U.S. Postage Paid: Tucson, Arizona. Address corrections requested. contributing writers: Sherry Danekas, Heather Smith-Thomas, Kindra Gordon, Bridger Gordon, KayDee Gilkey, and Wes Ishmael.

TR AILS I’ve been writing this editorial now going on nineteen years; month in and month out and I’ve shared my life, my thoughts, and my views on everything from gardening to politics and I’ve had the opportunity to impart reflections about the life that this industry provides us. We’ve been through all of lifes trials and tribulations, we’ve shared the nation’s saddest days during the 911 terrorist attacks and we’ve connected through the patriotism we all have for this great country. I know that I’ve grown, gotten stronger and a little bit wiser as the years have passed and I want to take this opportunity to thank our growing readership for being a part of my life for the past eighteen years. I have some news to share with you, by the time you read this we will (hopefully) be settling in at our new ranch in Woodland, California and answering phones from the new JDA office that will also be located on the ranch. We’ve purchased a larger ranch that allows us to rebuild our herd and all be together. Mercedes and her husband Matt will be living in the 1941 farmhouse that they’ve been remodeling and I am building a new house on the ranch that breaks ground next month. Lots of changes for all of us, but maybe the most exciting change is that come November we’re going to have a new family member; Mercedes and Matt are expecting a baby boy they are naming Sutter James Danekas-Lohse. I’ve always heard that “moving” is one of the substantial stressors that one faces in life and at this point I would have to agree. There is no way to move two ranches, equipment, animals and memories in an easy fashion, I have lived in my home for close to twenty years, and in those twenty some years you end up with a lot of stuff. I’ve got to sort through all that stuff and box it all up and put it in containers until my new home is built; sounds a lot easier than it is. Leaving this home that Jim and I both loved is bittersweet as I pull out each closet, there is always a remembrance that stops me in my tracks and curtails my progress. There are still many boxes to load and memories to spend a moment with. Moving is something that we did in this issue, as we found ourselves all over the state of California. We arrive first at the V6 Ranch owned by Jack and Zee Varian, we learn about how they’ve implemented recreation opportunities with their cattle drives to complement their Holistic Resource Management techniques. A must read for everyone looking for new approaches to increase ranch revenues. We then head south to Brawley for the 60th Cattle Call Rodeo, this is the first major rodeo of the PRCA season and it’s got it all. This event is a week full of festivities that Brawley proudly hosts and it is a great display of how a community can come together and make something truly special happen. We then commence north to Salinas to stop in for a visit with Celeste Settrini and learn the trail she took to become one of California’s best “Agvocates”. Her photos and social media messages never fail to inspire and uplift me and I think you’ll agree after reading about this amazing woman that we here in California are lucky to have. From Salinas we proceed south and inland to the town of Paso Robles where the Cattlemen’s Western Art Show and Sale is held each year. They are heading into their twenty seventh year and this event is spear-headed by two more great women agvocates Dee Pellandini and JoAnne Switzer. Our road leads us north to the Potter Hereford Ranch, in Winton, California; this is a special article that I believe you’ll find very noteworthy. Grabbing our boots early we headed to the bay area to call in at “The Old Clam House”, when some of the team saw the article titled “California’s Best Clams” they thought we should change it to Surf and Turf, but the reality is they really have the best clams anywhere. For all of those pioneer Cow Palace exhibitors, this was the one go to spot when you headed out to dinner with friends and family. Journeying back inland we hit our destination for a visit at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine to chat with Dr. Jeffrey Scott about Foothill Abortion and their studies regarding it. For a fun spin we spend a moment with California native Rex Allen Jr. and learn about his exciting singing career and what he is up to today. Staying in the north state, we pay a visit to Western Video Market in the article titled “Marketing Nationally”, it is a great piece showing the scope of their capabilities. In the final log of our travels throughout California we proceed down state to visit a one of a kind furniture store called Branco Ranch Furniture; it is next to impossible to find the quality and unique variety to this type of ranch furniture anywhere else on the west coast. Stop in and take a look, I know something will capture your eye. Hooter is back with his own brand of humor and Wes Ishmael is keeping his eyes on the market in Riding the Gap. I want to thank my writers whose articles remain so compelling that it’s hard to set the magazine down and I want to thank our small staff; Hannah our artist who does such an amazing job not only on ads, but also her editorial layouts that bring the pieces to life. Also to Morgan who has stepped up and helped us so much with the marketing segment of JDA and keeping our mailing list and new subscribers in order. I also want to thank my daughter Mercedes who is responsible for the entire sales management sector, the Wagyu World magazine and just about everything else we do from designing ads to making sales calls. We’ve logged a lot of miles together this last year and I can’t imagine doing this with anyone else. I know that she is making her Dad very proud of her. One more person and that is my son and law Matt who makes it easy for us to travel taking care of two places, cattle and more and having the best heart of anyone I know. Please enjoy the magazine, take some time off the trail to spend a little time experiencing the articles of this issue. I’m going to continue to keep packing and figuring out what I can let go of and what needs to stay. My memories will always remain in my heart, it’s time for a change and to make new memories as the trail unwinds. I again want to thank our readers and our advertisers for their support.

Western Cowman - July/August 2016

W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

Western Cowman - July/August 2016

By Heather Smith-Thomas

CATTLE D

Recreation Opportunities Can Co

W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

DRIVE

omplement Grazing

n today’s economic climate many ranchers are struggling to find ways to survive and continue in business. One option to augment ranch income is to take in paying guests. Many people are eager to experience nature and a western ranch environment. Jack and Zee Varian and their children have taken advantage of this potential market on their California ranch and they enjoy the people who come for this experience. Their V6 Ranch is in the Diablo Mountain Range in southern Monterey County near Parkfield. Their closest big town is Paso Robles. “What got us started thinking about this was 6 years of drought— from 1985 through 1991,” explains Jack. “This whole period had subnormal moisture. I was not doing very well, financially and was trying to solve the problem in the traditional ways that cattlemen had been using for a long time, and they weren’t working.” “My friend George Work asked me in 1991 if I wanted to go to a class that was being put on by Holistic Resource Management. Allan Savory was just starting some of his classes and demonstrations. This was a 3-day class in Paso Robles,” recalls Jack. “The things he was talking about were foreign to me. Bu the second day I was thinking maybe there is something here of value. The third day was the ‘aha’ moment. Not everything he said was absolutely clear but it was starting to make sense. He asked us to examine the things that we do and then assume they are wrong,” says Jack. “I already knew my traditional management wasn’t working but I didn’t know what to replace it with.” If you assume that the things you are doing are right, you never change them. Many people make decisions and live with those deci-

Western Cowman - July/August 2016

Matt Allgood, Frankie Martinez, Audrey Griffin, Katy Varian

sions and never question them. “This was a turning point for me, when I could ask myself to look at what I was doing and assume that it was wrong. Consequently I discovered that a lot of it was wrong.” Then several things came to mind as possibilities. “My wife and I had gone to see the movie City Slickers. After seeing that movie (a comedy with Billy Crystal, involving a dude ranch) I said to Zee that we could do that. We had too many horses and a lot of beautiful country. Our ranch is 20,000 acres that runs from 1500 feet up to 4000 foot elevation. We thought, why not?” They put on one ride, the first year. “It was a struggle. We had too many guests (38 riders), portable outhouses, and we were just winging it. In spite of all this, the people loved it,” says Jack. The next year they pared it down to 25 guests, and split up the 16

riders. They used 2 wranglers to supervise about 8 guests in each group. This created a more handson experience for the riders, to help with a multi-day cattle drive. “We gathered cattle from different directions, and took sack lunches tied behind the saddle. My wife Zee would take a group, I took a group, and my daughter Lilly took a group. People were hungry for this kind of experience and we found we enjoyed doing it.” This is a family operation and the Varians don’t need to hire help. “My daughter cooked for the group, and one of my sons helped as a wrangler. Now, after many years, this has evolved to where the grandchildren are helping. We do 4 cattle drives each year and time our guest rides to coincide with when we need to move the cattle,” he explains. The cattle must be moved at certain times from Fresno County

W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

to Monterey County. The V6 ranch straddles the Diablo Mountains so the cattle are taken over the mountains at one point and then brought back later. “These are things we are doing anyway, so we just bring guests on these rides,” he says. “We usually ride about 5 to 6 hours a day, which is more than some people want to do, but they all enjoy the experience. We take any riders, from beginners to people who ride really well,” says Jack. They built a facility they call Mustang camp, with showers and flush toilets. “These are a little rough but welcomed by the guests. We have a chuckwagon and our family prepares the meals. We provide everything for the guests from the Thursday night dinner at our Parkfield café, until Sunday afternoon. We provide all the food, haul their gear to Mustang camp for them, and provide the horses, saddles, etc. We’ve been doing this

Audrey Griffin and Katy Varian

for 23 years,” he says. This venture has really helped the ranch cash flow. “After we started this, we also started looking at other things like trail rides. We’d already let a hunting club use our place ever since we moved to Parkfield in 1962 when we purchased the first piece of the ranch.” The hunting club simply uses the ranch and the Varian family provides an area for camping and trailers. “We didn’t have any interaction with the hunters so we weren’t really dealing with the public until we started the cattle drive experience where we were living and camping with our guests for 3 days. We have made some wonderful friends over the years, doing this. It’s been a good experience for our immediate family and our grandchildren,” he says. The ranch headquarters is 37 miles from town, an hour’s drive. “People often think our grandchil-

dren are isolated, but they enjoy mingling with the guests and meet a lot of people—and these visitors enjoy our grandchildren. It’s been a win-win situation. It’s been a way to have the kids become responsible for helping get the horses saddled and ready. They can’t be wranglers until they are 18, but there are many things they can help with. It’s been a wonderful family operation,” says Jack. His son John Varian puts on a ride for the American Quarter Horse Association and one for the Arabian Horse Association. He also has a cowboy camp, teaching all the cowboy skills like roping, cutting, and everything involved with being a cowboy. This year was the 10h ride for the Arabian Horse Association. “My cousin Sheila Varian (who raised and trained Arabian horses and won many cutting competitions with her Arabians) came to

help us occasionally. After the ride she’d give one of her demonstrations about bridles, bits, hackamores or the old Spanish vaquero garb and traditions; she was a great speaker,” says Jack. Sheila passed away earlier this year, and the Arabian Horse Association trail ride had a special memorial. Each rider took off their wild rag and tied it on the Memorial Sheila Tree in the camp. “We’ve found that our guest riding program has been a good fit with our holistic ranch management. This recreational aspect doesn’t impact the cattle or grazing. It is very complementary and sustainable, and something the public really wants.” The guests enjoy it and learn something about ranching. “If we have calves to brand, we invite them to help. We warn them that it might not be something they want to watch, | Continued on page 72

Western Cowman - July/August 2016

W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

Western Cowman - July/August 2016

Offers an All-inclusive Event October 15th! SELLING FARM EQUIPMENT, FEMALES AND BULLS IN THIS ANNUAL EVENT INCLUDING THE COMPLETE AND FINAL DISPERSAL OF

SAN JUAN RANCH GELBVIEH

This year’s event will feature the final dispersal of San Juan Ranch Gelbvieh, including 30 service-age bulls and 4 herdsires, as well as 70 spring bred cows and 37 weaned calves, in addition to the tremendous offering of females and all-breed bulls offered annually in the Famoso All-Breeds Bull Sale. 9:00 A.M. RANCH EQUIPMENT AUCTION 10:00 A.M. FEMALE SALE 1:00 P.M. 51ST ANNUAL FAMOSO ALL-BREED BULL SALE

W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

RN STOCKMA

1965 W

Come Buy the Best

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FAMOSO LD

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RE ST - TR ULY - ALL B

FRANK MACHADO 805-839-8166 JUSTIN MEBANE 661-979-9894

DWIGHT MEBANE 661-979-9892 BENNET MEBANE 661-201-8169

Don’t miss this opportunity to buy your females, bulls and ranch equipment all on the same day!

U SB

Western Cowman - July/August 2016

By Kindra and Bridger Gordon

Gear Up for

Cattle Call 22

W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

ach fall, thousands of rodeo enthusiasts flock to Brawley in southern California for the first major rodeo of the PRCA season – the Cattle Call Rodeo. The event, which will mark its 60th anniversary November 1213, 2016, started as a small, local rodeo for the Imperial Valley area. One unique aspect about the Cattle Call Rodeo is that the roster is always a bit of a surprise as to which PRCA and WPRA names will be competing. Because the rodeo is a season opener, rosters are often finalized just days beforehand. But attendees can still expect some of the biggest names in the sport because the season opener event helps give contestants an early lead in the world standings. Also unique, Cattle Call is more than just a rodeo, it’s a week full of festivities including a chili cook-off and mariachi celebration. Each rodeo performance starts with an exciting opening ceremo-

ny, followed by a traditional Wild Horse Race. Rodeo contestants then compete in their event, including Bareback Riding, Saddle Bronc Riding, Steer Wrestling, Tie Down Roping, Team Roping, Barrel Racing, Team Penning, and Bull Riding. Began On a Football Field While the Cattle Call Rodeo is a large event today, it wasn’t always that way. In 1957, the Brawley Chamber of Commerce decided that the city should have a celebration to salute the cattle industry and have a fun, local event. They decided to host a parade and rodeo during the fall. However, there was no rodeo arena in Brawley, so the rodeo was held at the high school football field. To make the event more permanent, a group of Brawley citizens proposed the idea of building an official rodeo grounds. The location for the proposed rodeo arena was a city-owned dry river bed. Donations from Brawley residents and service clubs helped make it possible to build the arena, and

many local businesses donated equipment, materials, and labor for the project. The new arena was completed just in time for the 1958 Cattle Call Rodeo. The bucking chutes from the original Cattle Call rodeo are still on display today. The vision for the annual rodeo also included reinvesting into the community. All profits from the rodeo go to the City of Brawley, which helps to fund improvements and expansions for the Cattle Call, as well as some community organizations. As examples, in 2004, an equestrian center was built for the event, and in 2007, a new grandstand was built behind the bucking chutes, which includes a modern announcers stand that can control sound and the scoreboard. Over the past sixty years, the Cattle Call has become known for its unique events and its high quality competition. Each rodeo begins with Opening Ceremonies, which includes music, choreography on horseback, narration, and bright colors to get the crowd

ready for the rodeo. In addition to the PRCA rodeo, the Cattle Call hosts a Wild Horse Race, in which several three-member teams try to catch, saddle, mount, and ride an untrained bronc to the designated ending area. The fire of a shotgun starts off the fast-paced event. The Cattle Call Rodeo also includes Team Penning, where teams of local cowboy and cowgirls try to pen three steers with the fastest time. The stock contractors for the Cattle Call Rodeo are Cotton Rosser and his Flying U Rodeo Company. Rosser has said that the Cattle Call is one of the finest rodeos he has been to and has an outstanding level of competition that brings together great cowboys and cowgirls with great livestock for an overall great experience. | Continued on page 38

Western Cowman - July/August 2016

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e h t n o s U n i Jo New Date!

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Western Cowman - July/August 2016

By KayDee Gilkey

Use Your Voice And Tell Your Story “Choose a job you truly love, one that captures your heart and you will never work a day in your life.” That is a recent Facebook post from Celeste Settrini and accurately describes how she feels about her vocation of ranching and her business, CS Connections, which helps others to promote themselves and their companies. She is a California-native, fourth generation rancher, public relations professional as well as providing a strong positive voice for agriculture. Settrini grew up on her family’s ranch near Salinas and was active showing registered Herefords in 4-H as well as at Junior Hereford Field Days as she grew up. She pursued a degree in Marketing from Cal Poly and while in San Luis Obispo, she participated in ag clubs like Boots and Spurs, Ag Business Club and was also an Ag Ambassador. When she graduated from Cal Poly, there were not many beef industry job opportunities available that peeked her interest, so she became a commodity procurer of fruit and vegetables and remained at that job for more than 22 years. Serving agriculture through volunteer positions has really been a way of life for Settrini. One of her highlights in her college years was serving as a director for three years on the American Junior Hereford Association’s Board. “It was a great 26

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That experience really helped me to find my personal voice. Our ranch that had been in our family for more than 100 years and we were not about to lose any of it for city development. Each of us has a voice and an interest or passion for what we believe in. You must step up and go to bat for what you believe.

Western Cowman - July/August 2016

experience. I enjoyed traveling to Hereford shows and field days, promoting the breed and meeting people from all over the country,” she said. She also had the opportunity to serve as the president of the California Women For Agriculture which presented the opportunity to travel around the state, region and country promoting agriculture on behalf of the organization’s 3,000 members. She also served as the California CattleWomen’s Legislative Director for four years. Currently she serves on the advisory panel of the Brock Communication Center at Cal Poly and was recently appointed to the California Beef Cattle Improvement Board. She was recognized in 2008 as the Ag Woman of the Year in the TriCounty area. She said, “Never in a million years did I think I would be recognized with such a huge honor. I do what I do because I really love it and there are so many others who I admire and look up to that I think have done so much more than me. It is exciting that they chose me, being a beef girl and being honored was a real treat. Anytime we can represent all of agriculture with a beef twist is a win win in my book.” Finding Her Voice One impetus in her finding her voice for ag happened a number of years ago when the City of Salinas

was considering moving the city limits to incorporate the Settrini Ranch into those limits which would have allowed development to happen more easily. “That experience really helped me to find my personal voice. Our ranch that had been in our family for more than 100 years and we were not about to lose any of it for city development. Each of us has a voice and an interest or passion for what we believe in. You must step up and go to bat for what you believe,” Settrini said. The situation turned out positively in two ways for Settrini — the city decided not to pursue their expansion plans and she discovered her skill in telling her story. She began traveling around California and other states, telling her story of how she stopped the city’s development, but also shared her passion for the beef industry and agriculture and encouraged others to find their voice to tell their own personal ag story. She has spoken to many cattlemen’s groups, Farm Bureau organizations and consumer groups. Although today, she doesn’t have the time to travel as much as she did previously, she still enjoys traveling and speaking to groups advocating for both the beef and agriculture industries. Her partnership with Sarah Landis in CS Connection, their boutique graphic design and commu-

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nication agency, has provided yet another avenue to promote agriculture as well as the rodeo industry. “Sarah provides the graphic design and I provide the PR element. We met through a mutual friend. She is located in Arkansas and I’m here in California. The day we met in 2012, we sat down and mapped out a business plan and got started. We knew that we wanted to stay in ag and help others tell their story and promote their cattle or their rodeo career,” Settrini explained. Their company has found an interesting niche to their business. They have a list of successful young bullfighters that they have helped to promote. “I was at the Salinas Rodeo’s bullfighting competition and was really impressed with the winner and his skills. I wrote him a note and told him we’d be interested in helping him move to the next level. Several months later, he contacted me and we provided him with autograph sheets, banners and brochures to help promote him,” she said. That young bull fighter is Cody Webster. He has come into his own and is busy on the PRCA circuit as a professional bull fighter. His tremendous bullfighting skills were featured in the The Last Ride movie based on the Nicholas Spark’s novel of the same name. Since beginning with promoting Webster, CS Connections have assisted numerous young men in promot-

ing their bull fighting skill. “Now we find our new rodeo clients by word of mouth as those we are working with tell their friends,” Settrini said. The last three years have brought changes to her life. In 2013 her father died in a ranch accident. “That event gave me the push I needed to leave my produce job and return home to the ranch full time,” she said. The same week her father died, her brother, John, had a heart attack. He had Hodgkin disease growing up which had weakened his heart, but the damage was not known until he had the the heart attack. “I have a very strong faith and believe that every thing happens for a reason. My faith really helped during that difficult time,” she explained. Since her father’s passing, both she and John have returned to the operation to become full time ranchers. Their mother, Anita, is also still involved in the ranch as well. The family runs a commercial cow-calf herd of Red Angus cows. Using Social Media to Tell Her Story As an agvocate, Settrini is happy to share her story through a personal conversation but is just as comfortable using social media to engage people in conversation about agriculture. If you are one of her more than 2,400 Facebook friends,

you know she is consistently posting fabulous ranch images and explaining the what, why and/or how of the photo. “My favorite social media channel is Instagram. It is really easy to use and am able to snap photos of the ranch and explain what we do quickly,” she said. You are able to find her on Instagram as @couturecowgirl. She is a self-proclaimed fashionsita who loves fashion and enjoys dressing up when the occasion rises. She encourages ranchers and others involved in agriculture to tell their story. If they are considering using social media, Settrini suggested, “Don’t be intimidated by the many choices that are out there. Just pick one and use it to tell your ag story. If you believe in what you are doing, explain it. If you get comments or questions, you need to respond. Most people are just looking for answers and you do a disservice if you don’t engage in the conversation.” She continues with more advice on being active on social media. “It is important to be yourself. If you don’t know the answer, be honest and say you don’t know, but then find out the answer and share it.” In May Settrini contributed an article to the My Job Depends on Ag website for their “Meet the Farmer” Series. She wrote the following, “Ranching is now a profession that is a part of the bigger picture and

transparency from ranch to table and everything in between is important. This is another reason I love it; I love talking with consumers and sharing what I enjoy – what makes me tick and why I continue ranching. I enjoy not only representing my ranch, but all the ranchers that might not feel as comfortable sharing the story of the good, beneficial things we do for our environment, for our businesses and for our communities.” From her agvocacy through social media and her motivational speaking engagements, Settrini walks her talk — whether she is posting images of Red Angus cattle grazing in lush pastures or in front of a group giving a motivational talk — she is enthusiastically sharing her passion and love for the ag industry and particularly the beef industry.

WESTERN REGION FIELD REPRESENTATIVE AZ, CA, ID, NV, OR, UT, WA (208) 369-7425 mholt@hereford.org

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Western Cowman - July/August 2016

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Call tO COnSIgn yOur Cattle tO theSe uPCOMIng WeStern vIDeO Market SaleS: august 8-9: Cheyenne, Wy September 12: Ogallala, ne WatCh anD BID lIve every WeDneSDay:

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W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

will highlight our

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CRAIG, TODD & SCOTT VEJRASKA

Craig (509) 322 2780 Todd (509) 429 2276 Scott (509) 429 2176

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Email: sunnyok@communitynet.org

Western Cowman - July/August 2016

unique and popular art show is held every year at the Mid-State Fairgrounds at Paso Robles, but its beginnings 26 years ago were on the old Cooper Ranch on Cripple Creek nearby. The efforts to get it started faced many challenges. Dee Pellandini (along with the San Luis Obispo Cattlemen’s Association) has been managing the show since 2006. The show this year was April 8 through 10, with 50 western artists present to show their work. Last year’s show was March 27-29, celebrating the 25th anniversary of this special event. “We are going into our 27th year and our show is very healthy,” Dee says. “We have a great Friday night artist’s reception. This year was a little different than last year, however. Sales were down a bit. Usually people feel they need to buy the paintings on Friday because they won’t be there on Saturday. But it was a good receptive crowd, for the artists. Each artist is there, to talk to visitors, so everybody gets to know the history behind every work of art—why the artist does what he/she does. Each artist knows the history of everything they paint or sculpt. If they do an Indian, they know the history and personality of that Indian.” There are many fascinating stories. “The secret of success for our show is that it’s a lot of fun—not only for the people who attend, but also for the artists. They come great distances to not

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By Heather Smith-Thomas

The

Art Show and Sale

only show their work but to enjoy the camaraderie. It’s not a formal art show; it’s a western fun event. A lot of them know many of the cattlemen down in this area, and it’s like a reunion. They get to talk to old friends, and talk about their cows, and what they do.” The artists come from all over the West and even a few from the East who do western subjects in their painting, glasswork or sculpture. “We have artists from Idaho who enjoy coming to California to get out of the snow! It was a really warm weekend here this year!” says Dee. “This year we had one artist— a metal sculptor--from Wisconsin, which is a long way to come. We also had some from Texas, Idaho, Oregon, Wyoming, Arizona, Colorado

and other western states. Most of the art has a western theme, but there are also some landscapes and a few modern styles—which is slowly becoming accepted—such as the wildly colored horses and the colored cows that are a bit abstract. We have one western artist who is venturing into painting abstract and some of her little pieces are doing very well. It’s just a little different, but some people might want something a little different occasionally,” she says. This provides some variety. One of the artists in this year’s show creates Native American war shirts from elk and buckskin, with beadwork, true to the styles of the early 1800’s. “The metal art was something new this year for us. Her work is very unique, very different, and many people asked about it and talked about it but I don’t know if California is quite ready for this!” Westerners tend to be conservative in their taste in art and prefer traditional western scenes and subjects over the far-out modern pieces. “Our featured artist in this year’s April show was Don Weller and he does lovely watercolors. His paintings are of the working cowboy and the cutting horses of today. He is a very prolific painter and ev-

ery one of his pieces has an energy that’s amazing. He and his wife are so down to earth and he is a cutting horse person—so he knows all about it and knows what he is painting,” says Dee. His paintings are accurate and realistic and people appreciate that. As a young boy, Don drew horses and cowboys and rode his horse around on the wheat fields of eastern Washington. In high school he roped calves and sold a few cartoons to Western Horseman magazine. He graduated from WSU and then had a successful career in Los Angeles doing graphic design and illustrations for many magazines, children’s books and created 5 stamps for the U.S. Post Office while teaching art at UCLA and the Art Center School in Pasadena. Sixteen years ago he realized he no longer wanted to live in the city so he and his wife moved to Oakley, Utah where he creates western-theme paintings. “The nice thing is that he does not put a specific face on the cowboy on the horse, so it could be anybody or even you, on that horse. You can transport yourself into those paintings, and they have a lot of general appeal,” Dee says. The featured artist for next

Western Cowman - July/August 2016

year’s show will be Vel Miller, whose ranch on the central coast of California overlooks the Pacific Ocean. Quarter Horses and Longhorn cattle graze her pastures and serve as models for her paintings and sculpture. Each piece of her art has a story behind it. Her Ronald Reagan sculpture is displayed at the Ronald Reagan Ranch Museum, and her 8-foot tall “Reward for Valor” is in front of the Safety Center in Paso Robles. She focuses on the emotions of the West and says the most rugged, strongest people she’s known have also been the most kind and loving. This is what she tries to portray in the animals or people she paints and sculpts. “One of the reasons for the ongoing success of our show is that people come to meet the artists and learn from them. We try to get younger people to come every year so they can learn about art and get

involved. Art shows are almost becoming a thing of the past. Someone was saying that Scottsdale, Arizona is almost a ghost town compared to what it was, because everything there has moved down to San Antonio, Texas and Fredericksburg and up to Jackson, Wyoming. There’s not much art left in Scottsdale. Our one gallery there is closing the end of May, and that’s really a shame,” Dee says. “I guess that’s why our show has done so well, because it gives people the opportunity to see things they usually don’t see, or can’t afford. We have a reproduction area, so if people can’t buy the originals they can buy a reproduction. The prints are really nice, too, for framing. I have some of each, on my walls, and I love my prints. When you purchase a piece of art, it’s something that suits you. When you walk into your home and see that art, it puts a

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smile on your face.” It’s something that you enjoy looking at every day, and it brightens your home and says something about you. Art is an extension/expression of ourselves even if we can’t paint. The Friday night reception is relaxed and fun. “We had 11 local wineries pouring wine and everyone appreciates that. They get to taste the wine and walk around and look at the art. We also have a cattlemen’s bar, manned by our local cattlemen’s association folks. People can talk to them, as well, and learn more about the association and what it’s all about,” says Dee. The cattlemen have been involved with this art show from the beginning, and they are the ones who got it launched. “We’ve grown from 10 artists to 50 and are still going strong. It has truly become a major cultural event.”

HISTORY OF THE SHOW The origins of this very special show trace back to an informal discussion at the old Cooper Ranch on Cripple Creek in the late 1980’s. A gathering one evening included three artists--Larry Bees, Ernie Morris and Suzanne Williams. Also present were Larry’s wife Jackie and Gary Williams, who was the ranch’s contract cowboy. They all thought it would be nice to have a Western art show on the central California coast, so they began looking at the possibility of creating one. They searched for an appropriate place to hold the show, but finding such a place turned out to be a huge challenge. They approached the local wineries, but found a lack of interest--and no indoor facility large enough to house an art show. They then tried to find room at a local hotel and to solicit support from the Paso Robles Chamber of Commerce, but those efforts were just as futile. The artists became discouraged with their inability to find anything feasible within the local area, but contract cowboy Gary Williams then suggested that perhaps they needed a partner as much as they needed a venue, to get the show rolling. He thought the San Luis Obispo County Cattlemen’s Association might be interested in helping. So Larry and Jackie Bees nervously attended a Cattlemen’s Association meeting in Templeton to put forth their suggestion. The concept of a western art

show was received with courtesy, and within a few days the Cattlemen gave a pledge of support. Larry and Jackie then met with JoAnn Switzer and several other Cattlemen’s officers at the group’s next meeting, and together they worked out solutions to some of the obstacles that had been standing in their way of launching the art show. JoAnn Switzer approached Alex Madonna, one of the local ranchers, and he offered his famous Bull Sale Barn on the Madonna Inn Ranch near San Luis Obispo. The barn became the first setting for the Cattlemen’s Western Art Show (as it was soon named) and in many ways the old barn was perfect. Not only was it about the right size to host a show, but it was beautiful and had a bit of history behind it. Larry and Jackie then drove to Orange County to purchase electrical equipment and display materials from a friend who had just closed a show. Their promotional budget barely covered the printing of a few letter-size fliers, so Larry and Jackie begged for some spots on the local TV and radio stations—which were all very accommodating. Their promotion went national when Allan Duerr wrote a feature in Art of the West magazine about the brave artists who were forming a new show in San Luis Obispo. The first show was held in October 1990 and exceeded everyone’s expectations. It featured 35 artists who didn’t mind providing their

own lighting to show off their work in the old barn. About 500 people turned out for the Saturday/Sunday event and the show took in $1500. The setting was ideal; the guests who came to enjoy the art also enjoyed the opportunity to visit a working cattle ranch and take photos of cattle and cowboys. The show was held in that old barn for ten years, but there were a few awkward moments. A power outage on one opening night found Larry Bees climbing up into the old barn’s rafters to fix the problem, and a rainstorm another year showed everyone that the Madonna barn was not a good rainy-day location. Normally the people who came to see the show could park on a nearby vacant pasture, but when it rained they had to park about a mile away on the nearest pavement. The historic barn that had so much unique character and wonderful ambiance also had a leaky roof and gapped siding—which meant that a rainstorm was a risk to the artwork. Show officials had to scramble to protect the paintings and keep them from getting wet. “That lovely old barn was a perfect beginning for the art show, however. It is still standing, and still leaking, but we are not there anymore. We are now up at the Event Center and the paintings are safe from the elements. We don’t have to try to keep them dry if it rains! Not that we get a lot of rain in this part of California, but it seems like it rains

Western Cowman - July/August 2016

when you try to have an art show!” says Dee. Those first years showed great promise for this western event, however, so the organizers went all-out to give it more advertising and appeal. Wilkins Creative Printing in Atascadero began printing the show posters, tickets, programs, promotional materials etc. in 1993 and this gave the show a more distinguished and professional look. In 1994 the show’s organizers continued to showcase many established and up-and-coming artists but also added a “cattlemen artist”, John Knowlton, and woodcarver William Churchill. The show also started featuring some high-profile artists whose exhibits helped gained nationwide recognition for this western event. Exhibits and attendance steadily grew, and by the end of its 11th year everyone realized the show had outgrown the old barn. They needed to find a larger home. One of the exhibition buildings at the Mid-State Fairgrounds in Paso Robles was perfect, and the show moved there in 2000. That facility has been named the Paso Robles Event Center, and with more room the show drew larger crowds. It became a three-day event, with the addition of a Friday night artists’ reception. Each artist has a chance to walk around and talk to the other artists and later in the evening they cast their vote for the Artists’ Choice Award. The People’s Choice Award goes to an artist selected by the visitors. Awards are presented on the final day of the show. In 2006, Larry and Jackie Bees moved to St. George, Utah and realized they couldn’t do the show from long distance. They turned over the management of the show to the San Luis Obispo Cattlemen’s Association, and Dee Pellandini who volunteered to be the coordinator for the show. Larry passed away in 2013 but his vision and passion for art continue on with the Cattlemen’s Western Art Show. The 2015 show (March 27 through 29) marked its 25th anniversary. “I took it over in 2006. I had

helped them for a couple of weekends after they moved the show up here to Paso Robles. They needed extra cashiers and extra help so I started working with the show. I loved Larry’s art work and his pen and ink drawings. I love art and the artists and I got hooked,” says Dee. FUTURE Everyone hopes that the show will continue on for a long time, but today’s economic climate presents more challenges. “It just breaks my heart the way our economy has faltered. In 2007, like everyone else, the show was right at the top of its curve, getting ready to make some money and put a little extra in our coffers. Then it was like someone pulled the rug out from under us all,” she says. “But that’s the way it goes, and our show is still struggling, and probably will be struggling for a few more years. Art is purchased with disposable income.” If people are struggling to pay the rent and the power bill they are not going to buy very much art. “At least they get an opportunity to come to the show and see it and enjoy it, and maybe save up to buy a print or two. We will keep hanging in there and we have already set our dates for 2017 (March 24 through the 26th), and we have our featured artist selected for that one. It’s just a matter of moving forward,” says Dee. Paso Robles has become a tourist destination city, and this may help their show. “This is an expensive area to visit but it is a beautiful place. We have the large and medium size ranches, 300-plus wineries, golf courses, etc. People who travel here have plenty to do during the weekend besides the art show. This show might be a great experience for them, however, and hotels are within walking distance of the Fairgrounds. There’s great food, and it has become quite a city for tourists.” This may help the show continue to be successful and possibly thrive and grow in the future.

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Continued from page 23

The 2016 Cattle Call Rodeo will feature an afternoon and evening rodeo performance on Saturday, November 12 and one performance on Sunday, November 13 – mutton busting, pony rides, face painting, and a dollar dig are some of the fun pre-rodeo activities offered for kids. See full details and get tickets at cattlecallrodeo.com. Online ticket sales begin Sept. 1.

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2017 ‘Bulls for the 21st Century’ Bull Test Sale

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By Heather Smith-Thomas

HERITAGE HEREFORDS Potter Hereford Ranch

ob and Peggy Potter have lived in California all their lives, and have been raising Herefords for many years. Bob’s grandfather started ranching near Salinas in 1853; the family has a long history in ranching. “Eight

years ago we were inducted into the California Ag Heritage Club,” says Bob. “My grandfather ran about 200 commercial cattle; there weren’t very many purebreds around here, back then. If you raised cattle, you

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just got whatever kind you could, and they were usually a mix. You just tried to find a good-looking bull to turn out with them. I was born at the end of the Depression and I’m now 84. I was introduced to the cattle lifestyle at a very young age,”

he says. “The problem with growing up on a ranch during that time was that you didn’t do anything else after school except work. When your school work was done you went to work. Doing that from a very young age, you kind of get burned out! It was harder work for kids than being involved in sports. On a ranch you worked until it was too dark to work.” Everyone in the family worked hard; that was just part of ranch life. “I wanted to get away from it, and after a couple years of college I was commissioned into the Marine Corps and stayed in the Marines for 4 years. Then my father became ill, and I decided to go home and help, and realized that maybe the military wasn’t going to be a career for me after all,” Bob says. His family started ranching in Monterey County, outside of Salinas. “That was the Potter Ranch, and that’s where we were for a long time. My grandfather’s brother, my great uncle, was ranching with him in the beginning but then they split up the cattle. My grandfather

stayed in Monterey County and my great uncle came to Merced County near El Nido. He also called his place the Potter Ranch, so he and my grandfather had a fight for the name. They were well known for excellent commercial cattle, and then my grandfather started breeding some purebred cattle,” says Bob. Back in the 1940’s and ‘50’s the cattle were short and compact. “They were short-legged and their bellies were only a few inches off the ground. We had quite a few of those, because that’s what everyone was breeding back then; there wasn’t anything else. By the late 60’s and into the 70’s the purebred breeders went to the other extreme, preferring cattle with long legs and thick bodies. Now we’re coming back into the easy-fleshing, moderate-framed cattle,” he says. THE RANCH TODAY “We now live on a very small ranch in Merced County. We live on 20 acres and another 10 acre piece up the road from us. We also use 350 acres in the foothills, so we actually have two ranches; P J Ranch LLC

is the corporate ranch, and Potter Ranch Herefords is under that umbrella. We run them independently but we do mix some of the cattle now and then,” he says. “I came to Merced County in 1959 and this is where we decided to stay. My wife Peggy and I have been married 40 years. We have a saying in California that behind every successful rancher there is a woman in town with a job, and it’s very true. I have dedicated my life to working on the ranch 7 days a week. We don’t hire a lot of help, just a little part-time help during calving season and some other times of the year,” Bob says. “We buy all our hay; we don’t raise any hay, but because of our water shortage here in California we have to feed hay year round. We’ve been really dry for the past 3 years, but last year I had enough water to irrigate one time. This year has been better so far. I have already irrigated 3 times,” he says. “We have plenty of room to keep cattle but try to keep our female numbers down to 30 or lower because that’s about all we can handle. I do 99% of the work my

Western Cowman - July/August 2016

self. We run nothing but purebred Herefords on the flat ground. We started with purebreds 40 years ago, about the time Peggy and I got married. It’s a challenge, but I love what I do. Many people say I am very healthy for my age, that I am in really good shape for my age, and that’s a compliment, but I think it’s because I am very active and enjoy what I’m doing. If you don’t have a good job, you’d better have a good hobby, because you really need to stay busy!” Taking care of cattle keeps a person much more active and fit than if they weren’t out there working every day. “We try to halter break every calf we have. Often in the first 10 or 15 days of their life you don’t know what they are going to look like later. Some of them you can take a gamble and guess and say this one is going to be really good, and you might be lucky. We halter break them all, so we could show them later if we want to. We love to show our cattle,” Bob says. “My father and grandfather didn’t think much of that in the old days—taking cattle to a show and showing them off. They were not joiners; they were very independent after coming through the Depression and were very skeptical about joining any organization. Now, however, we are proud members of the American Hereford Association and the California/Nevada Hereford Association, we join our local organizations and enjoy the camaraderie and social part of it. We have a lot of good friends who are in the cattle business. Not all of them are into Herefords. The Bianchi family raises Charolais along with their Herefords. The Pedretti family is not too far down the road from us and we talk to them about Herefords for sure.” He sells his bulls by private treaty except for a few that go to the Red Bluff sale. “We enjoy that sale. We have a lot of repeat customers for the private treaty bulls and they generally call us early to see what we have, and come visit,” Bob says. 42

SHOWING CATTLE “We love to show our cattle and this last year was probably one of the most outstanding years we’ve ever had. We do have to go out now and then and buy a bull or two, and recently I bought one at Colyers. We really like the Miles McKee bull and his offspring. I told Guy and Kyle Colyer that I’d like to pick out a bull. They told me to go out in the pen of coming 2-year-olds and help myself. I spent about 3 hours with their herdsman, Eric Eldridge, and I just kept looking. One of the things my father and grandfather taught me about looking at cattle was a little different from what most people do. When most people go to look at bulls in a pen, everyone climbs up on the fence and looks at their backs and heads. But my grandfather told me to get down on the ground and look at their feet and legs. We have a saying, ‘You can’t feed feet’. The feet have to be good to start with!” “I kept going back to this one bull. We didn’t really buy him to show, but wanted him for breeding. He had wonderful legs and feet; this guy was awesome! So then I got back up on the rail to look over the group and I saw him again. He

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walked like a cat, just so smooth and agile. So I made them an offer on him and we made a deal and I brought him home,” Bob says. I thought this bull looked so good that if we put some feed into him we might want to take him to the state fair. So I took him over to Bianchi’s and in 30 days Erica, Chris and Robert got him really well halter broke. Then I took him home and started feeding him. The rest is history; he was Supreme at the Grand National at the Cow Palace, Supreme at Sonoma, and Reserve Grand Champion at Reno, and at Denver, and at Fort Worth. We just had a wonderful time with that bull. We are looking forward to showing him again as a 2-year-old and we are also using him on a lot of our ladies. I think he will really take our herd to another level and another direction.” “We also like 88X and use Trust, Stockman, and Hometown. In that one bull we managed to have a lot of quality bloodlines. His dam, BR Bailee 1066 ET, was a full sister to Abigail, the dam of Anastasia and the dam of Nitro. Where else can you come up with all of that combination? We are having fun with C Bailees Miles 4312 ET, and are

Sending Cattle to other Countries and the Advantage of Smaller Animals “We were contacted about 5 years ago by a gentleman representing the Philippine Islands, Cecilio Felix DVM, now living in Sacramento. He had worked for the USDA for over 30 years, and one of his last posts was in Salinas. He started looking for someone who had moderate-frame bulls that they could use in the Philippines. They need to raise more protein and their cattle just aren’t getting it done. Their beef cattle are very small and skinny and they can’t find bulls that are small enough to breed those cows without hurting/killing them. He found out that we had a couple of the old heritage style smaller bulls. These were 14 and 15-year old bulls at that time. He wondered if I had any semen from those bulls and one thing led to another. We sold him a lot of semen. You should see those cattle being raised in the Philippines right now in this governmentsponsored program!” These cattle are going out to all of the people who have room to raise cattle there. “It’s great what the Hereford breed is doing for that entire country. We are proud to be a part of that. There are places where our smaller Herefords can do a great job. There are some people raising what they call miniature Herefords but I never really liked that term; they are simply the old heritage cattle. A lot of people still want semen from our two bulls. They aren’t going to be around much longer, but we still have semen from them. A lot of it goes to New Mexico, Texas, Arizona, Illinois and eastern states.” More and more people are wanting to breed to something smaller because the pendulum went too far on large-framed cattle. Smaller, more moderate size animals can do better in a harsh environment. “They eat less, they leave a smaller footprint on the environment, and are very efficient.” A person can raise more pounds of beef per acre with smaller cows because you can run more cows— and smaller cows wean off a higher percent of their own body weight.

looking forward to showing him this year,” Bob says. EDUCATING PEOPLE ABOUT AGRICULTURE Showing is a fun way to highlight quality animals, and it’s also a way to help educate people about agriculture. “I’ve been going to the Grand National at the Cow Palace since the 1940’s and I love that show. There were a couple of times when I thought we were going to lose that show, but we helped to keep it going. I traveled to several western states to tell people that they needed to come back, and bring their animals. We kept it going,” says Bob. “I have a job there. They bring in the city kids to that show by the busload, and my job is to tour them around the facility and explain to them about animals and animal health. That’s what I do during the days that I’m there,” he says. “It’s interesting, because the teachers who are teaching those kids don’t have a clue. It’s not their fault; they were never exposed to this. They’ve been in the city all their lives and don’t spend much time in the country. When they drive down a freeway they might see a few animals, but most of the freeways in California have almonds along the sides, and people don’t really get to see very many cattle.” He feels that our mission as ranchers has gone from raising food to educating the public. “We are still raising the food, but without educa-

tion, people don’t understand.” If they don’t understand, they will inadvertently make it harder for anyone to raise food. We have to help educate them. “Most people learn everything they know about agriculture from a 60-second spot on television or an overheard comment from someone who is ignorant or uninformed. Then that becomes the gospel. You know what happens when people start repeating something they heard; it gets bigger and bigger.” And some people in this country have an agenda to do us harm; they are more likely to be out there spreading misinformation. He feels strongly that we all need to make some time to help educate people and inform them about the facts. “We need to show them how it really is--letting them learn on their own, but guiding them. Guidance is so important!” Many ranchers have been too busy all their lives just taking care of their cattle and trying to make a living, and haven’t spent much time defending our way of life or helping educate the public. “We do ranch tours here at our place for school children. We have a lot of fun with that and the kids enjoy it. You have to be careful with the terms you use, and be politically correct, and careful in what you say about mamas birthing and how the bulls get the mamas bred, etc. But we find a way to get around it.” This is a great opportunity for kids to learn more about ranching and how cattle | Continued on page 48

Western Cowman - July/August 2016

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By Kindra and Bridger Gordon

n 1861, the same year Abraham Lincoln became president, a new restaurant opened promising to serve fresh and delicious seafood to the people of San Francisco, which then had a population of only 60,000. One hundred fifty-five years later, the Old Clam House is still in business, and is the oldest restaurant

in the same location in all of San Francisco. (History buffs might like to know The Tadich Grill has been around longer – established in 1849 – but it has moved locations several times.) The Old Clam House has become a favorite – particularly among those who attend the annual Grand

National Livestock Show, Horse Show & Rodeo at the Cow Palace each October. Located at the corner of Oakdale Avenue and Bayshore Boulevard, between Bernal Heights and Bayview, the Old Clam House is somewhat of a hidden gem in a corner of the city that is mostly industrial. Much of the restaurant’s charm comes from its old-time atmosphere. Rave Reviews In the late 19th century, the restaurant, which was originally called the Oakdale Bar & Clam House, quickly became a local hotspot. The 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and Fire that destroyed much of early San Francisco barely missed the Old Clam House. Today, the Old Clam House is owned by the Dal Bozzo Family and stays true to its original mission of serving great food to its customers. As it did in its early years, the restaurant is still raved about among customers. One recent TripAdvisor post exclaimed: “Seafood lovers should love this place. The food servings are more than enough for an average appetite… They had an interesting appetizer - Fried Clam Chowder - Huh? you may ask. As did I. They make clam chowder, scoop out balls of it and freeze it. Then deep fry it upon request. It was delicious. Sandwiches are twice the size one normally encounters. The fish and chips were

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enough for two people. The mussel dishes in sizzling pans are tender and delicious. I thought the overall price was fair considering what we ordered and what we have had in other restaurants in the SF area. Also, the waitress was efficient and bubbled with personality.” The restaurant has long prided itself in serving fresh seafood; entrees like Clam Bake Cioppino, Seafood Linguine, Crab Enchiladas and the Fishwich Sandwich tempt the taste buds. All clams served are farm-raised in Puget Sound and the Washington Coast. Manila clams are used because the meat is tender and has a lower salinity content than other types of clam. Mussels for the Old Clam House are blue mussels from Prince Edward Island, Canada – renowned for their superior flavor and quality. Another unique aspect of the Old Clam House is their signature Clam Juice drink, earning them the popular slogan: “Have you had your Clam Juice today?” Each patron gets a shot of Clam Juice once they are seated.

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New Era In 2011 – when the restaurant was marking its 150th anniversary – after a long line of owners, it came under the ownership of Jerry Dal Bozzo and his family. Dal Bozzo knows a thing or two about restaurants as he owns eight others, including the Stinking Rose and Calzone in North Beach, the Franciscan at Fisherman’s Wharf and Salito’s in Sausalito. They spent nearly $300,000 in renovations with the aim of giving the restaurant modern conveniences with a nod to its heritage. The atmosphere today includes lots of old photos, pressed metal ceilings, large fans and a few booths with curtains. The menu has also been updated, but still features the stellar seafood that was instrumental in shaping the restaurant’s success. The Old Clam House is located in southeastern San Francisco on Bayshore Boulevard and is open every day from 11:30 AM to 10 PM. Western Cowman - July/August 2016

are raised, and where their food comes from—and what people do on a ranch. “Most of the kids come from town; they bring a school bus out with 35 to 40 kids. They are city kids and even their parents have never been exposed to this,” he says. This is why it’s so important to help educate the children about agriculture, so they don’t have the wrong impression about it. “They see how well we raise cattle. We take very good care of our animals and the place is clean. It’s a lot of work but we get it done. This is important because when kids come out they see the green

Continued from page 43 |

Trent Stewart Auctioneer

(541) 325-3662 tsauctions@gmail.com

grass, and see how healthy the animals are. We make sure there’s no manure all over the place that they have to walk in.” It’s a pleasant experience and they are fascinated by these nice cows. HEALTHY LIFESTYLE “We’ve also had national television crews come out to the ranch 6 times (ABC, CBS and FOX) doing stories. One crew spent a couple of days, and at one point wanted me to move one of the animals in a pasture closer to the fence so they could get a better picture. I didn’t want to walk all the way around to a gate; I was in my late 70’s at that time. So I just climbed over the fence. When it was on television, I got phone calls from a lot of people! One lady here in California asked if I was the man in his 70’s raising cattle. She said, ‘Keep it up! You are doing good for us old-timers!’ Bob doesn’t plan on retiring. Staying busy raising cattle is good for a person’s physical health and mental health. There is something very satisfying about working with animals and Nature. “It’s a joy. Even when we have challenges we do whatever we have to do, and when we go out there to work with them we are mentally in tune with that particular animal. Each one is an individual and it’s a joy to interact with them. They are very smart and a pleasure to work with.” FAMILY “It’s been a lot of hard work, but also a lot of fun. I have three sons— Kevin, Brian and Kirk, but none of them wanted to get into the cattle business. They are all very successful in their own right, but they are not into agriculture. Kirk and his son Kyle, my grandson, are Fireman. Kirk is a Captain, my grandson Kyle is an inspector and those two both work for CDF (California Department of Forestry). The Cap-

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tain is actually our fireman. His station is only 10 miles away, so we get good service!” In the drought situation with so many fires these past few years, it’s nice to have good protection. “Even though our sons are not on the ranch, if we get into a difficult situation or a lot of calves coming at one time, all we have to do is call them and they are right here to help us. They like to do the work, they just don’t want to make their living ranching. My family supports me 110% and we love what we do,” Bob says. “My wife Peggy is a nurse and has been a nurse for 40 years at the same hospital. She is a really good partner in the cattle business and she knows a lot about animal health. It’s nice to have someone in the family who knows about animal health! We are a good team, and we don’t have sick cattle. We know what to look for and when to look, and we start from day one and make sure our cattle are healthy all the time,” Bob says. Preventative care is always better than having to treat sick ones. “I have a daughter Kathy Martin, who lives in Memphis, Tennessee and a grandson and granddaughter back there--Shane Martin, and Jessica Pannel. We flew those grandchildren to Austin and Houston one year when we were showing in Texas, and they really enjoyed it. They were there for a week and my grandson worked his tail off. I was worried that maybe it was a little too much, but my daughter called me after he got home to tell me that she asked him if he had a good time. He said, ‘No I didn’t. I had an outstanding time!’ Every time they are out here (every other year), he’s so eager to help, and asks what I want him to do. He’s right into it. Maybe he will want to have a career with cattle.”

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18 miles West of the city of Williams on Highway 16 in Colusa County. This ranch consists of 2,575.50 acres, and is a working cattle ranch. There are two large reservoirs on the ranch with a nice hunting lodge and sleeping cabin. Excellent pig, deer, and elk hunting. A very secluded weekend getaway with easy access. $3,090,600

Rancho De Dos Palmas The 512 acre Farm is located 2 ½ miles southeast of the City of Davis and El Macero, on the north and south sides of Putah Creek in Yolo County. Class I and II soils, Ag Well, Riparian Rights to Putah Creek and a drain water return system. Planted to Tomatoes and Corn. $6,250,000 (PRICE REDUCED!) Co-listed with Steve Kritscher, (530) 405-6036.

Bauer Ranch

This ranch is located between the cities of Davis and Dixon, consisting of 312.5 acres. This is a well located, sizeable parcel that is on the market for the first time in 35 years. The ranch has historically been farmed to irrigated row-crops, and the soils are well suited for orchard production. Water is provided by two producing ag wells on the property. This ranch is colisted with Jon M. Roberts of Roberts & Company. $6,876,540

Tolson Estate (PENDING)

This farm is located 8.5 miles north of the city of Woodland with 414 acres. There are four separate parcels, consisting of 81.8 ac., 80.65 ac., 211.65 ac., and 40.81 acres. The property is zoned Agricultural Intensive and has historically been farmed to pasture, dryland and irrigated row-crops. The ranch has water from Reclamation District 787 and has 252 shares in the Colusa Drain Mutual Water Company, and a well sharing agreement. $4,495,995

Scott Stone, Broker (O) (530) 662-4094 • (M) (530) 681-1410 www.calagprop.com Western Cowman - July/August 2016

By Heather Smith-Thomas

A B O R T I O N ~ The Vaccine to Prevent it! ~

his mysterious cause of abortion in cattle was first recognized in cows grazing the foothill regions of coastal and central California, but it also occurs in southern Oregon and Nevada. The unique pathogen that causes death of the fetus and subsequent abortion is transmitted by the bite of a soft-bodied tick, Ornithodoros coriaceus, that inhabits these regions. Dr. Jeffrey Stott, Professor, School of Veterinary Medicine at UC-Davis, has been studying the disease for many years. “It was recognized in the 1940’s as a unique cause of abortion that was different from brucellosis. This was one of the primary factors in the California legislature providing money to have the veterinary school here in Davis to address foothill abortion to find out what it was and resolve the problem. It has taken a long time, but we are figuring it out,” he says. The tick that transmits this disease is also unique. Many people don’t realize they are different from ticks they see on dogs, horses or cattle. Ticks that carry the bacteria that cause foothill abortion are soft-bodied ticks that live in arid regions, burrowing into the soil and organic matter on the ground—often where deer or cattle bed. If the ticks are present and haven’t taken a blood meal for a month or more, they crawl out of the ground, locate the animal lying there, and attach briefly to engorge with blood. Unlike hard-bodied ticks that stay on the host for days or weeks, these soft-bodied ticks only need 30 minutes of attachment to fill up with blood. Then they drop off the animal and burrow back into the ground. “They feed on any animal that comes along, such as deer, ground squirrels, coyotes, etc. They’ve also been found in bird nests. They feed on anything that will lie there awhile, giving them the chance to climb onto the ani-

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mals. The ticks may also go down badger holes and ground squirrel holes,” he says. “These ticks are rapid feeders and don’t stay on the animal, so you’d rarely find one on your cattle. They only live in dry regions. We don’t see foothill abortion around Eureka or on the ocean side of the coastal range. These ticks have never been found below 500 feet elevation. They prefer foothills, and warm weather. As you move north and east from Central California, areas that have ticks tend to be southfacing slopes that receive more sunshine. The disease has yet to be identified in Idaho or in Utah.” These ticks are very hardy and can withstand wildfires. “We’ve talked to some of the ranchers who had bad fires; they said that when they put cattle back out on those pastures (after the grass recovered from the burn) they had increased incidence of foothill abortion. The fires destroyed the wildlife, so there were a lot of hungry ticks! The ticks can survive for 2 to 3 years without a blood meal, and they are longlived—possibly living for 12 to 20 years,” says Stott. Abortions from this disease are diagnosed with pathology. “It’s probably the only disease diagnosed strictly by pathology. Abortions are seen in animals that were pregnant while in the foothills, and the fetus has a unique lesion in the thymus (which most folks refer to as sweet breads),” he says. “This is a difficult disease to diagnose because predators are so prevalent that you don’t find the aborted fetus. You see the cow and know she’s dropped a calf because she’s bagged up, but there’s no calf. Probably other causes of abortion get blamed on this disease, but we know a certain percentage of losses are foothill abortion,” he says. THE BACTERIUM “The tick was identified as the vector in the 1970’s but it wasn’t until the mid-1990’s that we finally identified the oddball bacterial caus-

ing abortion. It’s a Myxococcus in the family of deltaproteo bacteria, which are not pathogenic expect for this one exception. Another bacterium that is somewhat related causes enteritis in pigs and possibly foals, but its closest relatives are soil bacteria rather than pathogens. It’s also difficult to culture; it won’t grow on any culture media. It only wants to live in ticks and doesn’t replicate like other bacteria. We figure it replicates maybe once a day, whereas most bacteria multiply very rapidly,” he says. “The only way we can grow these bacteria to study them is in mice without an immune system (genetically altered to have no lymphocytes). The only known naturally susceptible animal is a bovine fetus that does not yet have an immune system. It takes about as long to make an immune-deficient mouse sick (about 60 to 90 days) as it does to kill a fetus. If we intentionally infect a pregnant heifer, about the earliest we see an abortion is about 100 days. This is why cows probably abort about 3 to 4 months after being bitten by the tick,” he explains. “What we don’t know is the lag time between the dam getting infected and the bacteria getting into the uterus and across the placental barrier into the fetus. This may add a bit more time. This is probably why it takes longer to kill a bovine fetus than it does to kill an immunodeficient mouse. It probably takes 30 days for the bacteria to get from the cow into the fetus,” says Stott. “We can learn more now that we actually have the bacteria in hand and can infect animals experimentally. We are finding that losses from this disease are more than what we original-

ly thought,” he says. RESEARCH TRIALS Some of the ways ranchers have tried to avoid abortions include changing their breeding season to avoid overlapping of the susceptible gestation period with tick exposure, or only using tick-infested pastures after the cows are past 6 months of pregnancy. Exposed animals usually have some immunity, possibly for a year or two, so some ranchers expose their yearling heifers to tickinfested pastures before breeding, to develop immunity before they are bred. The alternate approach is to put off intentional exposure of pregnant heifers into the latter months of gestation. “This has probably been fairly effective, but we’ve just been guessing. This is the first time we’ve actually done an experiment to see if that works. We only used a small number of heifers because the price of cattle drives the cost of our research up. We took 3 heifers at 5 months and 3 heifers at 7 months’ gestation and hit them hard with bacteria (via needle and syringe). The 7 months are still a question mark but we’ve had one case of foot

Western Cowman - July/August 2016

the veterinary school here at Davis where we created the vaccine.” The CCA does all the paperwork and gets the ranchers signed up. An integral part of this vaccination program was to also gather safety data that would help facilitate obtaining a license for the vaccine. “We need safety data, so the ranchers have to keep records; they can’t just vaccinate and forget about it. They have to give us some data back, or we won’t let them participate the second year. We just finished the first year--vaccinating more than 8000 animals--even though we only ran one advertisement about it in the November 2014 issue of the CCA newsletter. That was the only announcement, along with word of mouth. Now we’re in the second year,” he says. “We are starting to get inquiries from people who would like to vaccinate heifers outside of the state and be able to bring them in, as immune or as immune pregnant cows or heifers. That market had been eliminated by foothill abortion because if anyone brings a naïve herd into these regions they abort—and not at a rate of 40 to 50% like the resident animals, but more like 85%. It’s a wipe-out, so nobody does that anymore,” he explains.“ We vaccinated a group of cattle

from the Boardman-Pendleton area that will be brought to California soon. I think there will be a good market for the vaccine, and now it’s just a matter of running the trials and ranchers can sign up to be a part of these trials. They have to jump through a few hoops but they can get their animals vaccinated. We have to get a USDA permit for every single premises we use the vaccine on. Before we can get the USDA authorization we have to get state authorization.” A herd near McDermott was recently vaccinated, on the Oregon side of the border. “To get that done, we needed approval from both the Oregon and Nevada Departments of Agricultural, to move the vaccine through the state of Nevada. We also had to get authorization from California’s Bureau of Animal Health to move the vaccine through California. We submit those requests to USDA, and even though the USDA has been very helpful, it takes a couple months to get the paperwork done, and then we have to get everyone scheduled. It’s a cryopreserved vaccine that has to be transported in liquid nitrogen, just like an embryo or semen. To make this work, we have to line up several ranches to do at once,” he says. The producers are strongly

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encouraged to make a contribution to a non-profit called the CCA Livestock Memorial Research Fund. “We use these funds to get the paperwork done to make the vaccine, get it transported and administered. It’s not cheap, but we are launched. One producer near Paso Robles said that anyone who is not using this vaccine has a very dull pencil or no pencil. It is expensive, but losing calves is more expensive. Two calves saved would pay for the vaccine. Even if a rancher is only losing 10% of his calves to foothill abortion, he’d be dollars ahead to vaccinate,” Stott says. Vaccinated cattle seem to gain immunity for a minimum of 2 years, even in the absence of any tick exposure. “Most of your herd would be immune for up to 3 years. Somewhere during that time frame you might need to give a booster if there is minimal tick activity. For resident animals in areas endemic with foothill abortion this will probably be a heifer vaccine, which will largely protect the herd because those animals will be immune as they work into the herd,” he says. “We visited recently with the manager of a large ranch. He thought he was seeing losses at about 10 to 15% from foothill abortion before we started vaccinating his cattle. This is the 5th year we’ve been vaccinating them and he told me the abortions have largely ceased. As those vaccinated heifers have worked into the herd, he’s only seen a handful of abortions. That’s very encouraging.” Word of mouth about the vaccine is spreading quickly. “We will eventually hit a certain capacity and won’t be able to do any more, but right now the local company is working hard to get this to market. We are hoping it will be a smooth transition from us producing the vaccine and doing the vaccinations to the private company producing the vaccine. And we will work with the food animal veterinarians who will be giving it—getting them up to speed on how to manage the vaccine so they

don’t kill it before they get it into the animals. We are hoping that within 2 years this program will be running on its own. We are very excited about it, that it’s giving relief to the people we’ve vaccinated cattle for. In these expanded trials we tried to vaccinate the animals at least 60 days (and preferably 90 days) before they are bred. By the time we finally get to calving, and see whether the calving success improved or not, it takes a while. You get into year two before you have the results from the first year’s vaccination. But I think this is a gamble that is really worth it,” he says. “This has been one of the greatest collaborative efforts I have ever been involved with. University of Nevada at Reno has put money into it and provided the first animals for vaccine trials. The veterinary school here at UC-Davis put a lot into it, as did the CCA to get this program up and running. They raised a quarter of a million dollars. When we got ready to do field trials, the University of CA awarded us a UC proofof-concept grant. They only give out about 5 or 6 of these across the whole UC system in the state. There was federal money as well. It’s been a huge team effort, and amazing, and it never would have happened without the persistence of the industry and the CCA continuing to nudge and push us. Now we have a lot more traction and we hope it comes out the other end as a success,” says Stott. It’s taken 50 years of effort. A recent article in Science Magazine helped draw attention to this disease. “One of their writers came to do a feature on this, and published it last year—discussing foothill abortion and the efforts to get a vaccine. I got phone calls from Germany, Italy and other countries from people interested in this unique pathogen and the approach we were taking,” says Stott. It drew attention to the fact that these researchers had found a pathogen that no one ever would have suspected lived in this family of bacteria. “Early on in our vaccine devel-

SELECTION & MOTHER NATURE In our purebred herds, our goals are to match our genetics to our environment. We believe that the most profitable cattle in a beef cow calf production system are those cows that can produce a big, stout calf and do it without any other supplemental feed other than what “Mother Nature” provides. We believe in the use of all of the current tools and the technology that are available. But we don’t agree with those that put all of their emphasis on the data and forgot to look at the cattle. We think the functional ability of livestock is tied very closely to how they are designed from a phenotypic stand point. In our herds, the cattle must have an adequate amount body depth or volume, they must be heavy muscled, and they must be structurally sound. If they don’t meet these basic criteria, they are culled regardless of how good they are “on paper.” We also believe strongly in the value of the basic traits like, eyes, udder, feet and disposition. These traits are described by many as “convenience traits” and again if our cattle are not problem free in these areas, we limit their genetic influence in our herds.

Our Thanks…

To all the buyers and bidders on our recent Internet-based Private Treaty Bull Sale and to all the other individuals who have supported our program during the past year.

2015-2016 Student Assistants Mitch Behling • Brianna Dutra • Jacob Freitas Jacob Pignone • Brett Rose • John Traini • John Woodcock CCA MEMBER

RANDY PERRY • (559) 278-4793 CODY MCDOUGALD - BULL & HEIFER DEVELOPMENT • (559) 284-4111 ILEAH RUBLE - COMMERCIAL CATTLE • (559) 760-6274

Website: fresnostate.edu/jcast/beef

opment efforts, many pharmaceutical companies were interested in producing it, until they found out that it only affects one region of the country. We finally found a small local pharmaceutical company that specializes in boutique vaccines, so to speak. They are actively pursuing commercialization of our vaccine. This company is excited about it, especially in light of the success of field trials and the intense interest from producers. There was early concern regarding marketability of

the vaccine. But the success of vaccine trials in commercial herds has been very encouraging, given the minimal advertisement of the program, the stipulation that they had to provide required safety data, and the requirement that they could not sell the animals for 90 days, which is the official holding period on the vaccine. It’s all an inconvenience for the producer, so if we had 8000 animals involved in the first year, then the market for this vaccine is probably pretty large,” Stott says. WC

Western Cowman - July/August 2016

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Western Cowman WesternCowman 1/2 pg (7” x 4.5”) 4C EARLY DEADLINES A201504-07_Testimonial-Colyer

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Selling 75 Angus Bulls at the Ranch near Calistoga 2016 Offering includes sons of these leading A.I. sires: SIRES

MRB

FAT

MUSGRAVE BIG SKY

+1.7

+68

+115

+30

+1.02

+.54

+.051

+141.56

PA FULL POWER 1208

+64

+116

+53

+1.07

+.003

+142.14

S A V ANGUS VALLEY 1867

+.1

+51

+100

+16

+.65

+.57

+.060

+128.88

PVF INSIGHT 0129

+1.5

+61

+109

+34

+.44

+1.09

-.021

+132.59

CONNEALY IN SURE

-2.7

+45

+84

+37

+1.15

+1.00

+.009

+150.85

SYDGEN ATLAS 1043

+1.8

+65

+117

+37

+.76

+.92

+.029

+207.91

PVF INSIGHT 0129 BW 84

BW WW -.2 +62 YW MILK +105 +19 CW MARB +26 +.56 RE FAT +.96 +.067 $W $F +70.80 +60.51 $G $B +35.17 +100.03

205 861

365 1443

BW WW +1.5 +61 YW MILK +109 +34 CW MARB +36 +.44 RE FAT +1.09 -.021 $W $F +74.07 +73.39 $G $B +38.87 +132.59

205 680

365 N/A

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The LaFranchi FamiLy

Cheryl & Frank LaFranchi (707) 292.1013 P.O. Box 13520, Hwy 128 Calistoga, CA 94515 Western Cowman - July/August 2016

The Only Tool You Need Is

A Good Bull Offering 9 Angus bulls all sired by top AI sires at the California Breeders’ Bull Sale on October 8th in Turlock, California.

Pheasant Trek Woodland, California

The Danekas & Lohse Families • 916/849/2725 • www.pheasanttrek.com 56

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By Kindra Gordon

ith over 50 Western and Country music hits to his name, a nine year-stint starring on TNN, and numerous country music awards, Rex Allen Jr. knows he’s had a blessed ride. Of his career, the country music crooner says, “I’ve got wonderful memories.” He counts the rodeo circuit among his “most joyous performances,” and cites Fort Worth, Odessa, Pikes Peak or Bust, and Nampa – where he still holds the attendance record – as favorites. He adds, “I used to know the cowboys well.” Allen also laments, “It’s an era that will never return.” Sadly, that is likely a true sentiment. But for fans of Allen and the “good ole’ days,” his music lives on in songs like Last of the Silver Screen Cowboys; Where Are The Heroes?; No, No, No; It’s Over; and Lonely Street. Another classic by Allen is Ride Cowboy Ride – which he reports

has become one of the most recorded songs in western music history. In spring 2016, Allen’s version of the song was re-released on a worldwide basis. And, over the past four years, Allen has continued to crank out two albums each year – for a total of 8 CD’s in his “Garage Songs” series. With modern technology, Allen has been able to record the albums at his home near Nashville – and make them available through the web. Each album has a theme, Garage Songs VII features western, while Garage Songs VIII is more folk music. The track “Lord I Hope This Day Is Good” on Garage Songs VII was a Top 20 record in Australia, New Zealand and the United Kingdom during spring 2016. While Allen says he’ll never stop singing, he is making plans to retire in the fall of 2017. Allen plans to begin touring in the fall of 2016 and

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through 2017 with a focus on venues in the West and Midwest. He says, “Because those are the folks who supported me through my career.” His final venue will be at Rex Allen Days in Wilcox, Arizona – his father’s hometown – on October 7, 2017. Of retirement, Allen says, “I just want to see the world from the other side.”

Long Ride Born into a show business family, Allen began singing around the age of 6. His father, Rex Allen, Sr., starred in nearly 50 movies, narrated 150 Walt Disney specials and often starred in commercials, as well as had several Western music hits. He was considered the last of the silverscreen cowboys along with counterparts Gene Autry and Roy Rogers. Of his youth, Rex Allen Jr. says he recalls a fondness for horses and the western lifestyle – telling that while his friends went to the beach, he’d be cleaning horse stalls. He also often traveled with his father and so it was no surprise that he too would follow in the footsteps of becoming an actor/singer/entertainer. Allen says as a youngster he didn’t really understand how big of a star his father was. But he got a glimpse of his dad’s movie star status while en route from Colorado to Idaho. He recalls, “We had worked a rodeo in Colorado Springs and got on a plane in Denver heading to Boise, Idaho. The plane made a stop in Rapid City, South Dakota, and when we did the pilot came back to our seats and told us that the local radio and TV stations were reporting that Rex Allen Sr. was on the plane. As a result, about 3,000 people had gathered at the Rapid City airport.”

He continues, “The pilot asked dad if he would mind stepping out of the plane and waving. Dad got out and shook every little kid’s hand. When the plane finally took off, the pilot thanked us and then buzzed Mount Rushmore to give us a bird’s eye view.” Soon, Rex Allen Jr was making the rounds on his own. During the early part of his career, he performed at every major rodeo, and says, “I remember Jim Shoulders, Donnie Gay…I’d perform in the arena as an event of the rodeo and Chris LeDoux and his band would perform at the dance afterwards.” He adds, “I’m proud to say there are few people like me. Michael Martin Murphy, Don Edwards and I…We try to keep the western lifestyle alive through music.” Always Exciting Raised in California, Rex Allen Jr’s musical career took him to Nashville early on, where he lived for 25 years. He then spent 12 years in Las Vegas and performed regularly at The Orleans Hotel. He returned to Nashville, and in 1992, The Nashville Network (TNN) came calling. His old friends The Statler Brothers offered him a regular spot on their Saturday night show. After three successful years, Rex had the opportunity to

spin off the Yesteryear segment into its own series – with an average viewing audience of over 28 million people. Allen’s golden voice also served as the narrator of the $40 million dollar film Me, Myself And Irene starring Jim Carrey and produced by the Farrelly Brothers. That experience then led to the opportunity to narrate the CMT Special CMT’s Most Shocking Feuds as well as voice several local and national radio and TV commercials. Another Rex Allen Jr accomplishment – he was the first performer ever allowed to sing on The Great Wall of China. He sang, I Love You Arizona – which in 2011 was declared by the state of Arizona as the official song of the Arizona centennial. Allen’s most recent pride and joy are his two grandchildren – Mary Fletcher Allen, who is 6, and Jackson Rex Allen, who is 9. Jackson plays guitar, and of Mary, Rex says, “She sings like a dream.” Garage Songs VI which is titled “Love Songs” and was released on Valentine’s Day 2015 features Mary and Jackson on the cover. Whatever the future holds, Rex Allen Jr looks forward to enjoying it, and he reminds his fans, “I’ll never stop singing.” Find your favorite Rex Allen songs on iTunes and CDBaby.com. His tour dates will be posted at www.rexallenjr.com.

Western Cowman - July/August 2016

Hand-Signed Canvas and Fine-Art Prints Legendary photographer, David R. Stoecklein captured the culture of the true American West over his 35-year career. The Stoecklein Collection is proud to share these iconic images for many generations to enjoy. A limited number of print and canvas works are now available for purchase. A hand-signed piece by David R. Stoecklein is sure to compliment any collection, whether big or small.

Winter Save 34" x 32"

In the Round Pin 9" x 19.75"

Winter’s Chill 38" x 29"

Afternoon With Grandpa 30.5” x 20”

San Emigdio Cattle Co. 56" x 42.5"

Stampede 20" x 27"

Mother and Child 54" x 41"

Under the Double Oaks 20" x 30"

Snowy Fence 35.5" x 45.5"

Rainy Day Cowboy 34.5" x 44"

All The Pretty Horses 20" x 30"

Nose To Toes 11" x 14"

Sunrise Dust Stomp 20" x 30"

Riders Of The Storm 20"x 30"

The Wrangler 49" x 58.5"

Each limited hand-signed work includes a certificate of authenticity. Prices will increase as the reserve selection is sold. View these limited pieces at stoeckleinphotography.com/stoecklein-art-gallery. Sales Inquiries: 208-726-5191

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Photo By: Terri Arington, Columbia, MT

Contestants must be from the following states: California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, Washington, Oregon, New Mexico, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, and Colorado.Contestants must be paid subscribers to the Western Cowman magazine. Photos are to be 8 x 10-inch color or black and white prints, mounted on 11 x 14-inch black poster board. Photos not securely mounted will be disqualified. Make certain your name, address, and phone numbers are attached to the back. Photo must depict our western ranching lifestyle. Photo’s can’t be altered or image-inhanced in any way. Categories will be divided up after all of the entries have been received. Junior category is for shutterbugs 15 years of age and younger. A maximum of 25 photos per contestant can be entered. Entries cannot have appeared in another contest. Photo become the property of of the Western Cowman for use in publication and promotion. Winning entries will be published in the November 2016 issue of the Western Cowman. Entry deadline is September 7th, 2016. Cash awards will be given to first place winners. Photo chosen as the “Editor’s Choice” will appear on the November 2016 Western Cowman cover.

ENTRY DEADLINE: SEPTEMBER 7TH, 2016

SPECIAL CATEGORY: “THE COWGIRLS” Western Cowman - July/August 2016

estern Video Market (WVM) was one of the first video auctions, started in 1989 by veteran marketers Ellington Peek and John Rodgers. Based in Cottonwood, California, this internet and video auction now markets more than a quarter million cattle each year. Holly Foster, video operations manager for WVM, says that with all of today’s technology it’s interesting that we still use a rather old-fashioned method of livestock marketing (the auction and an auctioneer), but facilitating nationwide coverage with the newest technology. It’s a unique blend of old and new. “John and Ellington wanted to utilize a video auction to help their consignors find a national marketplace. Our company represents consignors in the 16 western states, but gives them the opportunity to market their cattle nationally,” says Foster. PARTNERING WITH LOCAL AUCTIONS “We work with a network of existing auction yards to help them offer video sale service to their customers. This lends strength and uniqueness to Western Video, as consignors can work with their local auction market but are still able to sell their cattle in a national marketplace. That’s a win-win for us and for the local auctions that are partners; they can offer the video sale service without having to take on the brunt of that type of work,” she says. “WVM consignors are working with a bonded livestock market and

bonded livestock dealers they can trust. There is already a reputation in place and a local connection which is very important to ranchers. This business is about relationships with people, and this is our strength,” she adds.

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It’s crucial that the industry keep local auctions alive and thriving, because ranchers depend on them for marketing animals (cull cows, bulls, etc.) that are not sold via video auctions. The two markets complement each other.

By Heather Smith-Thomas

“We work with a network of existing auction yards to help them offer video sale service to their customers. This lends strength and uniqueness to Western Video, as consignors can work with their local auction market but are still able to sell their cattle in a national marketplace.”

“It’s important to provide this service in conjunction with auction yards. It can be a win for the local economy and still help consignor get the most dollars for his or her feeder cattle on full load lots,” Foster says. Max Olvera, Turlock Livestock Western Cowman - July/August 2016

A view from the block during the July 2015 Western Video Market sale. Pictured are World Champion Auctioneer Col. Rick Machado and Col. Jake Parnell of Cattlemen’s Livestock Market (CLM).

Auction Yard, says several auctions including Turlock are representatives for Western Video Market. “It enables us to provide this service to our customers; it goes hand-inhand with our auction. We have a customer base that utilizes the video marketing process. Some of our customers sell one, two or several times a year on the video, depending on their program. With the monthly sale schedule that Western has, it’s a great marketing option for our customers to be able to market calves or yearlings—with a broad buyer base. We have a certain number of customers who sell through Western and we represent their cattle,” says Olvera. They sell loads of calves or yearlings on the video in spring, summer and fall. “It’s been a great tool, and an excellent way to bring the cattle producer and cattle buyer together in a competitive marketing venue. I’ve been working with WVM since 2000, going back to when I was at Cattlemen’s Livestock Market in Galt, California and now at Turlock. It’s been a very good relationship for me, and all of our customers—to be with WVM. We look at this as one big family; it’s more of a familytype atmosphere than just business. It’s a team effort,” he says. “WVM is big enough to compete, yet small enough to care. The relationships we have with both buyer and seller are very important.

It takes both. You need cattle producers who believe in the process and want to market their cattle with WVM, but none of it works unless you have that buyer base. Those buyers are bidding on those cattle with confidence,” Olvera says. “I am a big believer in the video marketing process, but it doesn’t work for everyone; there is a huge need for the weekly auction market. If we didn’t have the daily competitive auction market and the video together, we’d be at a loss; both of them have a very important place in our industry.” Some producers don’t have a full load and they can take those to the weekly auction. There is a need for both marketing options, and when they work together this provides a full service for all customers, selling and buying. “There are a lot of cattle marketed on the video, and we can help merchandize the product in this competitive atmosphere,” Olvera says. VIDEO MARKETS HAVE HELPED IMPROVE FEEDER CATTLE QUALITY John Rodgers, co-founder of WVM, feels video markets have contributed a great deal to the livestock industry. “We’ve helped ranchers become better managers and better marketers. Vaccination programs (pre-weaning vaccinations, preconditioning/weaning before selling the

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calves) and animal health have become more important. Cattle that are conscientiously handled, with a full vaccination program, bring more money. I think the video market has helped with that,” he says. Genetic improvement has been another focus. “A rancher sees his neighbor’s cattle bringing several dollars more per pound than his own cattle because the neighbor is paying a little more money for better bulls. Calf buyers are willing to pay for better genetics and better health programs.” They have more assurance of what they are buying, with more predictable cattle. “When a rancher has always bought the top bulls from a good purebred producer we generally see those calves bringing several dollars a hundred more than run-of-the mill calves. We also have value-added programs such as ‘natural’ and nonhormone treated calves (NHTC). GAP (Global Animal Partnership, in which cattle are raised under certain welfare criteria) has also become a big thing. This is driven by only one retail outfit—Whole Foods—but those cattle also bring a good premium,” he says. “We feel we have a very professional staff, with our knowledge, the auctioneers’ knowledge of cattle genetics and various programs the ranchers have. We are in a better position to help a rancher market cattle and do a better job,” says Rodgers. The auction is a good bridge between seller and buyer because the staff knows what the ranchers have and what the buyers want, and can match them up. The video auction can find a home for cattle that the rancher himself may not be able to. “We send cattle from California and the West Coast clear to Nebraska, Texas, Kansas, Iowa and other regions

where cattle are fed. A video auction makes everybody’s world smaller. We’ve sent cattle to every state west of the Mississippi and some states east of the Mississippi. This is a big advantage, and with the current break in the market this ability is even more advantageous to ranchers,” he explains. “I am proud that our outfit runs so smoothly; every segment, from the ladies who do the paperwork to the guys who help at ringside, to the auctioneers, is very professional and knows how to do it. The auctioneers are very familiar with each rancher’s genetics, and we feel that a rancher who is doing a tip-top job deserves a tip-top selling job and we try to provide that—and I think we do, in most cases,” Rodgers says. EVOLUTION OF CATTLE MARKETING The cattle marketing business has changed over the years, as Foster points out. “Sometimes we are selling cattle via text message or finalizing delivery arrangements via text, which is a huge contrast with the old days when Ellington was first getting started, trying to find a pay phone!” When marketing on a video sale, a company representative will visit your ranch, develop a contract that describes the cattle, and take video footage. “The representative is working on behalf of both parties to make sure the cattle are represented accurately, which is to everyone’s benefit,” says Foster. “This gives the buyer more assurance that the cattle are what he thinks they are, and that they will be delivered as planned. If they are not, you have a party to take this up with.” This assures more trust, and satisfied customers—both buyer and seller. Video footage is posted along with a full catalog description prior to an actual sale, so buyers have an opportunity to see the cattle. “This marketing model makes a lot of sense in terms of reduced stress on the cattle, and the consignor doesn’t

have to worry about freight costs to get to a sale. Depending on the buyer, once those cattle are purchased on a video sale, the buyer typically arranges transport, in cooperation with our dispatcher. Folks who are considering marketing on the video sale must have access to adequate facilities and a certified scale. Weighing conditions vary, and cattle can be weighed either on the ground or on the truck, depending on the circumstances,” she says. “Phone-in bids were the first novelty with video auctions, with the auctions broadcast on television and subsequently the internet. People could call and make their bids, and now we have live internet bidding, in real time. This is a fairly recent change that gives buyers more convenience. They can sit at their disk and bid on cattle. Someone told me it’s like playing a video game, buying cattle!” It’s amazing how easy it is to buy and sell cattle today. BASICS OF SELLING ON A VIDEO MARKET The minimum requirement is at least a load lot, though it can be a mixed load (heifers and steers) and small operators can get together with their neighbor(s) to put together loads of similar cattle. “We have many folks who do that, and sometimes the video representative help arrange it. If someone is interested in working with WVM and there’s a

Western Video Market representatives taking bids over the phone at July 2015 sale

local affiliate auction yard, the producer is welcome to reach out to the local auction, and those representatives. Otherwise they can contact us at the office and we can find a rep close to them. That rep can follow up and get things together, and figure out timing for a sale,” says Foster. “This is a good discussion to have between a rep and a consignor, because sometimes there is some strategy in waiting. We have 12 to 13 sales each year, approximately one each month. In the spring we have 2 sales in May, since the majority of our customers in California are coming off grass and need some flexibility. All of our sales are streamed live on the internet, and about half are also broadcast on Dish network. We don’t broadcast them all on Dish since some are smaller, and it makes more sense economically to reduce the overhead for those,” she says. “Once a field rep takes the video it is sent to our office and we do the production and editing. We have a cooperative relationship with California State University Chico and they do some of our actual sale day production and host our streaming. This has been a win-win situation: the students work | Continued on page 86

Western Cowman - July/August 2016

For more information please contact the Sale Management: (916) 849-2725 | www.jdaonline.com | mercedes@jdaonline.com 66

W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

We will be offering exceptional bulls for sale this year sired by Churchill bullseye 328A.

3rd Week in September. Elite heifer lots of horned, polled, bred heifers, and heifer calves at www.cattleinmotion.com

Selling 50 bulls annually from industry leading sires. Call us today. Our bulls sell fast. Watch sale lot videos on YOUTUBE or FACEBOOK and our website www.chandlerherefords.com

We are proud to announce being recently inducted to the National Hereford Hall Of Fame

Western Cowman - July/August 2016

here’s a fun saying that most women who love to shop can relate to: “Cinderella is proof that a new pair of shoes can change your life.” For Californian Kathy Branco, there is certainly truth in that

statement – but it wasn’t a pair of shoes, it was western style furniture. In 2001, during a trip to Oklahoma City for a barrel futurity, Branco stepped into a furniture store and fell in love with their of-

W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

fering of Texas western style furnishings. She bought five pieces on that trip for her own home and hauled it back to California with her horse. She recalls that while shopping that day, the store owner kept encouraging her to start her own business and sell the same type of furniture in California. Branco really didn’t give the idea too much thought, until friends visited her home and loved the pieces she had purchased as well. She realized there certainly was an opportunity and in September 2001, Kathy, and her husband Steve, established Branco Ranch Furniture. For the past fifteen years, Kathy has traveled to trade shows and stocked her Chowchilla, California-based warehouse store to bring the furniture she loves to others to enjoy. “You can’t get this kind of furniture on the West Coast,” she says of the rustic, carved, and often cowhide or leather tooled embellished, western pieces, which includes a variety of leather couches, chairs,

By Kindra Gordon

desks and dining room tables to ornate side tables, leather pillows and wall décor. It’s a life path, even she has been surprised by. Branco says, “I never dreamed I’d be in this business.” Branco grew up as a self-described “city girl;” her dad was a teacher and coach. But she had an affinity for horses and country life and was involved showing horses. Thirty-five years ago she was working at Griffith Park Equestrian Center giving horseback riding lessons, when she met her husband who was at the center for a team roping event. Steve introduced Kathy to the rodeo world and she began to gain knowledge in the western retail world as the purchasing agent at Branco & Sons, Chowchilla, Ca. She also gained trade show experience working with Flanigans Cowboy Shop, Smith Bros. of Tx., One Stop Cowboy Shop, Pacific Coast Cutting Horse Assoc., and Ropes Galore. Over the past decade, Branco featured her furniture at as many as a dozen trade shows annually in California and surrounding states, selling from her trade show display and taking custom orders. Today, she focuses on two major events – the Snaffle Bit Futurity in Reno and the Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale. At many events she was usually a “one-man band” and relied heavily on “dolly” to get the furniture moved in and out of the show. | Continued on page 70 Western Cowman - July/August 2016

Selling Sons Sired By: Connealy Final Product, EXAR Totally Tuned, Connealy Capitalist, Connealy Right Answer, Vin Mar O’Reilly Factor & bulls influenced by Boyd Resume 9008

Calving Ease & Growth Bulls Available At California Breeders Bulls Sale • October 8th World of Bulls Sale • November 5th Red Bluff Bull Sale • January 28th Always At the Ranch The Tower Family

P.O. Box 100 Copperopolis, CA 95228 • Amelia: (209) 841-8063 Mary: (209) 768- 0322 • Email: MT@Caltel.com

W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

Branco credits two close friends – Jaime Hinton Anderson and Debbie Bell – for also helping her at the big shows. She recalls her first show was the Snaffle Bit Futurity in September 2001 in Reno. It was held just a week or so after the 9-11 terrorist attacks, and Branco was admittedly concerned with starting a business in that environment. But she says the response to her offering was “huge,” and from there the business took off. This year, she is looking forward to returning to that annual event, but it will be bittersweet, as the Snaffle Bit Futurity will move to Fort Worth in 2017. Another favorite trade show event for Branco is the Red Bluff Bull and Gelding Sale held each January. Branco says by the end of the show, most of her furnishings on display have been sold. Regarding favorite pieces, Branco says during the early years of her business the trophy coffee tables with space to display buckles and awards were wildly popular. Today, it’s more of a variety of pieces that appeal. Branco says she has learned that styles change and “not everyone likes the same thing.” As for challenges, she notes that shipping is always a challenge, as is having patience with custom orders. She explains, “We get a lot of our woodwork done in Mexico, and they do great work, but you have to have patience.” She has several workmen whom she has worked with for several years. Looking ahead, Branco remains excited about seeing old friends and making new ones on the trade show trail. She hopes to eventually add a few more trade shows to her annual events, and says she will continue to strive to “keep everyone set with great cowboy furniture.” The Branco Ranch Furniture Warehouse store in Chowchilla is open by appointment by calling (559) 250-9028, and see many of their offerings on their website at www.brancoranch.com. Continued from page 69 |

Western Cowman - July/August 2016

but they are welcome if they want to help. We let them vaccinate, castrate, etc. We rope the calves to brand them, and explain why we hot-iron brand, to show ownership. In California, if a calf is over 6 months old and weaned from its mother, and not branded, whoever has it in possession owns it. A brand is the only way to prove ownership if your cattle stray. When people see these things they realize it makes sense. I also try to explain about the different vaccinations the animals get, and why, and that the discomfort for the calf is just a momentary thing. The calf is only on the ground for about a minute, and then it’s over,” says Jack. The guests enjoy the ranch experience because it’s the real thing. Cattle are being moved from one pasture to another for a reason, and not just to give the guests a cattle drive. The two purposes are complementary. “The fact I have people scheduled to come and move cattle also ensures that I move them at the proper time. There have been occasions when a person might just postpone, or not move them, especially as we get older and tired, but this way I am committed. We end

Continued from page 17 |

up with a more meaningful program of grazing management because of the cattle drives,” he says. It also makes the work a little different, with some flexibility, and maybe a little more patience and a broader outlook. “These people are on vacation and they don’t want to be yelled at. If they are in the wrong place or mess up when we are moving cattle, we don’t say a word. If things go awry we just send the dogs around to pick up the pieces, and the people love to watch the dogs work. Our dogs aren’t great but we get the job done. If the cattle are going off in the wrong direction or into the brush, the dogs just get around them and stop them and maybe bring them back toward us. We get everything under control and continue on,” explains Jack. Jack and Zee have four children and 9 grandchildren. The oldest grandchild is 24. “Part of the trick of getting the ranch from one generation to the next is figuring out, for the ones who want to stay, how they will make a living. I am looking toward recreation as a big opportunity for this. The cattle will always provide a living for one family, but there are other grazing animals that we might ultimately

W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

utilize,” he says. At this point most of the grandchildren still want to work with the cattle and rope and rodeo. “Maybe when they get older and need to make a few dollars, they might look at some other alternatives as a way to make a living on the ranch. Getting older and realizing you have to make a living can change a person’s attitude about how to make a living.” Priorities may change or expand. “We are just trying to let them know that if they want to stay on the ranch and they see a niche they could fill, we’re good with that. If they want to move away and make a living elsewhere, that’s fine, too. But we see the recreation potential and other forms of livestock raising as possible paths our grandchildren could follow if they want to,” says Jack. “When we have a branding or work cattle, we don’t have to invite anyone to come because we have enough help with just our family and grandkids. We can rope and brand a lot of cattle in a day,” he says. The past few years the ranch has also hosted photography workshops with an instructor who comes to teach, and people can photograph activities on the ranch. “We just play cowboy and they shoot pictures! It’s been great because we have use of some of those photos and have a lot of beautiful pictures.” Another activity during summer is hosting several professional clinicians who come to the ranch to put on their clinics. Horse owners come to learn more about handling horses and training horses. Some of the people who have put on clinics at the V6 ranch include Richard Winters, Sandy Collier, Barbra Schulte, and Lester Buckley. Regarding advice for anyone who might be interested in aug-

menting ranch income with recreation, Jack says that it’s important to enjoy people. “If you don’t truly like people, it won’t work. You almost need to be an extravert, to welcome people to your ranch— people who don’t know anything about ranching or cattle. They just want a western adventure. You have to be patient and caring,” he says. If guests are helping with a cattle drive or any other ranch job, you also have to not worry if things don’t always go as smoothly or perfectly as you’d wish. “I’ve helped neighbors who were too fussy, and I might have been that way myself, years ago. A person does things a certain way or by habit, or has a certain route you always take the cattle to the corrals. For me now, there are 10 ways we can get off that mountain and I don’t care which one we take—as long as we get to the bottom with the cattle. You become more flexible and you change.” If you are not flexible, it won’t work as well for you to deal with extra people. “You don’t need as much country as we have, to do a good job with a recreational experience for

guests. Even with a small place, you can have hands-on experiences for them, and perhaps a teaching environment. Maybe you would teach them how to team rope or some other skill with horses and cattle. There are many things a person could do with guests on a smaller ranch,” he says. Every ranch is unique, with special aspects that could lend themselves to a recreational opportunity to capitalize on. The nice thing about adding this type of program to a ranching operation is that it doesn’t cost much to get started. “You don’t need much infrastructure so there isn’t much investment at risk. You can try it and see if it’s for you. If it is, the people will know it. There’s a certain feeling when guests come and they know right away that they are welcome. If that kind of feeling isn’t there, try something else,” says Jack. If people have a good experience at your place, they’ll want to come back, and the word will get around that this is a good place to come. “We have many people who have been coming here for 12 to 18 years, and we enjoy seeing them

again,” he says. “We have improved our guest camp over the years with flush toilets and showers, and have a good set of corrals for horses. With guests, wranglers and some grandchildren we usually have about 35 horses saddled. We take 25 guests, but after we break up first thing in the morning and go in different directions, we usually don’t see the other groups until evening when we arrive back from wherever we deposited the cattle,” he says. “On the last day of their stay, we hold a few cattle in the corrals overnight and have a little team sorting so the guests can participate. I run a lot of stocker cattle, with a variety of colors, and we use some of those. We might have several 3-member teams competing at sorting. I might tell them they have to bring out 2 black ones and a red one to pen. This is a fun thing to wind up their stay,” he says. Most of the riders want to interact with horses. “We encourage anyone who wants to, to help catch, brush and saddle the horses in the morning. They can also help feed them. Most people want to help. We usually try to wash the horses at

Western Cowman - July/August 2016

night after the rides, mainly where the saddle goes, but there is often a little sweat or dust left, and people like to help us brush them in the morning,” says Jack. There are many ways to accommodate the public in a recreational program. This is like another crop from the ranch and you are providing an enjoyable experience for the people who come to your place. “These past few years we have continued to diversify—as things keeps changing (cattle prices, weather, etc.). We recently planted 25 acres to pistachios and are currently planting another 75 acres. We’ll have about 100 acres of pistachio trees,” Jack says.

“Our ranch is like a threelegged stool, and we have to keep it stable. If every leg is stable, it works. Those three legs are recreation (which we plan to continue, and do more of), the cattle business, and now the farming with pistachios. Dry farming and raising hay doesn’t work for us anymore. We buy all our hay for the horses and cattle because we can always buy it cheaper than we can raise it. Thus we need to look at a high value farm crop instead of hay. We had the water and the land, so we decided that pistachios would be a good crop for us. It only takes 10 years to get into full production, and by then I will be 90 years old! So I have something to look forward to. We always need to be looking ahead!” says Jack. “With the cattle, I still try to stay flexible. We were going to go into the cow business a bit more, since feeders were so high last year that I decided not to buy any. We had some heifers so we bred them. Then someone came along in May and offered me enough money for them that I sold them as bred heifers. So our venture into the

W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

cow-calf business is not going to happen right now. We are still running stockers, but looking at maybe breeding heifers as a part of the cattle operation—not to keep, but to sell as bred heifers. Everything is in a state of flux, and a person just has to be very flexible. I start out in the morning with a list and usually it gets changed during the day,” Jack says. “Tourism becomes more and more important for us, because it is the one thing where we can set our own price. If the cost of operation goes up, we just tell the people that we have to charge more—and no one ever argues.” If people enjoy coming, they will still keep coming back. “We can charge a fair price for the things that we put on for the public and they like it, and we like it. Recreation is here to stay, and we will expand on that aspect of our ranching operation,” he says. Another focus is stewardship of the land. “The California Rangeland Trust thought we were doing a good job on the ranch so they made my wife Zee and I Conservationists of the Year for 2016. For us, that was a sort of vindication regarding what we do here, attaining some of our goals. We felt very good about receiving that award,” Jack says. “I call myself a grass man now, rather than a cattleman. Grass is our crop and we simply market it through cattle. Being recognized for that felt good,” he says.

• 120 Fall & Spring Yearling Bulls Sell • Free Delivery within 400 miles. • All bulls semen tested and guaranteed through 1st breeding season.

RANDY KESSLER

49838 Fruitvale Road Milton-Freewater, OR 97862 Cell: 509-520-3281 randy@kesslerangus.com

WWW.KESSLERANGUS.COM

Western Cowman - July/August 2016

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Bull & Female Sale September 24th, 2016

• Females Sell at 10:30AM • Lunch at Noon • Bulls Sell at 1PM Call or E-mail to receive a sale catalog! For more information about our program and the sale, please visit: www.McPheeRedAngus.com

McPhee Red Angus As good as the best and better than the rest!

W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

Nelli, Mike, Mary, Rita & Families 14298 N. Atkins Rd • Lodi, CA 95240 Nellie (209) 727-333 • Rita (209) 607-9719 info@mcpheeredangus.com

A strong Foundation

starts with the right building blocks. Best in Class

Dameron Best in Class • 18170479

semen available at www.expressranches.com

Game Changer

S Sis Game Changer • 18458610 semen available at Schnoor Sister

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semen available at www.cattlevisions.com Schn

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semen available at www.expressranches.com

Offering the best in Angus genetics to add the strong genetic base that will make any program exceed; bulls that bring both performance and style to the table.

Best in Class

Game Changer

First Advance

Amanda: 559/223/1891 Sydney: 559/223/1894 Kirbe: 559/223/1892 Chowchilla, California Home: 559/665/1991 Western Cowman - July/August 2016

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JULY 11 & OCTOBER 15, 2016

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F A M O S O

O C TO B E R 1 5 :

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62 fall-calving bred cows 56 weaned calves

30 replacement heifers (ready to breed)

W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

FAMOSO TEL:

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70 spring bred cows 37 weaned calves

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Our 2016 CAB Consignment will be sired by A A R Ten X 7008 S A and G A R Prophet

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The Wagyu Breed’s mosT compleTe performance herd! Western Cowman - July/August 2016

Fall Edition AKAUSHI T

AMERICAN AKAUSHI association Bubba Bain 732 Jeff Davis Road Harwood, TX 78632 Cell 361/217-0098 Office 830/540-3912 Fax 830/540-3910

P.O.Box 309 Flatonia, TX 78941 (361)865-21221

CAL POLY STATE UNIVERSITY

HARSTON ANGUS RANCH

Animal Science San Luis Obispo, CA 93407 805/756-2685

Ron Harston 6372 Petersen Rd. Sebastopol, CA 95472 707/540-5335

CASILLAS CATTLE SERVICES

J & J CATTLE CO.

Randy Perry Fresno, CA 93740-0075 559/278-4793 Website: cast.csufresno.edu/beef

COLBURN CATTLE CO.

ANGUS R

GONSALVES RANCH

Danny Casillas 652 Mazzolo Drive. Lincoln, CA 95648 530/392-0152

AMERICAN AKAUSHI association

CALIFornia STATE UNIVersity, FRESNO

AZTEC ANGUS

Terry & Kathy Van Hilsen & Sons 2467 E. Arrowhead Trail Gilbert, AZ 85297 480/963-6324

BAR LR RANCH

Robin & Linda Ritchey P.O. Box 1120 Benson, AZ 85602 520/975-2833

C A L I F O R N I A

Ron & Lisa Colburn 15847 Avenue 376 Visalia, CA 93292 559/269-3175 Matt Avila, Manager 559/967-4599

DIAMOND OAK CATTLE CO. Steve Obad 1232 W. Tahoe Street Merced, CA 95348 209/777-1551

EZ ANGUS

Chad Davis 21984 Avenue 160 Porterville, CA 93257 559/784-0085 cdavis@ez-angusranch.us

amador angus

FLINT HILL ANGUS

BAR R ANGUS

FOUR OAKS ANGUS

Amador Family 5136 Laird Road Modesto, CA 95358 209/595-3056 amadorfarms@msn.com Craig & JJ Reinhardt 6925 Bisbee Drive Sloughhouse, CA 95683 916/712-3696 barr6925@sbcglobal.net

BMW ANGUS

Brian & Michelle Wolf 703-465 Johnstonville Road Susanville, CA 96130 530/310-3217

BRUIN RANCH

Lloyd Harvego Joseph Fischer, Manager 2356 Gold Meadow Way Suite 201 Gold River, CA 95670 530/392-0154 lloyd@harvego.com

The Tower Family P.O. Box 100 Copperopolis, CA 95228 209/841-8063 209/768-0322

The Gonsalves Family 7237 Maze Blvd. Modesto, CA 95358 Mike: 209/531-4893 Joey: 209/765-1142

Joe Santos 5444 Frazier Lake Road Gilroy, CA 95020 408/497-6776

ROADRUNNER ANGUS

SAMMIS RANCH

LEWIS LIVESTOCK

SCHNOOR SISTERS

Nancy Potts 11551 East Tokay Colony Road Lodi, CA 95240 209/931-2307 Denis & Carole Lewis P.O. Box 1268 Lockeford, CA 95237 209/727-5812 209/642-6675 lewislivestk@mindspring.com MADSEN HEREFORD & ANGUS Louis & Joan Madsen 4351 Mines Road Livermore, CA 94550 925/455-6623

OAK RIDGE ANGUS FARM

O’NEAL RANCH

W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

Bob & Michael Mullion 13625 West 10th Avenue Blythe, CA 92225 760/922-2167 Bob 760/861-8366 Michael 760/464/3906

L & N ANGUS

Fouts angus

Greg & Velma Furtado & Daughters 3924 S. Central Turlock, CA 95380 209/634-8612

RED RIVER farms

JR CATTLE CO. Johnny & Robin Mattos 7605 Faith Home Road Hillmar, CA 95324 209/634-9157

The LaFranchi Family Cheryl & Frank LaFranchi-Mongini 13520 Hwy. 128 Calistoga, CA 94515 707/942-1475

FURTADO ANGUS

Bob Puga P.O. Box 123 Zenia, CA 95595 707/223-2035 707/923-3701 Prestigecattle@aol.com

Don & Diana Cardey 9233 East Avenue Turlock, CA 95380 209/634-5491 209/585-8650 cell David & Sandy Olson 209/634-1857

Debbie Paver 1470 Eureka Lane Templeton, CA 93465 805/434-1577

Mike & Chris Fouts P.O. Box 639 Copperopolis, CA 95228 209/785-0566

PRESTIGE ANGUS

Gary & Betsy Cardoza P.O. Box 40 O’Neals, CA 93645 559/999-9510

PHEASANT TREK

The Danekas & Lohse Families 32640 County Road 19 Woodland, CA 95695 916/849-2725 www.pheasanttrek.com

Joe & Michele Sammis 122 Angus Road Dorris, CA 96023 530/397-3456 11564 Avenue 26 Chowchilla, CA 93610 559/665-1991 schnoorsis@wildblue.net

SILLER PONDEROSA ANGUS Kay Siller 1453 Bogue Road Yuba City, CA 95993 530/674-7136 530/674-7137 Fax Home: 530/674-7136

SILVEIRA BROS.

P.O. Box 37 Firebaugh, CA 93622 Rick & Allison Blanchard 559/674-9067 Darrell Silveira Office: 559/655-3312 Rick cell: 559/217-1502

SUDDEN & HOLLISTER RANCH Dave Hollister 444 South N Street Lompoc, CA 93436 805/757-9321 805/588-5668

TARA FARMS

Joel & Ruth Popken 6861 Hwy. 32 Orland, CA 95936 530/865-3600 Joel’s cell 530/720-5818 tarafarms@att.net

PRISTINE SPRINGS ANGUS

JACKSON MTN. ANGUS

Corsair Angus Ranch

REYNOLDS BROTHERS

SHARP ANGUS RANCH

COUNTRY INN CATTLE CO.

snyder livestock

Fessler angus

619 East 400 South Jerome, Idaho 83338 208/308-8220 E-mail: pristinespringsangus @yahoo.com

TEHAMA ANGUS RANCH

Brian & Joan Reynolds 3623 West King Rd. Kuna, ID 83634 208/465-4516 208/899-0530 reyangus1@gmail.com

23820 Tehama Avenue Gerber, CA 96035 Kevin & Linda Borror: 530/385-1570 Bryce Borror: 530/624-6542 Bill Borror: 530/384-2788 www.tehamaangus.com John Teixeira 550 Thousand Hills Road Pismo Beach, CA 93449 805/448-3859

VINTAGE ANGUS

SHOOTING STAR RANCH

Matt Duckett 18831 Wagner Road Caldwell, ID 83607 208/230-5650

David J. Holden 38 Montana Ave. Oroville, CA 95966 530/736-0727 westwind@hotmail.com

STRANG BLACK ANGUS

Chet & Phyllis Adams P.O. Box 236 Firth, ID 83236 208/785-4694 pcadam@srv.net

CAMAS PRAIRIE ANGUS Bob & Ruby Rylaarsdam 647 Fairview Road, Grangeville, ID 83530 208/983-6552 Fax: 208/983-2644

DEEP CREEK RANCH Carol Thompson 1387 Deep Creek Road Potlatch, ID 83855 208/875-1095

FRISBIE CATTLE CO.

bar 6 charolais

Laura Hooper • Roderick Atwood Willis & Cindy Kinder 2225 S., 1200 E. Bliss, ID 83314 208/358-2322

43861 Burnt Ranch Road Mitchell, OR 97750 Jim Anspach 541/325-3251 541/462-3083 Beau & Wendy Cruise 541/462-3109

BAR KD ANGUS

Ken & Dianne Read 1485 SW King Lane Culver, OR 97734 541/546-2547 Cell: 541/480-9340

Neal Ward 673 N., 825 W. Blackfoot, ID 83221 208/680-0320

ADAMS ANGUS ACRES

Mark Frisbie 11851 Fantastic Drive. Melba, ID 83641 Home: 208/495-2601 Cell: 208/890-4517

Jackie, Doug & Jake Kohntopp 1078 State Highway 25 Jerome, ID 83338 208/420-5342 j.kohntopp@yahoo.com

WOODEN SHOE FARMS

Mary Strang & Family 2969 RBC 8 Meeker, CO 81641 800/351-5362 970/878-5362 970/270-4445

Jerry Baker 2175 Bench Road Vale, OR 97918 208/739-3449 baker.baker@fmtc.com

TLC ANGUS

C O L O R A DO

2202 N. 11th Street Yukon, OK 73099 Bob Funk, Owner Jarold Callahan, President 800/664-3977 www.expressranches.com

BAKER ANGUS

Sugar Top Angus

WESTWIND Ranch ANGUS

EXPRESS RANCHES

South mountain ranch

Larry & Carol Witherow P.O. Box 114 Browns Valley, CA 95918 530/742-3892

Rod & Sherry Fessler 3284 NE Fern Lane Madras, OR 97741 541/475-3132

O K L A H O M A

Helen, Tessa & Michelle Faulkner 1989A S., 1875 E. Gooding, ID 83330 208/934-5920 208/539-5920

W BAR R ANGUS

Lee & Glenda Stilwell 14043 Algoma Road Klamath Falls, OR 97601 541/884-4881

P.O. Box 550 Yerington, NV 89447 775/463-2677 lucyansnyder@yahoo.com

Frank VanderSloot 2880 N 55 W Idaho Falls, ID 83402 208/528-6635 Steve Harrison 208/681-9815

Jim Coleman Family 2702 Scenic Bend Modesto, CA 95355 Doug Worthington, General Manager 209/521-0537 office Brad Worthington, Manager www.vintageangusranch.com

Steve & Jan Puntenney 66062 Hwy. 74 Ione, OR 97843 503/784-8691 www.corsairangus.com

Sandra Sharp & Kenyon Sharp HCR 60, Box 495 Ruby Valley, NV 89833 775/779-2264

Riverbend Ranch

teixeira cattle co.

Bob & Susan Hoenck 3865 N. Bottle Creek Rd. Winnemucca, NV 89445 775/859-0238 jma.angus@hotmail.com

IVY LOO ACRES

Don Falleur 32315 Ivy Loo Acres Lane Warrenton, OR 97146 503/861-1251

K BAR D

Kim Delashmutt 3220 NW Way Redmond, OR 97756 503/887-6861 kbard@kbardranch.com

KC ANGUS

Ken & Sandy Coleman 7337 NW Ryegrass Road Prineville, OR 97739 541/749-8986

KESSLER ANGUS

Randy Kessler & Family 49838 Fruitvale Road Milton-Freewater, OR 97862 541/558-3821

MAAG ANGUS

Deanne & Jason Vallad, Bob & Mary Ann Maag 5244 Maag Road Vale, OR 97918 541/473-2108 www.maagangus.com

MEADOW ACRES ANGUS RANCH

Joe Barry 3030 N E Hogan Drive Suite F Gresham, OR 97030 503/807-9397

Richard Correa 32581 Correa Lane Echo, OR 97826 541/449-3558 Devin Correa 1230 NW King Ave Pendleton, OR 97801 541/276-2769

BLUE MT. ANGUS

NINE PEAKS RANCH

Steve & Carolyn Mullin 64444 Indian Creek Road Prairie City, OR 97869 541/820-3371

Aaron & Rebecca Borror 70395 Lower Bridge Way Terrebonne, OR 97760 541/923-3284

MYTTY ANGUS RANCH

Botts angus ranch

raymond & son

Beau & Kristin Botts 83552 Eggleson Lane Enterprise, OR 97828 541/426-4849 541/263-0988

Ryan & Amy Raymond 46851 Raymond Road Helix, OR 97835 541/457-2366 541/572-2054

VERMILION RANCH

BUCHANAN ANGUS

RED RIVER farms

Bob and Kathleen Buchanan 13490 Algoma Road Klamath Falls, OR 97601 541/883-8471 www.buchananangus.com

Bob & Michael Mullion 5400 Fern Valley Road Medford, OR 97504 760/861-8366 760/464-3906

COREY A ANGUS

ROCK CREEK LIVESTOCK

miss

uri

American Angus Hall of fame P.O. Box 660 Smithville, MO 64089 816/532/0811 angushall@earthlink.net

Kevin Mytty 875 Sweeney Creek Loop Florence, MT 59833 406/360-8939 406/777-0950 Bob Cook P.O. Box 30758 Billings, MT 406/245-6447

HONE RANCH

Charlie & Vicki Hone P.O. Box 1956 Minden, NV 89423 775/782-4758 Fax: 775/782-4699

Barry herefords & angus

Barbara Korenjak 17070 NW Corey Road North Plains, OR 97133 503/647-0041

Brian Richards Neil Westfall 99480 Rock Creek Lane Myrtle Point, OR 97458 541/572-5567

Western Cowman - July/August 2016

teixeria cattle co.

ShB angus

John Teixeira 550 Thousand Hills Road Pismo Beach, CA 93449 805/448-3859

SK Ranches

THOMAS ANGUS RANCH

SUNNY OKANOGAN ANGUS RANCH

Randy & Kathy White 556 McDonough Road Gold Hill, OR 97525 541/855-9807

Mike Cox, Herdsman P.O. Box 6 Fairview, UT 84629 435/469-1025 Jim Gillespie 208/375-6229

W A S H I N G TO N Beus Cattle Co.

Brad Beus 502 E. Vineyard Lane Pasco, WA 99301 509/727-2082 beuscattle@gmail.com

BLUE DRIFTER RANCH Charlie Stewart Eric Celigoy P.O. Box 1663 Ellensburg, WA 98926 509/607-9486

BOBo cattle Co. Willie Bovard 2453 W. Hatton Road Othello, WA 98206 509/989-2429

CROUTHAMEL CATTLE

Cory, Shannon & Coye Crouthamel P.O. Box 255 Touchet, WA 99360 509/948-6304

JR RANCH

Jeff & Pam Schmidt 1742 W. Hatton Road Othello, WA 99344 509/750-8671 jrranch@cbnn.net

McCALL ANGUS

Neal McCall 601 Texas Lake Road St. John, WA 99171 509/257-2603

RITZVILLE ANGUS Bob Schoessler P.O. Box 154 Ritzville, WA 99169 509/659-1057

SACKMANN cattle co. Jeff & Jaime Sackmann 3987 Rd. R 5 SE Warden, WA 98857 509/760-2832

D A K OT A

Major BeefmasterS Dan Major P.O. Box 5128 Chino Valley, AZ 86323 928/925-3710

CHERRY GLEN BEEFMASTERS

John & Sue Pierson 5668 Cherry Glen Road Vacaville, CA 95688 707/718-4199 piersons@castles.com www.cherryglenbeefmasters.com

BROKEN BOX RANCH Jerry L. and Sherry Maltby P.O. Box 760, Williams, CA 95987 530/473-2830 bbr@citlink.com Don & Diana Cardey 9233 East Avenue Turlock, CA 95380 209/634-5491 209/585-8650 cell David & Sandy Olson 209/634-1857

HARRY DEAN

5400 Buck’s Bar Road Placerville, CA 95667 530/622-5857

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO

DAVIS & POPPEN BEEFMASTERS

Randy Perry Fresno, CA 93740-0075 559/278-4793 www.cast.csufresno.edu/beef

Ann Poppen & Paul Davis 5351 Jackson Valley Road Ione, CA 95640 209/274-6246 dpbeefmasters@aol.com

JORGENSON CHAROLAIS

SILVER STATE BEEFMASTER Dalton Lowery 4660 Rice Rd.Fallon, NV 898406 775/867-4099 lowery@phonewave.net

W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

CHAROL AIS

cardey ranches

C A L I F O R N I A

C A L I F O R N I Robert & Chris Bianchi 6810 Canada Road, Gilroy, CA 95020 408/842-5855 Fax: 408/842-49450

BEEFMA STER

BIANCHI RANCHES

Steve Munger 34261 200th St. Highmore, SD 57345 605/380-0092

reg

Fred and Toni Jorgenson 25884 Moller Ave. Orland, CA 95963 530/865-7102

teixeria cattle co. John Teixeira 550 Thousand Hills Road Pismo Beach, CA 93449 805/448-3859

GELBVIEH A

Pratt farms

Loren & Joanne Pratt 44996 W Papago Road Maricopa, AZ 85139 520/568-2811

C A L I F O R N I A Cardey Ranches

Romans brangus 7 ANGUS Bill & Cindy Romans 2200 6th Ave. W., Vale, OR 97918 541/473-3365 541/212-1514

EAGLE PASS RANCH

STARDUST FARMS

P.O. Box 2 Shandon, CA 93461 800-457-3801 Ext. 6 www.sanjuanranch.com

Jeff Schmidt 1742 W. Hatton Road Othello, WA 99344 509/750-8671 jrranch@cbnn.net

Frank & Patti Lima 14527 Oak Run Road Oak Run, CA 96069 530/472-1903

SAN JUAN RANCH

riz

W A S H I N G TO N JR RANCH

C A L I F O R N I A

Don & Diana Cardey 9233 East Avenue Turlock, CA 95380 209/634-5491 209/585-8650 cell David & Sandy Olson 209/634-1857

BRANGUS

cardey ranches

SOUTH

Glenda Jameson & Kathleen Gunn 3700 S. Commons Road Turlock, CA 95380 209/667-2320

BAL ANCERS

GILLESPIE LIVESTOCK

J2 BRAHMAN RANCH

C A L I F O R N I A H

C A L I F O R N I A

Craig, Todd, and Scott Vejraska P.O. Box 3160 Omak, WA 98841 509/826-3604 509/826-2516 sunnyok@communitynet.org

WHITE RANCH

Loren & Joanne Pratt 44996 W Papago Road Maricopa, AZ 85139 520/568-2811

Jeff Knutsen 15861 Josh Wilson Road Burlington, WA 98233 360/757-4066

Rob & Lori Thomas 42734 Old Trail Road Baker City, OR 97814 541/403-0562

Pratt farms

THIEL LIVESTOCK Bob & Glenna Thiel 652 Cloverdale Nyssa, OR 97913 541/472-5303 208/741-6850 cell

DURHAM RED

BRAHMAN

Ed Gross 3610 N. Wood Road Reardon, WA 99029 509/979-9233

Don & Diana Cardey 9233 East Avenue Turlock, CA 95380 209/634-5491 209/585-8650 cell David & Sandy Olson: 209/634-1857

PEETS RANCHO CAPAY GELBVIEH Merlin & Jeanette Peets 25265 Post Avenue Orland, CA 95963 530/865-2513

SAN JUAN RANCH

P.O. Box 2 Shandon, CA 93461 800-457-3801 Ext. 6 www.sanjuanranch.com

SOUTH

D A K OT A

EAGLE PASS RANCH Steve Munger 34261 200th St. Highmore, SD 57345 605/380-0092

HEREFORD C A L I F O R N I A ALTO HEREFORDS Larry & Sue Alto 7803 Myrtle Ave. Eureka, CA 95503 707/822-9478 Kevin Alto: 707/496-7646

BIANCHI RANCHES Robert, Chris, & Erica Bianchi 6810 Canada Road, Gilroy, CA 95020 408/842-5855

CALIFORNIA-NEVADA HEREFORD ASSOCIATION Jim Michelson, President 707/762-1473 P.O. Box 1645 Grass Valley, CA 95945 Office 209/694-5111

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, FRESNO

Randy Perry Fresno, CA 93740-0075 559/278-4793 www.cast.csufresno.edu/beef

JESS RANCH

South mountain ranch

Joseph & Connie Jess 15850 Jess Ranch Road Tracy, CA 95376 925/449-5265 Fax: 925/447-5674

Matt Duckett 18831 Wagner Road Caldwell, ID 83607 208/230-5650

MADSEN HEREFORD & ANGUS Louis & Joan Madsen 4351 Mines Road Livermore, CA 94550 925/455-6623

Jim & Valerie McDougald 46089 Road 208 Friant, CA 93626 559/822-2178 McDougald Family: 559/822-2289

MRNAK HEREFORDS WEST Loren, Terrie, Hunter & Tanner Mrnak 9728 Blue Mtn. Ranch Rd., Whitmore, CA 96096 530/472-6431 775/848-0160 www.mrnakherefordswest.com

Phil Kudlac 3290 Lower River Rd. Grants Pass, OR 97526 541/761-3696

LIM-FLEX C A L I F O R N I A CAL POLY STATE UNIVERSITY

Schohr herefords The Schohr Family P.O. Box 1321 Gridley, CA 95948 Steven: 530/864-2855 Carl: 530/570-2275 www.schohr-herefords.com

Animal Science San Luis Obispo, CA 93407 805/756-2685

LIMOUSIN C A L I F O R N I A

Sierra Ranches

Tim Coleman & Family P.O. Box 577980 Modesto, CA 95357 Dan DeMeyer, Manager 209/968-7232 209/526-BEEF 209/857-0455

EASTERLY ROMANOV RANCH Tom Easterly 7580 Meadow Lark Lane Sheridan, CA 95681 530/633-0622

C O L O R A DO STRANG HEREFORDS Mary Strang & Family 2969 RBC 8 Meeker, CO 81641 800/351-5362 970/878-5362 970/270-4445 www.strangherefords.com

WHITCOMB CATTLE CO. Ty, Candy & Eileen Whitcomb 12669 Krosens Rd. Marysville, CA 95901 530/741-9006

C O L O R A DO RUNNING CREEK RANCH

Joe & Joey Freund 45400 CR 21 Elizabeth, CO 80107 303/840-1850

Lee & Glenda Stilwell 14043 Algoma Road, Klamath Falls, OR 97601 541/884-4881

Dave & Jeff Berry 6845 SE King Road Port Orchard, WA 98367 Dave: 360/871-3642 Jeff: 360/620-4052

KUDLAC HEREFORDS

Gino Pedretti, Owner 1975 E. Roosevelt Road El Nido, CA 95317 209/722-2073 Gino Pedretti, Jr.: 209/383-1905 Mark St. Pierre: 209/384-0129

DJ LIMOUSIN

Charles, George & Duane Chandler 17528 Chandler Lane, Baker City, OR 97814 Charles: 541/523-3570 George: 541/523-2166 Duane: 541/403-0124 cell

PEDRETTI HEREFORDS

502 E. Vineyard Lane Pasco, WA 99301 Brad Beus 509/727-2082 beuscattle@gmail.com

Bob Coker 640 Genoa Lane, Minden, NV 89433 775/782-3336 info@genoalivestock.com

Beus Cattle Co.

GENOA LIVESTOCK

W A S H I N G TO N

CHANDLER HEREFORDS

Don Harper 9601 E. Hwy. 4 Farmington, CA 95230 209/899-2460 775/790-0243

Guy & Sherrie Colyer 31058 Colyer Road, Bruneau, ID 83604 208/845-2313

Joe Barry 3030 NE Hogan Drive, Suite F Gresham, OR 97030 503/807-9397

ORVIS CATTLE CO.

Colyer Herefords

Barry herefords & angus

Tom, Kathleen & Mathew Manning P.O. Box 1038 San Juan Bautista, CA 95045 831/623-2219

Don & Skeeter Brumley P.O. Box 239 Orovada, NV 89425 775/272-3152 mobile: 209/479-0287 orovadaherefords@aol.com

NYLAND HEREFORDS

COUNTRY INN CATTLE CO.

BRUMLEY HEREFORDS

McDOUGALD HEREFORDS

LOWLINES C A L I F O R N I A GREEN VALLEY ENTERPRISES ALTURAS RANCHES Leslie Boyle P.O. Box 1685 Alturas, CA 96101-1685 530/233-4661 aranches1@wildblue.net

Pheasant Trek

Danekas & Lohse Families 32640 County Rd. 19 Woodland, CA 95693 916/849-2725 mercedes@jdaonline.com www.pheasanttrek.com

Maine-anjou C A L I F O R N I A BROCCO SHOW CATTLE Ron, Justine & Audra Brocco 1189 Solano Avenue Sonoma, CA 95476 707/996-6224 707/974-2466

PINZGAUER C A L I F O R N I A RAPTOR RIDGE PINZGAUER Kathy Dombrowski 4040 Ridge Drive Loomis, CA 95650 916/652-5204 moomon@garlic.com

POLLED HEREFORD C A L I F O R N I A

BIANCHI RANCHES Robert, Chris, & Erica Bianchi 6810 Canada Road, Gilroy, CA 95020 408/842-5855

LAMBERT RANCH

The Steve Lambert Family 2938 Nelson Ave. Oroville, CA 95965 530/624-5256 www.lambertranch.com

PERRIN RANCH

Karen Perrin 8500 Rock Springs Road Penryn, CA 95663 916/663-1142

Sierra Ranches

Tim Coleman & Family P.O. Box 577980 Modesto, CA 95357 Dan DeMeyer, Manager 209/968-7232 209/526-BEEF 209/857-0455

ELKINGTON POLLED HEREFORDS 5080 E. Sunnyside Road Idaho Falls, ID 83406 Keith 208/523-2286 Brent 208/523-6461

BELL RANCH

Don & Theresa Bell P.O. Box 48 Paradise Valley, NV 89426 775/304-2157

BRUMLEY HEREFORDS Don & Skeeter Brumley P.O. Box 239 Orovada, NV 89425 775/272-3152 209/479-0287 orovadaherefords@aol.com

JONES POLLED HEREFORDS

Richard & Cindy Jones 30469 Transformer Road Malin, OR 97632 541/723-2132 • 541/891-9657 cjpherford3@yahoo.com www.freewebs.com/cjpherford3

RED ANGUS C A L I F O R N I A CB RANCH

Bernie Hartman 23080 Thomes Ave. Gerber, CA 96035 530/385-1427

ALVERNAZ POLLED HEREFORDS

McPHEE RED ANGUS

Alan Alvernaz 5273 Murengo Road Williams, CA 95987 530/473-5852 (Alan)

Nellie McPhee 14298 N. Atkins Road Lodi, CA 95250 209/727-3335 209/727-3237

BAGLEY CATTLE CO.

P BAR RANCH

Dale & Jane Bagley 8890 Brookdale Road Millville, CA 96062 530/547-5222

Mark Peacemaker 1704 Gregory Mountain Road Montague, CA 96064 530/340-0223 pbarranch@sbcglobal.net

Western Cowman - July/August 2016

SUNNY DAY SHORTHORNS

RADIANT REDS

Alpha & Sherri Gipe 6885 West Oak Merced, CA 95340 209/358-9377

Megan Shepard P.O. Box 97 Bella Vista, CA 96008 916/705-1582 radiantreds@gmail.com www.radiantredsredangus.com

SCHOU RANCH RED ANGUS Lewis Schou P.O. Box 35 2145 South Main Street Lone Pine, CA 93545 760/876-1122

Lauren & Mel Shuman P.O. Box 185 Bridgeville, CA 95526 707/777-3695

SIMmental C A L I F O R N I A GONSALVES RANCH

W A S H I N G TO N Jeff Schmidt 1742 W. Hatton Road Othello, WA 99344 509/488-2158

SOUTH DEVON

The Lautenschlager Family 1251 Cutler-Lautenschlager Endicott, WA 99125 509/657-3301 carljodi@hotmail.com

Ron & Lisa Colburn 15847 Avenue 376 Visalia, CA 93292 559/269-3175 Matt Avila, Manager 559/967-4599

THIEL LIVESTOCK Bob & Glenna Thiel 652 Cloverdale Nyssa, OR 97913 541/472-5303 208/741-6850 cell

SHORTHORN C A L I F O R N I A albiani shorthorns Mike & Chantelle Albiani Hugh Mooney 10460 Sheldon Road Elk Grove, CA 95624 916/689-1545

BENNETT SHORTHORNS The Bennett Family P.O. Box 549 Ducor, CA 93218 Mik & Marti: 559/534-2396 Brooke: 559/350-0319 bennettcattle@ocsnet.net

LUCKY CLOVER SHORTHORNS

Don & Diana Cardey 9233 East Avenue Turlock, CA 95380 209/634-5491 209/585-8650 cell

D A K OT A

Steve Munger 34261 200th St. Highmore, SD 57345 605/380-0092

W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

american wagyu breeders

Mike & Margo Alley 8925 SW Green Culver, OR 97734 541/546-8171 541/948-3521

EAGLE PASS RANCH

Jerry Reeves 1751 Halpin Road Pullman, WA 99163 509/397-2502

Brian Greenman 343 North Peters Avenue Fond Du Lac, WI 54935 920/410-4533 Bgreenman@designerwagyu.com

QUARTER HORSES C A L I F O R N I A JESS RANCH

Joseph & Connie Jess 15850 Jess Ranch Road Tracy, CA 95376 925/449-5265 Fax: 925/447-5674

FEEDLOT

michigan

BAR CK LIVESTOCK

SOUTH

Whitt West, Manager American Falls, ID 83276 208/258-0304

Bob & Michael Mullion 13625 West 10th Avenue Blythe, CA 92225 760/922-2167 Bob 760/861-8366 Michael 760/464/3906

Tom A. Isola 10772 Modoc Road White City, OR 97503 702/274-1964

designer wagyu

SNAKE RIVER FARMS

RED RIVER FARMS

SUTTON CREEK CATTLE CO., LLC

W isc o nsin

Garth Monroe 16901 Nounan Road Soda Springs, ID 83276 208/547-3929

Stan Sears 5322 Freeman Rd. Montague, CA 96064 530/842-3950 530/598-7714

Dr. Neal Dow 28000 SE Paulina Hwy. Prineville, OR 97754 541/477-3332 R.L. Freeborn: 541/480-2471 RLFreeborn@aol.com

Ralph & Helen Valdez 88 West Crescent Harbor Road Oak Harbor, WA 98277 360/675-0392 360/941-0644

IDAHO WAGYU GENETICS

LITTLE SHASTA RANCH

Nick Bell 4209 Sylvan Road Evart, MI 49631 231/734-0535 nbamstate@gmail.com

N E W M E X I C O LONE MOUNTAIN CATTLE CO.

CRESCENT HARBOR RANCH

Chris & Karen London 10 West Haven Way Petaluma, CA 94952 415/378-9597

Joe, Debbie, Joey and Mike 7237 Maze Boulevard Modesto, CA 95358 209/523-5826

BAR R CATTLE CO.

SPRING HILL RANCH

GONSALVES RANCH

W A S H I N G TO N

Ione Conlan P.O. Box 412 Valley Ford, CA 94972 707/876-1992 707/876-3524 (fax) iconlan@aol.com

COLBURN CATTLE CO.

SALERS

5080 E. Sunnyside Road Idaho Falls, ID 83406 Keith: 208/523-2286 Brent: 208/5236461

CONLAN RANCHES, CALIFORNIA

Tim & Jill Curran 1000 Cook Road Ione, CA 95640 cell: 209/765-1815 fax: 209/274-6623 circleranch@volcano.net

TAI RANCH

C A L I F O R N I A

CIRCLE RANCH

Lautenschlager & Sons

WAGYU

Animal Science San Luis Obispo, CA 93407 805/756-2685

W ashing t o n

ELKINGTON SOUTH DEVON

CAL POLY STATE UNIVERSITY

Barbara Korenjak 17070 NW Corey Road North Plains, OR 97133 503/647-0041

Ken & Julie Tew Jeff Penick 39172 Old Hwy. 30 Baker City, OR 97814 541/519-6755 541/403-1667

The Gonsalves Family 7237 Maze Blvd. Modesto, CA 95358 Mike: 209/531-4893 Joey: 209/765-1142

DOW RANCHES

The Formans 2451 Number 81 Road Ellensburg, WA 98926 509/968-4800

Barry shorthorns

C A L I F O R N I A

Corey A Ranch

SIMANGUS

Randy & Ronda Avery P.O. Box 34 Powell Butte, OR 97753 541/279-1189 ronda@6rranch.com

JR RANCH

6R RANCH

reg

Trinity Farms

Joe Barry 3030 N E Hogan Drive Suite F Gresham, OR 97030 503/807-9397

SHUMAN RED ANGUS & 76 BAR KELPIES

washing t o n

Robert Estrin 1818 AB NM 14 Golden, NM 87047 505/281-1432 Stan Hartman, Manager: 505/220-9925

SNYDER LIVESTOCK CO. Lucy Rechel & Eddie Snyder P.O. Box 550 Yerington, NV 89447 775/463-2677 775/790-0801

ANIMAL HEALTH C A L I F O R N I A SANTA CRUZ ANIMAL HEALTH 10410 Finnell Street Dallas, Texas 75220 800-457-3801 Ext. 3 www.scahealth.com

LIVESTOCK AUCTIONEERS C.D. “BUTCH” BOOKER

809 N. Main • Colfax, WA 99111 509/397-4434 • 509/397-9158 fax cartha@colfax.com

KYLE COLYER

31006 Colyer Rd. Bruneau, ID 83604 208/250-3924

Eric Duarte

P.O. Box 6 Beatty, OR 97621 541/891-7863

TRENT STEWART

P.O. Box 29 • 3457 SW Hwy. 97 Madras, OR 97741 541/480-5540

KELLY TROUTT 9543 Liberty Road Sweet, ID 83670 208/584-3435

LIVESTOCK MORTALITY I NSURANCE AMERICAN LIVESTOCK INSURANCE COMPANY Sherry Danekas, Agent P.O. Box 410 Wilton, CA 95693 916/685-8980 sherry@jdaonline.com

LIVESTOCK SALES MANAGEMENT JAMES DANEKAS & ASSOCIATES, INC.

P.O. Box 410 Wilton, CA 95693 916/685-8980 mercedes@jdaonline.com

LIVESTOCK MARKETS C A L I F O R N I A CATTLEMEN’S LIVESTOCK MARKET 12495 E. Stockton Blvd. Galt, CA 5632 209/745-1515 209/745-2701 www.clmgalt.com

TURLOCK LIVESTOCK AUCTION YARD 10430 N. Lander Ave. Turlock, CA 95380 209/634-4326 209/634-4396 fax www.turlocklivestock.com

WESTERN STOCKMAN’S MARKET 31911 Hwy. 46 McFarland, CA 93250 661/399-2981

Idaho producers livestock marketing 115 100 W Jerome, ID 83338 Dan Schiffler, Manager 208/534-4933

Silveiras Style 9303 16427563

Vin-Mar O’Reilly Factor 16400429

EXAR Denver 2002B 17160560

Styles Cash R400 17571309

FALLON LIVESTOCK EXCHANGE, INC. 2055 Trento Lane Fallon, NV 89406 775/867-2020 www.fallonlivestock.com

REAL ESTATE C A L I F O R N I A California Agricultural properties

Scott Stone 37874 County Road 28 Woodland, CA 95695 530/681-1410 www.calagprop.com

MARTINEZ REAL ESTATE & RANCH MANAGEMENT Tyler Martinez 19995 Callahan Road Red Bluff, CA 96080 530/949-2956

STEELE REALTY

Ray Steele, Broker 916/686-6506 Lisa M. Steele, Realtor Lisasteele10@comcast.net 916/743-5611 8900 Grant Line Rd. Elk Grove, CA 95624

DOS PALOS Y AUCTION YARD

Thank you to all of our committed advertisers.

16575 S. Hwy 33 Dos Palos, CA 93620 209/387-4113 info@dpyauction.com

ESCALON LIVESTOCK MARKET, INC.

25525 E. Lone Tree Rd. Escalon, CA 95320 209/838-7011 209/838-1535 fax www.escalonlivestockmarket.com

PRODUCERS LIVESTOCK MARKETING - MADERA 1022 South Pine Street Madera, CA 93639 559/674-4674 www.producerslivestock.com/ ca_madera.html

Cattleman Connection is a bi-annual industry listing. The next edition will be in the Januay issue. To be a part of this service, please contact the sales department at 916-837-1432.

Celebrating 19 Years! We appreciate all of your support. All the Best, The Western Cowman Staff and Publisher Western Cowman - July/August 2016

SERVICE YOU CAN COUNT ON Purebred Livestock Auctioneer.

Continued from page 65

No event too small or too large. Contact me today for your sale date.

KYLE COLYER Bruneau, Idaho • 208-250-3924 kyle@hereford.com

W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

with a private business entity for some real life experience and the university is close to our corporate office. It’s been a good relationship for several years. We can take advantage of the fact they have access to some of the most recent technology, and it gives their students some real-world experience,” says Foster. “On our website we have the sale schedule and consignment deadlines. It’s important to keep these in mind as you get ready to market because you’ll want accurate weights on the cattle prior to putting the contract together. We can make weight changes right up to sale day, but we want to make sure consignors have the best information possible for the catalog,” she says. Many consignors utilize video sales as a method of forward contracting, selling cattle on a summer sale for fall delivery. “The majority of our fall delivery calves are sold on our July sale. It worked very well this past summer for some folks who sold and contracted early for price protection, but there were also some buyers who had a tough time paying for those high-priced cattle after the market dropped in the fall.” WVM historically has a reputation for making things work. “Ellington has had a good reputation for doing what he could to help people on both sides. This has always been a handshake company, and I don’t see that changing any time soon,” says Foster. This helps with confidence levels. “This is where having accurate descriptions and representatives who describe cattle accurately and making sure that information gets into the catalog | Continued on page 87

is important to the buyers, so they know what they are getting,” she says. Some ranchers use videos of the previous year’s calves at market, to portray the next year’s crop. “Some of our reps in Oregon and Nevada who do a lot of fall delivery calves take shipping videos in the fall, and then we utilize that for the video sale the following year. Buyers really like that, because it gives a better representation of what the calves are going to be when they buy them (as opposed to videos taken in spring or summer when calves are younger). It’s more ideal to see the calves at weigh-up, and what they look like at that point,” she explains. Conditions for videoing can be challenging sometimes in the fall, however, if it’s in a snowstorm, but the reps make it work—and travel a lot of miles getting around to all the ranches.

Continued from page 86 |

Elkington Polled Herefords and South Devons Presents the LiveAuctions. TV Live on the Internet, Live Audio, Video Bidding

2017 Efficiency Experts Ranged Raised Cattle Sale

- Friday, February 3, 2017 12:30 p.m at the ranch 7 miles east of Idaho Falls, Idaho (5080 E. Sunnyside Rd.)

Elkington Polled Herefords

Keith (208) 523-2286 or (208) 521-1774 Layne (208) 681-0765 Brent (208) 523-6461

5080 E. Sunnyside Road Idaho Falls, ID 83406 E-mail: ephrbulls@hotmail.com

BUYERS AND SELLERS APPRECIATE VIDEO AUCTIONS Jackie Owens, outside cattle manager for Beef Northwest (a cattle feeding operation with several locations in the Northwest), works with their procurement team to source cattle through both Western and Superior. She feels video markets are very beneficial, and great to work with. “Both companies have done really well in getting reps out there to help ranchers market their cattle, and find that marketability. Here at Beef Northwest we feed cattle for a variety of different programs, including traditional commodity and niche markets—the naturals, the GAP naturals, etc. The majority of our cattle are purchased through private treaty, however, and to have that flexibility we really need good partners. Both Superior and Western have been great partners in helping us work with their ranchers, increasing our ability to source cattle for a variety of programs.” Being able to match up buyers and sellers provides buyers a larger group of cattle to select from and a wider market for ranchers. “This also gives ranch | Continued on page 88 Western Cowman - July/August 2016

for the Tops in HEREFORD GENETICS DEMAND

MH 9126J Domino 382 1ET

FOR

black baldie STEERS AND FEMALES, TAKE ADVANTAGE TODAY! To find out more information on our 2016 sale bulls, please visit mrnakherefordswest.com

Loren, Terrie, Hunter & Tanner Mrnak

(775) 848-0160 • (530) 472-6431

9728 Blue Mtn Ranch Rd; Whitmore, CA 96096 • lorenmrnak@aol.com

W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

Continued from page 87 | ers an opportunity to get more in tune with what the market is doing. If they have a close relationship with their video representative, that rep can help them understand the current markets and find the most advantageous point for selling—and which sale to target,” says Owens. “This also creates more opportunity for buyers to see what’s available and to get cattle bought. Beef Northwest buys cattle from all markets—video sales, auction yards, etc. Working through the video sales, especially through the reps who are serving their customers, can build really good relationships. It also provides another outlet for communicating data about performance of the cattle back to the rancher. We can share information on how they perform, and that helps everyone.” The buyer can also get a feel for the program each producer has, and know what the cattle are, and maybe make suggestions. “The reps are like mediators; they get information from and funnel information back to the ranchers, and also to the buyers. From a buyer’s standpoint it’s nice to be able to know what the ranchers are thinking, and to know what we’re getting from ranchers. Reps are outstanding in communicating information back and forth, serving this tying role between buyer and seller,” she says. “The biggest push here lately has been the growing demand for natural cattle, among consumers. With these niche programs, you really need someone who can help transfer information from producers and buyers so they know what the natural programs are and what they require, and try to keep everyone up to date. A huge role for us, regarding the reps, is getting the information out and helping the ranchers be more flexible and willing to look at different opportunities for marketing their cattle through a variety of programs,” says Owens. There are many opportunities. “For most of the value-added programs there’s | Continued on page 89

a lot of Continued from page 88 | not changes that have to be made, for most ranching operations. The reps serve a good role, and help the ranchers feel more at ease in marketing their cattle in other programs besides just the traditional commodity channels,” she says. Celeste Settrini has been consigning cattle to Western Video Market for many years. “My family runs a commercial Red Angus cow-calf operation and has been ranching in the Salinas Valley (central coast, in the foothills) of California for more than 100 years. Western Video is a great group of people to work with, and very professional. You can call your representative any time of year, and he can answer questions or help you out,” she says. “The representative we’ve worked with for about 20 years has been wonderful, in helping us. I lost my Dad two years ago and our rep and the whole staff has been helping me sell the calves and do everything I need to do for these sales. The folks at WVM are very honest and trustworthy and I feel comfortable asking them questions, knowing I will get a straight answer. I am confident they are looking after my interests,” says Settrini. “I know quite a few of the staff from dealing with them over the years, and it’s a good team. They’ve done a great job for us. The video market makes more buyers available

CONTACT INFO:

1/8 mile south of HWY 152 on HWY 33. 16575 S. HWY 33 Dos Palos Y, CA 93620 Office .............................. (209) 387 4113 Joel E. Cozzi .................. (209) 769 4660 Joel A. (Joey) Cozzi ..... (209) 769 4662

FIELD REPRESENTATIVES:

Mike Vieira ..................... (209) 761 6267 Bill Enos ......................... (209) 761 1322

AUCTIONEER/REPRESENTATIVE: Doug Gallaway ............. (209) 617 5435 Garrett Jones ................. (209) 710 7904

Established in 1950

John Rodgers

for our calves. The guys at Western Video really hustle when it’s time to sell your calves, and make a lot of phone calls.” In- | Continued on page 92

GMA ANGUS RANCH BULL SALE

EAGLE PASS BULL SALE

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2016

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2016

WEEKLY SALE SCHEDULE

MONDAYS: DAIRY • FEEDERS • SLAUGHTER BULLS & COWS THURSDAYS: FEEDERS • SLAUGHTER BULLS & COWS

www.dpyauction.com Western Cowman - July/August 2016

(530) 668-1224

W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

America’s #1 Sale Management Firm as acclaimed by Angus breeders from coast to coast and border to border.

JOIN US AT THESE EXCITING 2015 SALES!

WORLD ANGUS HEADQUARTERS

Box 660, Smithville, MO 64089-0660 Phone: 816.532.0811 • Fax: 816.532.0851

E-mail: angushall@earthlink.nett 2016 American Angus Hall of Fame calendars are now available, free of charge and by request. Call the Hall today.

BREAKING NEWS!

We are in the process of scheduling 2016 sales. We would be delighted to work with and for you.

CALL US TODAY!

Cattle for sale? If you have a herd of cattle for sale, whether it is a complete herd or a group of cattle, call us TODAY. We will be glad to come to your farm or ranch at NO

JULY 3-9

2016 National Junior Angus Show, Grand Island, NE

SEPTEMBER 3

Sunrise Sunset Farms-Cates Family Annual Production Sale, Modoc, IN

Fall Angus Classic Production Sale, held at Kevin Newman’s Farm, Greenfield, IN

Riley Brothers Angus Sale, Darlington, WI

Gaffney Family Cattle Annual Production Sale, Barneveld, WI

Wilson Cattle Company Angus Sale, Cloverdale, IN

GMA Angus Ranch LLC Brand of Excellence Annual Bull Sale, held in Dos Palos, CA

Buford Ranches Angus Bull Sale, Welch, OK

Trowbridge Angus and Guests Angus Production Sale, Ghent, NY

Conley Angus Production Sale, Clarksdale, MO

Boyd Beef Cattle Angus Sale, Mayslick, KY

Sankey’s 6N Ranch Angus Sale, Council Grove, KS

9th Annual Joint Production Sale, at Tullyfergus Angus, Lyons, NY

Double R Bar Angus Production Sale, Plymouth, IN

OBLIGATION to advise you on the best way to merchandise them.

WANTED TO BUY:

Angus Journals – August 1919 through December 1939 Airyland Dispersal Catalog, March 17, 1947, in Montana

Jeremy Haag 816/516-1309

Terry Little Production Sale, Monticello, MO

Tom Burke 816/853-2697

Kurt Schaff 816/520-6447

WANTED: Any old sale catalogs you’d like to have a safe and happy home for! We are also looking for Breeder’s Gazettes, all issues from 1881 through 1913, and Eastern Breeder Magazines. CONTACT American Angus Hall of Fame (816) 532-0811.

Western Cowman - July/August 2016

ternet bidding has a lot of advantages. “Western has top-notch auctioneers who do many seedstock bull sales, and they are extremely savvy when it comes to promoting the genetics of our calves. Every ranch family finds a marketing arrangement that works for them, and we’ve found our niche with Western; it really works for our program,” she says. Nevada rancher Doug Groves, who has ranched for 40 years, has worked with Western Video for more than 20 years, selling cattle through this market from various ranches where he has worked. “If I had to describe WVM in one word, I would say integrity. They have a high level of professionalism. Ellington Peek and the whole group are very professional and do a heck of a good job in helping ranchers understand the marketing options, and helping us get the most for our cattle, and help the buyers feel satisfied with what they buy” says Groves. “We all do a good job of ranching, 365 days a year. Ranchers are raising more pounds of beef on fewer acres, with less cows, than ever before. Genetics have come a long way and we do so well, but our success all comes down to that one day each year when we sell those calves—and we sometimes fall short on getting them marketed optimally. We are not professional salesmen. We follow the markets and do the best we can, but we are very busy and wear a lot of hats. Sometimes it helps to call in the professionals. They help us understand the market and promote our product. They can get us nationwide exposure and advertising,” he says. “In the past—30 years ago and before—we generally sold locally because that’s all we had and all we knew. Now we have this opportunity to reach a wider market. This competitive market makes for better true price discovery within the whole industry. Now we have people all over the U.S. looking at those cattle. Western Video | Continued on page 94

Continued from page 89 |

DO NOT MISS OUT ON THIS SET OF SPRING AND FALL BULLS FEATURING: V A R Discovery 2240, Connealy Absolute Power, A A R Ten X 7008 S A, and Basin Payweight 1682

THE HERITAGE BULL SALE September 4th, 2016 • 1 p.m. Wilton, California CRAIG & JJ REINHARDT 6925 Bisbee Drive, Sloughhouse, California 95683

916.712.3696 916.354.2962

adsen Herefords & Angus

Semen available from Final Answer son out of a Bismark Dam.

Volume discounts available! S A V Escalade 1036 Reg# 17016443

BW +0 WW +55 YW +97 Milk +24 Marb +.62 RE +.82 $W +60.69 $B +97.23

Bulls available on the ranch 4351 Mines Road • Livermore, CA 94550 • (925) 447-0794

OREGON Medford

CA L

Offering 25 Simmental, Sim-Angus and Angus bulls private treaty with central delivery Bulls at either location

Look for bulls at all breed bull sales in the West.

Blythe

W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

BOB & MICHAEL

MULLION

760-861-8366 Bob 760-922-2617 Office 760-464-3906 Michael 13625 West 10th Ave. Blythe, CA 92225 5400 Fern Valley Rd. Medford, OR 97504 redriverfarms@gmail.com

YOUR HEREFORD CHOICE Our Latest Addition...

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+1.3 WW +62 Mlk +25 CW +52 Marb +.75 RE +.94 $B +166.62

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Sire of Dam:

Connealy Confidence 0100

to put Blue Mountain genetics to work for you 5001 Oak Meadow Ct., Ione, CA 95640 Home: (209) 274-4791 • Cell: (209) 607-5916

Saturday November 12th, 2016 Turlock, California

Female Expo

Selling all breeds!

Pairs • Bred & Open Heifers • Bred & Open Cows • Semen & Embryos Now Accepting Consignments - Contact

At 530/668/1224 or 916/849/2725 Western Cowman - July/August 2016

Continued from page 92

Western Video Market representatives taking bids over the phone at July 2015 sale

sponsors health programs that they approve (and they promote cattle that are on these programs). This is another incentive for us to work through them, and it gives buyers more assurance,” says Groves. Those animals have been on an approved vaccination program using BQA guidelines. “Buyers and feeders tell me they want a consistent product— coming to them safe and healthy. We provide all that, but we need the advertising so the buyers know this background on our cattle. That’s where Western Video comes in, and it’s a real plus for us. I’ve worked with Western Video selling and buying all classes of cattle—calves, yearlings, replacement cows—and they work very hard for us, to make it fair for both the buyers and sellers. All the reps I have worked with are all first class. We’ve been very loyal to them over the years and they’ve been very loyal to us. Western has always helped me promote good relationships between buyers and sell94

ers,” says Groves. “Ranchers can go to the video sales and represent the cattle at the ground level, when they are on the auction block. WVM wants us there, to sell our cattle, and put a face behind them for the buyers. WVM promotes those relationships, and this goes a long ways in making good relationships for the future.” If there are any questions, the rancher is there to answer them. “In the past I didn’t think it was that important, but in recent years I’ve come to understand that if I’m there when they sell, I get more money for my cattle. I can answer any questions, I can look those guys in the eye, I can shake the buyers’ hands and tell them who I am and explain my program. We didn’t have this forum, prior to the video sales. It gives us opportunity to meet the people we deal with,” he says. “That’s where trust comes into it. The buyer meets you and you can tell him about your genetics, the bulls you use and how you do the program—maybe even how you operate on your range or rotate your cattle for grazing. Soon the buyers feel very comfortable about those cattle; you’ve established a positive relationship,” he explains. “This type of marketing has be-

W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

come the ultimate way to sell cattle. If you don’t sell on the video you are missing out on the bigger markets. It all comes back to that one day a year, and if you drop the ball you don’t get top dollar. The auctioneers and ring men work hard for us. Western Video will also tell you if you are not doing something right. They want to be able to represent your cattle the very best they can, so if your health program is not up to par they will advise you about that. They want to help you market your calves and get you the most money for them. On the other hand, they also help the buyers and feeders to get a good, honest deal. Bottom line is that we all need to make a little money from these calves or our industry won’t be very healthy,” he says. Groves feels the staff at WVM is very fair. “They appreciate all their customers. You can be the biggest, wealthiest rancher in the world, or a day-working cowboy, but Ellington Peek treats everyone the same. The whole group is like that. You can pull in there with a trailer and need a place to keep your horses, and they roll out the red carpet—for everybody.” The staff provides the ultimate in western hospitality, and every customer matters. It’s always a pleasure to do business with WVM.

MICHIYOSHI - THE PROVEN HIGH PRIME CHOICE 2015 AWA TRIALS PHOTO #711743

2015 AWA TRIALS PHOTO #711779

2015 AWA TRIALS PHOTO #676296

FI HEIFER, HC WT-1,010, XAB-1090, REA-15.4

F1 HEIFER, HC WT-1,031, VAB-960, REA-16.0

F1 STEER, HC WT-1,268, VAB-950, REA-18.0

TYPICAL AWA TRIAL RESULTS (ANGUS COWS BRED TO MICHIYOSHI)

Photos of MICHIYOSHI F1 steer meat (Not from the AWA Trials) courtesy of Prime Plus Cattle Co, Tulsa OK

FB 9420 MICHIYOSHI 2014 ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****

MARBLING RIBEYE MEAT YLD RANK ANCESTRY GENES

FB9420 MICHIYOSHI & CALF 2015

100% OF AWA F1 TRIAL OFFSPRING GRADED USDA PRIME and ABOVE PRODUCED LARGEST RIBEYE OF TOP SEVEN LISTED MARBLING BULLS BEST AWA TRIAL STEER/HEIFER (HERD AVR) CALCULATED MEAT YIELD RANKED # 5 MARBLING OF 65 PROVEN BULLS, & RANKED # 4 RIBEYE OF 47 PROVEN BULLS AWA PROVEN FULL BLOOD WAGYU BULL SIRED BY SANJIRO, 93.75% TAJIMA, 6.25% SHIMANE DOUBLE COPIES EXON 5 WAGYU HIGH MARBLING GENE, & SCD UNSATURATED FAT GENE

(Assures that all offspring will carry a copy of these High Marbling & Unsaturated Fat genes) TESTED FREE OF ALL RECESSIVE DISORDER GENES, HERD AVE WEAN WT 693, HC WT 1,048

SEMEN AVAILABLE WITH VOLUME DISCOUNTS CONTACT: Nick Bell, 231-734-0535 or 231-878-1154 email: amstate@qwest.net Additional Trial Data, Performance Charts, and Research data upon request W e s available tern Cowman - July/August 2016 9 5

Dale F. Runnion, editor and publisher of purebred cattle magazines and noted breed promoter, died on June 11th, 2016 in Longmont, Colorado at the age of 98. His death was announced by June Runnion, his wife of 48 years and partner in his publishing business ventures. Runnion started his career in livestock journalism in 1949 as field representative for the Chicago Drovers Journal. In 1952 he moved to the Aberdeen Angus Journal where he rose from field man to Advertising Manager to Managing Editor. At the Angus Journal he recruited and trained a dynamic field force and instituted the Sire of the Year award. In 1963 Angus registrations exceeded those of the Hereford breed, previously the most numerous. His career took a different turn in 1968 when he accepted a position as Marketing Manager with Ankony Angus from Lee Leachman, a close friend since college. Ankony was based in Rhinebeck, NY and was at that time a dominant force in registered Angus cattle business. In 1971 Runnion returned to publishing in Ft. Collins, Colorado founding the International Limousin Journal, a magazine devoted to the French breed of cattle. Academic research had shown that Limousin had possessed a genetic advantage that enabled them to produce learner meat with greater feedconversion efficiency. Runnion’s editorial and marketing efforts were instrumental in promoting the growth of the Limousin breed in the U.S. throughout the 1970’s. He sold the Limousin Journal in 1979. Eighteen months later he was approached by the American Angus Association about a consulting assignment to manage the Angus Journal, which represented the nation’s largest beef cattle breed. Dale worked in St. Joseph, Missouri for the next two years to improve the magazine’s performance. 9 6 W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

In the interim, the Limousin Journal had faltered, and in 1983 Dale and Dan Wedman founded the Limousin World, which quickly became the official publication of the breed foundation. He remained publisher emeritus of the magazine until his death. Dale also served as Executive Vice President of the North American Limousin Foundation, and he edited and published the History of Limousin in North America. Dale Franklin Runnion was born on August 23rd, 1917 on a 160-acre livestock and grain farm in Van Wert County, Ohio. He was the second child of Lester and Velma (Cooper) Runnion. While growing up, he was active in 4-H, showing steers at the county fair and judging livestock. In 1934 he and two Van Wert friends won the state judging competition and represented Ohio at the same 4-H Congress at the International Livestock Exposition in Chicago. He attended the Ohio State University majoring in animal husbandry and meat science and was a member of livestock judging teams for three years. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in 1939, and worked as a cattle buyer before being | Continued on page 98

We’ve Moved Please change our contact information...we appreciate your understanding.

Phone Number: 530-668-1224 530-668-1226

Mailing Address: P.O. Box 8629 Woodland, CA 95776

www.westerncowman.com W C estern

owman

- July/August 2016

drafted into the Army two years later. He served most of World War II as a captain in a training battalion of the Medical Administration Corps in Abilene, Texas. In 1845 the battalion was deployed, and Captain Runnion saw duty in the Pacific as the adjutant of the hospital on Iwo Jim. He was honorably discharged as a major in 1946. In recognition of his accomplishments, Runnion’s portrait was hung in the collection of the Saddle and Sirloin Club in 1988. That collection is the world’s largest assemblage of quality individual portraits devoted to a single industry and resides at the Kentucky Fair and Exposition Center in Louisville. He was President of the Livestock Publications Council, and France awarded him the Chevalier de l’Ordre du Merite Agricole. He was also inducted into the halls of fame at the North American Limousin Foundation, the American Angus Continued from page 96 |

Association and the Ohio State University Animal Science Department. He married Ada Kline in 1940. They were divorced in 1967, and he married June Erickson in 1968. In addition to June, he is survived by his four children; Jim in Chicago, Joy Pruitt in Naples, Florida, daughter Lee in Lakewood, Colorado and John in Birmingham, Alabama as well as stepchildren Steven Erickson of Longmont and Karen Erickson of Ft. Collins, Colorado, five grandchildren and four great grandchildren. He championed current news in breed publications and introduced innovations to improve publication efficiency, but he was perhaps best known for the people he recruited, trained and inspired. He had the ability to recognize, cultivate and motivate talented individuals. Coming out of the Depression era, he was especially proud of giving young people a job opportunity and helping them toward a productive career.

W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

In his career he managed to combine traditional values learned on the family farm, the most current industry developments and the modern media sciences of advertising and marketing to promote the growth of the registered Angus and Limousin cattle breeds. Fondly referred to as “Communicator Extraordinaire” by long-time friend C.K. “Sonny” Booth and as “Chief Motivator and Educator” by business partner Dan Wedman, Dale received accolades from cattle people both nationally and worldwide. Private services were held for the family on June 18th in Longmont where Dale was a member of Lifebridge Christian Church. Memorial donations may be made to Tru Hospice Care, 1855 Plaza Drive, Lewisville, CO, 80027 or to Alpha Gamma Rho Fraternity, 10101 Ambassador Drive, Kansas City, MO, 64153, Attn: Dale F. Runnion Scholarship Fund.

Western Cowman - July/August 2016

LEWIS LIVESTOCK Lockeford, California

Lewis Livestock of Lockeford, California is owned and operated by Denny and Carole Lewis. Lewis Livestock is an offshoot of the commercial cattle operation that was started by Denny’s grandfather and continued on by his father and now operated by Denny and Carole. It was in 2004 that Denny and Carole decided it was time to liquidate the commercial herd and begin putting together a purebred operation. The success that they had with the Angus bulls that they used in the commercial business was the reason they decided to get into the Angus breed. The ranch is located east of Lodi, California near the small town of Lockeford. They purchased their first registered Angus cows from fellow breeders Paul Stefani in Ryde, California, and it is from those seven cows that the herd has increased to approximately one hundred cows and

calves. The Lewis Livestock operation is ran by Denny and Carole, in the fall and winter you’ll Carole at the wheel of the feed truck and she is also responsible for keeping the herd records. They have part time help from Manuel Ortega who has his own small purebred venture called “MO Livestock”. There grandson Jeff Lewis is always on hand when more help is needed. Each year they sell twenty to twenty five bulls right off the ranch. The bulls never leave the ranch from birth until their delivered to their customers. The bulls will start out on a grow ration for a few months after their weaned and then put on a Finishing Plan for ninety to one hundred and twenty days, all the while being rotated between irrigated and dry pastures. Because of their strong customer base all of their bulls are sold directly off the ranch. The AI sires

ANGUS

that they’ve been using are “Consensus”, “Hoover Dam”, “Brilliance”, “Mytty in Focus” and “New Design 878”. When marketing mature cows and heifers they take part in the CAB Female sale held in the spring at Escalon Livestock Market and the Female Expo sale held in November at the Turlock Livestock Yard. Plans are also in the works to participate the Western States sale in Wilton in 2017. Lewis Livestock also operates a small gooseneck trucking company, which offers special rates for hauls in and out of Angus sales. If you ever find yourself in northern California be sure to schedule a stop in Lockeford with Denny and Carol, for the finest of Angus hospitality.

• Bred Ready • Born Proven • • Balanced Genetically •

Ron and Barbara Jones 685 King Ave. Ontario, OR 97914 541/889-4563

Home of Quality Calving-Ease and Growth Bulls David & Jeanene Dal Porto 694 Bartlett Ct. • Brentwood, CA 94513

925/634-0933

2001 CBCIA Seedstock Producer of the Year

100

W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

P.O. Box 12822 Everett, WA 98206 425-350-1455 rollin_carlson@msn.com

Cattle with eye appeal, backed by Profitable Numbers Look for Us!

Rancher’s Choice Bull Sale - Feb 25, 2017 in Eltopia, WA Females for sale at the Ranch and select sales annually

Mike & Chelsea Hajny hajny.land.livestock@gmail.com Ellensburg, WA. (509) 899 -9451 www.hajnylandandlivestock.com

Quality Angus Bulls & Females available at the Ranch Sires:

Consensus, Hoover Dam, Brilliance, Mytty in Focus, and New Design 878

ANGUS

Ken & Sandy Coleman

7337 Northwest Ryegrass Rd.

Prineville, OR 97739 541/749-8986

the

PROFITABLE WEIGH

is the SILLER WAY…

The Home of Generations of National Champions st

Use Siller Profitable Weigh ANGUS BULLS

Production Sale

1 Saturday in November

Salmon, ID 83467 Clyde Nelson 208/756-2454

Bulls, Project Calves and Females Available

Steve Herbst 208/756-4748

Kay Siller 1453 Bogue Road Yuba City, CA 95993 530/674-7136 • 530/755-7357 kzangus@neteze.com

Beef Up The Range With

WENDELL STARKE, CURTIS GAY & FAMILY

www.pristinespringsangus.com

619 East 400 South • Jerome, Idaho 83338 (208) 308-8220

pristinespringsangus@yahoo.com

Jim Coleman, Owner Doug Worthington, Manager

Brian & Joan, Managers “Angus Cattle With Practical Balanced Genetics”

2702 Scenic Bend • Modesto, CA 95355 209/521-0537 • www.vintageangusranch.com

3623 W. King Road  Kuna, ID 83634 (208) 465-4516  (208) 899-0530

ANGUS BULLS November 19, 2016 Producers Livestock Auction Jerome, Idaho

Tehama Angus Ranch “Generations of Performance” 23820 Tehama Ave. • Gerber, CA 96035 Ranch: 530-385-1570 • Kevin: 530-624-6564 Mike: 530-736-3428 • Bryce: 530-526-9404 • Bill: 530-384-2788 tehamaranch@gmail.com • www.tehamaangus.com

TLC Angus

Willis & Cindy Kinder • Laura Hooper • Roderick Atwood 2225 S. 1200 E., Bliss, ID 83314 • 208.358.2322 Email: tlcangus@hotmail.com

Sugar Top

Doug, Jackie & Jake Kohntopp 1078 Hwy 25, Jerome, ID 83338 • 208.324.5342 Email: j.kohntopp@yahoo.com

Western Cowman - July/August 2016

101

BR ANGUS

CHAROL AIS

Romans Brangus Production Sale March 14th, 2017

Bulls with Beef.

Bulls available at the ranch Carolyn Belden 1483 Lone Tree Rd. Oroville, CA 95695 530-534-0585

Registered Brangus Bulls and Females Greg Romans Cell: (541) 212-1790 Vale, OR • 541/473-3822

150 Bulls • Westfall, Oregon Ask us about our Bull Buyer Incentive Program with Agri Beef

Bill & Cindy Romans 541-358-2921 Jeff & Julie Romans 541-358-2905

www.romanscharolais.com

MULTI BREEDERS

hereford

Annual Bull Sale

February 11th, 2017 Composite Bulls Make Optimizing Heterosis Easy

Mike, Margo & Crystal Alley Steve & Katey Farley

87925 SW Green Dr., Culver, OR 97734 mike@barckcattle.com • www.barckcattle.com

541-948-3521 FEEDLOT

GELBVIEH

Angus • Sim-Angus • Gelbvieh-Angus Composite Cattle Available Tom Price 541-969-8970 43215 Old Wingville Road, Baker City, OR 97814 Email: interwest@wtechlink.us WAGY U

Customized Feeding Experience Management Modern Facilities • Great Location Satisfied Customers

Snyder Livestock Company, Inc. Lucy Rechel • Eddie Snyder P.O. Box 550 • Yerington, NV 89447 Office (775) 463-2677 Home (775) 463-4924 Fax (775) 463-4319 Web Site: www.slcnv.com

Registered & Commercial

Cattle in Volume

lease program Performance Tested •Bull •Semen and Embryos from birth to plate

•Cow rental

50 Years of working with the

Registered & Commercial Industry

Feeder Contracts available

Dr. Neal Dow•PH/FAX (541) 477-3332 28000 SE Paulina Hwy•Prineville, OR 97754 Contact: R.L. Freeborn•PH (541) 480-2471 RLFreeborn@aol.com

SALE MANAGEMENT

RED ANGUS

Double Eagle Ranch

Livestock Sale Management

The finest in Red Angus genetics.

Producing Quality, Dependable Red Angus Bulls & Heifers Mark Peacemaker

1704 Gregory Mountain Road, Montague, CA 96064

530-340-0223 • pbarranch@sbcglobal.net 102

W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

Over 42 Years Experience! Make your next event a JDA sanctioned event. Brown Alliance X7795 Reg# 1384813 Doug, Betty, Dave Dunn

9695 Lowerbridge Way Terrebonne, OR

541-923-1705 doubleeagle@uci.net

Contact JDA at............. (916) 837-1432

www.jdaonline.com

AUC TION YARD

Competitive Livestock Marketing Weekly Auction Schedule Monday – Beef Wednesday - Dairy Friday - Small Animals

Miguel A. Machado President

Representatives

JAKE PARNELL........................... (916) 662-1298 GEORGE GOOKIN....................... (209) 482-1648 MARK FISHER............................. (209) 768-6522 REX WHITTLE.............................. (209) 996-6994 JOE GATES.................................. (707) 694-3063 ABLE JIMENEZ............................ (209) 401-2515 JASON DAILEY............................ (916) 439-7761

25525 E. Lone Tree Road • Escalon, CA 95320 Office: (209) 838-7011 • Fax (209) 838-1535 Cellular (209) 595-2014

Weekly Sale tuesday Come One, Come All MontE Bruck, Manager

12495 STOCKTON BLVD., GALT, CA 95632 (209) 745-1515 Office • (209) 745-1582 Fax Web: www.clmgalt.com

HEREFORD

775/867-2020 INSUR ANCE

Top Quality Hereford Bulls for Sale at Leading Sales and Private Treaty

Livestock Mortality Insurance

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James F Bessler Inc Livestock Mortalit y Insurance

Your American Livestock Insurance Company

321 Brownstone Dr. St. Charles, IL 60174-2843

SHERRY DANEKAS

Carl, Susan & Tracy (530) 846-4354

Steven, Amanda & Joseph (530) 864-2855

P.O. Box 410, Wilton, CA 95693 (916) 685-8980

P.O. Box 391 • Gridley, CA 95948 e-mail: ricencows@schohr.com www.schohrherefords.com

630/945.3483 Office 815/762.2641 Cell 630/945.3584 Fax jim@jamesfbessler.com www.jamesfbessler.com

SUPPLY

SEMEN

FENCING

1 800-207-3115 KLP2@charter.net

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www.universalsemensales.com Western Cowman - July/August 2016

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index 5 J Angus .........................................................................100 9 Peaks Ranch.................................................................112 All West Select Sires.......................................................105 Amador Angus ................................................................70 American Angus Association.........................................78 American Angus Hall of Fame.......................................91 American Livestock Mortality ............................ 103, 107 American Waygu Association ........................................99 American Wagyu Breeders, LLC ...................................95 Bar CK .............................................................................102 Bar R Angus .....................................................................92 Beef Solutions ....................................................................2 Blue Mt. Angus ................................................................93 Booker, “Butch CD.................................................... 29, 89 Bovine Elite ....................................................................103 Broken Arrow Angus Ranch........................................ 100 Buchanan Angus............................................................ 100 Bulls Eye Breeders Bulls Sale ............................................7 Cal Poly Bull Test .............................................................21 California Ag Properties .................................................49 California Breeders Bull Sale .........................................12 California BullFest .............................................................9 California Female Expo...................................................93 Cardey Ranches/ Road Runner Angus .........................48 Cattle Visions....................................................................85 Cattlemen’s Livestock Market.................................31, 103 Chandler Herefords......................................................... 67 Colyer, Kyle.......................................................................86 Crouthamel.......................................................................79 Dal Porto Livestock........................................................100 Dos Palos Y Auction Yard...............................................89 Double Eagle Ranch.......................................................102 Dow Ranches............................................................79, 102 Duarte, Eric.......................................................................88 Eagle Pass Ranch..............................................................44 Elkington Polled Hereford..............................................87 Escalon Livestock...........................................................103 Express Ranches.................................................................8 EZ Angus Ranch ................................................................3 Fall Festival Hereford Genetics Sale ..............................66 Fallon Livestock Exchange ...........................................103 Flint Hill Angus................................................................70 Fresno State.......................................................................53 Furtado Angus .................................................................24 Genoa Livestock.............................................................102 Grandeur Frozen Genetics Sale......................................98 Hajny Land & Livestock ...............................................100 HeartBrand .......................................................................71 Herbster Angus Farms ..............................................18, 19 Hoffman AI Breeders ..............................................86, 103 Holt, Mark.........................................................................29 JDA, Inc. ............................................................ 54, 97, 102 104

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James F. Bessler ..............................................................103 Jess Ranch .........................................................................93 KC Angus .............................................................. 101, 105 Kernt Livestock Products .............................................103 Kessler Angus ...........................................................75, 101 L & N Angus Ranch.........................................................79 Lander Veterinary Clinic ................................................75 Lewis Livestock ..............................................................100 Madsen Herefords & Angus ...........................................92 McPhee Red Angus .........................................................76 Mrnak Herefords .............................................................88 Multimin ...........................................................................55 Nelson Angus Ranch .....................................................101 Oak Ridge Angus Ranch.................................................55 P Bar Ranch.....................................................................102 Pedretti Ranches...............................................................30 Pheasant Trek ...........................................................56, 101 Potter Angus & Herefords...............................................47 Prestige Angus................................................................101 Price Cattle Company....................................................102 Pristine Springs Angus..................................................101 Producers Livestock.......................................................105 Rancher Lives Matter ......................................................90 Red Bluff Bull & Gelding Sale ........................................45 Red River Farms...............................................................92 Reynolds Bros...........................................................47, 101 Riverbend Ranch..............................................................25 Romans Brangus.............................................................102 Romans Ranches Charolais...........................................102 San Juan Ranch.........................................................78, 102 Santa Cruz Animal Health..............................................76 Schnoor Sisters .................................................................77 Schohr Herefords .................................................. 103, 111 Siller Ponderosa Angus..................................................101 Silveira Bros.........................................................................6 Snake River Bull Test, LLC..............................................87 Snyder Livestock ......................................................39, 102 Southwest Fence & Supply Co. Inc. .......................32, 103 Stoecklein Photography ..................................................60 Strang Herefords ..............................................................92 Sunny Okanogan Angus Ranch .....................................33 Stewart, Trent....................................................................48 Tehama Angus Ranch..............................................57, 101 TLC Angus......................................................................101 Turlock Livestock Auction Yard.....................................13 Universal Semen Sales...................................................103 Vintage Angus Ranch............................................4, 5, 101 Western Cowman Cookbook ................................57, 103 Western Cowman Photo Contest ..................................61 Western Stockman’s Market ...........................................20 Wyman Creek Brangus .................................................102

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Follow the Western Cowman to stay current on what’s new! Western Cowman - July/August 2016

105

By Wes Ishmael

ooter was riding shotgun with Peetie Womack on the way back home from a feedlot, where Peetie was checking on some of his cattle. Merle Haggard provided the soundtrack to mile markers whipping by. Hooter was pondering and scribbling on a day-old newspaper. THUMP! A bird mistook the grill of Peetie’s pickup for manageable prey, or was simply drawn to light dancing off the chrome. The reverberating sound of the collision seemed out of proportion to the size of the brief blur that appeared an instant earlier. Peetie neither batted an eye nor tapped the brake. He cussed once, eyed his gauges for damage

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and then stabbed the button for his windshield washer as he surveyed the carnage in the rear-view mirror. “That’s a shame,” said Peetie. “It just doesn’t pay to be short sighted or overcommitted when you’re on the hunt or just curious.” Hooter suspected the observation had more to do with his scribbling the potential of replacement heifers than the suicidal bird. There was something about a feedlot—the sheer volume and all of the data—that always got Hooter to dreaming and thinking he should be doing more with his own cattle efforts. “At least he took a chance,” Hooter said, mostly to himself. “That’s something.” Peetie adjusted his seat forward and back, up and down. He could never seem to find the perfect spot. “Chance and risk are a whole lot different than careless disregard of the facts,” Peetie said. He offered Hooter a tootsie roll and then unwrapped one for himself. “The problem with markets is that most folks chase them,” Peetie continued. “By the time they decide to take advantage of an opportunity, the window’s already closed because they were

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waiting around for something more, but they won’t admit it because they can’t stand the thought of having missed it. Even a lot of the contrarians who do the opposite of the masses, just because it’s the opposite.” “But…” “Or, they pencil the inputs based on the wrong opportunity.” “Huh?” By now, the windshield wipers were squeaking across dry glass, crying for relief. Peetie hadn’t noticed. “You ever wonder why you can’t find industry-wide profit and loss data?” “I suppose it has to do with the fact that folks aren’t too eager to share their private financial information,” Hooter said. “No doubt. But, even if they did share the information, there isn’t currently any industrywide standard for the collection, reporting and interpretation of the data. And, even if there was, objective data couldn’t account for the goals of the individual operation, which is paramount to the economic decisions, whether folks think in those terms or not.” Though Peetie often apologized to new acquaintances for his lack of college education, Hooter had never met anyone savvier when it came to business, especially the cattle business. “Never mind the fact that folks in the business as a business are competing with those willing to subsidize their participation in

the business for any number of valid reasons,” Peetie continued. “Even if you’re in the business as a business, what’s your goal, what are you trying to accomplish?” Hooter couldn’t remember the last time he’d seen Peetie claim the soap box with such gusto. “Some folks want to generate revenue to service the mortgage and figure cattle have got to be part of the equation because there’s no other decent way to market the grass. Some folks have the place paid for and want to generate enough money from cows to cover the taxes. Others want just enough cows around to get a tax exemption and justify why they bought the place to begin with. And on and on.” Hooter was mulling that as they idled through what was barely a town. On the outskirts, if you could call it that, was a well manicured farmstead, complete with a freshly-painted—operational or not—outhouse. He and Peetie noticed it at the same time. Peetie pointed at it with a scowl. “We were ahead of our time. It doesn’t get much more gender-neutral that a one-holer in the wintertime. Give those headline nabobs fretting over bathrooms a string of those and tell them to shut up.” Hooter returned to the scribbles on his newsprint. “But whatever the goal is, profit is profit, right?” Peetie unwrapped another sweet. “First off, whoever said you can’t go broke making a profit was an idiot. Cash flow and misplaced leverage can make a mockery out of profit,” Peetie said. “Besides,

even if the opportunity pays and fits the overall financial scheme, does it serve the goal? Even if you make a profit, but it doesn’t get you any closer to the goal, maybe the opportunity cost is too high, maybe you’d have been better off using the time and resources to do something that did get you closer to the goal—even if it meant losing a little money up front. Think of the average average lifespan, there’s not a lot of time and opportunity to be dawdling. You want to be in the cattle business, the land business or both? They’re distinctly different businesses that some folks clobber together in their decision making.” Hooter stewed some more, thinking about the various aspects of Peetie’s extensive business interests, the ones he knew about; undoubtedly there were lots more known only to Peetie and his accountants. “O.K.,” Hooter started, thinking out loud. “The market is heading down with the cycle— you said so yourself. You’ve got a cow herd. Sometimes you keep some of your own calves to stocker and sometimes not, but you always run yearlings and always have some cattle on feed, even when everyone says they’re losing money hand over fist. You sold a jag of your heifers because you said the numbers indicated that you had expanded as far as the market would allow…” “Yeah.” “Then last month, you bought a jag of heifers to grow and breed. Where do they fit the goal? “Oh, those,” Peetie grinned. “They were cheap.”

(530) 668-1224

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Declining Prices

Magnify Cost Focus “Expenses won’t come down as fast as commodity prices,” says Stan Bevers, Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service economist. “Cow-calf expenses won’t come down as fast as cow-calf prices. 2016 will have lower calf prices but not to the extent it will affect these higher expenses. During 2017, expenses still will not be coming down, where calf prices will be in their second year of decline. That’s what concerns me.” As Andrew P. Griffith, agricultural economist at the University of Tennessee pointed out in his April 29 market comments, the spot June Live futures contract was at about a $10 discount to the just-expired April contract. “… which means market participants are anticipating more weakness in the market,” Griffith said. At that stage, Griffith pointed out that calf and feeder prices were within spitting distance of the low prices experienced in 2013. “This is not to say prices are at unprofitable levels, but poor managers may find themselves losing money this year if managing costs does not become a top priority in the near future,” Griffith explained. “Cost management will be the key to profitability for most producers if cattle prices do not become reinvigorated.” Likewise, Chris Hurt, agricultural economist at Purdue

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University, explained in May that expanding beef production and overall recovery in total meat supplies would continue to pressure prices. “Cow-calf producers will need to reconsider their expansion plans,” Hurt said, in his outlook, Falling Cattle Prices, Where Is the Bottom?. “With current live cattle futures prices and with feed prices showing signs of some strength, calf prices are less likely to be high enough to provide profitable returns from retention of more heifers. Overall, it appears that the expansion of the beef herd will begin to slow in the second half of 2016.” Get a Grip on Herd Finances Bevers shared information about Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) at the recent Texas and Southwestern Cattle Raisers Convention in Fort Worth. Combined, he says KPIs comprise a report card that can assist beef producers in measuring factors crucial to an operation. “KPIs provide a rancher with an analysis of the operation and detail whether the operation is fulfilling the goals of ownership,” Bevers explains. KPIs that Bevers suggests ranchers look at include: • Revenue per breeding female. • Nutrition base expense as a percent of total expenses. • Labor and management ex-

W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

By Wes Ishmael

pense as a percent of total revenue. • Operating expense as a percentage of total revenue. • Net income ratio. • Cost per hundredweight of weaned calf. • Total investment per breeding female. • Debt per breeding female. • Equity-to-asset ratio on market basis. • Asset turnover ratio on cost basis. • Rate of return on assets on market basis “Can profitable beef operations go broke?,” wondered Kris Ringwall, Extension beef cattle specialist at North Dakota State University, in one of his insightful weekly BeefTalk outlooks about a year ago. “Absolutely.” One reason, Ringwall explained, is that definitions of profit are often misused, equations for their discovery are frequently inappropriate, and their meaning misinterpreted. Never mind that farm and ranch records are as diverse as the unique operations they seek to define. “Care needs to be taken to make sure the numbers used are the numbers needed to answer the question,” Ringwall said. “The market price of a calf minus the direct expenses of producing that calf often is stated as profit. However, that calculation is far from any indication of the financial status of a beef operation.”

According to Ringwall, the effective process for gathering pertinent data and calculating meaningful financial information is encompassed in the integrated resource management programing efforts offered by universities in the 1990’s. Nationally, the most visible program is Standardized Performance Analysis (SPA). “The purpose of the program was to assist producers in evaluating and reducing their cost of production while improving their production and marketing efficiency,” Ringwall explains. You can find the SPA program at www.beefusa.org/spacalculationsworksheet.aspx. Be aware that is a time-intensive effort. “The point is that the current generation needs to provide the financial analysis that will determine an acceptable Return on Total Assets (ROA),” Ringwall explained. “Knowing the actual current ROA is needed to establish a future goal. If the ROA is adequate, life is good. If not, then evaluate and reduce the cost of production and improve production and marketing efficiency. Then start planning for the next generation.” Market Glimmers Although cattle prices will trend lower in cyclical terms, there are some price-supportive factors in the short term. “Recent Cattle on Feed reports do not indicate supplies that will collapse the fed cattle market, like happened in late 2015,” say analysts with the Livestock Marketing Information Center (LMIC), in their Livestock Monitor. After languishing and losing

ground for about a month, by the middle of May wholesale beef values ballooned with buyers eyeing grilling season and Memorial Day. “Price improvement has occurred despite continuing yearover-year increases in beef production,” explained Derrell Peel, Extension livestock marketing specialist at Oklahoma State University, in his mid-May market comments. Although the 10-week average beef production was 5.3% more than the previous year, according to Peel, carcass weights increased less than anticipated as cattle feeders marketed aggressively. “Feedlots have not only marketed at a good pace, but have actively pulled cattle forward. This has reduced days on feed in feedlots and reduced carcass weights dramatically,” Peel explained. “…The pulling forward of cattle may stress the market today, but it could potentially provide support to the market during the summer and early fall months when beef prices begin to wane seasonally,” explained Griffith, in his early-May market comments. “Today’s market actually appears fairly strong despite the softening of cutout prices.” In fact, Peel believed the recent rally provided a new base for seasonal price movements through the summer and the remainder of the year. “Beef production is expected to increase seasonally through June but this will be tempered both by the recent acceleration in cattle marketings that is pulling cattle ahead of the seasonal peak, combined with smaller

year-over-year increases in carcass weights,” Peel says. “Beef production will likely trend higher in the second half of the year but carcass weights may partially offset increased cattle slaughter.” But, there will be no fading the cyclical downturn in prices. “The general expectation is for price erosion,” LMIC analysts say. “Do expect to see prices below year-ago levels and below early 2016 for both fed and feeder cattle moving into this summer and fall. An increasing cattle herd and therefore increasing supplies of feeder cattle and fed cattle will continue to put downward pressure on cattle prices.” Mounting global inventories, withering export demand and weak global economic growth, which caused U.S. farm income to plummet by 25% in 2015, will continue to plague the U.S. agricultural industry in 2016, according to the latest Quarterly Rural Economic Review from CoBank. “Continued strength in the U.S. dollar and tepid economic growth in China and other emerging markets are the primary culprits for the current situation. Plus, the weaker currencies in competing agricultural countries like Russia, Ukraine, Brazil, Argentina, and Canada are signaling to farmers there to expand acreage and boost production,” says Leonard Sahling, vice president in CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange Division. “Unless weather changes temper that expansion, we expect the market for grains and oilseeds—which are already fiercely competitive—to become even more aggressive in the year ahead.”

Western Cowman - July/August 2016

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1 hour

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W e s t e r n C o w m a n - J u l y / A u g u s t 2 0 1 6

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