Town Creek Farm Since 1993
WINTER 2022
Vo l u m e 1 0 , I s s u e 1 • P u b l i s h e d b y To w n C r e e k Fa r m , We s t Po i n t , M i s s i s s i p p i • B r a n g u s a n d U l t r a b l a c k
Fire in Your Belly BY JOY REZNICEK SUNDBECK I CAME ACROSS A PODCAST THAT HELD MY ATTENTION LIKE NO OTHER. IT WAS AN INTERVIEW WITH PAUL ENLGER, OWNER OF CACTUS FEEDYARDS. HIS SUCCESS AND IMPACT IN THE BEEF CATTLE INDUSTRY IS EXTRAORDINARY – THE FIRST TO BRING CATTLE FEEDING TO TEXAS, 10 YEARS WITH IOWA BEEF PACKERS (IBP) AND FOUNDER OF CACTUS FEEDYARDS. PRIVATE TREATY BULLS ARE NOW AVAILABLE.
The Grit welcomes your inquiries and feedback. The Grit is published by Town Creek Farm, West Point, Mississippi.
Town Creek Farm Milton Sundbeck, Owner Office: 32476 Hwy. 50 East West Point, Mississippi 39773-5207 (662)494-5944 www.TownCreekFarm.com Joy Reznicek Sundbeck, President (205)399-0221 Joy@TownCreekFarm.com Clint Ladner, Bull Development (662)812-8370 CLadner@TownCreekFarm.com Cody Glenn, Herdsman (601)508-8689 Cody@TownCreekFarm.com Anne Sutherland, Quarter Horses (662)295-6144 Anne@TownCreekFarm.com South American Representative Ing. Agr. Federico Maisonnave (011) 595 981 362 898 Maisonnave.Federico@gmail.com TOTAL COMMITMENT
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Paul Engler grew up in a small town in northcentral Nebraska. His father had a filling station with bulk oil and gas delivery. At age six, Paul’s father put him to work at the station checking tires, airing tires and washing windshields. Later, Paul’s father introduced him to livestock. He bought one Jersey milk cow. Paul milked the cow. One cow doubled to two cows, then to three cows. They sold milk. Paul took care of the cows and delivered the milk. “People paid monthly,” says Paul. Sometimes customers would tell him they just didn’t have the money to pay him that week. The times were hard. They asked Paul if he could wait another month. Paul describes this as his first taste of business. Paul milked cows before he went to school. The business eventually got too big and they sold the milk cows and bought stocker cattle. “The stockers were calves weaned off their mothers in the fall. We kept them over winter and fed them for a minimum gain. Then we pastured them in the summer. They had to be hayed. That was my job after I got out of school,” says Paul. “My father was a great man and great father, says Paul. He never paid us money for our work. He’d buy us boots or coveralls when we needed them, but we just didn’t get paid. It irritated me so bad I had to do something about it.” So, Paul got a job at the local livestock auction in Bassett, Nebraska. He worked there on Wednesdays and was excused from school. “I observed what was going on at the sale barn and learned about the business,” Paul recalls. Paul’s father went on a business trip and was gone for three days. “When I went to the sale barn and bought 100 head of cattle,” Paul says. After the sale was over the owner of the auction told Paul he needed to speak to him. He asked if Paul had bought cattle that day. “Yes sir,” Paul said. He asked how many? Paul said, “100.” He asked Paul if he had any money? “Not a dime,” Paul said. Then he asked how he was going to pay for the cattle. Paul said, “I guess you will have to loan me the money.” Paul was only 12 years old. The sale barn owner made out a loan note and Paul got the cattle home. “When I told my mother, she had a fit,” Paul says. The first thing she thought was that Paul had been cheated; a 12year-old boy buying cattle in the auction? His mother asked a neighbor who had been at the sale.
The neighbor assured her that Paul knew what he was doing and had done a good job. Paul said that he had been planning this move for a while. He already had his brand and had it registered. Paul had the 100 head home and branded before his father returned from his trip. When his father returned, his father asked Paul to go out with him and look at cattle. My dad said, “Paul, the herd got a little bit bigger while I was gone?” Paul said yes. His father asked Paul to tell him about it. Paul did. “Of course, he wanted to know about the money,” Paul says. He told him. His father didn’t like someone other than him loaning Paul money. His father went to the bank, borrowed money, then paid off the barn owner. “Then something happened that I’ll never forget as long as I live, Paul says. I thought my father would come back from the bank upset and perhaps give him a tongue lashing.” Instead, his father stuck out his hand and asked Paul to shake it. His father said, “Son, I’m proud of you.” That stuck with Paul. The next year Paul bought more stockers. He graduated from high school at age 15 and thought he’d continue to run stockers. His father came to him and said, “Paul, let me suggest something. I think you should go to college. You will have enough money to get started if you sell out. There will be plenty of time after college to get back in the cattle business.” Paul graduated from college. PAUL SHARED HIS THOUGHTS ON HIS LIFETIME OF SUCCESSES. You must have a fire in your belly. “Early on, no cattle were being fed in Texas. Cattle were being hauled from Texas to Nebraska to be fed,” he says. Paul started the first feedlot in Texas at a young age. Today, Texas has number one cattle-on-feed numbers. To be successful you must be an entrepreneur. “You can get five Harvard graduates who are not entrepreneurs and put them in the cattle feeding business, I’d swear to God they’d fail, says Paul. It’s part of your belly – you have to be an entrepreneur because the nature of business is ups and downs.” “For the beef cattle system to work correctly you have to have freedom of markets,” says Paul. Historically, one sector will get along a little better than another. It’s a free market basis. Cattle feeders get a little short of numbers at times. Rancher’s numbers are a little short sometimes. Then ranchers get a little bit bigger piece of the pie.” “Most big failures have been something other than the cattle feeding business, Paul says. There is an old saying – you better know what the hell you are doing. Whenever you think you are smart enough to run someone else’s business, it doesn’t work out that way. Keep your fire burning,” Paul says.
Fall 2022 Bull Offering Update BY CLINT LADNER, BULL DEVELOPMENT
WITH A NEW YEAR COMES OUR OPPORTUNITY TO SHOWCASE A FRESH SET OF SALE BULLS. THIS YEAR’S OFFERING OF BULLS ARE POWERFUL AND THE MOST CONSISTENT SET WE’VE RAISED. Several years ago we began to refocus on breeding and producing a larger selection of calving ease bulls with maternal strength and fertility. You will see the results of our efforts in our offering on October 15, 2022. Our heifer-safe bulls are not only calving ease but have the same phenotype and power you have come to expect from Town Creek bulls. This set of sale bulls has the strongest birth weight to weaning weight ratio of any bulls, as a whole, that we have offered to date. Not only will we have a large selection of heifer bulls, but also a powerful selection of herd sires that will sire productive daughters to last for years to come and give you more pounds on the ground over a longer period of time. Town Creek Farm bulls can make a difference in your operation. They will sire replacement quality heifers and high quality steer calves that will grow and top markets. Each year we push the envelope by developing more efficient cattle. Our sale breeding bulls are raised on a forage-based ration and out of cows that make a living on grass. What we are seeing is that every year after fall yearling bull ultrasound data is collected, we’ve been able to take bulls completely off feed sooner, and for longer periods of time. Going from just one month on grass only, to several months, now
Bulls selling Saturday, October 15, 2022, at the Town Creek Farm Bull Sale.
produces a hardier bull that lasts longer in the breeding pastures with less pressure on joints. They have proven they can make a living on grass. I love to see Town Creek Farm bulls in customer’s herds after their first breeding season and see just how well they stayed together and how hard they are. Reducing the ratio of delivered feed to grazed grass has made a huge economic difference in our bull development program. Along with our Brangus bulls, on Saturday, October 15th we will offer a selection of first and second generation Ultrablacks, VigorMax™ (Half- Blood), Three-Quarter blood, and pure Brahman bulls. Our Brangus, percentage and Brahman bulls are developed together with the same expectations. They must pass stringent tests and tough culling measures to provide bulls that give you an edge.
Premium A.I. Sires. The Best Calves You’ll Raise.
145E6
TCF RAPID REWARD 145E6
263F
Powerful hip and muscle. Very easy fleshing. 145E6 phenotype is second to none with a massive hip, extreme amount of
rib, body shape amd bone and stands on ideal feet and legs.
TCF RAPID REWARD 263F
Outstanding maternal traits. Packed with muscle. Out of the maternal powerhouse 263C. Average birth weight of his calves 74 lbs. His sons are moderate and packed with muscle. His daughters are feminine, efficient and very productive in true ranch environments.
Semen $40 per straw. Commercial Use $20 per straw. Volume Discounts. Total Commitment
Since 1993
FOR ORDERS AND MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Cody Glenn (601)508-8689 Cody@TownCreekFarm.com Clint Ladner (662)812-8370 • Cladner@TownCreekFarm.com Joy Reznicek Sundbeck (205)399-0221 • Joy@TownCreekFarm.com
4861F7 TCF INTEGRITY 4861F7
Sleep tight all night. Proven calving ease bull. Calves are light at birth and grow with an abundance of rib shape, body, natural muscle and are easy fleshing. Average calf birth weight is 69 lbs.
First Generation Progress - Breeding New Brangus Genetics BY CODY GLENN, HERDSMAN EXCITEMENT IS BUILDING AS WE WAIT WITH ANTICIPATION FOR FALL BORN CALVES TO BE WEANED THIS SPRING. WITNESSING THE FRUITS OF A YEAR’S LABOR IS ALWAYS A FULFILLING EVENT COME WEANING TIME, EVEN MORE SO THIS YEAR, AS WE WILL BE WEANING OUR FIRST SIZEABLE CROP OF NEW FIRST GENERATION BRANGUS CALVES.
Amid the challenges that 2020 brought, a three-quarter blood bull rose through the ranks to become a herd sire. The extreme docility coupled with impeccable foot quality and overall correct design of TCF Vigor Boost 394G3 made him an early standout. He has been calm from the beginning and has remained that way in and out of the breeding pasture. Despite the later maturing nature of high Brahman content cattle, 394G3 has outstanding semen quality and has produced large volumes of semen during collection for artificial insemination. Through partnerships formed with DeSantis Angus and Meadowview Ranch, 394G3 has been used through AI and natural service on Angus dams to create first generation calves. His first calves will be weaned this spring and are already showing great potential. First generation calves will begin hitting the ground at Meadowview Ranch in February. Regardless of the mating strategy used to achieve our goal, the methods remain the same. We are using proven genetics and sound animal husbandry techniques to develop first-generation Brangus genetics for a Brangus industry that is hungry for fresh bloodlines and hybrid vigor. I have heard Dr. Trent Smith, associate professor of animal breeding and genetics at Mississippi State University, say on countless occasions, “the only free lunch in the cattle business is hybrid vigor.” First generation genetics bring that “free lunch” to the table for both seedstock producers and commercial cattlemen alike. Fresh outcross genetics, even in a purebred scenario, have the potential to enhance low heritability traits such as reproductive efficiency and longevity. We are excited to showcase the hard work, time and money that we have put into developing these new first generation genetics. The development of foundation herds of half-blood, three-quarter blood, and first-generation females will enable us to continue providing fresh genetics year after year to enhance and sustain hybrid vigor and outcross options for breeders of Brangus cattle.
Breeding up to Brangus is a huge investment of time and money. Town Creek Farm began this breed up program seven years ago and has been vigilant in maintaining the same level of scrutiny and selection pressure in every step of the process. Through invitro-fertilization, Town Creek Farm began utilizing Kempfer Cattle Company Brahman and proven Angus genetics in 2015 to create half-blood progeny. The heifer calves from these matings were then mated back to Brahman bulls to create ¾ Brahman ¼ Angus calves. Many challenges arise in this generation of the project. Brahman cattle possess a wild-type coat color gene. In the first cross, the dominant black coat color gene from Angus masks the wild hair gene from the Brahman, however, the three-quarter blood calves now have the genetic potential to express a variety of coat color patterns since they can have two copies of the wild-type gene. There is also the potential for these cattle to be horned with two copies of that gene coming from Brahman as well. Here we are truly at the mercy of the random way in which DNA is transferred. We are continually amazed at the amount of variation that can occur even within a flushmate group of full siblings. A portion of three-quarter blood progenies don’t make the cut for seedstock animals simply due to these undesirable traits. Three-quarter blood females in this segment are mated back to Angus bulls to create new first-generation Brangus. Selection pressure is applied to the cattle in the breed-up program no different than our Brangus and Ultrablack cattle. We expect heifers to breed early and calve as two-year-olds. Sound structure and good feet are imperative, along with acceptable udder and teat design. Docility is paramount. Our goal for the new first-generation Brangus that we develop is no different than that of our current multigeneration Brangus herd, to be fertile, efficient and maternal focused. Fall born first generation bull calf sired by TCF Vigor Boost 394 (3/4 Blood bull x Angus cow). Dam sired by Connealy Consensus 7229.
Fall born first generation bull calf sired by TCF Vigor Boost 394 (3/4 Blood bull x Angus cow). Dam sired by Quaker Hill Rampage 0A36.
91 Percent Choice – $622.84 Profit Per Head Close Out LONGINO RANCH INC. OF SIDELL, FLORIDA, SHARED HARVEST DATA ON A SET OF TOWN CREEK FARM SIRED HEIFERS FED AT QUINCEY CATTLE IN CHIEFLAND, FLORIDA. “This was a set of yearling heifers palpated as open at pregnancy check. Market value on the heifers at the time was around 70¢ per pound. Here in our Florida market they probably would have sold for a little less,” says general manager Cliff Coddington, Longino Ranch, Inc. Longino Ranch sent heifers to the feedlot weighing 863 pounds and they were harvested at 1276 pounds. Heifers made a NET MARKET PROFIT OF $622.84 PER HEAD after 122 days on feed. Heifers were placed in the lot on 9/6/2021 and were sold on the grid on 2/7/2022. Ninety-one percent (91%) of the carcasses graded choice. Carcasses had average yield grades of 3.33. Average hot carcass weight came in at 795 pounds. Town Creek Farm continues to develop beef cattle genetics that
function efficiently and provide acceptable carcasses for the consumer. As illustrated by Longino Ranch results and other Town Creek Farm harvest data sets, Town Creek Farm sired calves will harvest carcasses that make an above industry average profit and leave behind replacement heifers with maternal strength and fertility.
Town Creek Farm Working Ranch Horses Private Treaty Sale TOWN CREEK FARM HAS FOCUSED ON PRODUCING WORKING RANCH HORSES THAT ARE GOOD-MINDED, COW SAVVY, WILLING AND ATHLETIC PARTNERS FOR YOUR RANCH OR FAMILY. We are offering a rare opportunity to purchase a yearling, two-year-old and three-year-old. For more information call or text Anne Sutherland at (662)295-6144. • 2019 GRAY FILLY BY FRANCIS DUAL OUT OF SUGAR OAK LILY - $8000. AQHA ID 5994412. Big-boned, solid built ranchy filly out of Saunders Ranch stock. She was lightly started in the spring of 2021 and is ready for someone to pick her back up and go to work. This is the kind of filly that will make the whole family happy. She has the disposition and mind to make a solid ranch horse, weekend mount, and kids’ horse. Her full sister was carrying a 70 plus-year old timid rider on weekend mountain rides as a three-year-old. Ties, loads, stands for farrier, vet and bath. UTD on vaccines. She is the kind you’ll be happy to have and sad if you miss. • 2020 BAY FILLY BY BAMACAT OUT OF CCR DOC LOVES KATE - $5000. AQHA ID 6126190. 5 Panel Negative. Bamacat is a 2021 NCHA leading sire and a NCHA World Champion sire with earnings of $352,857. We crossed him on our dependable Doc Bar bred mare for the ultimate outcross. This filly has the potential to be a catty, well-minded ranch and show mount. She is ready to start training. Ties, loads, stands for farrier, vet, and bath. UTD on vaccines. • 2021 DARK GREY FILLY BY HIRED GUN (PLAYGUN) OUT OF LIGHT N KITTY - $4500. AQHA ID pending. Playgun sons have been a good cross on this mare with her 2021 filly being no exception. She is ranch-raised and conformationally correct with a feminine appearance. Her half-sibs are in show and ranch homes from Nebraska to Florida, and we have received very positive feedback from all owners. UTD on vaccines.
TOWN CREEK FARM IS SO PROUD TO SPONSOR PROFESSIONAL STEER WRESTLER AND OUR HOMETOWN SENSATION, WILL LUMMUS, IN HIS 2022 SEASON. Will continues to craft his skills finishing second in the World in 2021. Will’s notoriety is gaining traction. Seems the ground beef patty, bacon, ham, pimento cheese, and Comeback Sauce burger is now known as the “Will Lummus.” Will could be the first steer wrestler to have a burger named after him. UNBELIEVABLE! TYLER WAGUESPACK WON THE 2021 WORLD CHAMPION PROFESSIONAL STEER WRESTLER TITLE. Will Lummus was runner-up to Tyler and earned the 2021 Reserve World Champion Professional Steer Wrestler title. Will also won the 2021 National Rodeo Finals (NFR) average Championship title. Town Creek Farm and the Town Creek Farm community are so proud of these two athletes. We are humbled to sponsor Tyler and Will and have the TCF brand proudly displayed on their shirts.
Spring Private Treaty Bull Sale TOWN CREEK FARM WILL HAVE AVAILABLE A GROUP OF PRIVATE TREATY BULLS FOR SALE THIS SPRING. For more information, please contact Clint Ladner (662)812-8370, Cody Glenn (601)508-8689 or Joy Reznicek Sundbeck (205)399-0221. CONGRATULATIONS TO ELI AND COOPER MCDONALD. THE TWO YOUNG CATTLEMEN PURCHASED TOWN CREEK FARM BRANGUS HEIFER 312H8 AND ULTRABLACK HEIFER 1H2. The boys won Grand Champion Brangus Heifer and Grand Champion Other Brahman Breeds Heifer at the Mississippi Northwest District Livestock Show.
CLIFF CODDINGTON NAMED 2021 OUTSTANDING AGRICULTURALIST– Cliff Coddington was named 2021 Manatee County Agriculturalist of the Year. Coddington is a sixthgeneration Floridian. He is one of the most respected cattlemen and industry leaders in the Southeast United States. He currently serves as president of the Florida Cattlemen’s Association. Most all Town Creek Farm customers know Cliff as a producer of top commercial Brangus bred heifers and long-time Town Creek Farm bull buyer and friend. Cheers for a life well-lived.
LOOK FOR TOWN CREEK FARM AT THESE EVENTS: March 2-4, 2022 – International Brangus Breeders Assoc. Convention, Houston, Texas March 4 & 5, 2022 – Alabama Cattlemen’s Convention, Mobile, Alabama June 14-16, 2022 – Florida Cattlemen’s Convention, Marco Island, Florida, BOOTH #4 Save Saturday, October 15, 2022 – Town Creek Farm Sale • 150 Town Creek Farm Bulls 225 Commercial Brangus Heifers at the ranch, West Point, Mississippi