2019 Fall Cattlemen's Edition, Section B

SECTION B Genetic improvements Stargazer Ranch uses EPDs to improve the quality of their animals Loveland – With very little prior knowledge of livestock husbandry, John Heise and Cynthia Fronk set out to raise alpacas on their small farm, the Stargazer Ranch, near Loveland, Colo. 16 years ago.

Their philsosphy is centered around the mantra of “Building better babies,” according to John.

“I had no idea what was in store when we decided to start raising alpacas,” says John. “I had no livestock experience but felt up to the challenge.”

About alpacas According to the Alpaca Owners Association, alpacas are a part of the camelid family, its most recognizable cousin being the humped camels of Africa and Asia. Alpacas and llamas are both part of this family and are native to South

America. They have been domesticated for thousands of years. Their wild counterparts include guanacos and vicunas.

Alpacas were domesticated from the vicunas, which led to the finer quality of fiber in comparison to llamas, which originated from the guanacos.

Alpacas come in two breed types, huacaya and suri.

Huacayas are the most common and account for approximately 90 percent of all alpacas. They have a fluffy, crimped fleece similar to a teddy bear. Suris have long, silky fleece that falls in pencillike locks.

Alpacas typical lifespan is between 15 and 20 years, the longest living alpaca lived to be 27 years old.

While closely related, alpacas and llamas are very

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and the quality is above cashmere and is valued at greater than $250 per pound.”

Alpaca EPDs Similar to the expected progeny difference (EPDs) used in cattle genetics, the Alpaca Owners Association collects genetic information from alpacas to create genetic profiles to assist in decision making for breeders.

According to John, Alpaca EPDs are focused on nine production traits believed to be the most important at this stage of the industry. EPDs are used as an objective tool to help breeders make purchasing and breeding decisions to obtain the best results in the developing the next generation.

Stargazer Ranch has been participating in the alpaca EPD program since its inception in 2012. A large majority of their herd places in the top 10 percent of alpaca EPDs,

with some animals finishing in the top one to three percent of the species.

“EPDs are not just for the elite alpacas and breeding programs,” says John. “In fact, it’s most beneficial use is helping breeders with average or below average genetics make rapid improvement.”

John notes their goals are not only to turn a profit but to contribute quality genetics to the alpaca industry and continue to improve Stargazer Ranch genetics.

“Alpacas are very misunderstood in North America,” he says. “I just want more people to understand these animals and clear up any confusion.”

Please visit alpaca.net for more information.

Callie Hanson is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup.

Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

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different. Llamas are nearly twice the size of alpacas and average between 250 and 450 pounds, while fullgrown alpacas stay around 100 to 200 pounds. Llamas are much more aggressive and are used primarily for packing or guarding herds of sheep or alpacas. Alpacas are primarily raised for their fleeces.

Depending on specific environmental aspects, alpacas are very low maintence, between two and eight animals can be raised on a single acre. The general rule of thumb is three pounds of forage per 150 pounds of weight or two percent of the total body weight.

High quality fleece John notes the fleece of alpacas is often overlooked.

“Alpacas are very often overlooked for their fleece quality or confused with llamas,” says John. “While llamas can produce fleece, it is of much lower quality than a well-managed alpaca fleece.”

“We are looking to breed alpacas to keep a certain degree of fineness about their fiber,” says John. “When well bred, alpacas can produce cashmere-quality fleeces.”

According to John, alpaca fiber was actually of a much better quality prior to the Spanish conquest of South America nearly 500 years ago.

“Recent studies of garments and alpaca mummies have revealed the quality of alpaca fiber at that time was similar to vicuna fiber of today,” John says. “Vicuna is the wild ancestor of alpacas,

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Farmers and AgriBusiness Community • www.wylr.net The Week ly New s Sour ce for Wyo communities ming

A Looof • www.wylr.net Des Moines, IowaAgriBusiness Regular vaccinations k Insi rural in sheep and – The spring Community decline Farmers Ranchers, can help control rapidly de Wyoming’s changing pace of the 8-11 meeting, held April clostridial For the agriculture Thunde

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“We have ebrated AGvocacy Week from of Wyoming ...........P ted in January and ranchers age 9 Jan. 21-27. . . . . . . . . . . . Page 12 we from Legacy mous Officially formed on Please see determine which Awa STEER Dec. 21, 2018, the Wyord on page Congressman Liz Cheney 6 Sixty-year “Enhancing rangeland technology ming Prescribed looked at Washington, D.C. chalUW Fire began with the energy ability to scale down our lenges at Young Farmers and employee Extension Council (WY-PFC) chemicalimporThe Wyoming Broadenergy through photosynthesis, Woo models and view smaller awarded has emphasizes Ranchers event. . . . . . . . Page 13 ltoMar plots Miller which before we could view the is represented Laramie been in the works band Advisory Council by ket the totalinquantity of entire ecosystem,” said Univer-tance for organic–material communication The proofAustral In 2019, s The sity of Montana Research Day withinian numerous years, accordwill hold a public meeting a given Barbecue annual University Scientist Nathanial Robinson. ket duced McKinstry received wool period haschanging mar- by vegetation.

Robinson has focused his the Legacy continuedtimes “Productivity ingof Womin by teleconference to advisory 14, beforewill be held from the rate of thisSept. posthumously research on remote g (UW) board from 1-5behind him. itsis sharp production,” Award 77 years since a banker . Bales monitor RobAg the Sims, “The tools todecline 12 to 2:30 inson. rangeland agricul- all Idaho footba said the banker told “Different member As professions – offered 3 p.m. kickof p.m.

Chadron, Neb. – It’s been nearly bank, the ecosystems. on with from UW’s of the Sheridan Michael May dreams College 1 to talkand Wyoming He was among view productivity p.m. Johnabout Outside ll game. were at 26,420 but I10 speak-down in a difof Agricu erslend for the ferent the ranch, Indoor buy way.” imperative ston.f of the Wyom on Procee it is bales, tele-health, mobile took a chance on a Wyoming cowboy the money landstofor youworking turalists, Natural was wildlife broad-bank can’t ing- to Tickets are $12 Practice Facilit ranch. Roy Sims had this Resources.lture and Resources ds benefit Colleg 2019 Society for Range Management presentations at the thatdown “Ecologists to effecfromable “We had been band, aspirations of owning his own are we education and instry productivity as gross nally rostere e of Agricu theview student protalk-12 and free for for adults, $5 y.

McKworkwork- will.” origijoined money, sometimes of Wyom primary the spot. onConference. duction d(GPP) with ing onlture figureand for childre loan right there five and worked hard to put away someforce communicate andand what was then the net primary transformation a off about bales, tively Some of ing. The organizations He gave him a personalProductivity of 33,046 defined production under. n ages six after More than 200,000 pubpurchasing a ranch2019 Weeke (NPP),” accordat thefor Natural a fire the funds “When 18% was“Managers to Robinson. puba legacy we we look atofproductivity, arship, awarde priorities ing multiple jobs, to put toward Extension UW Cooperative non-agriculture drawn The beginning Univer theing and is in event is partcouncil a few and go to the more. There years look at nd all need with- thewill Pre-ga biomass, prior sity him. of to to be sell lic comments await the to standing on Servic genthe the Ag willing same d future crop, to was the Ag page peak to event. The endurance me Zone about southw and just Apprec standing will be time available and mustOfutilize where she e in 1946, Day neighboring widow a studen wesale. what never could crop and total annual productivity is,” Robinson was lic, a story of dreams It is “There left and iation get in what in the Cowbo est production.” availab t who partici BBQ Scholcorner of Trump administration offimind, the banker had tofor to share. Roy said. can befamily “All of clubs represeremaining money le to touch continue are given a lot of will we these public than most worked longer With financial concerns in with thePepsi 34.9% varying comment. For him the factors opportunities of the Sims relate really well to each y Joe right peothoughts on what constitrade, more erations tutes failed Tailgate the nted and bank couldn’t lend cials who will eventually is divided pated in the other,” asthe to stories ings and productivity.”

Robinson. ple,” as career – would call a full reach“Atseller information, reserve saysareaJohnston. give Sims the bad news that the our ranch until the 1970s, when he had a thefarmtell tosaid end of the day, it all comes e-mail inside among conferences. used for educat “It Broad- Sims worked up his paperThe continu return to finish work on down He first defined production to. forage the year. finally started to come accordBuchanan33 years – before on the ground, ional in prices band gathered Just under the money to fund his dream. Sims Manager Russ Elliott and ranchers, ers but the NPP and GPP are al fall on page 6of solar the conversion right Please seeasRANCH pushed $7,500 wastrips, meetwith the banker a really controversial Endangered versity as joined the unitogether last January when the Micron Farm Price ing at russ.elliott@wyo.g American work, and headed out the door Guidesto(MPGs raised last ov.

Please see RANGE on page Species Act changes, epit16 fessor in an assistant prowe got in contact with betweeBureau ) down Direcn 100 andFederation the omizing the larger burdens would workgeography. She 18.5 micron Coalition of Prescribed 170and Advocacy Media cents, tor of and for every they’ll face post-shutdown – Extension least affected finer were Fire Councils.”

Miller.

UW Johnna as buyers stuffed e-mail inboxes, overher 60-yea Director during to secure a featured Getting started looked was The Wyoming DepartfinerMiller r career wools. loaded answering machines, organization. with the Johnston ment of Environmental speaker at the 2019 Wyoexplained missed deadlines and people the key to getting the WYSage She later Farm Bureau FedQuality, Water Quality Diviming Gro created Stella demanding answers.

PFC use and started McKinstry the Young Farmer sion, Watershed Protecwas getting Twentyeration ship in the -one Scholarthe right individuals fewer maleRancher Conference. The tion Program has posted college. and the sage grousepercent Born in agencies involved and tarreported three-day conference 2019 Surface Water MonTeton Count were on in 2019 Stella the same page. y ison to in18to r-35-year-old compa itoring Plan to its website. geted 2018 son on Oct.was born in Jackcounts. and studies “We reached out to a ranchers and The plan describes the Recent havefarmers ents Linda 12, 1923, to parvarDrought’s foothold in shown numerous distindiverse audience of peogrouse popula and Harold ious surface water monitorsage featured were lowits at tions rise , who homes the U.S. remains fall in six-to-e guished ple and agencies when as well ing projects scheduled and we son Hole. teading in Jackight-year speakers, for Idaho, Nevada est levels since September first got started,” Johnston 2019. Contact Jeremy Zumof local ranches tourscycles. as and The wildlife 2017, with drought covering explains. “We needed peoOregon The Berge at jeremy.zumberge@ agribusinesses. official and tal buildinformer hospis have reported only 31.5% of the country, ple who were connected g in conference wyo.gov or 307-675-5638 the- Cattle ofalso a Rangelands where McKin Jackso straigh also reap the benefits of plumm thirdtheme according to the latest U.S. to fire and had a passion tsystems. of healthy year Wyoming Traditions, range for more information.

“Classic still stands, stry was bornn Livestock Roundup Photo estimates. etingwaspopula Drought Monitor, released for making this council a block tion square Solutions.”

New off the mates and Those 2019 estito the work.”

Jan. 17. Drought’s presence have north. Her mother, 52%, 33%, counts are“Consumers who in the Midwest is nearly downand we have to “I like to compare WYsachusetts, was from Maschanged, tively from and 38% respecPFC to the rock soup story nonexistent at this time, at while teachinmet her father 2016. change, Registration is now too,” said Miller.

Back to we all heard as kids,” just 0.3% of the region in a g in Washin together and communicaton, D.C. open to cattle producers are so far removed he of Agricultschool – More gfor about the importance of hard work, working Water “People and Melinda Sims talked said. “If than small area in northern MinShanon ure and 150 new events brings horses Highlighting hard work --four the farm, and they He brough on from a Naturaleveryone Day. Gayle Smith photo National Range Flow College Catstudent Pistol State drought ago, Chadron at nesota. A year and t her to Goshen PleaseResour semest homestead, tion during a presentation tleman’s Beef Association see FIRE ces.onPictured page 5 s took part in welcom er in the Pete and Cowboy Irrigation Please see FARM on page 11 his trict reports , student college. covered 34.1% of the MidGrand Teton now part Outsta e back Joe, Dis(NCBA) Stockmanship s Courtes activitie of and y photo center. More thanand faculty membe will reach water has National s in the nding alum west.

Stewardship Regional Tour. Denver, Colo. − After 34 years with the College The 278 new Park. rs with most landow or A prefere National Cattlemen’s ers by Haflinge student Casper, family moved s are expecte r draft ni nce to Sept.

Albin – n-Monty Events will be held in Iowa, Beef Association (NCBA), the past four himself to then Lerwick, make ranch.” awarde ers are Fra- 5. Landownas CEO, Kendal his cousin d this fall uncomfortable where Stella to Colorado, asked to Damon Printzthan d Colorado, Kansas and Lou- zier announced his plans for retirement and father likely more as the career in April. Frazier’s be Ron Lerwick as presthat, would gradpatient noting led Robert began a farm broadcaster border, capaci southern Tank Toad provides informationAlumn its isiana. The tour to for looking ty of starting Traveling team won asNew thoseopportunities Grieve Please see features andserved Orleans, La.in –Kansas, the wheretoheNew his issweet (UW) wool judging on nation i award also to uti- the highest, lowest canal of the director of communications defense asarethebeing LEGACY University of Wyoming’s ident, lize tunnel events views remote Bureau to be led by sensing and average An interns for KansasFarm National on page 5 at the tored of the stockonbroad-s their Livestock ent not retirem recipie Orleans for the American he’s southeast overall champion Association and explained before moving Hemonihip for former levels for the day, allowing Craigtank priority. toptested Big that to Denver, houldered ConvenThe Wyoming Game and a team member was manship experts.

Colo., toAnnual nt keeps forWyoming Hornfarmers and By attendon Jan. 17.Cattlemen’s Thoma (AFBF) join the staff ranch, Colo. ranchers stabilit – farm Denver, Federation ofMainta knows the National (NWSS) he Mountseeking to to know if their stock in contacimmigration against ease they.challenges ing, inproducers Buffalo Association 13 Jason Fearne s in Washington,Wyoming Rep. ains Farm Bureau and Fish Department con- Western Stock Show t with Wyo ties tanks are ditch was overmay Wyoming the predecessor . associated teamalso provided (NCA), within yhough The Gold people with near dents had but riders organization daily acceptable limits to NCBA.tion immigrants, fromlocal UW had two teams competing. help During his opportunity become Beef Quality needfor Cre’s underg D.C., during on opportu the operation.

His legally. or not. Every set the course firmed a cow elk has tested thetasks to sample to Assur- industry members academ an illustrious career, most date he served and third in placings. raduate career of the need in grading upthe country “They were nities. info beef to into the device sends a text messagemorning, through some of its most ness combined ancerail and busi“With certified. oncome meetcontac “The opportuhis life. career is icinsights, our positive for chronic wast- all champion, first sugarcane, and deliver about UW’s first challenging learn and interest relaying cuisine, to ole times competition first say and ies pepper we team’s events. successes the ed information on the water U.S.up with nity t them with times and what I could be This was came thanfrom ed with States threeall United ing disease (CWD) in Elk issues decades, he could thebeef has“For more a way levels across the to remotely we thoughin what we had of each involved opened my eyes Fearneyhough out industry you at NWSS since 1997. UWfitted any Trump pointed check connected tank has benemay have taken fromfarmers I never Kendal’s vision and Additionally, water in agricul levelsthe have.

Hunt Area 37. The elk was wool judging championship in 16 years. byroutine Trump. asking route though said. “That t about issues,” leadership.

Donald ourselves, Please ture in a that confidence Theremake and see President includwhat is is no sure team doubt presidency, my tointhank something his Grieve helping agribust possible through but didn’t. during Starting from scratch successes way moving forward gives a person has played States all every will the harvested by a hunter in late not had a wool judging ecstatic about the win,” said Whitmind that heThe United a major them of the theirsuccess role in can President be death ensuring use that we for iness do Fearne policy honore that the efforts factntrancher of our industry today,” recipie and the .”

Tank Toad is built on a broader reform “Everyone was pretty The American can ing tax to d build many and said NCBA in aswater.

December. CWD has been build ofreally a restore appearance of Animal aAward President four-inchsense,” said the things they and ming peopleyhough said despite second well?” an Outstan He as Lung Jennifer HousMonty professor in the Department ton. “It hasmade Alumneliminated. been square outdoor electric been his pleasure to work says. “Our tax has virtually Outstanding do in a disadva many feeling as ding i Award device previously documented in Stewart, an assistant Association’s box. It hasRecipie called 2019 State of many years,years my closely because, the AFBF Convention nt Fearne Tank with Kendalgave Farm from sheep specialist. though they Wyotheis2018 sity of ofWyom Alumni aluminum face plate, for kudos ntage coming UniverToad, Fearnean andforit passage and Ito yhough. can sayout sends the Air of farmers.” a text without deer in overlaying Deer Science and UW Extension swivel “I like yhough state, he overAsi message a doubt his talk, ing’s (UW) bolt and Mont. was ter that to ranchers Ronan,Wyoming and we as heofstarted from such are at are far versity anbet-Trad Rigby reports insurance, believe off because bracket to hold the solar of Agricu every Team member Laurel which Colof Wyom graduated from his service attendees daylege received mixed admintocrop hiscattlewomen.” a small update Hunt Area 24, but this is the thatand to cattlemen panel them PresidentBill, lture and rail competition grades “Coming s the opposite. eincluded on ing with He promised andthe for in that powwater ers the unit. An in the grading ranchers and ces “I’m Resour to farmers Trump Natulevel listened from a small a bachelo the Uni- ming he manwould in ral antenna is also agricul itsfirst their to have on the tural commu air quality. While first time an elk has tested all individual champion, stock workedtoinwork was a lucky during tanks Agricu continue essential theannoun Kimberly, around ced a trade recently inture CasperIdaho of cattle master istration the the Waters place like Dallin Brady of what killing a wonderful nications r’s degree ple and having interac Apprec Outsta ’s in busines and seventh in placings.and was successful journey this has between industry, agreement Sept.

Cheyenne Wyopositive. iation Weeke to rural been,” most and then in ninth in the on page wereand tions saidAmerica. to nd,l- Grieve nding Alumni Please see WATERFearne 7 Frazier in rated s administration themakissues that matter and reasons can get back U.S. 14 and a and the industry, through with great peoRule so farmers third overall, first in placings the U.S. – Robert Accord and Japan. is a 2019 two of the cleanest air qual- ing the announcement.

“It keephas been 15 at UW. an honorabout extensively through . ingtheto talked Alumni sors went yhough said many to serve page 24 Outstan and women whoTrump WyFB on the “Isee Awarde have Associ grading rail contest. ity areas in the country, make theirsafe out of their ding on menU.S. Wheat Please of the profes- opportunitiesout the state, offers university wall a business. living an inborn e from lege of ation, by inbuilding the cattle dency to periodical Sub- confident thatingI’m America UW way Ag. I this am they individuals Courtes Coltento work and ensure their agreement ously leaving NCBA in a goodwill keep place,” Fearne lette, Campbell and Sherwouldn ty photo live outside place. Over exports stuchallen the of yhough said.’t see in a larger flowing idan counties all received past several years, we have worked to strengthen my wheat said Grieve ge myself into Japan, “This is NCBA’s and to learn comfort zone, rela- which a very , former some“D” grades. This year’s tionship with our stakeholders, build the association’s The biodiesel industo continu Please see large conscio periodical from is profess and cial finanusly resources and deepen our AWARD crucial maror and retired those experie report showed ozone on page 4 try saw a record number staff talent ket me to improvstepped away U.S.ensurperiodical nces,” poolfor lev- ing we continue to while farmers. e, both personafrom comfort CEO. “Each time meet growing demandJohn els increased in most of acquisitions in 2018, for Hoeven Grieve and citgreat tasting, (R-N.D.) Sen. I agreem ies nationwide. Cheyenne high-quality beef at home and abroad andtheNCBA noted to helping would becom lly and profess routine it caused according to Ocean Park, ent ionally.” e tenured tinue its tradition of excellence confit corn, will will experienced only one day at two beef, pork,also bene- CEO and found a startup one biodiesel analyst. In of dairymy company, universities, then NCBA will begin the search long after pulling the potatoes, and anddeparture.” high ozone pollution during 2018, 11 biodiesel plants process to select ultimately pivot busines his wife, a ethanol new . immediately, and Frazier becoming Marcia, have s from deep this data set. will remain in place to assist CEO were acquired, totaling 425 red into its two grown with the transition process, until Dec. daughters, black. Grieve 31. million gallons in capacMegan Scales periodical ity. According to the analPlease see ALMUNI on page 5 ysis written by Ocean Park Managing Director Bruce periodical Comer, the biodiesel induscompetition periodical of Wyoming won the wool judging try has positioned itself for UW win – University Courtesy photo at the National Western Stock Show. growth in 2019. organisms. . . . . . . . . .

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B2

2019 Fall Cattlemen's Edition • Wyoming Livestock Roundup

Relationships Matter Ellerman builds successful ag businesses around key people With the opportunities available in the world, one Colorado agricultural businessman says there is no better time to be a human or start a business.

“My generation has lived in a fantasy world,” 25-year-old Brit Ellerman says. “My grandparents lived during depression and wars, and other things we have never seen. We need to grasp opportunities we have while they are available, because looking at history, it won’t be that way forever.”

On the path to becoming an entrepreneur, Brit has found people and relationships are the key to becoming successful in business.

Brit currently owns two companies, Texas Saddlery, which is a consumer goods company and Brit Brands.

He would be the first to agree that relationships are what got him to where he is today.

Relationships matter “At the end of the day, we have to take care of the relationships we have because they are the most important thing we have,” he explains.

“People will learn a lot of things they didn’t know

before and meet a lot of people they never knew that might be a big part of their future. It is important to build mutually beneficial relationships. The type of people a person surrounds themself with is really important. Find people who are authentic,” he says.

Brit, who is from Fort Lupton, Colo. went to college at the University of Wyoming, competed in rodeo and graduated with a degree in business administration.

His opportunity to own a business started with a conversation with a long-time friend, while he was competing at a roping in Arizona.

Dale Martin started Martin Saddlery 20 years ago. A group of people had come to him with an idea for a glove company, and wanted him to invest in it. He knew a lot about leather and manufacturing, but he turned it down. The company went on to become a billion-dollar company, and they bought Gorilla Glue and FrogTape.

So now he wanted to start a company based on something people use everyday, something he understood and could build that

had a margin high enough to make a business of.

“We also wanted to make a quality product with passion and a story behind it, so we decided on belts,” Brit says.

Texas Saddlery “In our business, quality is important. It would make a Chinese manufacturer cry because we cut the belts out of the best part of the hide.

We started with belts, which we would sell wholesale to a retailer. After we got started, we started building some custom saddles because I like to compete in rodeo and was interested in it,” says Brit. “There is not a lot of margin in saddles, but it is something we are passionate about and use everyday.”

He continues, “When we put a Texas Saddlery saddle on a horse, and people see them at rodeo and jackpots, they start to ask about them. It is a good way to market them and our other products.”

Since starting the business in 2014, Texas Saddlery now has 120 stores and six sales representatives. They also have a shop in Texas.

“In our culture, cow-

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boys are authentic. You can tell what discipline they are in, just by the way they look. Cowboys are real and people recognize them by those things. It is important to share that in your business,” Brit explains. “It is also important we share our lifestyle with the world. We started the business small and focused on farm and ranch stores.”

He continues, “We had just a few accounts to see what sold the best and what kind of people were buying our products. The beginning of business is all about trial and error.”

Learning the business Mistakes are part of learning to do business.

“When this opportunity came along, I thought ʻI have my degree and know everything there is to know about running a business.’

Boy, was I wrong. There were challenges in production, managing people and managing money. I was thrust into all of this stuff, so I started leaning on people who were better at each thing than I am, and learning from them,” he explains.

When he needed a line of credit, Brit went to nine banks before he found one

to approve his loan.

“It took all of those times of going through those processes, and having them say ‘no’ to learn the things I needed to know and find help,” he explains.

He continues, “From this, I learned to find people who can supplement the things I wasn’t good at. I needed to learn how to read a balance sheet, but I didn’t need to become a CPA to run a business,” he explains.

Moving forward Brit says the first sales representative he hired taught him about employee management.

“He was vested in the business, understood how the product was made and knew how to sell it. When he left to go to a pharmaceutical company, I called around and got recommendations from friends and ended up going through four or five sales representatives,” Brit says.

He continues, “What I learned from that experience is it is hard to find good people. After finding a good person, find a way to keep them. Everyone wants to feed their family, but more than money, people want to feel like they are important.

Find a way to make people feel that way.”

In order for a business to run, the foundation has to be built on relationships and trust.

“Don’t be afraid to push the envelope and make mistakes,” Brit suggests. “There will be times you make mistakes no matter what.”

“Our industry is based on old-school values. We still have those core values that haven’t really been affected by the outside world. I think it’s important to show people this. I have found a lot of things I have done in my life that have happened because of business, have come out of the western industry, horses, roping and the relationships I have made there,” he says.

“The relationship aspect of a person's life and business are the most important, I think, personally, because it doesn’t matter what they do, if they have solid relationships they can make anything happen,” Brit explains.

Visit txsaddelry.com for more information.

Gayle Smith is a corresponding writer for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup.

Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

The beginning – Brit Ellerman got the idea for Texas Saddelry while competing at a roping. Courtesy photo

B3

2019 Fall Cattlemen's Edition • Wyoming Livestock Roundup

Cultivating leaders Seedstock Merchandising Team builds professional skills for the modern beef industry

Fort Collins – For over a decade, the Seedstock Merchandising Team at Colorado State University (CSU) has been preparing students for careers in the cattle industry.

The team is tasked with learning the ins and outs of cattle production, from calving and weaning, to marketing cattle for various types of sale. In addition, the team assists with a production sale and exhibits cattle owned by CSU at the National Western Stock Show.

Starting fresh Samantha Cunningham, PhD, is the new director for the program and looks forward to using her experience in the cattle industry to train students on the team.

Samantha grew up the fourth generation on a family ranch in western Nebraska, focused on purebred and commercial cow production. She then found her way to Texas, where she attended Clarendon College and Texas Tech University as a member of the livestock judging team. After completing her undergraduate in animal science at Texas Tech, she received both her masters in animal breeding and PhD in animal science from Texas A&M University.

“I am really excited to share my knowledge and background of the cattle industry with these students,” says Samantha. “I

want these students to have fundamental skills and experience with live evaluation and performance data when selecting cattle.”

Some of the members on the team, including Stephanie Johnson, a senior majoring in animal science from Parker, Colo. are also new to the program.

“I took the prerequisite class and got really interested in the seedstock industry,” says Stephanie.

“I didn’t make it the first time I applied, but I am very excited to dive into this journey with the team this year.”

Johnson grew up around dairy cattle and horses and had no beef cattle experience prior to entering CSU. “I am really looking forward to meeting big producers in the seedstock business and getting my foot in the door with people in the industry,” says Stephanie.

Johnson notes she is planning on attending veterinarian school upon completion of her undergraduate degree and would like to focus on production livestock, possibly with an emphasis on dairy cattle.

Mallory Swanson, a senior animal science major from Maple, Wisc. is also a new member of the Seedstock Merchandising Team.

She draws on her previous experiences showing cattle with her family as the reason she joined.

“I have considered going to law school so I

could help make a difference and advocate for the livestock industry,” Mallory says. “Regardless, I hope to continue my education with a focus on livestock, and I think this team will help me achieve my goals.”

Mallory says she is most looking forward to the community the team builds among like-minded individuals.

Program goals Samantha notes she has a team of eight girls, each with different specific interest but a shared hunger to learn more about the beef

cattle industry.

“Above all else I want these girls to be a part of something they’re proud of,” says Samantha. “I want them to have seen some country, learned more about cattle and meet some great people in the industry.”

“I am looking to see what the members are particularly interested in and planning visits to operations accordingly,” says Samantha. “This type of networking is so important. Following my PhD, I was able to connect with someone I had met on an undergraduate beef production tour and get a job with them.”

She notes the interests of the team members range from cattle marketing, to getting involved with organizations such as the

National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and some who have a “fire in their bellies” to learn about commercial production.

Hands-on experience In addition to visiting cattle operations, the team will have the opportunity to work with cattle owned by CSU. “We run about 100 head of Hereford and Angus cows at our CSU facility,” Samantha explains.

“We are very fortunate to have a livestock manager who allows students to be involved as little or as much as they want.”

She explains the team will have a lot of direct contact with this herd as fall work starts.

“Whatever sort of operation they plan on pursuing one day, they will go through all the steps with

animal science faculty to be as prepared as possible.”

She notes the team will also have the chance to learn about cattle marketing as CSU begins to sell some of the older bulls in the herd.

“We will look at what goes into creating a good catalogue layout,” she says.

“They will have the chance to look at old magazines and catalogues to brainstorm ideas or create one that is completely unique.”

“Most of all, I want them to find questions they want to ask,” says Samantha. “There is no better teacher than experience.”

Please visit ansci. agsci.colostate.edu.

Callie Hanson is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup.

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B4

2019 Fall Cattlemen's Edition • Wyoming Livestock Roundup

Five Generations Grand Mesa has been home to the Nichols family since the late 1800s The Grand Mesa, the largest flat top mountain in the world, has been home to the Nichols family for the past five generations. The roots of this large family tree began in the Plateau Valley when several of the founding members of the family first settled into the area in the late 1880s.

Over the years, the Nichols family has raised a mainly Hereford-based commer-

cial cattle herd, working cow horses and has been known as one of the more prominent agriculture families in the area.

Family tree One area of the Mesa called Nick Mountain, which is located southeast of the town Mesa, is named after the patriarch of the family, Clarence J. Nichols. Clarence J. first arrived into the Plateau

Family Owned & Operated

Valley by wagon in 1884 and married the love of his life Eva King in 1887.

They homesteaded in the area and had nine children.

During his life, he was known as a prestigious cattlemen and could jingle large herds of horses all over the area.

One of their sons, Clarence A. Nichols, was born in 1891, and he instantly knew the girl he was going to marry

when he met Mary Ellen Ogden. He had ridden out on horseback to help the Ogden family move their livestock into the area in 1909.

He instantaneously fell in love with Mary when he met her on the trail trying to move her milk cows and horses.

They waited to be married until 1917 and had four sons, and one little girl who died in infancy. All four sons stayed in the Plateau Valley and helped grow the family cattle operation.

Ben E. Nichols The youngest of the sons, Ben E. Nichols, was a wellrespected veterinarian in the

area for quite some time for both small and large animals.

On top of his busy veterinary practice, he was involved in the community and helped out with the family’s cattle operation.

At age 13, he designed his own cattle brand, the Slash Quarter Circle V, and to this day it is still being used on the operation. The family also has kept and utilized another heritage brand created by Clarence A., the C reverse D. Ben married his high school sweetheart, Lois M. Phillips, in 1948 and they were married for 67 years.

Ben went to school for one year at Mesa College, now Colorado Mesa University (CMU) and then transferred to Fort Collins, Colo. to attend the School of Veterinary Medicine at Colorado A&M, now Colorado State University (CSU).

He graduated from vet school in 1956 and returned to the Plateau Valley to set up his veterinary practice and help with the family ranching business.

Ben and Lois had seven children, the oldest was a boy and then six girls. All of them were involved with the ranch and several local clubs, such as 4-H, Pioneer Pixies, Rainbow, and won several local equine and rodeo competitions.

Ben was known to say, “I’d rather rust out than wear out.” He was notorious to always be on top of a horse

and rode well into his 80s and practiced veterinary medicine into his 70s.

Cattle range The Nichols’ operation utilizes privately owned ground, Forest Service permits and BLM desert range in the Grand Valley. The cattle have trailed from the lower end of the Grand Valley to the upper end of the Plateau Valley that borders the Gunnison National Forest and Divide Creek.

Today, the cattle are trucked from Collbran to Fruita to calve, but are still trailed to the summer range along Highway 133 from the home place in Collbran to the beautiful area of High Tower Mountain and Mule Park.

Pillars of family The main pillars of the family, Ben and Lois, have passed on, with Lois in February of 2015 and Ben not long ago in February of 2019.

But their presence is always felt on the Nichols operation.

They were blessed with 17 grandchildren and now have over 30 great-grandchildren.

The family tradition of raising cattle is being carried on by Ben E. Nichols, Jr. and his son Ben E. Nichols, III. In April, Ben Jr. and his wife April were named Cattlemen of the Year for Mesa County.

Madeline Robinson is a corresponding writer for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Please send all comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

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Young Nichols – Clarence Allen, Jr., Charles Nathaniel, Richard Ogden and Benjamin Edward. Courtesy photo

Nichols family – The Nichols Family has been raising cattle for five generations on the Grand Mesa. Standing in the back row are Clarence Allen Nichols, Jr., Richard Ogden Nichols, Benjamin Edward Nichols and Charles Nathaniel Nichols. Sitting in front is their father Clarence Allen Nichols, Sr. Courtesy photo

B5

2019 Fall Cattlemen's Edition • Wyoming Livestock Roundup

Ernst Herefords Raising Hereford cattle that work Marshall Ernst fell in love with the Hereford breed at a young age while raising and showing polled Herefords in Wisconsin under the guidance of his uncle, John Craig.

“As a boy, I fell in love with the cattle industry and enjoyed many aspects of the Hereford breed,” says Marshall.

Marshall’s love and passion for the beef industry and Hereford breed has carried on throughout the course of his life.

In fact, during his 30-year career in the meat packing industry, where he worked for notable companies including Smithfield Foods, Johnsonville Sausage, Sara Lee Meat Group, ConAgra Beef Co. and Swift and Co. overseeing everything from hog and cattle processing to value-added product manufacturing, Marshall and his wife Barbara maintained a small herd of Hereford cattle.

Growing operation As the Ernst family grew, Marshall and Barbara passed their love of Herefords on to their four children, Melissa, Stephanie, Katheryn and Kevin, and started showing Herefords at national shows.

In 2001, the Ernsts moved from Ohio to settle in Windsor, Colo. where they currently run 130 registered Hereford cows on their family purebred seedstock operation, Ernst Herefords, and continue to be actively involved in national livestock events.

“The goal of our operation is to produce high quality seedstock bulls for the Hereford industry,” says Marshall. “We sell bulls to both registered and commercial cattle operations. We also sell registered females. We try to run our cattle on as close to a commercial operation as we possibly can.”

“We also like to take our cattle to some national shows,” Marshall adds.

“We usually exhibit our Herefords at the National Western Stock Show in Denver. We take a pen of cows, a pen of heifers and a pen of bulls to show off our cattle to the commercial and purebred industries.”

Marshall’s long-standing love for Herefords and his unwavering commitment to the breed has led to a very successful operation.

“Our Herefords are not what you would call your

grandfather’s Herefords,” says Marshall. “We like beef cattle that look like beef cattle. Our bulls have thickness, depth of body and sound feet and legs.

We also work with balanced expected progeny differences (EPD).”

“In general, the Hereford breed is known for docility, but our cattle have a great disposition, even within the Hereford breed,” he adds.

Marshall continues, “We are proud to have two of our bulls selling semen through Select Sires. They are known as UPS Sensations 2504 ET and KT Built Tuff 1010. UPS Sensations 2504 ET was the leading Hereford semen seller through Select Sires for the last two years.”

Marshall also notes UPS Sensations 2504 ET and KT Built Tuff 1010 have produced many of the foundation females on the Ernst Hereford operation today.

Bull sales Every year, the Ernsts host an annual bull sale alongside Pfaff Angus at the Shamrock Livestock Market in O’Neill, Neb. near the end of March.

This year 68 bulls were sold between the two oper-

ations.

On top of running his own prosperous cattle operation, Marshall has also played a role in the Hereford breed in many facets, including a posi-

tion on the National Board of Director’s for the American Hereford Association as well as the president of the board for Certified Hereford Beef.

Visit ernstherefords.

com for more information.

Hannah Bugas is the assistant editor for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@ wylr.net.

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B6

2019 Fall Cattlemen's Edition • Wyoming Livestock Roundup

Simpson Sheep 4-H project grows into full-time operation What started out as a small hobby farm on the Colorado Plains has turned into a full-time profession for Jason Simpson. Like some sheep producers, the Ault, Colo. native got his start through the 4-H and FFA programs in the 1980s.

Getting started “We were showing a few lambs as 4-H projects, and then we started saving a few of the better ewe lambs we were showing as breeding stock. We kept those around and bred them,” he explains.

Jason says they continued to acquire more sheep, getting a big boost from his uncle, who gave him 25 Suffolk-based ewes to help him get started in the sheep business. It has taken several years and lots of work, but

Simpson has grown the operation up to 350 ewes.

“When we first started, it was more of a hobbytype deal. Now, it has become a full-time operation,” he explains.

Jason’s wife, Marinda and brother Lenny, help out. The couple’s son Cade, who is 11, is also an important part of the success of the operation.

Utilizing new technology Most of the lambs are marketed as either show lambs for 4-H and FFA projects or as breeding stock.

“We probably sell as many for breeding as we do for wether lambs,” Jason explains. “About 80 percent of the flock is registered Hampshires, and we also have a handful of registered Dorsets.”

As a producer, Jason

has grasped new technology available in the sheep business by using artificial insemination (AI) and embryo transfer (ET) techniques to quickly improve his genetics.

“The AI and ET side of the sheep industry has really grown in the last seven or eight years. We started using these technologies in 2011,” he says.

Jason explains they use AI and ET on the top end of the ewes in the flock.

“We try and get as many offspring out of the top 10 percent of our ewes as we can, this has allowed us to improve the quality of our flock a lot faster than we could by using traditional methods,” he explains.

However, using the technology has come with

a cost. Jason says it is probably one of the biggest inputs in their operation.

“Seven or eight years ago, it was harder to find sheep genetics in this country, but in today’s world, there is a lot more available,” he says.

“Finding a technician to do AI and ET work in sheep can be difficult. There’s a lot more involved to AI a ewe than a cow or a sow,” Jason says. “Right now, there are only 10 to 12 people across the country who do 90 percent of the AI work in sheep. It’s the biggest holdup in the business.”

Improved quality Even though it’s one of their bigger expenses, Jason shares how much utilizing new technology has improved the quality in his flock.

“There are probably other ways around using it, but we think there is a lot of benefit to it for our operation. We select for

quality, but I’ve always been a person who has structure at the top of my list,” Jason says. “I like sheep with good feet and legs. We are at a point in the sheep industry where mass and muscle are becoming more and more important, but I don’t want to sacrifice feet and leg structure,” he says.

He continues, “When I am judging a show, sorting through animals, I look for ones that are built right and then have as much muscle built into them as possible. In the end, they are a meat product, so we want to provide an animal with as much meat as we can.”

“Sheep are probably becoming thicker and more muscular than they ever have in the past,” Jason says. “They are leaning this way in their own flock.”

“We don’t vary too far from what we consider an ideal animal. We want to stay in the middle and not lean too much from one side to another where fads are concerned,” he says.

They are always looking for new genetics they could use to improve the flock.

Always improving “We don’t hold anything back. We get out on the road and look at different genetics to see if or how they could fit into our flock to make it even better,” Jason explains.

Their work has paid off with previous winners in youth shows at the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, as well as the Colorado and Wyoming State Fairs, to name a few.

One of the biggest

challenges of producing wether lambs for youth projects is keeping the costs down to a manageable level, according to Jason.

“With input costs going up every year, it is getting harder for us to make things work without offsetting those costs,” he explains. “It is a challenge to market these animals to 4-H and FFA students, and keep the costs practical with input costs the way they are.”

Working with youth is one of the highlights for Jason.

“There are a lot of challenges in today’s world, but these young kids involved in agriculture are already one step ahead because they learn work ethic at such a young age,” he says. “They learn responsibility by caring for and feeding an animal every day.”

He continues, “I think there are a lot of good opportunities in agriculture.”

“I think the sheep business could be a good start for young people, but they have to be ambitious and get out there and work at it,” he says. “Producers have to be willing to put in the time and work to make their animals better. There is a lot one can learn if they are willing to put in the time, and eventually they will reap the benefits.”

Learn more about the Simpson family at simpsonlivestock.com.

Gayle Smith is a corresponding writer for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@ wylr.net.

Show sheep – The Simpson family raises a large number of sheep for 4-H and FFA kids. Courtesy photo

Family operation – The Simpson family works to breed better sheep. Courtesy photo

B7

2019 Fall Cattlemen's Edition • Wyoming Livestock Roundup

Technology and experience Meeker ranchers combine decades of experience with modern technology to improve their herd What started as 10 registered heifers in 1962 has grown into an operation that has stood the tests of time and continues to produce high quality registered Herefords and Angus cattle fit for the rugged altitude of northern Colorado.

Strang Herefords and Angus reaps the benefits of the work put in by late founder Bart Strang.

Bart’s wife Mary, along with daughter Lisa and husband Tom Walsh, continue the tradition of excellence today on the ranch.

“As a true breeder of livestock, he kept pace with the breeds’ genetic improvements. We reap the benefits of his life’s work today,” says Mary.

Mary notes they have always been a small, family ranch and they are proud of the business they have built and the cattle they raise.

“Producers have to stand behind their cattle,” she says.

Learning by doing “You can’t breed cattle on a computer,” says Mary. “Modern technology has done a lot for the cattle industry but it cannot replace the hands-on

work it takes to make cattle better.”

“I think it really says something for an operation to run as long as we have,” says Mary. “The key is realizing there is always room to improve and get better.”

She says she and her husband always made it a point to listen to those around them and learn from their successes and mistakes.

“No operation will ever have perfect cattle,” says Mary. “A lot of people get ‘owner blind’ and can’t see the improvements they should make.”

Mary notes she has seen a lot of changes in the industry over the years and it is important to constantly move forward to keep up with the industry.

She says its critical to be diligent in the culling process.

Well-rounded cattle “Single trait selection is a disaster,” says Mary.

“EPDs are a great tool for producers, but they can be hard to sift through and producers can’t just choose a single trait to select for without sacrificing some productivity.”

“For example, a commercial producer needs

Colorado tough – Strang herefords are bred for the terrain in Colorado. Courtesy photo

Mothering ability – Mothering traits are important. Courtesy photo

Angus inclusion – The Strangs recently included angus cows in their herd. Courtesy photo

calving ease and he may select for those traits, but he has to balance that with other production traits,” says Mary.

Mary says above all producers must raise hardy cattle for the rough, Colorado terrain. She notes having cattle who convert

feed easily is important in any region, but especially in places with tough winters where cows will need to be supplemented.

“These cattle must be tough, rugged and hardy to survive,” says Mary.

Selection “I want to go into cattle selection knowing my herd’s weaknesses so I can try and balance those out and make the herd better as a whole,” says Mary.

“With bulls I like to combine a reasonable birthweight EPD and carcass qualities.”

“With cows one of the major things I look at is their udder quality,” she says. “Producers don’t have time to deal with udder issues.”

Mary explains when she and her husband were in the commercial business, he often told her if a cow wasn’t good enough to be in their registered herd, she wasn’t good enough to be in their commercial herd either.

“Everyone wants to have a superior animal,” Mary says. “Building a quality herd of any size

Hereford Routs – The Strangs originally had only hereford cattle. Courtesy photo

takes a lot of time and it’s not easy. We have to realize somethings are simply out of our control.”

“In the long run, this is not an easy business to be in and its impossible to get ahead cutting corners with genetics,” Mary says. “Producers will be awarded for good genetics and patience.”

Visit strangherefords. com for more information.

Callie Hanson is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup.

Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

B8

2019 Fall Cattlemen's Edition • Wyoming Livestock Roundup

Canadian is key Truby Herefords applauds Canadian Hereford bloodlines for their success Shane Truby has been raising Hereford cattle all his life, and 11 years ago started purchasing Canadian Herefords for his seedstock business.

“I was born and raised into the Hereford cattle business. Both sides of my family were from Hereford operations. My grandfather on my mother’s side came to Colorado in 1900 from Tyrol, Austria and homesteaded here. My family has been in the Hereford business for more than 120 years. Our cattle were purebreds, but not papered,” he says.

Early years “Over the years, we bought bulls from other breeders, including Sandburg Herefords at Cedaredge, Colo.,” he explains.

“We went over there one

winter to buy bulls, we drove over three mountain passes to get there, and picked out three bulls.

“I told Hugh Sandburg I would be back to pick them up after the weather straightened out, and he told us we could just come pick them up in the spring,” says Shane.

When they returned in the spring, Shane was taken aback by the spectacular bulls at Sandburg’s yard.

The bulls were Canadian in origin and were purchased at the Calgary Bull Sale.

“I was impressed with those bulls and he told me about some breeders in Alberta, including Al Fenton, Hans Ulrich and Andy Schuepbach at Lilybrook Herefords. I couldn’t get those bulls out of my mind,” Shane says.

“My wife is Canadian, so we had been going to Canada for family visits,” says Shane. “When I got back in the pickup, I told Jennifer someday I wanted to go look at cattle in Canada when we go up there to visit. I got home that night and looked at our Atlas to find out where Irma, Alberta was.”

“Once I met those ranchers in Canada, I was hooked on their cattle, and started bringing some home,” Shane says.

Balancing act When the economy went into a slump, Shane left Durango, Colo. in the spring of 2008 to work in the oil fields in North Dakota for seven years.

While there, he owned a dirt excavation company, which he later sold to focus

more of his time on cattle.

While in North Dakota, he had a chance to see more Canadian cattle.

“I had an accident with a horse that left me on the couch with a broken hip, ribs and back and unable to walk for five months. After I was back on my feet with crutches and a walker, I went to North Dakota to go to work,” says Shane.

At the time, Shane’s job was located near Williston, N.D., next to the Canadian border.

Shane decided to use this opportunity to look at more Canadian cattle, while still using crutches and a walker from his injury.

“It was about an eight hour drive and nearly killed me, but we got up there and met Al,” says Shane.

“He showed me some cattle, and I figured out a way to get them bought. That’s how we got started in the purebred cow business in 2008.”

Canadian bred Since then, Shane has

Booth’s Cherry Creek Angus 47THANNUAL

Progress Through Performance Bull Sale Sale Date: Thursday, February 13, 2020

bought semi loads of bred heifers and purchased bulls at the Calgary Bull Sale, Medicine Hat Bull Sale, Al Fenton’s Sale and a number of other production sales around Canada. Currently, about three-quarters of his herd is registered stock.

“All of my papered animals are Canadian, and most of them are from Al Fenton,” Shane says. “I recently branched out and bought cattle from Norm Parrent and a bull from Little Poplar Grove Herefords in Forestburg, Alberta.”

Shane notes he appreciates these Canadian cattle because they are the kind that can thrive in any environment.

“One year some people in Louisiana wanted to buy bulls from me, we’re in the mountains, at about 7,000 feet elevation,” he says. “At first there was some concern about how they would handle it. But these cattle are so hardy that they can handle any environment.”

He continues, “My cattle can go from the harsh winters of Colorado to low, wet country in Louisiana with bugs that would eat cattle alive.”

“They are feed-efficient and good natured, with good disposition,” Shane says.

“Longevity in these Canadian Herefords is second to none,” he says.

“We started with one semi load of females, and I’ve gone back each year

and bought 30 to 40 heifers,” Shane explains. “So, now we have our own purebred program going and people are taking a closer look at our cattle.”

“I live in an area dominated by black cattle, but people can see the advantages of these Herefords for their longevity and growth.

The F1 black baldy is the most sought-after cow in the commercial business,” he says.

“It’s been a blessing for me to be able to utilize the Canadian bloodlines,” says Shane. “There are many benefits in having this opportunity to go back and forth to Canada to buy cattle. The sheer distance would deter a lot of people, and the border crossing is also a challenge.”

“I don’t have to do anything except bring a truck to the border to pick up the cattle, but the people on the Canadian side go to all the trouble to make it work,” Shane explains. “They need to have appointments at the border, and the officials want me there at a certain time.”

“The Fentons, and the other breeders up there have been wonderful to work with,” Shane says. “I’ve also exchanged some horses with some of the breeders.”

Heather Smith-Thomas is corresponding writer for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@ wylr.net.

At the ranch in Veteran, WY • Lunch: Noon • Sale Time: 1 p.m.

Selling 180 Fall and Yearling Bulls

84 BULLS PAP TESTED 45 OR LESS AT THE GRIZZLY RANCH NEAR WALDEN, CO. AT 8200 FT. Featuring sons of: 3F Epic 4631 Sitz Response 405C Lifelong breeder – Shane Truby has been raising Hereford cattle all of his life and started using Canadian genetics 11 years ago.

Courtesy photo

Among the top sires in the breed for Yearling Weight EPD with both a Weaning Weight EPD and $Feedlot value index among the top also. His unique and valuable elite $Weaned calf value index and hot Carcass Weight EPD combined with his double-digit Calving Ease Direct EPD and minus Birth Weight EPD make him truly special.

Response is a proven calving-ease Resource son from the dam of Sitz Investment that will add muscle, forerib and base width. He will consistently sire stouter, denser-bodied cattle than expected for most sires at his level of calving ease. Here is an opportunity to use a low birth weight Resource son with a powerhouse dam who has five calves ratioing 91 for BW, 105 for WW and 104 for YW.

Our 2020 Sires Include:

Registered herefords – Currently about three quarters of Shane’s stock is registered. Courtesy photo

Epic • Dually • Full Force • Command • Pay Raise • Journey • Fate • Response • Powerpoint Challenger • Cowboy Up • Substantial • Hickok • Future Force • Investment • Up River

Booth’s Cherry Creek Angus Shawn 307-534-5865 • boothangus@scottsbluff.net Lindsy 307-532-1830 • Kacey 307-532-1532

boothscherrycreekranch.com

Tough cattle – Shane Truby appreciates Canadian cattle genetics because they can thrive in any environment. Courtesy photo

B9

2019 Fall Cattlemen's Edition • Wyoming Livestock Roundup

Full-fledged success Wagners stumble upon Charolais and collies Raising Charolais cattle wasn’t always in the foresight of Bob and Jan Wagner.

In fact, when asked about the beginnings of Wagner Charolais, Bob chuckles, “It’s a long and complicated story.”

Before the current Wagner Ranch was established in Nunn, Colo. a few miles from the Wyoming border, the Wagners raised Suffolk sheep for nearly 30 years.

“At the time we bought our place in Nunn, we were very unsure of our business plan,” Bob explains. “Our initial plan was to buy some old cows in the late winter and early spring, calve them out and sell them. We ended up buying three truckloads of bred cows and calved them out.”

“After these cows finished calving, they looked way better than we thought they would,” Bob continues.

“At that point, it didn’t make sense to get rid of them, so we just decided to keep them instead.”

Bob notes the original cows he and Jan bought were a mix of a little bit of everything, but their favorites were the Charolais-cross cattle.

“We liked the Charo-

lais-cross calves so much, we went out and bought a Charolais bull and got to know some people in the industry,” says Bob. Bob admits his wife Jan is to thank for starting up their purebred herd.

“My wife actually reached out to a Charolais breed representative we got to know over the years and asked if he could point her in the direction of some registered purebred calves,” Bob adds. “That’s what she got me for Christmas that year – 10 registered purebred Charolais calves.”

Bob explains after Jan gifted him with his beefy Christmas present, the couple got rid of their commercial cowherd and switched over to an entirely purebred Charolais operation.

“Wagner Charolais strives to be widely recognized as a producer of high quality bulls, which will be useful, by virtue of their calving ease, performance, longevity, to ranchers and seedstock producers across the country,” says Bob. “We hold an annual production sale in the spring that has historically been hosted in the Sterling Livestock

Cattle and collies – On top of their registered purebred Charolais seedstock operation, Wagners raise working Border collies that they train and trial. Courtesy photo

Birdseye view – An aerial view of Wagner’s Border collie, Zig, rounding up a bunch of Charolais bulls. Courtesy photo

Slink slinking – Bob’s dog, Slink, trails some Charolais bulls through green pastures. Slink is one of Wagner’s three dogs ranked in the top 10 of the National Cattledog Association. Courtesy photo

Commission, but this year we are excited to announce our sale will be at the ranch,” he adds.

Several of the bulls sold at their annual sale come from a bull known as Wagner Shalako 833, a 2008 calf consistently ranked in the top five of the Charolais breed for calving ease and birthweight EPDs. Wagner’s Border collies On top of raising registered purebred Charolais cattle, the Wagner’s also raise, sell and trial border collies.

“Unfortunately, my wife is to blame for the Border collies as well,” laughs Bob. “One day we were out working cattle on foot and I kept telling her to ‘walk up.’ At some point she finally turned to me and told me I needed a dog to help me, instead a human being.”

Bob continues, “I have no idea how she found the guy she found, but she got on the phone like she always does, and this guy sold her a trained dog named Birch.”

“Birch came with some conditions attached though,” he adds. “The guy who had Birch before, was trialling him, so he wanted Birch back for a few weeks during the summer to qualify for the National Finals.”

“By the time he came back and took Birch, I had been using him every day.

I decided I couldn’t live without a dog so I went and bought another,” Bob says.

After some time, the Wagner’s traveled to watch their new dogs trial and couldn’t help but notice how fun it looked. The two decided to get involved with trialling as well.

Bob ultimately helped found the National Cattledog Association in 2011 and served for six years as an officer. He is currently superintendent of the National Western Stock Show Cat-

“My wife actually got in contact with the Charolais breed representative we had gotten to know over the years and asked if he could point her in the direction of some registered purebred calves. And that’s what she got me for Christmas that year – 10 registered purebred Charolais calves,” – Bob Wagner, Wagner Charolais tledog Trial and co-superintendent of the Nebraska State Fair Cattledog Trial.

There are currently 18 dogs in the Wagner kennel.

Zoe, one of the Wagner’s matriarchs, won the National Cattledog Association Nursery Champion in 2013 and is now trialling with Jan. The two are currently ranked in the top 10 of the National Cattledog Association. Bob also has two dogs, Slik and Slink, ranked in the top 10.

Both are sons of Zoe. “Trialling is a lot of fun and we are actually headed to one in Steamboat Springs, Colo. Sept. 14 and 15, but the most important thing about the dogs, is that I wouldn’t be able to run my cattle busi-

ness without them,” says Bob. “I can move nearly 100 cows by myself with just two dogs,” Bob states. “Instead of paying for help, I work my dogs. They are my hired hands. Besides a little bit of food, they don’t ask for anything.”

In regards to where he hopes to see his operation going in the future Bob says, “Well I hope it doesn’t go anywhere. I hope it stays right where it is and we are able to keep doing what we are doing.”

Hannah Bugas is the assistant editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup.

Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

B10

2019 Fall Cattlemen's Edition • Wyoming Livestock Roundup

Misunderstood business The Tucker family combines all aspects of the cattle business for their unique operation Erik and Mary Beth Tucker have been ranching in Colorado for many years.

Together, they have been working with cattle in many different ways. Mary has even served as support for Colorado State University, Crowley County Extension.

Erik runs both a cow/calf operation as well as a feeder operation on both owned and leased lands. The family now solely focuses on their cow/ calf operation after nearly 20 years of running feeder cattle.

Rough country “About 10 years ago we decided to go back to grazing cattle. We had some degraded land in Crowley County and

wanted to improve it,” he says. “One of the problems in this county is that it’s mostly dried-up, formerly-irrigated crop land.”

Erik explains they live in what is known as a rain shadow.

“Everyone around us might get good rain - maybe 11 or 12 inches annually – but where we are it’s more like six to nine inches, sometimes as little as two inches,” Erik explains. “We’ve been in persistent drought for nearly 20 years. We either have bare ground or weeds such as kochia, Russian thistle or knapweed.”

The pair was inspired

Rain shadow – The Tucker family lives in a rain shadow and only receive 10 to 12 inches of rain per year on average. Courtesy photo

to give up farming for good after attending a workshop in Wheeler, Texas where they spent four days with Ian Mitchell-Innes.

“We manage about 2,000 acres. We tried cover cropping and no-till, and when it rains, that works pretty well, but we don’t get enough rain for a farming plan to work consistently,” Erik explains. “So, we sold all our farm equipment and have been trying to grow grass and cattle.”

Everything is a stocker Erik and Mary Beth decided to do multiple-day moves with the cattle and started to make a lot of progress.

“Our sole goal for awhile was cattle performance, but now we are aiming to grow high quality grass,” Erik says.

“We run stocker cattle, and I consider anything that can be bought, traded or sold at any time a stocker cow.”

His current inventory includes steers, heifers and pairs.

“We often buy cheap, thin cattle to put on pasture. When we need cash, we trade cattle, and it works fairly well,” he explains. “We use the sell-buy method, and buy anything that

looks like it might make some money.”

“We’ve bought stockers and lots of pairs. This year pair prices were anywhere from $300 to $900 higher than they were last year, so we’ve been buying more yearlings to put on grass,” he explains. “This method provides flexibility to buy what’s undervalued or discounted at the moment and later make a profit.”

He wants as many cattle as possible, all the time, but also has a destocking plan.

“We are selling cattle all the time when they become overvalued. When prices are good we sell and then move on to the next deal,” he says.

“This creates good cash flow.

We’ve also learned how to sell our stockmanship skills and pasture-development skills.”

Philosophy of raising cattle “We just wish we’d started doing this earlier,” he says. “I’ve become a lot ‘smarter’ and capable of handling more problems than I was back then.”

“I put my philosophy together a long time ago, thinking that proper grazing, stockmanship and marketing could save the world, even if it’s just my own world,” he explains.

“Those are the three things that have made our life much better. We are happier now, making smaller amounts of money more consistently,” Erik notes. “We don’t have big fuel bills or expensive tractor repairs.”

Misunderstood business “If we want to sell cattle we can do that nearly any day of the week,” he explains.

“We don’t borrow any money for cattle anymore. Many bankers don’t understand how our program works.”

Erik notes he talked to several bankers in the past, explaining how he wanted to buy some short-term thin cows to condition in some of his rougher pastures. The plan was to add weight, condition and quality to those cattle to resell in 60 days.

“All three bankers I talked to thought this was a good idea, but were too worried about the market,” he explains. “Their main concern was what I would do if the market went down.”

“I told them I would just buy more cattle. That’s what

a person should do when any market goes down - buy more while they are cheap,” Erik says. “Eventually there would be a good profit.”

“But the bankers didn’t understand this philosophy,” he says. “They wanted me to buy a load of steers instead and finish them.”

Erik says he felt this was a really bad idea because when the market goes down on fat cattle there’s not much a producer can do with them.

“On cows, however, if the market goes down and I have good cows, I can sell those good cows and buy a lot more cheap cows,” he explains.

“At the time, I wanted to buy thin cows, they were priced at $300 and the steers were $800,” Erik explains.

“The steers were too much of an investment and too much of a gamble. I proved it on paper but it wasn’t what the bankers wanted me to do.”

“So, I got tired of asking the bank and we worked out some other deals on our own because we know we can make money with cattle,” Erik says. “We’d rather work with people who like what we do anyway.”

“We partner with them, become the managing partner and take care of everyone’s cattle,” Erik explains.

“As long as we can keep the cattle in one big herd, and graze them properly, it works out perfectly,” he stresses.

Erik notes he personally prefers to buy high-risk cattle because they are inexpensive. With good stockmanship and nutrition, high-risk cattle work well.

“High-risk cattle are simply anything nobody else wants,” he explains. “We can buy those cattle, take good care of them and make a substantial amount of money.”

Combining farming and ranching For many years Erik managed other people’s cattle on planned grazing - managing cover crops and high-density grazing.

“Both the farmer and the rancher I was involved with had glowing reports,” he explains. “The farmer made extra money and built more humus in his soils and better soil health. The rancher had better gain on his replacement heifers.”

“But if they didn’t have me to do it for them, they weren’t going to do it,” Erik says. “There is often a huge disconnect between these two facets of agriculture. A lot of farmers don’t understand they need animals on their land.”

“We think we can improve a lot of this land, but I am not sure what kind of time frame it will entail,” Erik says.

Moving forward “For right now, we are trying to work with what we have and not worry too much about the future,” Erik says.

“We are conscious of everything we can do today to make tomorrow just a little bit better.”

“We learned some tough lessons on forage residue management and our planned grazing has really helped us,” he explains. “We decided to move cattle at least twicedaily due to the fact that residue can be lost very easily.”

“During certain times of the year we have 70-mile-perhour sustained wind, so we can’t make very many grazing mistakes,” he says. “It’s important to keep the ground covered and have plenty of residue.”

“A destocking plan and a stock flow plan are also important,” Erik explains.

“On a cash-flow analysis basis we figured out what kind of cattle numbers we should have, and we keep up with the sales at sale barns and buy cattle to keep the balance.”

“We run a very unique cattle business. It’s not a cow/ calf operation, stocker operation or feedlot, it’s a little bit of everything,” Erik says.

When it comes to the land itself, Erik says he can see progress on what they’ve been doing.

“It has been a personal revelation which drives me to do more of what I want to do and less of what I don’t want to do,” he explains. “It all boils down to being in the right place at the right time for the right reasons. What we are doing with our cattle is all a part of that. It’s better than anything we’ve done before.”

Heather Smith-Thomas is a corresponding writer for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup.

Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

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B11

2019 Fall Cattlemen's Edition • Wyoming Livestock Roundup

Keeping the wheel spinning forward Weaver sisters raise traditional cattle In a world of new technologies and ever evolving production practices, Weaver sisters, Susan and Mourine, humbly point out the thing distinguishing Weaver Ranch from other operations is the fact they strive to improve on the traits dominating their foundation cowherd.

Weaver Ranch artificially inseminates (AI’s) both cows and yearling heifers to AI sires that complement their program.

In addition, the Weaver’s use DNA testing to make management easier during the breeding season. Their yearling sale bulls, herd bulls and replacement heifers are all DNA tested.

In addition, Susan notes all Weaver’s sale bulls are never confined in a feedlot and their herd is free of bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVD).

“Our program focuses on pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) scores, disposition, calving ease and high yielding, high quality carcasses – its nothing new,” says Susan, co-owner of Weaver Ranch, alongside her sister Mourine.

“We don’t reinvent the wheel, we keep it spinning forward.”

“We have been in the Angus business for a number of years, and we just continue to give our customers what

they want and need,” Susan continues. “If our customers – the people we are selling bulls to – don’t have a business, neither do we.”

Although the Weavers have been raising registered Black Angus cattle since the 1960s, the history of Weaver Ranch goes even further back in time.

A brief history In 1886, Susan and Mourine’s great-grandparents, Noah and Adeline Weaver, bought a small ranch at Tie Siding.

With the help of his brother-in-law, Noah and his family established a livery stable and small hotel. Noah and Adelaide had a son, Adrian Weaver Sr., who homesteaded on the Colorado side of the state line.

Adrian Weaver Sr. went on to have a son, Adrian Weaver Jr. – Susan and Mourine’s father.

Adrian Jr. attended Colorado State University and graduated with a degree in veterinary medicine. For years, he ran a mixed vet practice in Laramie, where him and his wife, Geraldine, raised their three daughters, Susan, Mourine and Maxine.

The Weavers later moved out to the Tie Siding Ranch, where Adrian Jr. split his time

between his commercial cowherd and his vet practice. They gradually expanded the cattle operation and Adrian Jr. “Ranched himself out of the veterinary business.”

After years of doctoring cattle in his vet clinic, Adrian Jr. made a strategic and seemingly easy decision to run purebred Angus cattle.

“Dad strongly believed in Angus cattle,” states Susan.

“He said they were the least problematic cattle.”

In 1960, the Weavers bought their first registered Black Angus cattle and a few years later the girls took on their first 4-H projects – Black Angus heifers, of course. This jumpstarted their career in the cattle business and love for the Angus breed.

In 1969, the family moved their headquarters from Tie Siding to Fort Collins, Colo. after acquiring joining ground from family.

Present day Weaver Ranch After those first 4-H heifers, paired with the fact they are 4th generation ranchers on both sides of their parent’s family, it is no wonder Susan and Mourine continue their love for Angus cattle and ranching.

Today, the Weaver sisters own and operate Weaver Ranch, Inc., a purebred Black

Angus seedstock operation consisting of nearly 175 cow/ calf pairs, 100 bred heifers and 95 coming 2-year-old bulls.

“Since our father’s death in 2010, there has been some major restructuring of Weaver Ranch,” explains Susan. “Our sister, Maxine, wanted out of the family ranch and is pursuing interests of her own. Our seedstock operation is still headquartered at Fort Collins, with Tie Siding being used as our summer pasture for both our yearling bulls and heifers.”

Performance focused production sales At an altitude of 7,500

feet, Weaver’s summer range makes for ideal high-altitude cattle.

In preparation for their annual production sale, held every year on President’s Day in February, the young crop of bull prospects undergoes several rounds of testing.

In September, a PAP test is administered, while in December bulls receive fertility and trichomoniasis testing.

“Our focus is on low PAP, high performing, calving ease bulls,” explains Susan. “We have found this combination of traits really works for us and for our customers.”

This year, the sale will be

held Feb. 17, 2020 at the ranch north of Fort Collins, and Weaver’s will be offering 80 high quality 2-year-old bulls.

Susan and Mourine are very excited to feature bulls sired

by Connealy Combination and Paintrock Mountain Man at their sale for the first time.

These two outside bulls along with bulls sired by Weaver Ranch sires will comprise the set of outstanding bulls featured in their 2020 production sale.

Hannah Bugas is the assistant editor for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup.

Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

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B12

2019 Fall Cattlemen's Edition • Wyoming Livestock Roundup

Rooted in tradtition Denver’s renowned National Western Stock Show is a 114-year-old, unparalleled event The National Western Stock Show (NWSS), held annually in Denver, Colo. for 16 days during the month of January, is one of the premier livestock, rodeo and horse shows in the United States.

Each year, the NWSS attracts nearly 650,000 visitors and hosts one of the world’s richest regular season professional rodeos, one

of the nation’s largest horse shows and the state of Colorado’s largest western trade show.

Ten major livestock associations hold their national shows at the NWSS every year, which is more than any other livestock show in the nation. It is also one of the largest annual agricultural conventions and trade shows

in the U.S. Since the first stock show in 1906, the National Western has strived to strengthen American agriculture through enrichment programs and youth education in livestock, equestrian, farming, ranching, animal awareness and appreciation.

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1906, the first-ever NWSS opened its doors and ran for six days. According to NWSS’ website, an estimated 15,000 people attended the novel event and the Grand Champion Market Steer sold for $0.33 per pound, which was $0.23 over market price at the time.

After several years of undeniable success, the 25th annual NWSS presented the first rodeo in conjunction with the livestock and horse shows in 1931.

Fifty years later, in 1981, the show increased to 12 days and included 21 rodeo performances. A stillstanding record of $301,000 was paid for a Hereford bull, according to NWSS’s website In 2006, NWSS celebrated its 100th anniversary and attendance reached 726,972 for the 16-day show. The grand champion steer sold for $75,000 or $58 per pound, according to NWSS’ website.

Today, NWSS is one of Colorado’s preeminent tourist destinations and is recognized nationally as a topnotch western heritage and entertainment event.

According to their website, NWSS’ current economic impact is $115 million per year for all events, over 60 percent of which is attributed to non-local sources. NWSS also raises over $6 million in local and

state tax revenues every year.

The superbowl of livestock shows Considered the “Super Bowl of Livestock Shows,” NWSS processes over 20,000 livestock entries from all over the U.S. and Canada and hosts numerous species shows.

The National Western Cattle Show is one of the largest in the world, displaying more than 20 beef breeds as well as bison, yaks and Longhorns. The historic Denver Stock Yards are home to multiple cattle shows where producers place pens and/or truckloads of their cattle on display. This is the only event of its kind in North America and is a mecca of activity for the cattle industry.

There are numerous other noteworthy shows at the stock show in Denver.

NWSS’ Gold Trophy Bison Show and Sale is the only bison show of its kind in the world, while the National Western Llama Show is one of the oldest and largest Llama shows in North America.

The National Western also hosts a Boer goat show, alpaca show, poultry show, rabbit show, wool show, breeding sheep show, sheep lead contest and hog show, where more than 500 hogs from across the nation compete. There is also a Yak Pen Show and Yak Halter Show.

One of the most popular competitions at the NWSS, are the dog pulls, a sporting event in which a dog pulls a cart on wheels a distance of 16 feet within one minute.

NWSS also hosts stock dog cattle and sheep trials.

NWSS 2020 In 2020, the National Western will host their 114th Stock Show from Jan. 11 through Jan. 26.

On the calendar for the 2020 NWSS, among the many livestock shows, are performances of the Colorado versus the World Rodeo, an invitational Ranch Rodeo presented by the Colorado Barricade, RAM’s Invitational Freestyle Reining, the Mexican Rodeo Extravaganza presented by Hutchinson Western, the Denver Chute Out PBR Velocity Tour, Monarch Casino Gambler’s Choice Jumper Stake, the Wild West Show, Xtreme Dogs, An Evening of Dancing Horses presented by 9NEWS, the Draft Horse, Mule and Donkey Show, the Grand Prix presented by Monarch Casino, The MLK Jr. African-American Heritage Rodeo of Champions and 20 Pro Rodeo performances.

Visit nationalwestern.com for more information.

Hannah Bugas is the assistant editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup.

Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

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2019 Fall Cattlemen's Edition • Wyoming Livestock Roundup

Elite Leadership Academy Farm Bureau educates future leaders in agriculture For the last six years, Colorado Farm Bureau (CFB) has chosen a group of members to complete their Elite Leadership Academy, a year-long, intensive leadership and professional development program.

“The Elite Leadership Academy creates powerful leaders and advocates for the agriculture industry,” says Kacie Sallee, program coordinator. “Participants are exposed to a diverse set of issues and industry trends. They develop stronger communication skills which empowers them to address issues proactively and impart meaningful change.”

“Developing leaders throughout our organization is vital to our future,” says Chad Vorthmann, Executive Vice President of the Colorado Farm Bureau. “In this class, they’ll learn the skills to effectively advocate for the industry at the grocery store, local town halls, the state capitol and in Washington, D.C. We look forward to what this class will do in the future.”

“In addition to intensive leadership training, participants also receive training in communications and advocacy, media relations, public speaking and networking,” according to CFB. The members of the academy are those whohave exhibited notably high leadership potential through their involvement in Farm Bureau, community and agriculture endeavors.

Intensive training The Elite Leadership Academy aims to provide class members with the tools necessary to be powerful advocates for the agricultural industry, develop stronger critical thinking skills and improve their communication skills to be proactive in addressing issues.

“Class members participate in six intensive training sessions. Each session includes a networking dinner, principal and application studies, intensive case studies and think-tank-type discussion with an educa-

tor,” according to CFB. Kacie notes the classes feature guest speakers from the agriculture industry as well as parallel industries such as oil and gas.

“We want to showcase different opportunities within the state,” says Kacie. “This helps broaden the participants’ professional network and ensure they are aware of different issues in agriculture and beyond.”

“We also work on broadening their leadership and media skills through these trainings,” says Kacie. “The people who go through this program are our ‘go team’, we send a lot of media inquiries to them because they are training in how to handle those scenarios.”

Broadened horizons Kacie notes the group gets to choose a state or region they would like to visit and learn about the agriculture production in the region.

“Last year we visited Louisiana and Mississippi,” Kacie says. “We take these trips to show participants that agriculture producers – regardless of their location – are facing the same types of issues we are here in Colorado.”

She continues, “Though they may be producing something regionally specific, such as catfish, they are still subject to dealing with legislation that may work against them.”

Kole Kelley is in the current class and notes this experience has made him more comfortable advocating for agriculture as a whole.

“Being in this class and learning from the people we bring is something that has really broadened my view of the ag industry as a whole,” Kole says. “I no longer pigeonholed into one specific area.”

Dave Brown participated in the program in 2015, and notes the most important thing he gained through the program were the connections he made.

Once the trainings are complete, the group will take a trip to Denver to sit

Learning on the road – The class also travels yearly to visit agricultural operations in other states, and to Washington D.C. as a capstone trip upon completion of the program.Courtesy photo

in on committee hearings and see the capital firsthand.

Advocacy is key “The biggest aspect of this class is agriculture advocacy,” says Chance Kanode, a previous participant in the program. “They really aspire for everyone to be able to step into the role of an advocate.”

Chance continues, “We learned how to speak to consumers and politicians and tell the narrative of agriculture effectively.”

On the topic of the importance of agriculture advocacy, Chance notes there is a growing divide between producers and the everyday consumer.

“The world is changing,” says Chance “We have to communicate to consumers that we are providing quality products in the United States and beyond.”

“We need to be constantly thinking about how we advocate and how we can get better at advocating,” says Kole.

“Agriculture advocacy is absolutely critical, if we don’t get our voices out, we will get trampled on,” says Dave.

Current class “This is a really diverse class,” says Kacie.

“They each bring a unique perspective that will lead to meaningful discussions and ultimately make the program stronger.”

Sara Bray has been an educator in Colorado for 16 years. She has taught in both rural and urban settings and is currently

teaching at West End Public Schools in Naturita, Colo.

Joel Currier is a native of Grand Junction, Colo.

Following his graduation from Colorado State University, he returned home to work on his family’s ranch.

Sabrina Hornrug was raised on a ranch near Burlington, Colo. She has a degree in business administration and a minor in agricultural economics from Colorado State University. She was a commercial and agriculture credit analyst for two years before returning to her family’s operation.

A native of Alamosa, Colo., Kole Kelley grew up on a small livestock operation in the San Luis Valley. He is a recent graduate of the University of Denver, Sturm College of Law. He is currently a part of Burns, Figa and Will, P.C team.

Nate Lamers is a native of Norwood, Colo.

He is employed by the local power plant and also raises cattle and sheep.

Caleigh Payne currently manages 300 head of cattle on a cow/calf operation in southern Colorado. She has a master’s degree in ruminant nutrition and has worked on ranches throughout South

Dakota, Montana and New Mexico.

For more information visit coloradofarmbureau. com.

Callie Hanson is the managing editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup.

Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

Colorado Farm Bureau

Rural Strong. The Colorado Farm Bureau (CFB) works to promote and protect the future of agriculture and rural values.

According to CFB, the Farm Bureau family is made up of farmers, ranchers, veterinarians, teachers, retailers, grocers, gardeners, doctors, tradesmen, civil servants, scientists and more. CFB members represent all of agriculture, not just a single crop or commodity, and they represent all of Colorado. There is a Farm Bureau member in every county in the state.

The Colorado Farm Bureau provides an organization in which members may secure the benefits of a united front, in a way which could never be accomplished through individual effort. Members work together to identify common problems and create solutions for the betterment of all. Involvement in Farm Bureau is the embodiment of civic engagement and a pure expression of our first amendment rights.

2019 Class – Top row (L-R): Kole Kelly, Joel Currier and Nate Lamers. Bottom row (L-R): Sara Bray, Caleigh Payne and Sabrina Hornung. Courtesy photo

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2019 Fall Cattlemen's Edition • Wyoming Livestock Roundup

Changing times Shelby Teague finds change good as she starts career in family livestock operation Even as a young child, Shelby Teague knew she would one day be some part of her family’s agriculture operation based in Fort Morgan, Colo.

Shelby competed on several nationally ranked judging teams at Kansas State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science with a minor in ag marketing.

Love for cattle Shelby is putting all of her knowledge to work. She is now a part of her family’s livestock operation as a cattle and data manager for the feed yard operation in Colorado, as well as managing the family’s Coloradobased cow/calf operation.

It is a job she loves.

“I have always loved cattle and some of my fondest memories as a child were of working with them.

There was never a doubt in my mind I would come back and be some part of my family’s operation,” she explains.

Shelby continues, “Growing up, my parents always taught us that legacies are incredibly important, so I see it as not only coming back to this opera-

tion as a way to have a livelihood, but for my kids to have a livelihood and be involved in agriculture.”

“I want them to grow up the same way and have the same experiences that I did. There was no better way to grow up and no better industry to be a part of,” she says.

Family business Although the family operation has expanded over the years, Shelby’s parents, Gary and Laura, started the operation with a small rented feed yard outside of Fort Collins, Colo. after both graduated from Colorado State University (CSU).

The biggest part of the operation these days is a feeder calf business in Colorado, with branches in Texas and Mississippi that procures the majority of its calves from local producers.

Shelby says her parents mostly oversee the operations and make most of the major decisions. Her mother also does all the accounting and watches over the financial part of the business.

In Texas, the family

also owns a buying station, where local producers can drop off their calves

and have them weighed and priced at the farm. Shelby’s brother, Tucker, oversees this part of the operation in addition to operating his own business, Teague Cattle Buying.

Based in Hamlin, Texas, he travels to local sale barns within a 300 mile radius of his home buying

weaned calves for the family’s feeding facilities. Shelby’s younger sister, Charlee, is finishing up her college degree at CSU, and has also indicated she will return to the operation in the future.

“This year, we think we will have between 60,000 to 70,000 head of feeder

calves. We buy the calves, vaccinate and wean them, then sort them into groups based on size, weight and sometimes color,” she says.

“Those calves get shipped to our Colorado location where we feed them for about 45 days, train them to come to the bunk and monitor their health.”

Working on the ranch – Shelby Teague is a part of her family’s operation as the cattle and data manager for their feed yard operation.

Courtesy photo

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2019 Fall Cattlemen's Edition • Wyoming Livestock Roundup

She continues, “Then we sell them to the bigger corporate feed yards in the area. Our main customers are Great Plains and Five Rivers,” she says.

The family also has a cow/calf enterprise and a farming operation in Colorado where they raise corn and other crops that are sold or utilized in the feed yard.

Moving forward Despite being part of such a big operation at such a young age, Shelby doesn’t visualize her life any other way.

“My parents have always been very supportive of whatever we wanted to do. They even would have been happy for us if we would have gone off and done something else, but they always taught us how important agricul-

ture is and how unique the things we get to do are,” she says. “There were times my brother and I were able to be major parts of the operation when we were growing up, but it was a day-byday process for our parents of being patient with us and trying to teach us all the things they had to learn to get started.”

Shelby’s fiancé, Trevor Birky, is also making a career in production agriculture.

“We are starting our own farming operation by renting cropland from another family,” she explains. “We probably couldn’t have done it without my parents. They helped us figure out the financial side of it, and I feel like they will be instrumental in the future by helping us learn and grow

and do things as good or better than they did.”

Working in the operation presents day-to-day challenges, but Shelby wouldn’t have it any other way.

“I am very passionate about the industry and cattle, and I love the challenge of trying to make us better than we were the day before.

The challenge is what drew me home. I’m just thankful there was a way I could come back and do it,” she says.

The operation changes day by day, which is what Shelby says has made expansion a success.

“We have changed and morphed into different things over the years,” she says. “We have bought new businesses and stopped doing other businesses.

Originally, this yard in Col-

orado was fat cattle.”

She continues, “We decided we didn’t want to do that any longer, so we changed to feeder cattle.

I’m excited for the future.

We really try to not get attached to one business model, because that can really get someone stuck in one place.”

“Agriculture is an industry where markets are volatile and so much of what we do is determined by a future’s market that is impacted by outside speculation unrelated to the industry,” she explains. “On top of that, there are weatherrelated natural disasters, cattle health and risks. I have found it is really important to not be set in one business model that says we are going to raise cattle forever and this is how we are going to do it.”

“We are constantly changing and trying to find ways to make our business better, and looking for those opportunities to do it,” she says.

Gayle Smith is a corresponding writer for the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@ wylr.net.

Cattle experience – Shelby Teague competed on several national judging teams at Kansas State University and earned a bachelor’s degree in animal science with a minor in ag marketing. Courtesy photo

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Feeder cattle — The largest portion of the Teague’s operation is feeder cattle. They have branches of this business in both Texas and Mississippi. Most of the cattle are procured from local Colorado producers. Courtesy photo

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2019 Fall Cattlemen's Edition • Wyoming Livestock Roundup

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