Cattleman’s Corner Radio

On the program again today with our co-host David Woodruff is Clear Creek Ranch Mom, Leah Peterson talking about her cattle operation today. They started off talking about the screw worm.
 
"I've been concerned with the early spring coming with warps all the way south to Texas that keep waiting to hear that that darn thing made its way north."
 
"Well I think Brian had something that he posted somewhere and it sounded like they were pretty well on it in the southwest. I had never heard of it until I talked to the Flakes. I guess I had heard of it but I didn't know it firsthand. How big of a herd, how many cow calf pairs do you have to keep tabs on?"
 
"Well we culled really hard last year. Late moisture that didn't really come until it was time to go to grass. We culled really hard in the spring and so we're down a little bit on numbers currently of mature cows. However we raise our own replacements and so had that discussion multiple times in recent days as we weigh drought planning with trying to restore numbers, but typically somewhere around 500 adult cows on the place that would include heft bread heifers somewhere around there. A lot of people turn up their nose at calving heifers. We make very careful intentional decisions in our breeding programs so that we don't have a battle at calving time but I would rather be raising heifers right now and calving heifers than I would be spending money buying mature bred cows."
~ Clear Creek Ranch mom Leah Peterson.
 
That's it for today's Cattleman's Corner. Thanks again for listening and may God bless. I'm Brian Hale.

Cowboy Poetry Gathering Experience: The discussion highlights the success of a cowboy poetry gathering in Taber, Alberta. It was noted as the fourth such event organized and was deemed the best so far due to high talent levels and contributions from participants like Nathan Cummins, Crystal, and other storytellers and musicians. The event served as a platform to celebrate and preserve the heritage of the old west, drawing attendees from various regions.
Community and Inspiration: Nathan expressed his appreciation for the sense of community and inspiration found at the gathering. He emphasized the importance of maintaining connections to Western heritage through storytelling and music. The event was praised for fostering a sense of camaraderie and support among participants, and Nathan felt inspired to write about these experiences.
Youth Involvement and Talent: There was a notable involvement of young participants, such as 4-H club members, who contributed to the event with speeches and poetry. The presence of younger generations is seen as vital for preserving the cultural tradition. Discussions included family stories and attempts to encourage continued involvement and participation among young attendees.
 
View the Article about the event here...
Saddle up for Taber’s annual cowboy poetry round-up

Meet Galen Frenzen with 8 decades of experience in the cattle business...
Galen Frenzen, at 82, has a storied history in the cattle industry dating back to 1957, when he and his brother were introduced to Hereford heifers by their father. Over the years, Frenzen expanded the business with a variety of cattle breeds, experimenting with exotics and transitioning to a focus on Angus cattle after marrying into an Angus-oriented family. He reflects on past trends, such as the shift to larger cattle in the 1960s and the challenges with dwarfism, exotics, and the evolution towards a more moderate animal in response to market extremes.
Frenzen remains committed to traditional breeding practices, focusing on genetically sound and well-rounded animals actively involved in seed stock operations. He prides himself on not overindulging with feeding supplements, advocating for a survival-of-the-fittest approach in which cattle are naturally developed without inflated fattening practices. The operation tests bulls later in life, ensuring they remain functional and desirable in competitive markets without excessive conditioning, emphasizing animal adaptability and longevity over immediate appearance.  

The conversation between David Woodruff of Hale Broadcasting and Leah Peterson, operating from Clear Creek Ranch, highlighted the challenges of managing livestock in the Nebraska heat and dryness, particularly regarding livestock operations focused on cow-calf systems with breeds like Herefords, native shorthorns, and Red Angus.
They discussed the seasonal calendar that dictates operations like weaning, sowing, and harvesting, and the genetic qualities they target for their livestock, notably hybrid vigor. The challenges of managing resources such as leased pastureland due to natural disasters and environmental conditions were also addressed, including impacts from prairie fires and their implications for cattle movement.

Meet Brady Moke of Moke Angus Ranch of Corsica, South Dakota on today's Cattleman's Corner with Brian Hale.

Both people in the cattle business and people who like to eat beef like to hear from those who produce it. The Cattleman's Corner has been on the radio since 1997 and features cattlemen and women from around the country. If you're a producer in North America and you're interested in a free interview on this radio station and others, please contact cattlemenscorner.com. You can visit that website, cattlemanscorner.com. You can even schedule yourself for a free interview. Get extra exposure for your farm and ranch by getting a free interview on cattlemanscorner.com.
One of the things that is featured on Cattleman's Corner is a sale calendar. Get your sale listed for free. Become part of a family of radio networks and cattlemen and women across the United States who are networking ideas and resources. All on cattlemanscorner.com. And we have some really good sales coming up in the near future.
We list several different breeds for sale on cattlemen's corner. Circle S. Gelbvieh Going to Grass Sale, that's also on the fourth. That's in Canton, Kansas.
Again, if you want your sale listed on Cattleman's Corner, it's free. Or if you'd like an interview, it's free. Give us a call or contact us through the numbers on the screen. Cattlemanscorner.com.

The Cattleman's Corner has been on the radio since 1997 and features cattlemen and women from around the country.
Both people in the cattle business and people who like to eat beef like to hear from those who produce it. If you're a producer in North America and you're interested in a free interview on this radio station and others, please contact cattlemenscorner.com. You can visit that website, cattlemanscorner.com. You can even schedule yourself for a free interview. Get extra exposure for your farm and ranch by getting a free interview on cattlemanscorner.com.
One of the things that is featured on Cattleman's Corner is a sale calendar. Get your sale listed for free. Become part of a family of radio networks and cattlemen and women across the United States who are networking ideas and resources. All on Cattlemanscorner.com.
We have some really good sales coming up in the near future. Dusty Prairie Ranch is having their 45th annual Amerifax Production Sale on the 4th of April, as well as Circle S Gelbvieh Going to Grass Sale. That's also on the 4th. That's in Canton, Kansas. We list several different breeds for sale on Cattleman's Corner. Here's a Fox Angus Farm annual bull sale on the 2nd. That's in Watertown, South Dakota. And Pleasant Valley, Angus in Sidney, Montana, their sale is on the 1st. Fischer Simmentals is having their sale on the 3rd. That's in Scotland, South Dakota. And Pieper Red Angus up in Hay Springs, Nebraska. That sale is also on the 3rd.
Again, if you want your sale listed on Cattleman's Corner, it's free. Or if you'd like an interview, it's free. Give us a call or contact us through the numbers on the screen. Cattlemanscorner.com.

We've got a bull sale going on in Harrison, Nebraska today. That's the Greay's Angus Ranch, 2nd Century Bull Sale. Today, Harrison, Nebraska, GraysAngusRanch.com
 
Gelbvieh and Balancer Cattle offer maternal superiority through increased longevity, added fertility, and more pounds of calf weaned per cow exposed. Gelbvieh and Balancer females offer a reduced mature cow size, more maternal milk, greater calving ease, and reach puberty at an earlier age. The American Gelbvieh Association even offers a stayability EPD that predicts the probability that a bull's daughter will stay within a herd to at least six years of age. Visit Gelbvieh.org
 
Now here's Rod Gray of Grays Angus Ranch in Harrison, Nebraska, on how they're helping out with the recent wildfires.
 
You decided to donate something, didn't you?
 
Yeah, we've decided to help with the Sandhills Fire Relief Fund. We're going to donate a heifer. It's going to be a rollover auction and we're going to roll over four times. And then on the fifth time, we're going to sell there and whoever has that high bid on the heifer. It's a registry angus heifer. We took her out of her replacements to help support the fire fund.
 
Now for those folks who aren't familiar with the Sandhills, how close were you to that fire?
 
We're about 120 miles from the fire. We weren't real close at all. The fire fund we are supporting is Nebraska Sandhills Ranchor Fire Relief Fund out of Oshkosh. The checks will be written to them directly. They'll be able to bid through DV auction or here on the ranch home person if they're at the sale.
 
That sale is today, March 30th, GraysAngusRanch.com. Find it on DV auction.

The conversation with Rod Gray of Gray's Angus Ranch in Harrison, Nebraska revolves a heifer donation organized to support the Sandhills Fire Relief Fund. A unique fundraising strategy involves donating a registered Angus heifer to a rollover auction that will be held simultaneously. The heifer will be auctioned multiple times before the final sale, with the high bidder eventually owning the heifer. The auction aims to generate significant contributions to aid the fire-impacted Nebraska Sandhills Rancher Fire Relief Fund, which provides assistance following devastating fires in the region. The event will be accessible both in-person and online via DV auction.
The sale is scheduled for March 30th at the newly acquired Windy Acres Sale Barn, with the expectation of good weather. The event will feature 30 two-year-old bulls and yearling bulls, alongside 30 heifer calves to be sold in groups. For those unable to attend physically, alternatives through online bidding are provided, ensuring broader participation. Hale Broadcasting expresses their commitment to promoting the event, emphasizing the importance of each additional bidder in making the sale successful.
Concerns are raised about fires 120-130 miles away, affecting local ranchers, although significant livestock losses haven't been reported yet. Efforts include reaching out to various businesses for additional support. There is optimism about raising $5,000 to $7,000, with expectations of the heifer itself fetching $3,000 to $4,000. Hale Broadcasting is facilitating the event’s promotion and communication, ensuring interested parties can participate and contribute through a simple process on their platform.

Visit CattlemansCorner.com for an easy way to access key upcoming bull sales and listen to the producers that we interview!

In an article by Angie Denton in Drovers, a local rancher describes the anticipated death loss after that horrific Nebraska wildfire known as The Morrill Fire.
LISTEN IN...
 
Article link 
https://www.drovers.com/news/industry/through-flames-miracles-heartbreak-and-fight-nebraskas-cattle-country

Speaking of the Gelbvieh breed, we have several good Gelbvieh sales coming up in the near future. Let's take a look at that sale calendar on Cattlemen's Corner. Two sales were looking forward to on March 28th. The first one, let's start up north. This one's at Rugby, North Dakota, the genetic progress sale from Cranview Gelbvieh, preserving the Gelbvieh legacy since 1992. That's March 28th at the Rugby Livestock Auction, 2818 Highway 2 West in Rugby North Dakota at 1 p.m.
 
And focusing on function in the pastures in the feedlot and on the rail, it's Wilkinson Gelbvieh and their sale is also on the 28th. That's Saturday, March 28th at the Ranch in Model, Colorado and on DV Auction.
 
And we have that spring bull and female sale from Knoll Crest Farm, serving the beef industry since 1944. That one's April 11th, 2026. That's Saturday at noon out in Concord, Virginia, another member of the American Gelbvieh Association.
 
Check cattlemenscorner.com and click on Featured Sales or the Full Sale Calendar for more.

Galen Frenzen, at 82, has a storied history in the cattle industry dating back to 1957, when he and his brother were introduced to Hereford heifers by their father. Over the years, Frenzen expanded the business with a variety of cattle breeds, experimenting with exotics and transitioning to a focus on Angus cattle after marrying into an Angus-oriented family. He reflects on past trends, such as the shift to larger cattle in the 1960s and the challenges with dwarfism, exotics, and the evolution towards a more moderate animal in response to market extremes.
Frenzen remains committed to traditional breeding practices, focusing on genetically sound and well-rounded animals actively involved in seed stock operations. He prides himself on not overindulging with feeding supplements, advocating for a survival-of-the-fittest approach in which cattle are naturally developed without inflated fattening practices. The operation tests bulls later in life, ensuring they remain functional and desirable in competitive markets without excessive conditioning, emphasizing animal adaptability and longevity over immediate appearance.  
Galen Frenzen is gearing up for an upcoming cattle sale featuring various breeds and age groups, including 75 Angus bulls, 40 Herefords, one Semitol, along with yearling heifers and two-year-old pairs. The sale is scheduled for March 24th, utilizing both in-person and online platforms to accommodate weather-related constraints.
 

We had the chance to speak with Colorado cattleman Chad Cook recently. Chad owns and operates Bridle Bit Simmentals, near Walsh, Colorado.
The discussion delves into the cattle business, particularly the family's long involvement with Simmental cattle since the late 1960s. Their experience includes managing the bull farm at Colorado State University and pioneering in breeding practices. They emphasize hybrid vigor and the current positive impact of Simmental and SimAngus cattle on the industry. The specific adaptability of their cattle to tough grazing conditions in Southeastern Colorado was noted, alongside their commitment to integrating extensive data and feed efficiency into their breeding programs.
The family is holding an annual bull sale offering 90 Simmental and SimAngus bulls and 14 elite open heifers. The primary focus is catering to commercial cow-calf operators, emphasizing feed efficiency and carcass quality. The event will be both live and online, with emphasis on direct engagement and digital accessibility.

Schweitzer Red Angus has an annual bull in female sale coming up tomorrow Friday, March 20th at the Beatrice 77 sale barn, Beatrice, Nebraska. I had a chance to catch up with Austin about their upcoming sale and their operation, so Austin, how did you get started?
"I grew up in a farming background. My parents never farmed with my grandpa did, so I just got out of passion for cattle from kindergarten up, whether it was bucket calves or anything like that. I acquired some cows in high school. Then through college, I worked at the Cow Calf Research Center for four years in Meade, Nebraska, which is affiliated with the University of Nebraska, and that's where my passion clicked in there during those college years."
Did you do any 4-H or FFA or anything like that?
"Yeah, I was blessed to be a state FFA officer. I can't remember what year that was now. 2001, somewhere in there. Yeah, I was heavily involved in FFA through high school, and then I would have been an officer my sophomore year in college."
What kind of cattle are you raising?
"So right now we have a unique operation. We have a seed sock herd, which is 90% red Angus. We do do a lot of black-eyed-ud red Angus. A lot of people in the area just want to stick with black, and I respect that. I like to have the opportunity to breed with Angus, the in-red Angus trade. Seedstock herd, and then we also run a feed yard. So we see it from the calf being tagged all the way to the calf getting on the truck to slaughter at our local packing houses. So it's kind of interesting."
Visit CattlemansCorner.com and click on Featured Sales to see that Schweitzer Red Angus Bull sale with a link directly to that auction.

Gray's Angus Ranch is preparing for its 30th annual bull sale on March 30th, where they will sell 140 bulls and 30 Angus open heifers. The sale will be taking place at the Windy Acres sale facility south of Harrison, which they acquired a year and a half ago. The ranch continues to focus on maintaining Angus genetics, using AI to introduce new proven genetics.

Brenda, involved with Western Cattle Source, shares her background in cattle farming, which started as a 4-H project with her husband. They specialize in Simmental, Sim Angus, and Angus cattle, emphasizing the benefits of crossing breeds, such as heterosis, which increases the productivity and quality of the cattle, thus enhancing their bottom line.
The cattle industry is experiencing record high prices, helping producers recover from previous financial losses. Brenda notes the strong demand for beef in the U.S. and argues that despite rising prices, beef remains an economical protein source compared to other food items like coffee or snacks.
Brenda discusses their upcoming cattle sale on March 19th in Crawford, Nebraska, featuring various cattle breeds. The event will be held at their ranch to accommodate for weather challenges. They take pride in high-quality bulls and emphasize maintaining good health and structure for breeding purposes.

Land and livestock owners around the country are facing some really tough conditions right now. Extreme heat watch, blizzards, tornado watches and warnings, freeze warnings, cold weather advisories, wildfires in Nebraska, Kansas and Oklahoma, dust storms in Texas, flooding in the Northeast, severe thunderstorms and hail. Every type of weather possible throughout the country right now.
And speaking of those wildfires, there are several organizations that have come together to be the point of contact for fire relief. The official page for Nebraska Sandhills Rancher Relief is the Nebraska Sandhills Rancher Fire Relief Page. Speaking of that Sandhills fire that has left families ranchers and entire communities facing devastating losses and the road to recovery will be long. If you're able, please contact any local organizations providing relief. And in Nebraska, that would include the Nebraska Sandhills Rancher Fire Relief. In conjunction with a fund that is set up at the Oregon Trail Community Foundation in Scottsbluff, Nebraska, that one has also labeled a Sandhills Fire Relief Fund. And the United Way of Western Nebraska has announced that they can also get funds to individuals in need. There is an official Facebook page for that Morrill Fire, the largest fire in Nebraska history. You can find it on our page pinned at the top. The Morrill Fire, which started in Morrill County, Nebraska, has now burned over a half a million acres, is the largest fire in Nebraska history, has claimed one death and could possibly break into the top 10 for largest fires in U.S. history.
Please continue to pray for our local land owners, livestock owners and firemen and everyone involved in this disaster.

Rod Gray of Gray's Angus Ranch shared his family's long-standing history in the Angus cattle business. They are seventh-generation breeders, and their family tradition started in the 1800s. Originally, the family farm and cattle breeding began in Iowa before moving to western Nebraska in 1997. 
Gray's Angus Ranch is preparing for its 30th annual bull sale on March 30th, where they will sell 140 bulls and 30 Angus open heifers. The sale will be taking place at the Windy Acres sale facility south of Harrison, which they acquired a year and a half ago. The ranch continues to focus on maintaining Angus genetics, using AI to introduce new proven genetics.

Brenda, involved with Western Cattle Source, shares her background in cattle farming, which started as a 4-H project with her husband. They specialize in Simmental, Sim Angus, and Angus cattle, emphasizing the benefits of crossing breeds, such as heterosis, which increases the productivity and quality of the cattle, thus enhancing their bottom line.
The cattle industry is experiencing record high prices, helping producers recover from previous financial losses. Brenda notes the strong demand for beef in the U.S. and argues that despite rising prices, beef remains an economical protein source compared to other food items like coffee or snacks.
Brenda discusses their upcoming cattle sale on March 19th in Crawford, Nebraska, featuring various cattle breeds. The event will be held at their ranch to accommodate for weather challenges. They take pride in high-quality bulls and emphasize maintaining good health and structure for breeding purposes.

Mike Bartels of Bartels Angus shared his background in the cattle business, explaining that his family's operation began with a couple of hundred commercial cows. Eventually, Mike developed an interest in the show circuit through his involvement in FFA (Future Farmers of America) and started acquiring bred heifers during college. Over time, the operation transitioned to include Angus genetics, and they now focus on strictly Angus cattle after initially beginning with crossbred cows. Bartels highlighted their use of embryo transfer to expand their operation.
Bartels is hosting an upcoming sale on March 17th, St. Patrick's Day, at their ranch north of Riverton, Nebraska. The sale will feature about 90 bulls and a select group of six open heifers. Mike emphasized the benefits they see in Angus genetics, describing the animals as well-rounded, and discussed their dedication to offering quality Angus cattle.

I've got Dan Reardon from Rocking R Red Angus on the phone.
Yeah, Dan, I noticed you recently moved to Nebraska. Can you give us a little background on your operation?
We are from Western Colorado. We moved to Nebraska Panhandle about two years ago. We ran Red Angus Cattle at high elevation in Western Colorado. We ran our cattle above Gunnison about 10,000 feet up there in the summer time. And our farm was in Montrose, Colorado about 6,500 feet. So we've been dealing with Red Angus high altitude genetics for years. We wanted to make a change for quite a while and two years ago, we were finally able to make that happen and chose the Nebraska Panhandle as our new place. Our ranch, like I said, is due south of McGrew. So we're kind of in between Bayard and Gering and just a little bit closer to Bayard.
Are you doing the same practices or is it different now?
We've changed some things. We definitely can create a lot more performance at the elevation we run cattle at now. We introduce genetics from other high altitude breeders. We did that for years, but after moving into Nebraska, we can incorporate a lot more performance into our genetics. We feel like we have an extremely maternal type of herd. The last two years, we've implemented a lot of performance into those genetics and our weaning weights and our yearly weights are significantly different from one we're running in Colorado. We are offering 40 head of yearling Red Angus Bulls. And we do have two, what we call hybrids, category threes, the registered Red Angus, but there are two of them in there that are not purebreds. So 40 yearling Red Angus Bulls in total.
That's Dan Reardon from Rockin' R Red Angus, now located south of McGrew, Nebraska. Saturday, March 14th at 1 p.m. Mountain.
 
 

Jim Felton, a third-generation Angus breeder from Deer Lodge, Montana, discussed the details of the 53rd annual bull sale which is scheduled for Friday the 13th. The event will feature about 90 Angus bulls, including 70 two-year-olds and 20 that are 16 months old. Additionally, they will offer 50 commercial replacement heifers. Despite being on a superstitious date, Jim expressed confidence in proceeding with the sale, emphasizing the ranch’s proximity to Interstate 90 for ease of access.
Jim elaborated on his commitment to Angus cattle, attributing it to his lineage and personal experience in breeding. He acknowledged the competitive nature of the Angus market but highlighted the established reputation of his ranch in raising quality cattle.

Today's guest is Lauren Frick from Twin Creek Ranch in Kansas. Why don't you go ahead and tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started in the cattle business, Lauren?
My husband and I have a pretty unique story. I grew up in Kansas with my dad running the ranch and raising cattle his whole life. My husband and I met at college and so he moved here from Illinois and we took over the cow herd about three years ago and mainly set out to be a registered herd and get everything to be percentage Simmental. So we're having our second annual bull sale coming up March 7th.
What were you both studying?
I actually have a degree in meat science and he studied animal science and so we've kind of been all over the country because we went to school in Illinois and then he moved just out to Coda. I moved to Arkansas and then we ended up back here in Kansas.
Did you cross paths because of the classes that you were taking were similar?
Yes, we cross paths mainly because of livestock judging. We both were on the team at Black Hawk College and then I went on to be on the livestock judging team at Kansas State and so livestock judging brought us together.
Livestock judging? Okay, that's another whole subject. What was that experience like?
Livestock judging is something that just means a tremendous amount to me because I actually grew up in the city limits in Wichita and I ended up getting involved with that when I started college and it's an experience that I just think every kid should have.