The
Cross Diamond Chronicle Bul ls Bred FOR D Tough! www.crossdiamondcattle.com October 2020, Volume 13
2020... Just keep moving. It’s been quite a year-- you could say
it's been an uphill climb at times. We could list all of the challenges, changes and frustrations, but you can find that anywhere. At times, it has taken a little more work to find the good in 2020. But in agriculture, we are well-skilled in finding the positive side of things. For example, we may see fertilizer, when everyone else just sees manure. Just keep moving, the tough journeys often have the boldest memories and the most valuable lessons. Here are a few gleanings from the past few months. 1) Uphill climbs result in great views. Yes, it's hard to stop, breathe, look around and enjoy the view. But that's exactly what we need to do to gain perspective. Uphill climbs take us places we generally wouldn't go on our own, but the things we see when we get there can be amazing. 2) Uphill climbs get us in shape. We often use muscles we didn't even know we had in the midst of trials. And the building of skill and muscle earned on the climb can be invaluable as we move forward.
3) Uphill climbs often bring the opportunity to request or offer help. Both can be intimidating, and both can be highly rewarding experiences. 4) Uphill climbs help us to see that it isn't our own strength that gets us through.
"I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take hear t! I have overcome the world."-- John 16:33
Please join us in seeing the positives of this year and stepping forward into whatever 2021 holds. Whether it’s more fertilizer, or something else... And if all else fails, just drop your heads and graze for awhile.
A year of change and opportunity.
ilies, while they worked beside us; and we look forward to con-nuing those rela-onships going forward.
These changes have brought opportunity to Does change bring opportunity, or does opportunity bring Cross Diamond to meet and visit with a numchange? ber of talented individuals as we sought to fill the posi-ons of Lee and Marcus. We were Kind of a which came first-- the chicken or the egg-type ques- highly impressed by the enthusiasm we found -on, isn't it? All I know is that there's been quite a bit of both- for the agricultural industry as we went - change and opportunity going on around our place this past through the interview process. year. We are happy to announce that Dus-n Cooper We have said many -mes that we are richly blessed to work and Hunter Miller have joined the Cross Diawith great, experienced crew of people. We have the day-in- mond team, beginning in September. These day-out crew of Corey Cable, Andy Na-on, Lee Chaney, Mar- two young men have a strong desire to be incus Eggleston and Kyle Rademaker; in addi-on, John Ford and volved in produc-on agriculture, and to learn along with us. Tom Golka get called to service on the farming side and around We welcome them to Cross Diamond and look forward to sale -me. working alongside them.
Corey has seized the opportunity to become involved with the Ranching for Profit program over the past few years. Through his knowledge and experience, he has been willing to step into an overall management role at Cross Diamond and has clearly defined the responsibili-es and roles for everyone on the ranch. There are several moving parts to Cross Diamond-- registered herd, commercial herd, yearlings and farming. Corey has been instrumental in defining and assigning roles and responsibili-es in each of these areas to make the most of our talented crew. Regular ranch mee-ngs help keep communica-on open and bring valuable collabora-on and planning.
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So the answer, I guess, to the opportunity/change ques-on is that it goes both ways. Change and opportunity follow each other, whether we're ready for it, or not. But when we live firmly in the knowledge that there is a greater plan that we have for ourselves, then we can embrace both opportunity and change and trust in both. We are also blessed to live in the assurance that there is One who is unchangeable. He has plans and blessings for us that are far beyond what we can begin to imagine.
"Every good and perfect gi is from above, coming down from Andy has the responsibility of overseeing the commercial herd the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like and the day-to-day ac-vity at Elwood. Kyle has the care and shi ing shadows." -- James 1:17 management of bull development before the sale, along with management of the feedyard and feedstuffs. We can build a founda-on on Him because, "Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever."-- Hebrews 13:8. Now here's where the opportunity/change ques-on comes in. Both Lee and Marcus have taken other opportuni-es this sum- So let's take in the change that comes our way, always trus-ng mer and fall, and have moved away from Cross Diamond. He who does not change.
Lee, Becky, Rianna and Sheridan moved back to Maryland in late summer to be closer to family, and to take hold of opportuni-es that the area offers. Marcus, Bri.any, Stetson and Kolter moved to Bri.any's home-town in Kansas when the window of opportunity called them there. We know that when you work with good and talented people, great things will come their way. There is no doubt that we will greatly miss the talents and experience that Lee and Marcus possessed. Both of them had been with us for eight years, and both contributed greatly to Cross Diamond. However, we are very excited for them to move forward with the great opportuni-es that are before them and their families. The rela-onships we have built in the "Cross Diamond family" are priceless, and we value the -me we were blessed to share with the Chaney and Eggleston fam-
A word of thanks to and for our partners-
We are very blessed to work with a great crew here at Cross Diamond on a daytoday basis. In addi-on, we have the privilege to partner with a select group people to bring the fruits of their breeding programs to you. We appreciate the people, programs and conscien-ous efforts of Triangle Y Ca le, Right On Ca le, Solid Rock Red Angus, Rough Diamond Ranch, Jus n Paulson and Eggleston Ca le. Through our selling partnership, we are able to increase the number of bulls we offer, along with diversity in focus of our breeding programs to provide a great selec-on to fit the needs of our customers. We hope you will enjoy knowing more about our partners in the following pages.
Right ON Cattle Company
There aren’t many times in the history of the United States where a consumer has had to worry about the availability of quality protein such as beef. However, as we have all experienced, 2020 seems to be the exception. With stores selling out of beef due to unprecedented customer stockpiling and processing plants reducing daily capacity, the world witnessed a reinvigorated appreciation for the American Cattle Producer. While we have often been inundated in the media with news of alternative proteins, 2020 was a sure reinforcement that consumers overwhelmingly choose beef Annette and Gary Schreiber as their protein of choice. The demand for beef continues to remain high thanks to the men and women of agriculture who make it a top effort to produce the best. At Right ON Cattle we consider it a privilege to be in the beef business, one that seems a bit stronger in 2020. Our goal remains to provide and serve our customers with superior genetics to assist in creating efficient beef production. Right ON Cattle maintains a focus on our customer’s customers and the long-term market trends when making decisions. We aim to blend in a balance of sound historical data with a look towards successful breed innovation. It’s an approach we appreciate about the Red Angus breed and the association organized to promote its value.
The faces of Right ON Cattle: Jake Nelson, holding Rorik, Joslyn and Hakon, Howard, Mark and Jodi Nelson; Karli and Carter Johnson, Tanner Nelson
Howard, who turned 90 this year, is still involved in the operation through both day to day activities and important planning advice. He’s become a family favorite among the newest addition to the Right ON Cattle team- Hakon Nelson (3) and Rorik Nelson (1). They’ve experienced many activities this year including silage chopping, preconditioning, and ensuring we all get a big smile at the end of the day. It’s a reminder to enjoy the simple things in life! We look forward to the Cross Diamond Bull Sale in December and are thankful for the opportunity to serve you and your family! We wish you a continued year of success and joy!
Please join us on
Dec. 13 for the Sunday Cattle Drive and Appreciation Supper
Not your typical cattle drive, -- we invite you to leisurely drive your vehicle, or one of ours, through the sale cattle in their pasture lots anytime on Sunday. At 6:00, it will be too dark to look at cattle, so we’ll have refreshments and supper, along with entertainment from interactive comedian, Gayle Becwar, back at the sale barn. Please come and enjoy a great meal and fellowship with other cattlemen and women!
Cross Diamond Cattle
Our mission: Developing cattle, crops and relationships through studied stewardship, and faith in Christ.
Left: An April-bred heifer sold in our sale last December, pictured here with her calf this summer. Right: Heifers on grass this summer. They will sell as bred heifers in December.
Left: A beautiful branding day last spring. Above: The final day of AI’ing in July, pictured here are Marie, Johanna, Kyle, Marcus and Corey.
Maternal, and... Yes, we have a heavy emphasis on maternal traits as the first line in profitability. Close on the heels of maternal traits are gain, conversion and carcass traits. We are pleased with the performance of the following steers fed by ADM at Quincy, Ill.
130 head home-raised steers:
ADG-- 4.42# Dry matter feed: gain ratio-- 5.42 Choice or better grade-- 95.4% YG 3 or better-- 99.2% Left: Scott with ADM’s Chris Hagedorn Right: One of the steers on feed at ADM.
Right: Corey, Marcus and Andy sorting AI cows in July. Lower right: Megan, Andy and Corey gathering commercial sale heifers on a foggy August morning. Above: Dustin and Corey pre-conditioning commercial calves. Right: Not a new Cross Diamond enterprise-- just an interesting sight in the late summer early fall in this area, as 125 head of bison roamed the area after a break-out from a feedlot north of Bertrand. Below: A bull waits patiently for his “sort” from Scott, Marcus, Corey and Kyle on Sept. 1.
“ Oh, give me a home... “ The song is accurate-- they truly do roam.
Above: Lee, Marcus, Kyle, Andy and Corey moving heavy cows in April. Left: Branding crew of Browin Adams, Kyle, Corey, Andy, Megan, Sheridan, Scott, Rianna, Marcus, Sondie and George Smith, Becky and Lee.
Triangle Y Cattle Co.
Hello All, I hope this letter finds you all well and hopefully at least six feet apart from each other! It has been a very interesting year to say the least, but as ranchers I believe we have the whole social distancing thing down to an art. I say that out of both sides of my mouth knowing that raising a toddler I should be immune to every disease known to planet earth! Speaking of Blake she happens to be 3 going on 30. She enjoys chasing cats, swimming, making sure her babies are properly dressed, sporting the latest princess attire and riding her pony “Blue Duck” (since we didn’t have enough horses standing around). She is also preparing to step into her new role as big sister in March! Meredith has been with Great Plains Livestock Consulting for a full year now. She loves getting back to her passion of dealing with cattle nutrition on a daily basis and really enjoys the people she works with. We took a family vacation this summer up to Custer State Park in the black hills of South Dakota. In true Clark Griswold fashion I decided to book our reservations the beginning weekend of Sturgis! We had a ton of fun taking in the park, Blake loved swimming in the Lakes and seeing all of the wild life the park had to offer. There have also been some changes on the ranch. After several years of dedicated service to the Cross Diamond team, Lee and Marcus are chasing new dreams. Though we are sad to see them leave, we are very excited for the new opportunities that lay ahead for these great men and fantastic families! We are very excited to welcome Dustin Cooper and Hunter Miller to the team. It will be great to watch them settle into the team and continue to help us work towards our future goals. The cattle have done outstanding this year. The bulls look better than ever coming off grass and are changing every day in the preparation for the upcoming sale in December. We just completed preg checking our heifers last week and are very pleased with the results. We look forward to the opportunity to see you all this December! -- Corey, Meredith and Blake Cable
Solid Rock Red Angus
Hello friends and fellow cattle breeders! Time sure does fly, but our Solid Rock Red Angus family is proud to be involved in our eighth production sale with Cross Diamond Cattle Company this year. We are thankful to Scott & Kim for including our genetics in their sale lineup. Each year, we reflect on how the weather, economy, markets, etc., have impacted us, but I know none of us could have guessed what a global pandemic could do to us. Add onto that a tremendous drought in our region of Eastern Colorado and a damaging hailstorm in August, we are ready to say goodbye to 2020! Through these hard times, we refocus back to why we do what we do. That is to work together as a family and raise quality Red Angus cattle. We continue to concentrate on quality genetics, calving ease, and growth and maternal traits to better meet the needs of our customers – you! – and the changing landscape of the cattle industry. This is the seventh year of our summer intern program and we had a great young man, Cameron Lee from Staunton, Va. He worked hard and enjoyed getting to know the cattle like we do. Also, past intern from two summers, Andrew Acomb from Whitesville, NY, took vacation from his new job to come visit us and help us work cattle this fall. We are grateful for these connections to help future agriculturalists get a start learning about cattle and use those skills through college and into their careers. Our family is doing well, and the kids continue to grow up fast. Ryan and Lindsay’s kids, Maelle (2nd grade), Tucker (pre-K) and Genevieve (preschool) have been enjoying weekly gymnastics classes along with all being in school this year. The Frasier kids spent the summer caring for bunnies, bucket calves and their new kitten, Badger. Ronny and Kelsey’s son, Chisum (1st grade) enjoyed being his daddy’s ranch hand this summer and raised 15 kittens (one being Badger!) but are now down to a reasonable kitty herd of five head. He is starting up Awana for the third year. Since COVID derailed a trip to Alaska this summer for Joe and Cindy, they had the fun come to them by putting up their pool for the family to enjoy (not quite the same, but hopefully Alaska next summer!). In Olathe, Kan., Emily recently started a new job with Signature Landscape as an account manager. Before starting, she and a friend took a vacation to South Dakota to hike and take a hot air balloon ride. These are the same two that jumped out of an airplane last year! We look forward to seeing friends and meeting more of you at the Annual Production sale at Cross Diamond on December 14. Keep up with us on Facebook (River Bend Ranch - Solid Rock Red Angus), Instagram (solidrockredangus) or at www.SolidRockRedAngus.com. God’s Blessings, Joe and Cindy Frasier; Ryan, Lindsay, Maelle, Tucker and Evie Frasier Ronny, Kelsey and Chisum Pope; Emily Frasier
Rough Diamond Ranch Paulson Triangle Bar
Brittany and I at Rough Diamond Ranch hope to find everyone in good spirits and excellent health. Brittany and I have been working tirelessly over the past 12 months trying to get through our first year of ownership two veterinary clinics. Fortunately for us, we inherited an outstanding staff that has help make the transition seamless. We faced many unexpected challenges with the Covid-19 Pandemic, but were blessed to have amazing friends, family, and clients that helped us through it all. Looking back on this spring it reminded us both of why we got into Veterinary Medicine to start with. It’s not for the money, but for the relationships built with clients. The majority of main stream media had no idea what hardships were placed on cattle producers at the beginning of the pandemic. As Veterinarians we got the question almost daily “Doc, what do I do if I have problems? Are you going to be open?” Our answer always was “cows don’t know what Covid-19 is, so as long as the cows keep calving, we’re going to keep showing up to work every day.” That’s when it started to set in with Brittany and I why we chose to embark on the crazy roller coaster ride of being business owners and raising Red Angus cattle. We love being around cattlemen and developing those relationships. As medical professionals it is sometimes easy to get complacent at times and forget to take a step back and enjoy all the wonderful gifts God has given us. For Brittany and I that gift was our compassion and love for raising Red Angus cattle. On this year’s sale there is a bull that is very near and dear to our heart and represents how day to day cattle operations and veterinary medicine often overlap. His name is RDR Adversity 903G and we feel that he is an outstanding representation of what 2020 and the American Cattleman have endured His name is Adversity because he started out behind the eight ball from the time he hit the ground. I remember the day like it was yesterday: below zero, and his mother, a first calf heifer, doing everything in her power to get him to stand as he lay limp in the snow as I pulled into the drive. To my surprise he was alive and I immediately took off running up our driveway to the house. About the house: we purchased this place two years ago and decided to remodel the entire house ourselves. Brittany nor I have any carpentry experience, and in fact we learned majority of our skills from YouTube and tips from friends that build houses for a living. We moved into our house December 2018 and started calving the 10th of January 2019. So, back to the calf. As I am running up the driveway, I notice that another heifer has just a tail sticking out and is pushing with all her might. I quickly throw 903 in our brand new house, on our brand-new rug and proceed to call for back up, AKA Brittany. She arrived roughly 20min later to find a half-comatose calf in her entry way and one very stressed fiancé. She started working on 903 and I tackled the calving issue. Once resolving my end of the problems, I headed to the house to see how Brit was coming on 903. What I found will probably not surprise many cattle producers, but the irony of the situation will. 903 had found his way into our new jet tub. As Brittany hung over the edge of the tile surrounding our bath tub holding his head above water and slowly rubbing her hand up and down his body, I remember looking at the pond colored water that filled my new white tub that neither me nor Brittany had gotten to try yet thinking to myself this calf better have all his feet and ears and make it to weaning. Needless to say, he did make it to weaning and happened to be the heaviest calf we weaned. 903 will always hold a special place at Rough Diamond Ranch but more importantly he is a great example of hope and overcoming adversity. With that said, Brittany and I are extremely proud and beyond blessed to call Scott and Kim our friends and be a part of the Cross Diamond Family. We look forward to meeting everyone on sale day and encourage you to come take a look at the outstanding set of bulls they have to offer. We’ll see you on sale day! ~Ben and Brittany Martin
Greetings Fellow Producers, We are pleased to be a part of the Cross Diamond bull sale offering again this year, with a handful of Red Angus Charolais "HybRed" bulls. Our program is a base of Charolais cow genetics that started from the Lindseth Ranch herd, which was one of the first Charolais herds in Montana. We are located in north central Montana on the east slope of the Rocky Mountains just below Glacier National Park. It's a short hard grass region with scattered streams flowing out of the high country toward the prairie. Our main weather challenge is frequent and hard down slope winds, and our greatest production challenge is depradation from wolves and grizzly bears (I near hit a sow with 3 cubs on the hi-way just this morning). The majority of our bull production is purebred Char bulls that we market with long time customers in central Florida. It's a true testament that good cattle with hardiness and fleshing ability can thrive in a wide array of challenging climates or conditions. We appreciate your support, interest and wish everyone a blessed fall thru harvest season and calf weaning times. Stay safe and with the Lord's blessing we'll see ya in December. ~Justin, Tiffany, Leah and Anna Paulson
That fabulous Red Angus female...
350 Red Angus females will sell on Dec. 14...backed by reputation, time-tested genetics and quality standards.
CROSS DIAMOND C A T T L E C O M P A N Y
Scott and Kim Ford 72862 C Rd Bertrand, NE 68927 www.crossdiamondcattle.com Annual Sale
Monday, Dec. 14, 2020 240 coming two-year-old Red Angus bulls 8 HybRED bulls 350 commercial bred heifers
Bulls Bred FORD Tough!
Monday, Dec. 14, 2020 Production Sale! Be sure to join us for our
Age-Advantaged Bull Headquar ters