SaturdayFebruary 28, 2026 at 6:00 pm Soldier Community CenterSoldier, Iowa
Presented by Melby Simmentals
Sale Staff:
Melby Simmentals Presents... Opportunities Knockin’ Sale
17th Annual Production Sale
Saturday - February 28, 2026 at 6:00 pm Soldier Community Center - Soldier, IA
Herd Health:
Jon Schaben, Auctioneer 712-263-0755
Mark Sullivan, The Stockman 816-304-0050
Jason Hansen, Livestock Digital 402-649-0500
Dave Vanness, Consultant 712-265-1189
Buddy Robertson, Consultant 580-747-7000
Greg Miller, Consultant 608-778-8785
Thomas Lundy, Consultant 502-471-0354
Jeremie Ruble, Consultant 406-581-7940
Jake Melby, Owner 712-882-3018
Nick Dwyer, Manager 309-337-6404
Bob Dwyer, Manager 309-337-1404
Alex Reetz, Owner 712-269-3769
Nick Petersen, Owner 402-720-7476
Bill Fulton, Owner 402-274-7454
Dr. James Seaton, Vet 712-263-4720
Sale Host (Address for viewing livestock):
Jake Melby
40008 State Hwy 37 Soldier IA 51572
Jake Melby 712-882-3018
Sale Site:
Soldier Community Center
GPS Address: 113 1st St. Soldier IA 51572
Terms & Conditions:
Cattle sell per the terms and conditions of their breed associations. Announcements from the auction block/supplement sheet take precedence over the information printed in this book. No cattle will be loaded until paid in full. Terms are cash, good check with proper ID, or Visa/Master Card. All credit card purchases will incur a 3% service fee.
Sale Management:
Dwyer Cattle Services
740 26th Street, Roseville IL 61473
Bob 309-337-1404 | Nick 309-337-6404
Health papers for interstate travel will be available. Bred females have been pregnancy checked safe. Updated breeding information will be available sale week; this sheet will take precedence over statements made in this catalog. Dr. James Seaton will provide health papers for all cattle sold.
Insurance:
Insurance will be available through Cindy Cagwin 217-370-6034. Please contact Nick Dwyer after the sale to insure your purchases.
Bull Housing:
Bulls purchased at the sale will return to their respective sellers for further development free of charge until April 1, 2026 at that point they need to be picked up by buyer. During this period we ask that you insure your bulls to avoid any issues.
Absentee Bidding:
If you can’t attend the sale and would like to bid via phone please contact any member of Sale Management or a Sale Consultant in order to discuss our sight unseen buyer guarantee. Please contact us by no later than February 27th in order to receive a bidder number so that we can insure that we have someone on the phone with you prior to your lot entering the sale ring. Please note that the sale will start on time and will move quickly so be prepared to make your bids promptly.
Trucking:
We will be happy to assist you in finding the most reasonable trucking options possible. We plan to have trucks headed east shortly following the sale.
Photography
& Videos:
All videos will be posted to Dwyer Cattle as well as CCI.Live. Every animal in this sale will have a video as this will be a video auction.
We’d like to take this opportunity to welcome each of you to the 17th Annual Opporunities Knockin’ Production Sale. Over the years we’ve offered up exciting bull prospects to our clients who’ve gotten the job done at a high level in their operations. We’ve been very fortunate to have a great group of repeat buyers over the years and we look forward to continuing past relationships as well as to develop new long lasting friendships in this industry.
With the US cow numbers continuing to decline we are looking at some exciting times in all sectors of the Beef Industry. The cattle we will offer on the 28th we feel will help to position each of you in the driver seat for years to come. The bulls across the board come with added frame and performance. The bred heifer division is well on it’s way to becoming a pair division as they are doing a great job dropping calves each and every day. Again this year we welcome back AR Cattle, NP Cattle Co., & BF Black Simmentals to this year’s sale. These herds have not only brought a great set of cattle for you they are also close friends throughout the year. Each of them has dug deep to bring you an exciting group backed by some of the top cow families from their respective herds.
The cattle available for viewing at the Melby Simmental farm starting Thursday February 26, 2026. These cattle will be penned up and you can stop in to look at your convenience. For the auction we will sell the cattle on videos at the Soldier Community Center in Soldier, IA. The Community Center is located mere minutes from the farm so making both stops is very convenient. If you cannot make it to view the cattle in person we will have videos on each and every lot posted to CCI and we have a great group of consultants available to give you an honest apprasial of the cattle being offered. As sale time approaches feel free to reach out to any of us breeders or members of the auction staff with any questions you may have. We look forward to seeing each of you the last weekend in February!
Melby Simmentals
Jake Melby
Sale Schedule
Starting Thursday February 26th Cattle Penned and available for viewing at Melby Simmentals all the way till sale day. Farm Located at 40008 State Hwy 37, Soldier IA 51572.
Saturday February 28th Cattle available for viewing all day at Melby Farm. Starting at 5:00 pm Dinner & Refreshments served at the Community Center. Sale to start at 6:00 pm.
Address to view sale cattle in person:
Hwy 37
IA 51572
Simmental Bulls
Melbys/NPC Private Stock N505
12/28/24 • PB Simmental • P • #Pending
Blk & Polled - Actual BW 70
Here’s a really nice bull, big, stout, and powerful. Out of a first calf heifer. Comes highly recommended for heifers and is tame as a puppy.
Melby Simmentals
Melbys/NPC Coping With Destiny N523 12/28/24 • PB Simmental • P • #Pending
1
Blk & Polled - Actual BW 95
Big, stout herd bull long as a train and will put pounds on your calves.
Melby Simmentals
Reetz Patriarch 305N
1/6/25 • 1/2 SM 1/2 AN • P • #4610353
3 3
Homo Blk & Polled - Actual BW 82 WW 726
Powerful and dense made half blood bull who comes with a low birth weight design. If you’re looking to add frame and performance here’s a bull worthy of an extra look sale weekend. This bull checks all the boxes in terms of phenotype along with a Top 20% ranking in terms of API and TI. Real Deal Beef Bull!
AR Cattle Co.
Simmental Bulls
Reetz Paydirt 531N
Extra long bodied bull who packs the meat and muscle. Here’s a bull who ranks Top 3% for Ribeye and Back Fat, ranks Top 2% for yield grade. If you retain your calves this bull or looking to add payweight here’s a bull who should be on your short list.
Cattle Co.
Lot 4
Reetz Ignition 269N
Look in at this dense made and eye-catching red baldy bull! 269N is big topped, wide based, and smooth as a barn cat when he gets on the move. Here’s a low birth weight bull who smashed the scales at 712# WW. Bid with confidence on this Homo Polled standout.
AR Cattle Co.
Simmental Bulls
Reetz Major Move 110N
Here’s an ET calf who comes to the sale big topped, and stunning in the pen. This Major Move son ranks in the Top 10% of the breed for Ribeye and Yield Grade. This bull is sure to wean off a set of steers that’ll pop the scales. Smooth jointed and comes with a large scrotal.
Simple Man N40
A real nice red February bull out of simple man going back to quantum leap out of the great rewards Jewel cow. Nice length with good depth.
Reetz Mission Statement 267N
267N is a half Simmental, half Red Angus bull who comes to the sale with the added growth we’re all searching for. Top 25% YW and Top 15% REA, here’s a bull who packs the meat and muscle into a visually eye-appealing package.
Cattle Co.
Simmental Bulls
Reetz Dreamboat 216N
Outcross pedigree and built to last. Here’s a moderate birth weight bull who didn’t let being a twin set him back a bit. Square built, big scrotal, and added look here’s a bull that’ll leave a high quality set of calves behind. AR Cattle Co.
BF/Melbys Simple Man N5
& Polled -
BF Black Simmentals got the bug for a red line of SimGenetics when we purchased Simple Man from Werning Cattle. The results have been rewarding. Very pleased with this March 1 bull as well as his brother who sells as Lot 8. You be the judge, quality breeding stock!
Simmentals & BF Black
BF/Melbys Simple Man N1
Red white faced younger bull by Simple Man. Out of a powerful Broker daughter that we purchased years back from Trauernicht Simmentals. Very nice younger bull calf. My partner in Oklahoma tells me his Simple Man calves are coming easy, mine too!
Simmental Bulls
Reetz Emmett 188N
188N is out of a past high selling bull for Felt Farms and out of the Reserve Pen of 5 bulls at the NWSS. Here’s a bull with added frame and dimension. If you’re searching for a big frame bull to add pounds and product this is the guy for you.
Cattle Co.
Melbys/NPC Coping With Destiny N530
& Polled - Actual BW 98
If you’re looking for a bull that’ll add pounds to your calf crop one of the biggest boned and longest bulls we’ve ever raised. Out of npcs great donor cow Dixie.
Proclamation N48
Simmentals Blk & Polled - Actual BW
This is the last calf out of our rhythm cow. She has done it time and time again. So don’t miss out on this long bodied stout bull. Will make high growth calves and unbelievable replacement females.
Simmental Bulls
Reetz Bismark 277N
Grid Maker SAV Bismarck 5682 SAV Abigale 0451
Sleep all night calving ease bull who won’t leave you disappointed at weaning time. The Bismarck sire group has produced at a high level for over a decade now bid with confidence on this Homo Black and Polled bull. Ranks Top 10& CE & BW, Top 15% API. AR Cattle Co.
Lot 16
Reetz Surelock 297N
Extra frame, extra length, and full of red meat! 297N ranks Top 10% YW, ADG, and BF, Top 5% REA, & Top 3% YG. Here’s a bull you’ll love to retain ownership on his calves all the way to the packing plant. Homo Black & Polled as well.
Here’s a bull that’ll stop you in your tracks sale weekend. Extra look and a bold rib cage! This standout goes back to a female I purchased from Jake Melby and boy has she done the job right here. Fort Knox has produced the keeping kind for multiple seasons now so bid with confidence! AR Cattle Co.
Simmental Bulls
Melbys Woodford N25
really nice high growth bull that’s got good bone, good rib and
Melbys/BF Entitled N51
20
Melby Simmentals & BF Black Simmentals Blk & Polled -
Black baldy, heifer bull! One of the best we’ve raised out of Long’s BF Entitled and there have been quite a few good ones out of him. We bought his dam from Nick Peterson on this sale 2 years ago. I’ll let the bull do the talking for himself.
Melbys Woodford N26
A tremendous bull out of a first calf heifer that has grown amazingly. He’s big boned, stout and extremely thick. Melby Simmentals
Simmental Bulls
Melbys Double Up N009
Melbys All Around N03
Blk & Polled - Actual BW 80 Lot 23
One of the youngest bulls on the sale but didn’t take long to catch up to everyone else. Long bodied and deep with good bone. Has grown nicely all summer and out of a cow that never misses. Whether you’re raising feeder cattle or replacements this bull will work.
Melby Simmentals
Reetz Fort Knox 11N
Growthy, powerful Fort Knox son back to the Forever Lady cow family from Lazy H Bar Cattle. This bull is big footed, sound structured, and comes big topped. Great maternal genetics behind this guy. AR Cattle Co.
Lot 24
Simmental Bulls
Melbys In Dew Time N29
Reetz/Melby Mabel 25M
Charger Bull calf at side born 1/8/26
A tremendous solid black heifer out of our rose cow. She’s going to make an amazing cow. She’s long sided big boned and extremely thick. Has a KBHR Charger bull calf on the side of her born 1-8-2026.
Melbys Onyx M22
KBHR Charger Bull calf at side born 1/9/26
A really nice solid black red stone cow that goes back to stf onyx. She’s got great bone good depth and has made an excellent cow. Has a kbhr charger bull calf born on 1-9-2026.
Melby Simmentals
Melbys Magnetic M009
Due 2/21/26 to KBHR Charger
This is a Proclamation heifer we should be keeping. Her dam never fails, always has a calf in the sale and is always a high seller. She’s extremely thick with great bone and might someday be a great donor cow. Due to calf to kbhr charger on 2-21-2026. No clean up bull.
Melby Simmentals
Melbys Summer M03
Simmentals Due 2/19/26 to KBHR Charger
An extremely thick big bodied big framed pays the price daughter that goes back to the immortal magnetic lady of sloup Simmentals. AI Bred to KBHR Charger due 2-19-2026. No clean up bull.
Due 2/12/26 to KBHR Charger
A really nice black white faced heifer with good bone and good body. Will make an excellent cow. AI Bred to KBHR Charger due 2-12-2026. No clean up bull.
Melby Simmentals
Melbys Mystic M371
A
nice Proclamation first calver that will make a great cow. She’s long
and
AI Bred to KBHR Charger due 2-8-2026. No clean up bull.
Pairs
Lot 32
32
Reetz Miranda 907M
2/12/24 • PB Simmental • P • #4462907
WS All Aboard B80
LHT All Star 118G
LHT Ms Conguest 77X
Lot 33 33
FELT/TBL Loaded Up Ms J750
Ruth Erika E750
Heifer calf by SAS Copperhead DOB 1/8/26, 76#
You hear the phrase “this one is hard to let go” in a lot of catologs. And it’s true with this one. She wasn’t originally gonna be offered but plans changed and for the better for you. This dark red baldy has great eye appeal and moves smoothly. Her solid red heifer calf will be a sure thing.
AR Cattle Co.
Reetz Margo 930M
• #4462930
JS Sure Bet 4T W/C Cash In 43B Miss Werning KP 8543U
Heifer calf by Double Up DOB 1/15/26, 85#
The 930 heifer has the makings to make a great cow. This gal is quiet as they come just like her dam. She is level topped and deep bodied. Her Double Up heifer is a beauty.
AR Cattle Co.
Lot 34 34
Reetz Megan 891M
2/12/24 • PB Simmental • P • #4462891
Mr NLC Superior S6018 TNT Tanker U263 TNT Miss S17
Lot 35 35
BF Innocent Man Melbys Ebonys Girl
NJC Ebony S502
Heifer calf by W/C Lock Down 206Z DOB 1/26/25, 74#
One of the sleekest Tanker daughters I’ve ever seen. This gal was a lil nervous on picture day by herself and she didn’t take a great video. This cow has a long body, long neck that has a great stride. Her baldy Lock Down heifer is really nice.
AR Cattle Co.
Reetz Manda 878M
2/8/24 • PB Simmental • P • #4462878
W/C United 956Y W/C Executive Order 8543B Miss Werning KP 8543U
Heifer calf by In Dew Time DOB 1/14/26, 74#
This big baldy has cow power written all over her. She has great neck extension and flows great all the way through. She will be a great asset in your herd and the little solid black In Dew Time heifer at her side will follow her footsteps.
AR Cattle Co.
The Right Stock
NPC Virgina L344
Bull calf by Five Star Jackson - DOB 1/8/26
Miley is an extremely attractive purebred that is backed by solid, well-balanced set of numbers. Her dam is our newest up-and -coming donor, adding confidence to her maternal side. She is raising a blaze-faced bull calf sired by Five Star Jackson, posting an impressive 151 API. A complete female that blends look, pedigree, and performance. NPC Cattle Co.
Virginia is a moderate, powerful baldy cow with an excellent udder and a strong, maternal look. She is raising a high-quality baldy heifer calf, this is our first offering by our new herd bull, The Right Stock. He is sired by Private Stock and goes back maternally to the proven 4B Miss Secret Weapon 41D Cow family, known for longevity and production. A practical, productive cow with a lot of future value.
Lot 37
Pairs
NPC Luna L341
NPC Madison M423
L341 is a Next Level daughter with extra length and frame. She is soft made with plenty of body and mass, yet remains clean and feminine. When she is on the move, she looks like she is floating on a cloud. A balanced, eye-appealing female that should calve around sale time.
Cattle Co.
Madison is a moderate Double Up daughter for the Dixie donor cow. One of our Dixie daughters was awarded Reserve Champion Cow/Calf Pair at Junior Nationals in Madison, Wisconsin this year. Also Madison is a ¾ sister to the 3rd Overall Bull at the Cheyenne Livestock Expo and 5th Overall Bull at Junior Nationals this year. Proven cow family with consistency and balance. Pasture exposed and expected to calve around sale time. The kind that fits any program and stays in the herd. NPC Cattle Co. PE 4/1 till 6/28/25 to The Right Stock. #: 4493841
RS&T Enchancing Lady L2001
Heifer calf by Long’s BF Entitled born 1/2/26.
Solid black purebred Simmental female and she is off to a great start. Calving at 28 months of age giving her an advantage as a young momma. She has a black heifer calf at side by our Lover Boy son we purchased from Longs Simmentals.
Solid black purebred Simmental female, calving with that extra age. Love that advantage! Beautiful udder and plenty of milk. Very nice bull calf at side by our Lover Boy son we purchased from Longs Simmentals.
Lot 42
Lot 43
BF Miss Thomas G419
Schorgs M442
2/1/19 • 3/4 Simmental • P • #3596251
Mr CCF Vision Mr CCF 20-20
Bull calf by W/C Simple Man born 1/9/26. 42
This CCF 20-20 female is hard for me to sell! She does everything right. Moderate framed, easy fleshing, milks great, and love her disposition! We just wanted to put a good one in the sale with a Simply Red calf at side. What a gorgeous black blaze faced bull calf.
BF Black Simmentals
Erixon Bitten 203A SAS Copperhead G354 SAS Miss Araphaoe B354 DLVL Bicep 491B Miss Syes Bicep 36F Miss Syes Apostle 933D
PE 5/1 till 8/10/26 to Longs BF Entitled.
This female was the Champion Commercial heifer at the NE Nemaha County Fair. Little extra frame here. Bred to Longs BF Entitled.
BF Black Simmentals
Open Heifers
Lot 46
Norma N520
NPC/Melby Jazmine N501
Melby Simmentals Open Heifer
An unbelievable half blood that will show or make an excellent donor cow. It was a really hard decision to let this heifer go but we are committed to offering the best and this is one of the best heifers we’ve had.
An extremely attractive Private Stock female out of a first calf heifer that will look great in the show ring and turn out to be a nice cow.
Melby Simmentals Open Heifer
How to Bid Online...
- As a buyer, you do not need an account or to login to watch the sale but you must have a validated account to bid.
- After you are logged in, you must proceed to the sale page for any and every auction and click “Get Buyer Number.” Some auctions require a pass-code to obtain a buyer number even after you are approved by CCI.live. Pass codes generally come from the sale manager or ranch for that particular sale.
- CCI.live will operate with ease on a cellular device, laptop, desktop or tablet
- A modern or current browser is important and will make your experience better. You do not need to install the app on cellular devices to watch a sale. CCI.live is a browser-based application meaning it will play on most new browsers, but you can also download the CCI.live app at the Apple App Store or through Google Play.
- For successful bidding you must have good Internet service! It is very important to be stationary. If you are driving and bidding, expect to have some service issues. If you are stationary on a good device, with healthy Internet, expect a very successful bidding environment. If you have slow Internet watch the “asking price” on the screen - it is real time and refresh your browser if you feel like you have some lag.
- Support line open during all sales. 405-400-9505 - Please contact the ranches for invoices and trucking.
Melby Simmentals - AR Cattle - NP Cattle - BF Black Simmentals