The Cattleman - October 2025

MAKING AN IMPACT

First-generation ranchers find success marketing Brahman beef directly to consumers.

GREATER ACCURACY

How DNA testing and genomically enhanced EPDs inform progress in commercial cow-calf herds.

Harlow Cattle Co.

Birdwell Plainview, TX (806) 681-3667

Griffin Atoka, OK (580) 271-1333

Johnson Dallas, TX (214) 384-2653

10 FEATURES

Bold Flavor, Better Beef

How the Gonzalez family is proving Brahman genetics belong in the carcass quality conversation.

By Shelby Kirton

Clear Focus

A look into how genomic data informs progress in commercial herds.

By Jena McRell

DEPARTMENTS

Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course panelists: Plan now to minimize impact if NWS crosses the border.

A conservation easement helps the Cornelius family keep their Matagorda County ranch intact.

(Artemisia filifolia)

A Business Approach to Bull Buying Investments made today will shape the herd tomorrow.

A NEW SEASON BEGINS

As a Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association member, October means one thing: The Cattleman Bull Buyer’s Guide. It is a wellknown tradition that brings excitement to those on the hunt for their next herd sire.

Our annual Bull Buyer’s Guide is jam-packed with sales featuring the latest genetics and programs that are drumming up excitement throughout the Southwest.

The largest magazine of the year, this issue features more than just great ads. Our writers also explore the science and genetics that are shaping the future of the beef industry, from DNA testing and genomically enhanced EPDs to the role of artificial intelligence.

We will also introduce you to a family who is finding success in new and unexpected ways. The Gonzalez family raise Brahman cattle and market their beef through a growing direct-to-consumer business. In the feature story starting on page 10, we explore the latest research on Brahman genetics and discover how this resilient breed can meet modern consumer tastes and preferences.

This story is also unique as the Gonzalez family are recipients of the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers

Association’s Leadership Development Foundation Working Grant Program, which helps future land and livestock stewards expand their beef businesses. Just as genetics build stronger herds, the program builds stronger generations of cattle raisers.

The fall application window for grants opens Nov. 1. Learn more about how the association is helping new cattle raisers grow and expand their role in the beef supply chain, and how you can help support the program and these efforts on page 18.

Wishing everyone a successful sale season and hope you enjoy the latest issue of The Cattleman T C

Jaclyn Roberts Parrish Executive

Director of Communications, Marketing & Partnerships/Editor-in-Chief, The Cattleman jaclyn@tscra.org • 817-916-1794

October 2025 / / Vol. CXII, No. 5

Published by Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association

P.O. Box 101988, Fort Worth, Texas 76185 Phone: 817.332.7064 • Fax: 817.394.1864 tscra.org

EDITORIAL

Editor-in-Chief Jaclyn Roberts Parrish

Managing Editor Jena McRell

Associate Editor

Shelby Kirton

Copy Editors Kayla Jennings, Elyssa Foshee Sanders

Graphic Designer Ryan Barten

ADVERTISING

Director of Sales Jacob Snyder

EXECUTIVE DIRECTORS

Executive Vice President/CEO Jason Skaggs

Communications, Marketing & Partnerships Jaclyn Roberts Parrish

Events, Education & Leadership Development Emily Lochner

Finance & Human Resources Megan Wills

Government Relations Melissa Hamilton

Law Enforcement, Brand & Inspection Services Clay McKinney

Membership & Operations Lisa Walker

OFFICE LOCATIONS

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Subscription Inquiries: tscra@tscra.org or 800-242-7820

Advertising Sales: sales@tscra.org or 817-332-7064

ON THE COVER

Stepping out with a group of Santa Gertrudis bulls near Hondo.

CONTENTS

Changing seasons means changing landscapes on the ranch.

Photos by Kayla Jennings

ALSO WITH THIS ISSUE

The Bull Buyer’s Guide, starting on page 61, is a special advertising section filled with upcoming sales and private treaty opportunities.

Photo by Emily McCartney

The

Texas 76185, 817-332-7064, FAX 817-394-1864. All members of Texas & Southwestern Cattle

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SHAKING THE STIGMA

Todd Thrift, Ph.D., beef cattle Extension specialist and professor at the University of Florida, agrees Brahman and Brahman-influenced cattle have a history to overcome when it comes to carcass traits. “A lot of the perception about Bos indicus beef quality is based on genetics from 30-40 years ago,” he says. “Today’s Brahman genetics are a whole different story.”

The Brahman breed was originally introduced into the U.S. for their adaptability in hot, humid and parasite-heavy environments. In the Southeast and Southwest, where British breeds tended to struggle, Brahmans thrived. But their heat tolerance came with a catch: leaner carcasses, lower marbling and sometimes less tender beef.

“In the 1970s and ’80s, when a lot of that data was being collected, Brahman cattle hadn’t been selected with carcass traits in mind,” Thrift shares for perspective. “They were being selected for survival. But just like Angus and Hereford have been improved over the years, so have Brahmans. The science and the cattle are both different now.”

Results from the Florida Fed Beef Challenge, which was conducted by Thrift from 2019 to 2023 on around 615 head, found cattle with Brahman influence averaged just under low Choice, with about half grading Choice or higher, and had tenderness scores nearly identical to retail Choice beef. Steers with less than or equal to 50% Brahman influence were no less tender than cattle with 0% Brahman, showing that using a half-blood cow provides adaptability while still producing highly acceptable beef.

On a national scale, American Brahman Breeders Association is dedicated to measuring improvements in carcass quality, adding selection tools like the $BULL index, which was launched in 2023 and prioritizes endproduct merit, carcass traits and genomically enhanced EPDs for marbling and tenderness.

Science is catching up with the story cattle raisers like the Gonzalezes are living every day. Ultimately, their family’s goal is to produce cattle that grade Choice and higher, and data is part of that process.

In the last few years, they have improved from less than 60% grading Choice to about 85% today, progress they credit to carcass scans, closely tracking bloodlines and intentional breeding decisions that emphasize both feed efficiency and beef quality.

That growth has been supported in part by the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association’s Leadership Development Foundation Working Grant Program, which awarded funding to the Gonzalez family.

The program is designed for beginning or expanding ranchers looking to grow a beef industry business. The grant allowed them to purchase equipment critical for safely working their cattle and collecting performance data, which Amber says has elevated their operation.

“It took a financial weight off our shoulders. I am forever grateful to anybody who had a part in giving that to us,” she says. “It’s one thing to raise pretty cattle, but if they don’t eat well, that’s not the future.”

“Today’s Brahman genetics are a whole different story.”

— Todd Thrift, University of Florida

University of Florida’s Todd Thrift presents on genetic selection and carcass traits within the Brahman breed. Courtesy photo.

Better tools are helping producers everywhere hit higher marks at a faster pace.

Thrift echoes how these advancements in technology now make it possible to select for heat tolerance and carcass quality at the same time, something that was not achievable a decade ago. Selection indexes, for example, now incorporate adaptation and carcass traits. Other tools, like genomic testing, ultrasound scans and carcass EPDs, make for smarter selection decisions.

“You don’t have to sacrifice adaptation to get quality; you can have both,” Thrift assures.

“That means a producer in Texas or Florida can produce animals that thrive in heat and humidity but also have strong marbling genetics. Crossbreeding is really the key. Brahmans have always been a crossbreeding common denominator.”

The cow herd at La Estancia Ranch is a testament to having the best of both worlds. Gonzalez explains their program is built around balance, with emphasis on fertility, mothering ability, performance and carcass

quality. This approach produces cattle that perform in challenging conditions while maintaining health, tolerating heat and converting feed efficiently.

Crossbreeding is another piece of the puzzle. “We’ve used crossbreeding to hit different markets, but Brahman influence is always at the core,” Amber says. “Everything gets better when you breed it with a Brahman.”

Thrift points to examples like crossbreeding Brahman and Angus to combine heat tolerance, fertility and carcass quality. He says Brahman-influenced cattle generally perform well in warm climates during the stocker phase, where stress often hinders other cattle. In the feedlot, with proper selection and management, they are also able to reach the same carcass endpoints as other breeds.

This combination of health, efficiency and adaptability is becoming more critical as shifting weather patterns put new pressures on beef production. “With climate change and rising heat stress, Bos indicus genetics will only become more valuable,” he adds.

Top: The Gonzalez family markets beef direct to consumers through Brahman Darlin’ Beef.

BETTER BEEF

To showcase what the breed can offer in terms of beef quality, the Gonzalez family leverages a direct-toconsumer market for their Brahman-centered cattle.

Brahman Darlin’ Beef raises resilient, efficient cattle that serve up tender and flavorful beef. Their cattle are processed just 20 minutes down the road at Legacy in La Grange, allowing the family to stay closely connected to how their beef is handled from pasture to plate.

Marketing their beef directly to consumers allows the Gonzalezes to connect with buyers firsthand, often challenging their expectations about Brahmaninfluenced beef.

Their customer base is mostly in the Austin area and includes food enthusiasts, fitness-minded individuals and families. Amber says that while the fitness crowd appreciates the leanness, almost everyone admits they didn’t expect the beef to taste as good as it does.

“Our customers come back saying it’s tender, it’s flavorful, it’s different,” she says. “And I think that surprises people.”

She recalls one customer’s reaction, who shared, “‘This can’t be Brahman. It’s too tender!’” Amber laughs, “That’s the best compliment we can get.”

Thrift says consumer taste panels show the same phenomenon. He observes when consumers don’t know what they’re eating, Brahman-influenced beef often performs just as well as other breeds.

“Our customers come back saying it’s tender, it’s flavorful, it’s different.”

— Amber Gonzalez, Brahman Darlin’ Beef

FIVE TIPS FOR SELLING BEEF DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER

From pasture to plate, here’s how

Lean into the story.

“People want to know who raised their beef and why. When they hear ‘Brahman,’ they lean in — it’s unique,” she says.

Focus on flavor.

Consumers aren’t always looking for marbling scores; they’re looking for an eating experience.

“The bold flavor of Brahman beef keeps our customers coming back.”

Educate with every box.

Customers often think Brahman beef is tough — until they taste it. Amber includes cooking tips and information cards with every order.

Think outside the steak.

Tallow skincare, bones for broth and organ meats open doors to new audiences and minimize waste.

Stay consistent. Reliable communication, packaging and delivery are some of the most effective ways to build trust in a brand.

Amber Gonzalez of Brahman Darlin’ Beef makes the most of their niche in selling beef directly to consumers:

Shifting consumer perception can be more challenging than changing Brahman-based beef itself, but the adaptability on the ranch and in the market reflects the nature of the cattle.

“Brahmans have always been about adaptability,” Thrift says. “Now we’re just adapting the narrative, too.”

For the Gonzalez family, education is part of the mission to rewrite the breed’s story. Direct marketing gives them the opportunity to frame Brahman beef differently. When Amber interacts with customers, she shares the history and adaptability of the breed.

“It’s not just beef — it’s heritage, it’s sustainability, it’s something unique,” she says. “People love the idea of eating a steak that comes from a breed built for Texas conditions. Once they taste the beef, the story sticks.”

The appeal of Brahman beef isn’t limited to Texas. Around the world, consumers in Latin America, Asia and the Gulf Coast regions heavily value Bos indicus cattle. According to Thrift, many countries regard Brahman as synonymous with quality because of its adaptability. “The U.S. has an opportunity to tap into those export markets by branding Brahman beef not as a compromise, but as a premium product,” he says.

Amber sees the same opportunity, too. “We’ve had customers from other countries who tell us, ‘This is what we grew up eating.’ For them, it’s not new — it’s nostalgia, and that’s powerful.”

A LIFE THEY LOVE

Looking ahead, Brahman Darlin’ Beef isn’t stopping at steaks and ground beef. They’ve launched a line of skincare products using beef tallow. “It’s just another way these cattle provide for us,” Amber says.

Most importantly, she sees Brahmans as part of her family’s legacy.

She says the hope is Brahman Darlin’ Beef is not just a business, but a way of life that can sustain future generations. That vision, which blends heritage, hard work and a commitment to better beef, is what keeps the family pushing forward even when the challenges seem steep.

Pictured above is the Gonzalez family: Amber, center, with her husband, Raul Gonzalez Jr., and their sons, Adam, left, and Reagan, right, on La Estancia Ranch near Bastrop.

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Adam Gonzalez, the family’s oldest son, is already charting a future in ranching. He recently started his senior year of high school and has his sights set on enrolling in Texas Christian University’s Ranch Management program. Reagan, the younger brother but equally invested, is growing up with cattle work as second nature.

“We’re putting blood, sweat and tears into everything now to build a legacy for our kids, our grandkids and beyond,” Amber says. “We want to show the next generation that Brahmans are the future, not the past.” T C

INVESTING IN THE FUTURE

The Gonzalez family, in their efforts to grow La Estancia Ranch and Brahman Darlin’ Beef, has been supported in part by the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association’s Leadership Development Foundation Working Grant Program.

Launched in 2024, the program is designed to put financial capital into the hands of young and emerging leaders in the cattle business.

• Who it helps: Entrepreneurs who have a vested interest in a part of the beef value chain — from cow-calf operations and stocker programs to direct-to-consumer beef ventures.

• Where it’s targeted: Applicants must operate in economically challenged or blighted areas of Texas or Oklahoma.

• What it supports: Grants can fund projects that otherwise might not receive conventional financing, giving ranchers and entrepreneurs the chance for innovation in their businesses.

• Why it matters: By supporting people, like the Gonzalez family, Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association is ensuring the cattle industry thrives for many generations to come.

Learn more or apply at tscra.org/leadershipdevelopment-foundation.

A

look into how genomic data informs progress in commercial herds.

By Jena McRell

If past is precedent, the beef cattle industry is entering another revolutionary chapter guided by technology, genetic progress and precision.

Andrew Conley, of GKB Cattle, says advancements made over the last two decades prove that the future holds extraordinary potential. From the rise of DNA testing and genomically enhanced EPDs in the seedstock sector to commercial genomic applications for cow-calf producers, the speed of genetic progress has never been faster.

“Keep yourself aware and at the edge of your seat, because I think the entire beef supply chain is headed for a new frontier,” says Conley, who manages the Brangus herd and the GKB Cattle Desdemona location.

With many years of first-hand experience using sophisticated breeding technology to make realworld improvements, he knows the right genetic pairing can make all the difference to a producer’s bottom line. DNA tests and genomic data provide powerful insight into both potential profitability and overall efficiency of the herd.

In a market where all classes of cattle are bringing record-high prices, he reminds producers to keep the productivity side of the equation in clear focus.

“We all, as an industry, need to be cognizant of that,” Conley says. “The end goal is to have the most efficient, most profitable cow. Not just a profitable one.”

Photo courtesy of GKB Cattle

GREATER KNOWLEDGE

The adoption of technology is not the only uncharted territory the beef business is facing. Texas A&M University Animal Science Professor Andy Herring says today’s record-high cattle prices are generating more income per animal, and those who invest returns into genetic improvements will be better poised for market shifts.

“Cattle prices are not going to stay this way, but they’re going to be pretty high for the next couple of years,” Herring says. “The more people understand about their animals and what they’re producing in their herd, they will be better positioned to manage and market those animals more precisely.”

Verifying parentage is among the most basic and beneficial use of genomic information in commercial cow-calf herds. Doing that alone, Herring says, can help producers identify more profitable animals and which bulls are working for their operation.

Studies conducted in crossbred cattle at Texas A&M AgriLife Research McGregor Station in Central Texas have shown a level of variability anywhere from three to 40 calves per bull at weaning. In today’s market, that is a huge swing in profit potential. In multi-sire herds, lower performers can be easily identified through DNA parentage tests.

On the maternal side, Herring says calves can sometimes be mixed up and there is no way to know the correct dam without testing them. “Sometimes cows are raising another cow’s calf, and you don’t ever know,” he says. “We assume that since a cow is nursing a calf that it is hers, but that’s not always the case, especially on those first-calf heifers.”

In addition to managing the existing cow herd, having access to enhanced genomic predictions helps shed light on decisions at weaning. Weighing the potential genetic outcomes for carcass quality, maternal traits and other economic indicators — along with available pasture resources and current market signals — allows for more informed and profitable decisions.

“If we are able to identify those cattle that are not going to meet that threshold earlier in their life, then that gives us the flexibility to make those cattle for a terminal cross or to eliminate those cattle from our herd altogether,” Conley says.

The added layer of DNA verification, whether on the next herd bull or calf crop, allows for more specialized decision making that’s unique to each rancher’s breeding strategy and goals. Conley says environmental considerations should top the list. For instance, a cowcalf producer developing replacement females in East Texas will have a different range of considerations than someone raising feeder steers in the Panhandle.

Commercial bull buyers have grown accustomed to poring over genomically enhanced EPDs on prospective sires. They have also seen the value of incorporating the same predictive power on their own calves, by charting an earlier course for potentialreplacement heifers, terminal animals or specialized marketing opportunities.

Andy Herring, Ph.D.

“DNA should help us identify cattle that will be more sustainable in a particular environment, and it depends on what the bull buyer is needing for his herd,” he says.

The ability to access genomically enhanced EPDs for key traits including birth weight, weaning weight, marbling, calving ease or heifer pregnancy, to name a few, adds a sophisticated layer of precision for cattle raisers when making breeding decisions.

“Being able to enhance those EPDs and have higher accuracies on unproven, non-parent animals takes the guesswork out of buying genetics and implementing them in your herd,” Conley says.

Andrew Conley manages the GKB Cattle Brangus herd and the Desdemona location. Courtesy photo.

FIRST STEPS

For cattle breeders getting started with DNA testing, Conley advises to first become familiar with the entire process — from collection to interpreting and applying genomic data within the herd.

He says this involves teamwork with everyone involved from the breed association to seedstock provider and the genomics company to the rancher. Most breed associations work with companies that provide specialized genomic tests for commercial herds, including options for maternal or terminal calves.

The most common way to collect DNA today is with an ear punch, Herring explains. These samples are collected with a tissue applicator that operates like an ear tag, capturing the tissue sample at the

same time a calf is tagged. The sample goes into a tube filled with fluid that can be stored at room temperature.

Depending on the test ordered, it takes about two to four weeks to receive results after submitting a sample. After that comes the task of fully evaluating the

information — traditional EPDs, GE-EPDs, pedigrees and specific indexes related to herd goals.

“The more information you have, the more potential you have to be more efficient,” Herring says. “The caveat with that is we can get information overload, and so we have to try to stay focused on what’s the most important thing for us.”

He encourages cattle raisers to consider these two questions: Which traits make you the most money? Which traits cost you the most money? “If you want to know the answers to both of these, genomic data will help you answer that,” he says.

When it comes to making individual herd management and breeding decisions, Herring stresses balance is key. Every breed experiences genetic variation, he says, and the same animal does not have the same value in different operations.

In the case of replacement heifers, for example, it is possible to breed in more milk-producing ability in cows than what the environment will support. In parts of West Texas or eastern New Mexico, the environment may not offer adequate feed resources for a high-milking cow to express her true genetic potential.

“If that’s true,” Herring says, “you’re not ever going to capture on that increased genetic value — and the increased genetic value may actually increase her maintenance cost for you.”

It is also important to note that genomic data relies on the time-tested practice of collecting measures and reporting performance information to breed associations. Herring cautions against the idea that DNA tests replace these traditional methods. Genomic information helps produce better animals, but it doesn’t fully replace what buyers are looking at when cattle enter the ring on sale day.

Even so, he says there can be increased marketing potential for specialized feeder calf or replacement female sales for animals backed with genomic profiles.

“We cannot forget about what our future buyers, whoever they are and whatever role they play, want from a desirable animal,” he says.

Genomic data allows for greater accuracy in decision making for all classes of cattle.

PROGRESS AND PERSPECTIVE

With customers across the country, Conley says GKB Cattle has seen the far-reaching benefit of genomic technology in both commercial and seedstock herds. The generational impact of more precise matings and management decisions is huge, he says, both for individual herds and the collective beef industry.

“If we can do this generationally with higher accuracy, in the long run — 10 to 20 years down the road — we will have built a cow base that is much more efficient,” he says.

As someone deeply rooted in day-to-day cattle management, Conley views efficiency as synonymous with sustainability. The more maintenance-free cattle are, the less management they are going to require because of the bred-in improvements for economically relevant traits.

“The more we can do with less, the more efficient and sustainable we are going to be,” Conley says.

The application of artificial intelligence, the next AI to greatly influence the beef cattle industry, is expected to start a new era of precision breeding. Conley says as accuracy and predictability of genomic information and tools continues to improve, there is great potential to incorporate AI into how data is collected and used.

“It is knocking at the door,” he says. “I see genomics and AI allowing the industry to evaluate efficiencies on a whole new perspective. Whether it be reproductive, feed intake or health efficiencies, once we can utilize DNA and enhance it with AI, we are going to have metrics that we’ve never seen.”

Even with greater advancements on the horizon, Herring reminds producers of the importance of fundamental practices around accurate recordkeeping, animal identification and capturing weights.

“We have more tools and capability now than I ever thought about, and yet, some things never go away,” Herring says. “We cannot lose sight of the whole picture.”

With today’s record-high beef demand and tight cattle supplies, leading to high-level prices back to cow-calf producers, Herring says to stay focused on herd goals, where the business would like to go, producing a quality product for consumers, and enjoying all the benefits this lifestyle brings along the way.

“Try to keep things in balance, and don’t be afraid of change,” he says. “We don’t all have to do the same thing, but we need to know what works for us and we need to do something that’s part of our business that’s fun. Otherwise, it’s hard to stay with it.”

BRAHMAN BRAHMAN

FROM COW TO CALF, BUILT FOR THE LONG HAUL BORN TO THRIVE WHERE OTHERS JUST SURVIVE.

Brahman cattle have been proven in the world’s most challenging environments. From the Gulf Coast to the high tropics, they’re built to stay healthy, breed back, and raise calves year after year creating $

— Andrew Conley, GKB Cattle

WHAT TO LOOK FOR

When making bull buying decisions this fall, here are some common genomically enhanced EPDs lining sale books.

Growth and carcass-oriented GE-EPDs:

• Birth Weight (BW): Predicts calving ease; critical for heifers.

• Weaning Weight (WW): Indicates calf performance and market weight at weaning.

• Yearling Weight (YW): Measures post-weaning growth potential.

• Calving Ease Direct (CED): Especially important for commercial bull buyers who are breeding heifers.

• Carcass Weight (CW): Relates to finished animal profitability.

• Marbling (MARB): Strongly tied to beef quality and grid premiums.

• Ribeye Area (REA): Reflects muscling, often linked to yield grade.

• Fat Thickness (FAT): Tied to carcass composition and efficiency.

Maternal GE-EPDs:

• Calving Ease Maternal (CEM): Predicts daughters’ calving ease.

• Milk (M): Estimates maternal milk production — important but needs to fit environment.

• Heifer Pregnancy (HPG): Increasingly popular for replacement-focused buyers.

• Stayability (STAY): Used in some breeds to predict longevity of daughters.

Breed associations also offer indexes, or composite GE-EPDs, that balance multiple factors rather than individual traits. Go online or contact breed representatives to learn more. T C

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POSITIVE STEPS FORWARD

By James H. Dudley IV

American cattle raisers were recognized during negotiations for the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed by President Donald Trump in July. Passage of the legislation includes provisions crucial to the longevity of our industry. Notably, it also excludes controversial measures like the sale of public lands or expanded eminent domain.

If you have done your own research on the bill, it’s possible there are some provisions you may not fully stand behind. However, the bulk of this legislation is beneficial to production agriculture and considered a win for the industry.

Before the bill was signed, the death tax exemption was set at $13.99 million per individual or $27.98 million per couple and set to expire Dec. 31. The new legislation permanently increases the death tax exemption to $15 million per individual or $30 million per couple, adjusted annually for inflation. The annual gift tax exclusion remains unchanged at $19,000 per giver per recipient.

This means beginning Jan. 1, if the value of your ranch plus equipment, cattle and other assets is less than $15 million individually or $30 million jointly, you will pay no death tax. In the past, this requirement has forced cattle raisers to sell off generational land, equipment or cattle to make the payment. Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association supports fully eliminating the death tax, but until then, this increased threshold is a victory.

The small business tax deduction, also known as a qualified business income deduction, is made permanent at 20% by this bill. Section 199A allows small businesses,

like ranches, to deduct 20% of business income, helping us save more of our hard-earned dollars.

The Immediate Expensing of New Business Assets, Section 179, allows small businesses to deduct the cost of equipment, rather than depreciate, on qualifying property. Thanks to the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, cattle raisers will now be able to deduct up to $2.5 million in qualified equipment expenses. The phaseout threshold for this deduction is increased to $4 million and these limits will be adjusted annually for inflation.

Bonus depreciation allows small business owners to deduct the cost of equipment in the year of purchase, rather than deduct depreciation over several years. Under this bill, 100% bonus depreciation is made permanent, beginning Jan. 19, for depreciable property like machinery.

In addition, disaster-related casualty loss was amended to permanently extend itemized deductions for personal casualty losses resulting from federally declared disasters such as fires, storms or theft. This is an extension of the Federal Disaster Tax Relief Act enacted December 2024.

The 2018 Farm Bill, officially known as the Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018, was extended through September as part of the American Relief Act of 2025. However, the One Big Beautiful Bill offered some farm bill provisions for cattle raisers ahead of the expiration.

The legislation increased to two monthly payments for the Livestock Forage Disaster Program and allows payments to start after four consecutive weeks of drought, rather than the previous eight consecutive weeks.

Where We Stand

The bill also funds indemnity payments through the Livestock Indemnity Program at 100% of the market value for livestock losses due to predation and 75% of market value for losses due to adverse weather. Additionally, payments will be made for the loss of unborn livestock.

Funding for several voluntary conservation programs has also been secured for the next six years, including $18.5 billion for the Environmental Quality Incentives Program; $8.1 billion for the Conservation Stewardship Program; $4.1 billion for the Agricultural Conservation Easement Program; and $2.7 billion for the Regional Conservation Partnership Program.

The bill also increases annual funding for animal disease prevention and cattle health to $233 million per year. This funding goes toward the three-legged stool programs supported by Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, including: $153 million per year for the National Animal Vaccine and Veterinary Countermeasures

Bank, which houses the foot-and-mouth disease vaccine and test kits; $70 million for the National Animal Health Laboratory Network; and $10 million per year for the National Animal Disease Preparedness and Response Program.

While no piece of legislation is perfect, the One Big Beautiful Bill represents a significant step forward for those of us in production agriculture.

These changes help preserve the legacy of ranching families and give us more tools to remain resilient in an ever-changing economic and environmental landscape. It’s important that we stay engaged, informed and unified as we continue advocating for policies that protect and strengthen our livelihoods. T C

James H. Dudley IV is an attorney and rancher based in Horseshoe Bay. He currently serves as chair of Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association’s property rights and tax committee.

STANDING WITH US

Mike Johnson is the 56th Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives and a Republican member of Congress serving Louisiana’s Fourth District. On Oct. 25, 2023, he was elected unanimously by his House Republican colleagues to serve as Speaker. Johnson was first elected to Congress on Dec. 10, 2016, and is currently serving his fifth term.

With two decades of experience in Constitutional law, Johnson served on the House Judiciary Committee, as chairman of its Subcommittee on the Constitution and Limited Government. He also served as a leader on the Select Committee on the Weaponization of the Federal Government, the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee.

U.S. Rep.

Mike Johnson

that are foundational to America. A standout achievement in his tenure as Speaker was the successful passage of landmark legislation that provides critical support to family ranches, the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. By addressing rising input costs, unpredictable weather and volatile markets, the bill offers real, lasting solutions for cattle raisers facing mounting pressures. Thanks to his determined leadership, extensive preparation and negotiation, Speaker Johnson ensured the bill reached the president’s desk right on the Independence Day deadline.

He has dedicated his career to fighting for the fundamental freedoms and traditional values

Johnson earned his undergraduate degree in business administration from Louisiana State University in 1995 and his Juris Doctorate from the Paul M. Hebert Law Center at Louisiana State University in 1998. He and his family reside in Bossier Parish, Louisiana. T C

A SEAT AT THE TABLE

Hosted by Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Leadership Development Foundation and presented by Texas Tech University, Cattle Raisers Roundup offers high school students a hands-on, gate-to-plate look at ranching and land stewardship through a curriculum-based experience. This year, 16 campers traveled to the Texas Panhandle for an impactful week of learning about the beef industry.

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Gilly Riojas Memorial Interns were also part of the program. From helping plan and coordinate travel to working on the ground and behind the scenes, interns had a front-row seat. In the following paragraphs, this year’s summer interns share standout moments from the 2025 Cattle Raisers Roundup.

EVERY DETAIL

“To say planning Cattle Raisers Roundup was a group effort is an understatement. As an intern helping with the process, I felt lucky to witness how each person’s personalities and strengths came together to make the event a success.

“Throughout the week, we planned industry tours like visiting West Texas A&M University’s meat lab, Bayer Crop Science, Livestock Nutrition Center, the FiberMax

Center for Discovery and Caviness Beef Packers. These visits allowed students to apply their prior education and classroom concepts to real-world operations across the cattle and agriculture industries. Touring meat labs and processing facilities provided a full-circle moment for students looking to pursue careers in agriculture, especially in the cattle industry.

“The experience of planning Cattle Raisers Roundup not only gave me more insight into event coordination, but also opened my eyes to the value of industry connections. More than 40 industry professionals poured into young minds through tours, sponsorships and educational programming.

“Talking with coordinators for the tour stops, like the Texas Tech University School of Veterinary Medicine, and hearing about the amazing hands-on opportunities they planned to provide the students, built such excitement for the week. We also planned some fun by scheduling a visit to the Texas play in Palo Duro Canyon, a favorite stop for campers.

“Watching our plans come to life was the ultimate reward. Seeing campers fully engaged, asking thoughtful questions and forming lasting connections reminded us why every detail mattered.”

—

Sarah Mullens, Flower Mound

High school students explore the beef supply chain through Cattle Raisers Roundup.

Cattle Raisers Roundup participants listen as Joe Leathers, of 6666 Ranch, shares two powerful words: “Dream big.”

Story by TSCRA Interns

Photos by Shelby Kirton

Participants in the 2025 TSCRA Cattle Raisers Roundup are pictured, left to right, as follows.

Top row: Cotton Coleman, Clayton Diebel, Buddy Lansford and Jayce Lindsey. Second row: Wyatt Blase, Hudson Thigpen and Peyton White. Third row: Thomas Keller, Levi Coleman and James Colten. Fourth row: Cayle Canon, Kate Martin, Cadence Ellis and Emily Valicek. Front row: Avery Nelius and Micah Fisher.

PASSION AND PURPOSE

“At Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, everyone is dedicated to preparing the next generation of cattle raisers, no matter their backgrounds.

“Some Cattle Raisers Roundup participants grew up in urban centers, while others were raised in rural areas, small ranches or large family operations. There was one student, in particular, who mentioned her passion for agriculture but felt she was at a disadvantage in becoming a successful agriculturalist because her family stepped away from the industry.

“This is a common misconception among young people all over. I believe Cattle Raisers Roundup showed her that you do not have to grow up on a ranch to be successful in this industry. All you need is a spark to light the fire. Passion is contagious and these students inspired us as interns in so many ways.

“We also had a student who grew up on his family ranch and said that was all he knew. He expressed his discomfort when giving the required end-of-the-week speech, but he quickly lit up as he talked about his passions. He spoke about his personal experiences on his family’s operation and what he learned and planned to apply from Cattle Raisers Roundup at home.

“I knew I had witnessed a pivotal moment in this boy’s life. Not only did he gain confidence in his own voice, but he also learned the power of telling his own story.

“Overall, this experience showed me and my fellow interns the power of personal growth. As we came home and reflected on the week, we felt inspired.”

— Kara Tifft, Sulphur Springs

FOR THE FUTURE

“What I witnessed at this year’s Cattle Raisers Roundup was more than a group of students visiting historic ranches and learning the ins and outs of the cattle industry, it was a glimpse into a promising, valuedriven future.

“What struck me most wasn’t only the students’ curiosity, but also their eagerness to connect with the places we visited, professionals they met and, most importantly, one another.

“On long bus rides, I would glimpse back to check in on the students and what I saw was amazing. Instead of burying their heads in their phones, they leaned into conversation, asking each other questions, trading stories and forming bonds that stretched beyond hometowns and fencelines.

“The energy didn’t die when the day’s agenda ended. Even after long hours in the heat, these students weren’t rushing to bed. They filled their nights with domino games, Tombstone watch parties, and

laughter by the pool. There was a spirit of shared joy and camaraderie that you don’t see often. More impressively, they supported one another by teaching roping tricks, explaining livestock terminology or helping someone feel at home in an unfamiliar environment. You could feel mutual respect growing by the hour.

“As part of the programming, campers were asked to share their experiences with our sponsors for thank you notes. They leaned into this opportunity. Campers asked for more thank you cards so they could personally acknowledge the people who had impacted them. That level of intentionality and grace doesn’t just happen; it is rooted in the kind of character this industry has long valued.

“Even at the end of a full day, returning late from the Texas play, the students weren’t asleep on the bus, they were singing and dancing to country classics and American anthems, a spontaneous celebration of who they are and what they’re becoming. That moment, watching them united, joyful and proud, felt like watching the next chapter of our industry unfold.

“This is the future of the American cattle raiser. And from what I saw, we’re in good hands.”

— Hunter Royer, New Richmond, Indiana

DREAM BIG

“At the beginning of Cattle Raisers Roundup, one student expressed he didn’t plan to return to his family’s ranch. He couldn’t see a future in it and, truthfully, he didn’t see a point in trying.

“But over the course of the week-long experience, something changed. He shook hands with industry leaders, toured operations that sparked new ideas and asked hard questions prompting real answers.

“He said the turning point came after the group visited with Joe Leathers at the 6666 Ranch. With everyone gathered around a table, Leathers shared two simple yet powerful words: ‘Dream big.’

“Something clicked for that young man. By the end of the week, he handed me a handwritten thank you note. As the interns reviewed the notes before mailing them, we came across his message to Leathers. He was dreaming big.

“He wrote that he was going back to his family’s ranch, to build it back up and make it stronger. After one morning spent at the 6666 Ranch, it seemed something inside him had been stirred. His passion for cattle, land and legacy had been reignited, and he was ready to take the first steps forward.

From the classroom to the ranch, Cattle Raisers Roundup attendees gain a boots-on-the-ground perspective of the beef supply chain — and their future place within it.

This year’s Cattle Raisers Roundup was made possible through the generous support of the presenting sponsor, the Texas Tech University System, including the Davis College of Agricultural Science and Natural Resources, National Ranching Heritage Center, and Texas Tech School of Veterinary Medicine. Additional sponsors — Big Bend Trailers, Capital Farm Credit, Livestock Nutrition Center, Mix 30, South Plains Implement and Trans Ova Genetics — also played a vital role in ensuring students had a first-class experience.

“That moment was a powerful reminder of why this work matters. It proved that a single connection and an honest conversation can shift someone’s perspective and potentially preserve a way of life for generations. That’s the purpose of Cattle Raisers Roundup, to ignite a spark, broaden students’ vision and equip them to carry on the legacy that sustains our world.”

—

Zoe Carmichael, Graham

BEHIND THE SCENES

“Cattle Raisers Roundup is designed to inspire young people, but it thrives because of an industry that shows up, invests in them and believes in what comes next.

“Before students stepped off the bus at each stop, there were ranchers reviewing schedules, professors prepping labs and professionals clearing their schedules to speak with the next generation of cattle raisers.

“At each stop, every industry professional not only shared valuable information, but also came with the intention of creating meaningful interaction. From West Texas A&M University’s Paul Engler College of Agriculture and Natural Sciences to Texas Tech University’s School of Veterinary Medicine, staff welcomed the group with enthusiasm and a passion to share their knowledge.

“Capital Farm Credit staff members sat down with students one-on-one to instill practical financial knowledge they can carry into the future. Capital Farm Credit’s financial education initiative, It’s Your Money Program, is designed to teach young people the basics of budgeting, credit and money management, helping them build a foundation for responsible financial decision-making.

“The professionals treated students not as kids passing through, but as the next generation of leaders worthy of investment. This reflects the importance of the people behind the day-to-day work of the agriculture industry.

“Cattle Raisers Roundup not only showcased the strength of our industry; it also highlighted those who will one day lead it. This generation isn’t waiting for students to ask for a seat at the table, but rather, pulling up chairs and engaging them with passion.

“Participants came with eagerness and left with a deeper understanding of the cattle industry and their place within it.”

—

Haley Bryand, Arp T C

Cattle Raisers Roundup is made possible through the TSCRA Leadership Development Foundation. More information on the 2026 event will be available in the spring.

Join or renew your membership today.

Member benefits include the support of TSCRA Special Rangers, government relations advocacy, educational programs, networking and social events, member-only discounts, The Cattleman magazine and phone app, and insurance services.

To learn more about membership, scan the code above or visit TSCRA.org.

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15% OFF Ranchbot products John Deere Rewards upgrade

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WHAT’S HAPPENING AT TSCRA

CATTLE RAISERS APPLAUD $850 MILLION INVESTMENT TO COMBAT NWS

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott together announced an investment of $850 million to combat the threat of New World screwworm, a pest that is endemic in Central and South America. The federal funding provides up to $750 million for a domestic sterile fly production facility at Moore Airfield Base in Edinburg, as well as additional research dollars. The new sterile fly production facility will have a capacity of 300 million flies per week.

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association attended the mid-August announcement to show the association’s support and emphasize the importance of protecting U.S. agriculture.

“Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association cannot overstate the significance of funding a domestic sterile fly production facility,” said President Carl Ray Polk Jr. “Thank you to Secretary Rollins and the Trump administration for spearheading this effort, and thank you to Gov. Abbott and the Texas New World Screwworm Response Team for continually positioning Texas for success against the threat of NWS.”

CATTLE RAISERS INSURANCE GOES NATIONAL THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH HIGGINBOTHAM

Ranchers, landowners and agri-businesses across Texas and the Southwest now have access to a first-of-itskind partnership between Cattle Raisers Insurance and

Higginbotham Insurance and Financial Services, offering a single-source insurance solution for ranch, property and liability coverage, as well as health benefits for employees and families.

Through this expansion, Cattle Raisers Insurance moves beyond its traditional service areas of Texas, Oklahoma and New Mexico and can now write policies nationwide. Customers gain access to a full suite of commercial, personal and employee benefit solutions delivered in partnership with Higginbotham, the largest independent insurance firm in Texas. Both companies remain independent providers.

As part of the expanded services, Cattle Raisers Insurance policyholders will gain access to Higginbotham’s Employee Response Center, where specialists help individuals navigate carriers, understand their health plans and locate in-network providers. Policyholders will also benefit from annual risk reviews and educational resources designed to support ranching operations beyond policy placement.

This announcement builds on the partnership launched earlier this year, which included exclusive member discounts for Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association. Qualified members currently receive a 10% discount on Travelers property insurance, with additional discounts expected soon.

CLAY MCKINNEY NAMED TSCRA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LAW ENFORCEMENT, BRAND & INSPECTION SERVICES

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Sept. 2 announced the appointment of Clay McKinney as executive director of law enforcement, brand and inspection services. McKinney has been serving in this role on an interim basis since earlier this year.

In his position, McKinney oversees daily operations for the association’s special rangers and brand inspectors across Texas and Oklahoma.

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Rangers are law enforcement officers commissioned through the Texas Department of Public Safety or the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation who specialize in investigating livestock theft and agricultural crimes.

The department also manages market inspectors who document brands and other identifying marks on millions of cattle sold annually at nearly 100 Texas livestock markets.

McKinney has served Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association as a special ranger for District 18 since 2018, covering the Trans-Pecos region of Texas.

Before joining the association, he served as an investigator for the 143rd District Attorney’s Office, a narcotics investigator for the Reeves County Sheriff’s Office, and spent more than 20 years as chief of police for the Pecos Police Department.

Gov. Greg Abbott and U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke Rollins announce critical investments toward combatting New World screwworm mid-August at the Texas Capitol.

FALL INTERNS JOIN THE TSCRA TEAM

Five interns joined the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association team Aug. 19 for a fall internship experience. Sam Coleman, Sydney Lofland, Grant Mastin and Sierra Williams are based in the Fort Worth office and work across all departments. Jose Diego Chapa continues in his role as the policyfocused intern in Austin.

Coleman is a sophomore at Texas Christian University’s Neeley School of Business, majoring in finance with interests in real estate and ranching. A fourth-generation Texan from a Beefmaster breeding family, Coleman grew up working on the ranch, handling cattle care, land management and conservation projects. He has assisted with operations for a residential investment property through Hypnotoad Properties LLC, gaining experience in real estate, asset stewardship and ranching.

Lofland is a recent graduate of Stephen F. Austin State University, earning a master’s degree in agriculture and a bachelor’s degree in animal science. Originally from Fort Worth, she has a strong passion for the beef cattle industry and is dedicated to advocating for its future by educating the next generation. Her graduate research is focused on using silvopasture systems to mitigate heat stress in beef cattle.

Mastin is a senior at Texas Christian University, pursuing a dual degree in finance and political science through the Neeley Fellows Honors Program. Raised in rural southeastern Ohio, he is passionate about policies that support agriculture and rural communities. He has interned for U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz and the Ohio House of Representatives. After graduation, Mastin plans to attend law school. He also interned with Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association last fall.

Williams is a recent graduate of Prairie View A&M University with a bachelor’s degree in agriculture, specializing in animal and food science. She has a deep passion for agriculture and a strong interest in agricultural policy. Her goal is to bridge the gap between science and

policy to promote sustainable practices and support rural and underserved communities. Williams is excited to gain hands-on experience and contribute to meaningful agricultural work with the association.

Chapa is a recent graduate of Texas A&M University, where he received his bachelor’s degree in agricultural economics. He has experience in the international produce trade sector with Owyhee Produce and served as a Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association government relations intern during the 89th Texas Legislative Session.

WORKING GRANT PROGRAM APPLICATION PERIOD OPENS NOV. 1

The Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Leadership Development Foundation, a 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to fostering the next generation of land and livestock stewards and leaders, has opened applications for the TSCRA Leadership Development Foundation Working Grant Program.

The initiative provides financial capital to business owners with a vested interest in the beef value chain. Entrepreneurs in Texas and Oklahoma are encouraged to apply. The online application is open Nov. 1 to Dec. 31, with grantees expected to be announced by February.

TSCRA PARTNERS WITH PRIME METAL BUILDINGS & COMPONENTS

In September, Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association announced a new partnership with Prime Metal Buildings & Components, giving its members exclusive savings with one of the nation’s leading steel building companies.

Through the partnership, association members will receive a 5% discount on all of Prime Metal Buildings & Components’ full range of metal building products including wall and roofing panels, trim, red iron, kit buildings, and accessories. The discount is available at all six of Prime’s Texas retail branches (Dublin, Dumas, Bridgeport, Kerrville, Amarillo and Weatherford), where teams provide design consultations and full-service construction support.

Prime Metal Buildings & Components is a Texas born, family owned and operated company that has become a national leader in commercial, residential, agricultural, aviation and equestrian building solutions. The company operates a structural steel fabrication shop, purlin shop, and a complete pre-engineered metal building design department, delivering custom project solutions.

Current Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association members in good standing can claim their 5% discount by presenting their membership card or number for verification when working with Prime Metal Buildings & Components. The discount may not be combined with other offers. T C

Sam Coleman

Sydney Lofland

Grant Mastin

Sierra Williams

Jose Diego Chapa

INDUSTRY BRIEFS

RANCHING HERITAGE ASSOCIATION ANNOUNCES WORKING COWBOY AWARD RECIPIENTS

The Ranching Heritage Association will honor two working cowboys with this year’s annual RHA Working Cowboy Award. The eastern division recipient is Tom Moorhouse, of Benjamin. The western division recipient is Jeff Bilberry, of Kenna, New Mexico.

The RHA Working Cowboy Awards will be presented during the annual National Golden Spur Award Honors Oct. 4 at the Lubbock Memorial Civic Center.

“The RHA Working Cowboy Award is designed to recognize outstanding individuals who make their living primarily on horseback, caring for livestock on a daily basis,” said Jim Bret Campbell, executive director of the Ranching Heritage Association and the National Ranching Heritage Center.

The awards, which honor working cowboys skilled in all aspects of ranch work and who are respected by the ranch crew and ranching community, are presented annually by six of the nation’s leading ranching and livestock organizations: American Quarter Horse Association; National Cattlemen’s Beef Association; Ranching Heritage Association; Texas Cattle Feeders Association; Texas Farm Bureau; and Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.

TOM MOORHOUSE

Honored as the eastern division recipient, Tom Moorhouse, a fifth-generation rancher and cowboy, has dedicated his life to the land and livestock of West Texas.

His longstanding commitment to stewardship, horsemanship and traditional cowboy values makes him a fitting recipient of this prestigious award. Moorhouse’s career spans decades of work on historic ranches, including the famed Moorhouse Ranch, where he has played an instrumental role in preserving ranching practices that have shaped the region’s cultural and economic legacy.

“Because of Tom’s dedication and skill in his trade, he has unintentionally done more than almost anyone to preserve the ‘working cowboy’ way of life,” said John Welch, vice president of the Ranching Heritage Association and retired CEO of Spade Ranches. “He was pure cowboy when ‘cowboy’ wasn’t cool. Who has done more to preserve the working cowboy way of life than Tom Moorhouse just by living it?”

From a young age, Moorhouse was immersed in the cowboy lifestyle, developing exceptional skills in horsemanship and cattle management. His dedication to the craft led him to work on several prominent Texas ranches, including the Tongue River Ranch and the 6666 Ranch. Moorhouse’s expertise in training and handling horses has earned him numerous accolades, notably being named All-Around Cowboy twice at the Texas Ranch Roundup in Wichita Falls. In 2005, Moorhouse was inducted into the Texas Cowboy Hall of Fame, a testament to his significant contributions to the ranching industry. He is a current honorary director for Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.

Moorhouse has played a pivotal role in preserving and advancing ranching practices. Alongside his family, he continues to operate the Moorhouse Ranch Company, maintaining cow-calf, farming and stocker operations across West and Central Texas. His dedication to the land and livestock, coupled with his willingness to embrace progressive techniques, his status as a respected leader in the ranching community.

JEFF BILBERRY

Tom Moorhouse, a fifth-generation rancher and cowboy, is the recipient of the 2025 RHA Working Cowboy Award, representing the eastern division. Photo by Ross Hecox.

Jeff Bilberry, a lifelong cowboy and respected leader in the ranching industry, will receive the prestigious RHA Working Cowboy Award, representing the western division. A fourth-generation rancher whose legacy runs as deep as the roots of the land he stewards, Bilberry exemplifies the time-honored values of integrity, service and a life spent horseback.

For more than 30 years, Bilberry has served as the general manager of the Bojax, Augua Verde and Lobo divisions of Singleton Ranches, one of the largest ranching operations in the nation, encompassing more than one million acres across New Mexico and California. Additionally, for the past eight years he has overseen three of the ranches in California. As vice president of Singleton Ranches, he continues to work cattle from the saddle, sharing his experience with young cowboys and leading by example in every corner of the outfit.

“Although Jeff’s current responsibilities include ranch management, he still saddles up more often than not and continues to doctor cows, brand calves and do anything necessary to ride for the brand,” said Pat Boone, a New Mexico rancher.

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Bilberry’s commitment to the ranching lifestyle is matched only by his dedication to community and faith. He has served as a Chaves County Commissioner, Elida School Board president, and held leadership roles with the New Mexico Cattle Growers Association and the New Mexico Agriculture Board.

Born into a family whose cowboy roots stretch back to an 1881 cattle drive to the legendary LFD Ranch, Bilberry carries that legacy with pride, perseverance and humility. With his wife, Cheree, at his side, the Bilberries and their children continue the family tradition. He is living proof that the cowboy way of life is alive and well.

JUNE U.S. BEEF EXPORTS SHARPLY LOWER

U.S. beef export volume in June was the lowest in five years, due in part to China’s failure to renew registrations for most U.S. plants. That’s according to data released by USDA and compiled by U.S. Meat Export Federation.

Beef exports totaled 93,928 metric tons in June, down 15% from a year ago and the lowest since June 2020. Export value was $769 million, down 18% and the lowest in 17 months. Shipments to Korea and Mexico were steady with year-ago levels, while exports increased sharply to Central and South America, and variety meat demand strengthened in Egypt and in several emerging markets in Africa. But these gains did not fully offset the steep decline in exports to China and lower shipments to Japan.

For January through June, beef exports were 6.5% below last year’s pace at 602,221 metric tons, while value fell 6% to $4.92 billion.

Lack of access to China not only results directly in lost business and missed opportunities, but the U.S. beef industry is also losing the premiums generated when Chinese buyers compete for cuts that are especially popular throughout Asia, such as short plate, top blade, chuck rolls and short ribs. Without exports to China, U.S. Meat Export Federation estimates the U.S. beef industry’s lost opportunity at $150 to $165 per head of fed slaughter, or about $4 billion annually.

“The June export results really underscore the urgent need to resolve this impasse with China,” said U.S. Meat Export Federation President and CEO Dan Halstrom. “China’s tariff rate on U.S. beef is currently 32%, which is too high, but not insurmountable. The problem is, with only a few plants eligible to ship to China, the tariff rate becomes irrelevant. Consistent and transparent plant approvals, without expiration, were among the most important components of the 2020 Phase One Agreement with China, and it’s time for China to return to those commitments.”

At time of press, the federation reported that it remains hopeful access to China will be restored soon, but the situation highlights the importance of diversification and further development of emerging markets such as Central America and Southeast Asia. T C

Jeff Bilberry, a lifelong cowboy and respected leader in the ranching industry, is the recipient of the 2025 RHA Working Cowboy Award, representing the western division. Photo by Ross Hecox.

DISEASE DEFENSE

Upcoming Ranching 101 covers how to detect and treat common illnesses.

Join Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association for the next Ranching 101 webinar at 1 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 21. The hourlong Zoom session will explore how to protect herd health, reduce losses and safeguard long-term profitability.

Recognizing and responding early to disease is one of the most important skills a cattle raiser can develop. Illness can quickly impact growth, reproduction and overall herd performance, but timely detection and proper management can prevent major setbacks.

Whether the goal is to limit the spread of contagious diseases, improve treatment success or strengthen the herd’s immune defenses, understanding the signs of illness and implementing effective health protocols is essential for protecting cattle and the bottom line.

ABOUT RANCHING 101

Ranching 101 webinars provide participants with practical, sound guidance on the tools and equipment needed to get started in ranching or land ownership. The webinars are available online on the third Tuesday of every month.

Registration is complimentary for any association member. Visit tscra.org to learn more. T C

OBITUARIES

MINNIE LOU BRADLEY, 93, of Childress, died Aug. 5.

Born in Hinton, Oklahoma, she was the first female student in the animal husbandry program at Oklahoma A&M College. She was also the first female member of the livestock judging team and was named High Individual at the International Livestock Judging Contest during the 1952 International Fat Stock Show in Chicago. She graduated in 1953 with a degree in animal husbandry and a minor in agriculture journalism.

Bradley began her career with Texas Angus Association until she married Billy Jack Bradley on March 5, 1955. They moved immediately to the recently purchased ranch in Childress County that became known as Bradley 3 Ranch in 1955.

Bradley was the first female elected to the American Angus Association board of directors in 1998 and is still the only female to have served as their president and chair of the board in 2005.

She was inducted as a member of the National Cowgirl Hall of Fame in 2006 and the National Saddle & Sirloin Portrait Gallery in 2014.

She is survived by her husband, Bill; daughter, Mary Lou Bradley-Henderson, a Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association honorary director, and her husband, James Henderson, an association director; grandson, Raymond Jack Bradley; granddaughter, Mandy Ann Popejoy; brother, Ted Ottinger; sister, Linda Pike; five great-grandchildren, a niece and three nephews, along with countless friends across the nation.

BRENT

BLACKWELL DURHAM, 62, of Henrietta, died Aug. 2.

Before settling in Henrietta, Durham lived in Hammond, Louisiana, and Kilgore. While in Kilgore, he owned Durham Chevrolet from 1986 to 2006. He later started a business selling horse trailers called Durham Trailer Ranch.

In 1997, he met Heidi Trey while selling her a vehicle, much to the surprise of his salespeople since they had not seen him negotiate a vehicle sale in years. Later,

during the test drive, he found the courage to ask her out. They married on March 31, 2007.

After moving to Henrietta, Durham started his dream job of ranching. He also bought an oil field cement business called Oilfield Partners.

He was a member of Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, Ducks Unlimited, National Rifle Association, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and U.S. Team Roping Association.

He is survived by his wife; children, Ella Durham, Richard (Danielle) Durham and Brittany (Jay) Senn; three grandchildren, Stella Durham, Addison and Declan Senn; mother, Eleanor Flippen; stepmother, Mercedes Harvey; mother and father-in-law, Doug and Melody Hartz; five siblings; two sisters-in-law; and several nieces and nephews.

JOHN W. GALLOWAY SR., 85, of Beeville, died July 21.

A lifelong resident of Beeville, his roots run deep in Bee County with his Galloway ancestors having settled in Skidmore in 1882 after their journey to America from Scotland. His grandfather founded the Galloway Mortuary in 1919, and since 1974, he managed Galloway & Sons Funeral Home with dedication and compassion.

From an early age, Galloway was deeply involved in community affairs, starting with his times at A.C. Jones High School. He served as mayor of Beeville from 1970 to 1980, and in 1972, he developed the Western Week organization serving as its president for three years. He was appointed by Governors Perry and Abbott to serve on the Nueces River Authority.

Galloway established Bids for Kids to raise funds to purchase FFA and 4-H exhibitors’ projects. He also awarded champion belt buckles at the Bee County Junior Livestock Show and the Live Oak County Fair for more than 50 years.

He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Elizabeth Ann; his sons, John Wilbur (Terri) Galloway Jr. and Charles Andrew (Nicole) Galloway; his daughter, Mary Beth (Steve) Atzenhoffer; his grandchildren, JW Galloway III, Maggie Galloway, Hanna (Matt) Galloway-Hillestad, Chase Galloway, Jake Galloway, Julia (Donald) Mobley and Jane Hunt; two great-grandchildren; two cousins; and several nieces and nephews. T C

On the Road with TSCRA

New World Screwworm Education

Protect your herd from the threat of New World screwworm. Learn identification, prevention and response strategies from veterinarians, producers and industry experts, and hear the latest updates from leading agencies.

This event is free to attend, and lunch will be provided. To ensure there’s plenty of food for everyone, please be sure to register.

Producers Cooperative Main Location 1800 North Texas Avenue, Bryan, TX 77803 Thursday, October 2 6 - 8 PM

For more information or to register, email education@tscra.org or call 800-242-7820. Scan to Register

$93,500 RETURNED TO TEXAS SALE BARNS FOLLOWING TSCRA SPECIAL RANGER INVESTIGATION

Four Texas livestock sale barns were returned $93,500 following an investigation for hot checks led by Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Kenny Murchison.

On Aug. 17, Murchison was notified by a sale barn that a $36,000 check was returned for insufficient funds. Through his investigation, Murchison discovered another sale barn had also been targeted, with a $29,000 check from the same individual returned for insufficient funds.

Murchison initiated an investigation and learned some of the cattle from these transactions were possibly on a

property in the Travis County Manor area. Upon locating the property, Murchison spoke to individuals who led him to the location of seven head of cattle that had been purchased from these two sale barns.

While there, Murchison also learned 35 head of cattle had been shipped to an area auction to be sold. He contacted the auction barn and discovered they, too, had recently received a $10,000 check from the same individual, which was returned due to insufficient funds.

During further conversations, Murchison learned the individual also purchased cattle at a fourth Central Texas auction and paid with a $18,500 check that was returned.

In total, $93,500 in unpaid receipts were identified.

Seven head of cattle were seized in Travis County, and a hold was placed on the 35 head of cattle at the third sale barn. Murchison then contacted the individual associated with the unpaid accounts, who assured him the barns would be paid in full within 24 hours.

By Aug. 18, all sale barns confirmed they had received full payments, and all associated livestock were released.

Cactus Feedyard

Matthew Turney, Manager

Cactus, TX

office: (806) 966-5151 cell: (806) 282-7077

Centerfire Feedyard

Adam Gerrond, Manager

Ulysses, KS office: (620) 356-2010 cell: (806) 390-9034

When Our Folks Drive Through the Gate They Think and Act Like Owners Because They Are Owners - They Have a Vested Interest in the Cattle They Care For

Frontier Feedyard

Jon Vanwey, Manager Spearman, TX office: (806) 882-4251 cell: (719) 251-2381

Stratford Feedyard

Pistol Audrain, Manager Stratford, TX office: (806) 396-5501 cell: (806) 753-7133

Southwest Feedyard

Kacey Graham, Manager Hereford, TX office: (806) 364-0693 cell: (806) 316-8799

Hale Center Feedyard

Rusty Jackson, Manager

Hale Center, TX

office: (806) 879-2104 cell: (806) 773-9457

Ulysses Feedyard

Adam Gerrond, Manager Ulysses, KS office: (620) 356-1750 cell: (806) 390-9034

Wolf Creek Feedyard

Keith Brinson, Manager Perryton, TX office: (806) 435-5697

cell: (806) 282-7588

Wrangler Feedyard

Randy Shields, Manager Tulia, TX

office: (806) 583-2131 cell: (806) 290-0559

Syracuse Feedyard

Phil Moreman, Manager

Syracuse, KS

office:

(806) 371-4715

Kenny Murchison

TSCRA Special Ranger, District 20

Theft & Law

DISTRICT 12 — NORTHEAST TEXAS

Red Beefmaster bull missing in Red River County. Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Bo Fox reports a registered red Beefmaster bull missing from a property off County Road 1245 in Detroit. The 2.5-year-old bull is branded with “lazy S” on his left side and “3622” on his left hip. The bull was last seen in May and discovered missing July 26. Anyone with information on this case is urged to contact Fox at 903-348-9638.

DISTRICT 13 — EAST TEXAS

Reward offered for information on stolen tractor in Rusk County.

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Larry Hand reports a stolen 2009 green John Deere 6115D tractor with a cab, front-end loader and bucket stolen from a property off FM Road 225, north of the Laneville community in Rusk County. The tractor’s VIN is No. P06115D001550. The model 563 frontend loader’s VIN is No. W00563D003193. The tractor was discovered stolen July 25.

The owner is offering a $4,000 reward for information leading to the return of the stolen tractor or the arrest and/or grand jury indictment of the person(s) responsible for the felony theft of this tractor. Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Rangers are working to support the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office and the East Texas Auto Theft Task Force in this case.

Reward offered for information on stolen tractor in Rusk County.

Hand also reports a stolen 2013 green John Deere 5100E tractor with a tinted cab, front-end loader and bucket stolen from a property off FM Road 225, north of the Laneville community in Rusk County. The tractor’s VIN is No. 1LV5100EEDY140025. The model 540M front-end loader’s VIN is No. 1P0540MXCJD049630. The tractor was discovered stolen July 25.

The owner is offering a $4,000 reward for information leading to the return of the stolen tractor or the arrest and/or grand jury indictment of the person(s) responsible for the felony theft of this tractor. Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Rangers are working to support the Rusk County Sheriff’s Office and the East

Texas Auto Theft Task Force in this case. Anyone with information on these cases is urged to contact Hand at 903-571-3488.

DISTRICT 25 — SOUTHEAST TEXAS

Two mares missing in DeWitt County.

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Robert Fields reports two mares missing from a property off FM 1447 in Cuero. The missing horses are described as a 21-year-old red dun mare with a white stripe on its face, and a 4-year-old bay mare with black points and a small white star on its forehead. The red dun mare is branded on the left thigh with the Rancho El Ojival Ranch brand, shaped like a clover with 90-degree angles between the rounded points. On July 23, the suspect(s) cut the property fence to steal the horses. Anyone with information on this case is urged to contact Fields at 361-207-5207.

DISTRICT 26 — CENTRAL TEXAS

Angus cow-calf pairs missing in Mason County.

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association Special Ranger Todd Jennings reports nine black Angus cow-calf pairs missing from a property off U.S. 377. The cows are branded with a “lazy connected JD” on their left hip and a yellow ear tag in their right ear. The calves have a halfcrop and a half-swallow fork notch in their right ear. They were last seen July 4.

Angus bull calves missing in McCulloch County.

Jennings also reports 18 black Angus bull calves missing from a property west of Brady off County Road 106. The calves are nine to 11 months old and weigh 700-800 pounds. The cattle have the following ear tag numbers in their left ear: 1W, 127, 128, 131, 136, 605, 611, 622, 624, 631, 635, 641, 644, 651, 676, 688, 704 and 755. They have an under-bit notch and a fly tag in their right ear. They were last seen July 3. Anyone with information about these cases is urged to contact Jennings at 830-997-7585. T C

TSCRA offers a cash reward for information leading to the arrest and/or grand jury indictment of individuals for theft of livestock or related property. Anonymity is guaranteed. To provide information, call the Operation Cow Thief tip line at 817-916-1775.

Jordan Cattle Auction… Where Cattlemen Come to Buy and Sell!

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TINY PARASITE, BIG PROBLEM

Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course panelists: Plan now to minimize impact if NWS crosses the border.

By Kay Ledbetter

Start thinking about the biggest threats to the livestock and wildlife industry now. That was advice given at Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course in August during a panel discussion and general session talk about New World screwworm.

Almost 2,000 livestock producers and industryaffiliated participants attended the event hosted by Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service and the Texas A&M University College of Agriculture and Life Sciences department of animal science.

“We are not in crisis mode; we are in awareness and preparedness mode,” said Dr. T.R. Lansford, Texas Animal Health Commission deputy executive director and assistant state veterinarian. “This has to be a community effort from producers to government agencies, because as long as New World screwworms are in Mexico, Texas has an increased risk.”

Planning for eradication — again

Lansford said NWS will require all hands on deck. The name of the game will be mitigation and control until the most effective eradication method — sterile fly release — is able to ramp up adequate production.

Screwworms were successfully eradicated from the U.S. in 1966 using the sterile insect technique. However, current

sterile fly production is approximately 110 million flies per week in Panama, and between 400 million and 500 million per week are needed to control the current outbreak.

Another plant is planned, with a sterile fruit fly production facility in Chiapas, Mexico, being converted to sterile screwworm fly production. However, the earliest it is expected to open is July 2026, and it will produce only 60 million to 100 million flies per week.

“Eradication efforts can cost stakeholders tens of millions of dollars, but freedom from the pest provides approximately $1 billion in direct benefits to livestock producers and about $3.7 billion in benefits to the general economy annually,” Lansford said.

When screwworms were a daily chore back in the 1950s and 1960s, livestock operations had more horses, hired hands and even dogs that could smell the infections to help with the daily monitoring, gathering and treatment of livestock. But those things are not in place today, according to the NWS panel at the short course.

The panelists, pictured above, expressed concerns that many smaller operations lack the labor and facilities to manage screwworms if they reach the U.S., and even larger operations that infrequently monitor or handle their livestock may struggle to do so.

Top: Ron Gill, Ph.D., Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service livestock specialist and professor in the department of animal science, pictured left, moderates a NWS panel consisting of Jim McAdams, a rancher, TSCRA honorary director and past National Cattlemen’s Beef Association president; Joe Paschal, Ph.D., AgriLife Extension livestock specialist emeritus and ranching and genetics consultant; and Alberto Banuet, Ph.D., a rancher from Yucatan, Mexico, during the 2025 Texas A&M Beef Cattle Short Course. Photo by Courtney Sacco, Texas A&M AgriLife.

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Rancher Jim McAdams, a Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association honorary director, who had firsthand experience with screwworms in the 1950s and 1970s when they reappeared, said to mitigate the risk in livestock operations, “we need to get our mind right. All we can control is what we do. We need to start preparing our facilities and make it where, if and when it gets here, it is as easy on you as possible.”

Producers need to ensure they have the ability and facilities in place to catch the livestock and check them or treat them in the least stressful manner. They need to train their cattle so they can handle them and get them treated, he added.

Internal and external working groups have developed a three-legged stool approach to preparedness, which includes treatment, surveillance and movement control.

For producers, preparedness begins with monitoring animals regularly for signs of myiasis or maggots. Any suspicious maggot cases should be reported to the Texas Animal Health Commission for livestock and pets at 800-550-8242 or the Texas Parks and Wildlife

Department for wildlife at 512-389-4505, or to an accredited veterinarian or an AgriLife Extension agent. Do not move the animal; let the individual reporting agency representative come to the animal’s location.

AgriLife’s recommendations for the best mitigation steps for livestock operations include: routine inspection of livestock for maggots, whether in pastures, pens, prior to or post transportation; preventing wounds with proper facility maintenance; treating any wounds promptly to prevent or reduce infestations; and scheduling procedures that would cause an opening in the skin during the cooler months when fly populations are low.

While parts of the process, such as movement guidelines, could be uncomfortable in the future, Lansford said there is a commitment to continuity of operations. To ensure continuity for most operations, it is paramount that producers who see something say something to aid in early identification and minimize the spread. T C

Kay Ledbetter is a communications coordinator for Texas A&M AgriLife.

A New World screwworm fly. Photo by Michael Miller, Texas A&M AgriLife.

SAVING A CENTURY-OLD RANCH

A conservation easement helps the Cornelius family keep their Matagorda County ranch intact.

By Lydia Saldaña

Photos courtesy of Texas Agricultural Land Trust

For more than 100 years, the Cornelius family has been working cattle on their family land near Sargent in Southeast Texas.

Herff Cornelius’ grandfather bought the original tract in 1917 and moved cattle from Markham to winter in the saltgrass there every year for decades. Herff’s father continued the ranching tradition after his father passed on, and the whole family was involved.

“My dad had eight kids, including me and my seven sisters, and we were the cattle crew,” Herff said. “Anytime there was cattle work to be done, he loaded us all up and we went there and worked. I remember a lot of my childhood being on horseback working cattle.”

E Cross Cattle Company is bordered on the south by the Intracoastal Waterway and has 4.3 miles of frontage on Caney Creek. It is a premiere piece of coastal prairie rangeland, offering productive grazing land and exceptional wildlife habitat. Like his father and grandfather before him, Herff is a hands-on manager of the property and treasures the land he stewards.

When his father died in 2013, followed by his mother’s passing in 2014, the family had a tough decision as

they contemplated the transfer of family land from one generation to the next. With seven sisters, and dozens of other family members to consider, it was not an easy decision. One thing they all agreed on was that it had to be a unanimous decision: either keep it all or sell it all.

About that time, Herff learned about Texas Agricultural Land Trust and how a conservation easement might help their family. “One thing led to another, and we began serious discussions about how we might keep this land together to benefit everybody,” Herff said.

It was a complicated series of discussions that involved multiple partners over several years, including the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation, the General Land Office and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

The fundamental issue was figuring out how the easement would be funded, so the family could benefit financially from keeping the land together and protecting its conservation values in perpetuity. The alternative would be to benefit financially by selling the land. There are vacation homes lining the other side of the creek bordering the Cornelius family land, foreshadowing the future of the ranch if the land was sold and developed.

“My dad had eight kids, including me and my seven sisters, and we were the cattle crew. Anytime there was cattle work to be done, he loaded us all up and we went there and worked.”

— Herff Cornelius, E Cross Cattle Company

Numerous conservation partners got involved because of the tract’s significant natural assets and the property location adjacent to Matagorda Bay, which is a conservation priority for government agencies and conservation NGOs alike. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department officials recognized the property as an outstanding example of coastal wildlife habitat that would be a significant contribution toward a state, federal and private collaborative to protect as much pristine habitat around Matagorda Bay as possible.

That recognition led the department to nominate the project for funding from the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation’s Gulf Environmental Benefit Fund. The nomination and selection process took several years to complete, and in the interim, the appraisal grew stale and had to be re-done. The new appraisal revealed a funding gap, and Texas Parks and Wildlife turned to the General Land Office’s Coastal Management Program for assistance. Through dollars provided by the Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Act fund, the gap was closed. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also came to the table to assist Texas Agricultural Land Trust with due diligence costs associated with the transaction.

More than six years after the Cornelius family began considering the idea, the conservation easement finally closed in January 2023 — forever protecting 3,547 acres of precious coastal habitat.

“This transaction is a testament to some creative minds that came together to seek out every funding option available to make it all work,” said James Oliver with Texas Agricultural Land Trust, who helped shepherd the transaction through to closing. “When likeminded organizations and individuals are all pushing toward the same conservation goal, good things can happen. We are very grateful to the Cornelius family for hanging in there with patience and perseverance. Thanks to them, this land will be preserved for generations to come, benefitting us all by helping to keep our air and water clean.”

Like his father and grandfather before him, Herff will continue to work the land that has given his family so much. Thanks to the conservation easement held by Texas Agricultural Land Trust, his children and grandchildren, and those of his seven sisters, will have that same option.

“I think everybody’s just really happy that future generations will be able to continue to use this property for ranching, hunting and conservation of the wildlife we all enjoy,” Herff said. “Everybody is just very happy about that.” T C

Lydia Saldaña is a communications advisor for Texas Agricultural Land Trust.

Herff Cornelius, a Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association director, feeds cattle on the family ranch near Sargent.

The land is our legacy and on January 31, 2026, join us at Fall Creek Ranch in Granbury for a one-of-a-kind trail run across pastures, creek crossings, and wide-open country.

Every stride supports the Texas Agricultural Land Trust’s mission to conserve working lands. Whether you run the 5K, 10K, or Half Marathon—or cheer from the sidelines—you will be part of protecting the land, water, and wildlife that define Texas ranching.

JANUARY 31, 2026

Register Today! Early Bird ends November 7th.

WHAT PLANT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER?

By Kent Ferguson

Sand sagebrush is a native perennial, semievergreen shrub found on sandy soils from West Central Texas to the Rolling Plains, and the Panhandle region to far West Texas. It also grows throughout the western U.S.

Sand sagebrush is also called sand sage, silver sage and sand worm-wood. The plant:

• Reaches 6 feet tall and 4 feet wide; and has gray, thread-like leaves that are alternate and sessile, 1.5 to 3 inches long and 1/25 of an inch wide.

• Has lower leaves that are sometimes divided into several thread-like segments curving inward toward the stem.

• Has brown bark with a blue tint on older stems, while young stems are red on the lower portion and silver on the top. The bark will peel off into narrow strips.

• Flowers in the fall with adequate moisture, forming dense terminal panicles that are silver. They form achenes with four to five tiny ribs.

Sand sagebrush is not beneficial browse for whitetailed deer, but livestock will graze the plant if forage is limited. It is used for nesting and loafing cover by birds.

Scaled quail and various songbirds will use the fruit for food. Pollinators will consume the plant when blooming, too. It has also been used as an accent plant in landscaping projects.

Sand sagebrush will increase in density if pastures are overgrazed. Practicing suitable grazing management will keep the plant in check and prevent encroachment. T C

Kent Ferguson, a retired rangeland management specialist from the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, provides plant identification photo stories to help ranchers.

Sand sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia)

Photo by Norman G. Flaigg , Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center

BQA TIP:

COLLECT HAY SAMPLES

Determining hay quality begins with selecting the right probe to collect samples.

Hay probes come in two main types: push-type probes that are manually pushed into the bale, or drill-type probes that require a drill to collect a core sample. There are variations in design and ease of use with both styles, so it is beneficial to research options before purchasing.

Well-designed push-type probes are generally much quicker and easier to use than drill-type probes. However, producers with back issues or other challenges may find drill-type probes to be better options.

Photo by Katie Barnett

Bull Buyer’s Guide

Special Advertising Section

A BUSINESS APPROACH TO BULL BUYING

Investments made today will shape the herd tomorrow.

By Zoe Carmichael

As the fall bull sale season begins, one message is clear: Identifying a herd sire is more than a transaction, it is a strategic, long-term investment in herd genetics.

Leoma Donsbach, owner and founder of Data Genie LLC, was a featured speaker on this topic during Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association’s Ranching 101 webinar series. She shared practical insights with association members on setting breeding objectives, building a budget and making informed sire selection decisions.

“It’s not just about buying a bull anymore,” Donsbach said. “It’s about asking yourself, ‘Do I want this bull’s influence in my herd until 2040?’”

terms. Treating it as a long-term investment helps producers remove emotion from the equation.

“Too many people get caught up in the auction moment,” she said. “You just got outbid on bull A, so you turn around and buy bull B just to win. But did you make the right choice for your herd?”

Every bull purchase, Donsbach emphasized, should begin with a decision tree. That includes identifying breeding objectives, narrowing down breed choices and choosing a well-matched seedstock provider.

“You need to be honest about what you want your operation to look like in five, 10 or even 15 years,” she said. “And whether your current choices are setting you up to get there.”

Just like purchasing a truck or trailer, Donsbach said, the value of a bull should be considered in hard business

The right match

Donsbach stressed to the audience of cattle raisers that bull selection should begin at the kitchen table. Whether running five cows or 1,000, she encouraged producers to sit down with their family or partners and outline clear breeding goals. Then use those goals to guide every selection decision.

“The conversation should be brutally honest,” she said. “Take your emotions out of it and focus on the traits that move your herd forward.”

In addition to pedigrees, phenotypes and genomic information, Donsbach said it is also important to consider how and where the bull was raised. While genetics account for about half of an animal’s performance potential, the rest comes down to environment — forage availability, climate, health protocols and overall management.

by Kayla

Leoma Donsbach

Photo

Jennings

Even the best genetics fall short if a bull isn’t managed under similar conditions.

“You might buy a bull from a breeder who manages cattle extremely well and their management practices help make up for any genetic limitations,” Donsbach explained. “But if your operation runs differently in the way that your environment, nutrition or stress levels don’t match, you may not see the same results.”

When bulls underperform after arriving on a new operation, it’s tempting to blame the animal or the breeder. But often, she said the issue is a mismatch in environment and expectations.

Donsbach encouraged producers to compare apples to apples by choosing seedstock providers who raise cattle under similar conditions or adapt their own management style to more closely mirror that of the seedstock source.

Analyzing data

After identifying breeding goals and the type of herd sire to achieve them, cattle raisers have greater access to data than ever before to make confident, informed decisions. One of the most valuable tools in the bull-buying process is expected progeny differences.

An EPD estimates the genetic value an animal is expected to pass on to its offspring, expressed as a deviation from breed average. It is important, Donsbach emphasized, to understand an EPD does not evaluate the animal itself, but rather the genetic potential of their offspring based on key traits.

“Why would anyone settle for below average if you only have a certain amount of investment to make in your genetic decisions?” she said. “Why would you choose a bull that ranked in the bottom of the class?”

Every EPD is a combination of pedigree, phenotype, genotype and progeny performance data. When those figures are genomically enhanced, producing what’s known as GE-EPDs, the accuracy increases significantly, Donsbach said.

“If a bull doesn’t have genomic data, you’re taking on more risk as a buyer,” she said. “That’s not a risk you should have to take in today’s environment.”

Donsbach also encouraged commercial cow-calf producers to take advantage of heterosis or hybrid vigor by crossbreeding strategically.

“Hybrid vigor adds pounds at weaning. It improves fertility, health and sustainability,” she said. “It’s a proven way to add value.”

For seedstock producers, outcross genetics can inject diversity. Whether raising Angus, Hereford, Simmental or another breed, Donsbach recommended using genomics to identify complementary outcrosses that bring genetic progress without sacrificing breed integrity.

Ranching

Investing in the future

At the heart of Donsbach’s advice to cattle raisers was a call to approach bull buying with intention, clarity and a long-term mindset. Whether running a commercial cowcalf operation or seedstock herd, the bulls purchased today will have lasting effects.

“The bulls we’ll sell in 2026 are already in our cows today,” she said. “The decisions have already been made. The question is, what do we do differently starting in 2027 or 2028?”

Donsbach encouraged producers to remember purchasing a bull is a business decision, not a competition with fellow buyers. The right herd sire isn’t the one with the most buzz in the ring, it is one that aligns with an operation’s goals, fits the environment and adds lasting value to the herd. T C

“Be honest with yourself about what you want your operation to look like in five, 10 or even 15 years.”

— Leoma Donsbach, Data Genie LLC

Zoe Carmichael, a student at Oklahoma State University, was a summer intern through the Gilly Riojas Memorial Intern Program at Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.

The right genetics have the potential to positively influence the herd for generations. Photo by Radale Tiner.

L NE STAR

Sale features include several herd sire prospects that excel for calving ease, growth, marbling, docility and data.

FALL BULL AND FEMALE SALE

Cooke County Fairgrounds, Gainesville, Texas

Selling 65 powerful 18-24 month old, ranch-raised Angus bulls ready to go to work! Including202-year-oldbulls.Sellingsonsof Identify,Clarity,FireballandWinchester.

Also featuring the Customer Appreciation Commercial Female Sale... top quality replacements from quality Lone Star Genetics!

Video and EPD spreadsheet available online 2 weeks before sale.

Calving ease, growth, marbling and docility.

Free delivery within 300 miles for purchases of $7,500 or more.

Bulls Bred for Performance but Raised on Limited Feed and Grass FERTILITY • EFFICIENCY • DOCILITY • SOUNDNESS • LONGEVITY

ANNUAL PRODUCTION SALE

OCTOBER 13, 2025 12:30 P.M. AT THE RANCH SELLING: 67 Coming 2-year-old Bulls (53 Horned & 14 Polled) 12 Fall-Calving Cows (most calved by sale day)

12.1

SIRE: IMR 33Z VICTOR 9084G ET MGS: CMF 59Z CONFIDENCE 204C

8099F MS ADVANCE 2092K ET {DLF,HYF,IEF,MSUDF} SIRE: IMR L1 5047C ADVANCE 8099F ET MGS: IMR 408 HARLAND 9038W ET

Cattle for Sale at the ranch by Private Treaty any time

Steve Wayne (325) 835-2531

Stephen (325) 226-4184 (cell) Logan Furlong, Ranch Manager (325) 650-8402 Box 645 • Mertzon, TX 76941 scoatesjr@yahoo.com www.coatesranch.com

BAR Production Sale

Fall Bull Sale

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 9, 2025

12 noon at the GKB Sale Headquarters …Desdemona, Texas

115 Coming 2-year-old Bulls Sell! 80 Hereford + 35 Angus, SimAngus & Red Angus GKB GUARDIAN 4192 AHA

GKB GUARDIAN 4292

Catalog available online and mailed on request — please call or text to request your mailed copy. Videos online prior to sale day. Since 1987. Second Annual

GKB RED LABEL 9060M

RAAA 4908056 • 3/24/24 • PB Red Angus

S: Shag Red Label 120

MGS: MLK Big Foot CED +9 /

GKB ADVANCE 4401M AAA 21300412 • 3/23/24 • PB Angus S: Huwa 7404 B Advance 9441 MGS: VAR Power Play 7018

GUARDIAN

Laramie B293

GKB ROYALTY 4150M

ASA 4360492 • 2/22/24 • Polled 1/2 Simm,1/2 Angus S: GPG Royalty 219H

Baldridge Bronc

Gary & Kathy Buchholz, owners • Office (254) 440-1440

Gary Buchholz (214) 537-1285 • gary@gkbcattle.com Jay Creamer (254) 707-2199 • jay@gkbcattle.com Raymond Gushee (207) 256-7365 • ray@gkbcattle.com 7440 Hwy. 16, Desdemona, TX 76445 gkbcattle.com

Dustin N. Layton (405) 464-2455 laytond@yahoo.com Chisolm Kinder (405) 747-4683 laytonauction.com Sale Manager

HeartBrand® Cattle: Leading the Way in Proven Akaushi Genetics!

HeartBrand Cattle delivers proven Akaushi genetics—a low-risk investment that expands opportunities for grid premiums and quality-based markets, leading to increased profits for you. Akaushi genetics improve:

Marbling and quality grade in just one generation

Fertility and longevity for lasting productivity

Hybrid vigor to strengthen your herd

With females, embryos, and semen available year-round—plus private treaty bull sales in the spring and fall—there’s always an opportunity to add more value with Akaushi genetics to your operation!

BAR BER R A NCH

Your answer to real-world success for payday profits and a sustainable cow herd!

ANNUAL BULL SALE

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 12, 2025

11 a.m., Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba, Texas

Horned, Polled & Homozygous Polled Hereford Bulls…Powerful…Docile…Efficient…Fertile…GE-EPDs

Progressive cattlemen have been choosing Barber Ranch bulls for over 10 0 years.

Wanna know the reason?

Our emphasis has always been on extra muscle in an attractive package. Our 2025 sale bulls sport impressive carcass EPDs to complement their performance. We offer a unique combination of calving ease, explosive growth and highly desirable carcass traits with extra good looks.

In addition to approximately 100 service-age Hereford bulls, our 2025 San Saba sale will feature approximately 50 head of spring bred registered Hereford heifers— all with genomically enhanced EPDs.

Brett Barber (806) 681-2457 Justin Barber (806) 681-5528 Terri Barber (817) 727-6107 Jacob Toombs (417) 399-0738

& Mary Barber office@barberranch.com 10175 FM 3138, Channing, TX 79018 barberranch.com

Catalog requests: Rylee.R.Barber@gmail.com

Barber Ranch is located 60 miles northwest of Amarillo, Texas. Visitors always welcome!

• 13-24 months of age

60 SIMMENTAL AND SIMANGUS™ BULLS

• Most are AI Sired by some of the top Simmental and SimAngus™ sires in the industry

70 SIMMENTAL AND SIMANGUS™ FEMALES

• 3N1s, Breds and Pairs, including Mature Cows

• Open Yearling Heifers ready to breed

• Many are AI Sired and selected out of the heart of the 7P program

25 SIMBRAH FEMALES

• Pairs and Breds, plus Open Heifers ready to breed

• Most are ½ Simmental ½ Brahman heifers resulting from the mating of productive 7P Ranch Simmental cows to elite Brahman sires

• Most are registered with the American Simmental Association and also eligible to be Golden Certified registered with the American Brahman Breeders Association Lunch served at 12:00 NOON

KBHR HONOR H060

CLRS JOHNNY WALKER 1049J

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This year, nearly 1,500 head of Adams Ranch

This year, nearly 1,500 head of Adams Ranch fed steers and heifers have graded fed steers and heifers have graded 21% 21% Prime, 73% Choice and 6% Select Prime, 73% Choice and 6% Select

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DECEMBER 18, 2025 - SALE STARTS AT 10:00AM (CT)

SALE LOCATION: JORDAN CATTLE AUCTION - SAN SABA, TX

OFFERING RED AND BLACK AGE-ADVANTAGED STABILIZER BULLS AND 20 SELECT AGE-ADVANTAGED RED ANGUS BULLS

•

A LASTING LEGACY

TSCRA Director shares family heritage and land stewardship.

By Sarah Mullens

T. Michael O’Connor, of Victoria, was a young boy when he attended his first Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association meeting. He was eager to follow along with his father, Thomas M. O’Connor, and felt right at home at industry events — making lifelong friendships with other children who did the same.

“It’s not just an association; it’s an extension of your family,” he says.

A fifth-generation rancher, O’Connor has been involved in his family’s operations in South Texas and New Mexico for more than three decades.

“It is in my DNA,” he says. “I woke up one day, and here I am, a rancher. It has been very gratifying, more so because of the legacy and heritage.”

O’Connor is a 1977 graduate of Texas A&M University with a degree in agricultural range science. He says he was able to apply his education to what he had been taught on the ranch all his life.

“You have to be a conservationist in rangeland and water,” he says. “It’s gratifying when you can take those challenges and have a sustainable operation.”

Beyond ranching, O’Connor has more than 40 years of law enforcement experience. In 2005, he was sworn in as Sheriff of Victoria County and served four terms. In 2020, he was appointed and sworn in as a U.S. Marshal for the Southern District of Texas. O’Connor says he feels it is a calling to serve his community in this way.

O’Connor was elected to the Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association board of directors in 1987.

Throughout the years, he has served on the agricultural research, legislative, and tax and wildlife committees.

“Because of my lifetime association with TSCRA and my extensive experience in law enforcement addressing transnational criminal organizations, I was uniquely positioned to testify on behalf of TSCRA members who have been affected by these organizations traversing their ranches along the southwest border,” he says. “That allowed for an awareness to the governance groups both on the state and the national levels — and taking action.”

He says being involved with the association helps him and others remain educated and engaged with an ever-changing industry. He encourages newcomers to do the same.

T. Michael O’Connor has been involved with Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association since he was a young boy. Courtesy photos.

“The association is not only known for leadership in the state and nationally, they are also in tune with research and technology, especially at various land-grant institutions,” he says. “If you can be associated with not only the personnel of TSCRA, but also the membership, they will help give you some useful guidance.”

Staying resilient through the good times and bad, O’Connor has long understood that the family ranch was shaped and passed down by generations before him. He intends to do the same for the sixth and seventh generations in line.

“It was always told to me to understand these lands are not as much as your ownership as it is for the next generation,” he says.

O’Connor and his wife, LuAnn, have two children: Jane and Thomas. These days, his daughter and son both have careers and children of their own, but O’Connor says they are passionate about the ranch and believe in its future.

“I told my kids, whatever you do, wherever you go, just remember your heart and soul is of the land,” he says. T C

Sarah Mullens, a student at Oklahoma State University, was a summer intern through the Gilly Riojas Memorial Intern Program at Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

CARL RAY POLK JR.

President P.O. Box 155108 Lufkin, Texas 75915

STEPHEN DIEBEL

First Vice President 3907 Salem Rd. Victoria, Texas 77904

PAST PRESIDENTS

DAN GATTIS

Second Vice President and Secretary/Treasurer 213B W. 8th St. Georgetown, Texas 78626

James L. Powell San Angelo, 1988-1990

Tom Beard Alpine, 1994-1995

C. Coney Burgess Amarillo, 1997-1999

J. Mark McLaughlin San Angelo, 1999-2001

John E. Dudley Comanche, 2001-2003

REGION 1

Joe M. “Jody” Bellah, Throckmorton

Blake Birdwell, Canyon

E. S. F. “Swasey” Brainard II, Pampa

J. K. “Rooter” Brite Jr., Bowie

Donnell Brown, Throckmorton

Campbell Burgess, Amarillo

Deborah Clark, Henrietta

Lynn Cowden, Skellytown

Jake Cowen, Benjamin

J. B. Daniel, Crowell

James Henderson, Memphis

Bob McCan Victoria, 2003-2005

C.R. “Dick” Sherron, MD Beaumont, 2005-2007

Jon Means Van Horn, 2007-2009

G. Dave Scott Richmond, 2009-2011

Joe J. Parker Jr. Byers, 2011-2013

Clayton Henry, Wichita Falls

Brooks Hodges, Guthrie

Joe Leathers, Guthrie

Frank McLelland, Tahoka

Jeff Mitchell, Amarillo

Gage Moorhouse, Benjamin

Diaz W. Murray, Wichita Falls

J. Malcolm Shelton IV, Amarillo

Dale A. Smith, Amarillo

Jim Thompson, Breckenridge

Ross Thompson, Iowa Park

Wesley Welch, Lubbock

Pete Bonds Saginaw, 2013-2016

Richard Thorpe III, MD Winters, 2016-2018

Robert E. McKnight Jr. Fort Davis, 2018-2020

G. Hughes Abell Austin, 2020-2022

Arthur G. Uhl III San Antonio, 2022-2024

REGION 2

Kevin Busher, Winters

Charles M. “Charley” Christensen Jr., San Angelo

C.A. “Chili” Cole IV, San Angelo

Alan F. Curry, San Angelo

James H. Dudley IV, Horseshoe Bay

Amanda Dyer, Fort Davis

Johnny Ferguson, Big Lake

DA Harral, Fort Stockton

Ron Helm, Van Horn

Heath Hemphill, Coleman

Shelby W. Horn, Fredericksburg

Larry R. Horwood, Sterling City

Grant Jones, Rochelle

Mark W. Jones, Brady

W. Clay Jones, Brady

Ty Keeling, Boerne

Lorenzo Lasater, San Angelo

Brian T. McLaughlin, Midland

David L. Neal, San Angelo

Gerald Nobles Jr., Brady

James Oliver, Ozona

Wade Perks, San Angelo

Jessica Tate, Marfa

James Uhl, Fort McKavett

Cody Webb, Barnhart

C. Clark Welder, Fredricksburg

Ray W. Willoughby III, Eldorado

REGION 3

Ford Drummond, Pawhuska, Oklahoma

REGION 4

Edward Bordovsky Jr., Riviera

Austin Brown III, Beeville

W. Christopher Bush, Refugio

James Clement lll, Kingsville

David S. Crow, Corpus Christi

Dustin Dean, Floresville

David DeLaney, Kingsville

Robert “Bobby” Dobson, Birmingham, Alabama

James L. “Jamie” Donnell Jr., Fowlerton

J. David Eppright, Cost

Benjamin Eshleman III, Corpus Christi

Joseph B.C. Fitzsimons, Carrizo Springs

Robert “Robbie” Graff, D’Hanis

Parke Greeson Jr., Goliad

Bret Griffith, Del Rio

Heath Grigg, Kingsville

Marty R. Harris, Tilden

Anson Howard, San Antonio

William Whitby Jones III, Hebbronville

Leslie Kinsel, Cotulla

Claude Koontz, San Antonio

Steven J. Mafrige, Tilden

Richard Marbach, Victoria

Federico “Freddy” Nieto, Raymondville

T. Michael O’Connor, Victoria

Jason Peeler, Floresville

J.R. Ramirez, La Pryor

Michael Sasser, Corpus Christi

Lew Thompson, Pearsall

John E. Zacek, Victoria

REGION 5

Bill Cawley, Crockett

Wayne Cockrell, College Station

Herff Cornelius Jr., Wadsworth

Carlos Detering III, Houston

Gardner H. Dudley, Houston

Lloyd French IV, Houston

Cody Fry, College Station

Kelley Sullivan Georgiades, College Station

George Harrison, Bay City

Robert Hodgen, Houston

Colt Hoffmann, Marlin

Clay Kenley, Crockett

John Malazzo, Caldwell

Clive Runnells III, Austin

John Sumner Runnells III, Bay City

Tony Spears, Rosanky

John “Rocky” Sullivan, Galveston

Claudia Scott Wright, Richmond

REGION 6

April Bonds, Saginaw

Missy Bonds, Saginaw

John L. Cantrell, Cresson

Ian Chapman, Madill, Oklahoma

Hunter Crow, Dallas

James A. Dangelmayr, Muenster

Seth Denbow, Weatherford

Crawford Edwards, Fort Worth

John Greer, Henrietta

Jason Harlow, Dallas

Pete Hudgins, Sherman

Tom Johnson, Wortham

Ken Leiber, Fort Worth

Stefan Marchman, Fort Worth

William H. McCall, Fort Worth

Dan Nance, Haslet

Susan Roach, Fort Worth

Stephen S. “Steve” Sikes, Fort Worth

Bragg Smith III, Dallas

Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association directors represent six geographical regions across Texas and Oklahoma. Reference the special rangers page for a link to an interactive online map.

HONORARY DIRECTORS

William M. “Buck” Arrington, Pampa

Van Baize, Nocona

Bradford S. “Brad” Barnes, Fort Worth

Steve G. Beever, Pearsall

George Beggs IV, Fort Worth

Richard H. Bennett, San Antonio

Emry Birdwell, Henrietta

Mary Lou Bradley-Henderson, Childress

Chip Briscoe, Carrizo Springs

R.A. “Rob” Brown, Throckmorton

J.D. Cage, Muleshoe

Presnall Cage, Falfurrias

John W. Carpenter III, Dallas

Barrett D. Clark, Breckenridge

Martin W. Clement II, Kingsville

Thurman S. Clements Jr., Victoria

C.A. “Chip” Cole III, San Angelo

James T. Dangelmayr, Muenster

Nixon Dillard, Pleasanton

William C. “Billito” Donnell Jr., Alpine

Markham B. Dossett, Waco

Bob Drake, Davis, Oklahoma

James H. “Jim” Dudley, Comanche

Jay C. Evans, Dripping Springs

Trainor Evans, Mercedes

Leroy Ezer, Anahuac

Jim L. Gates, Pearsall

Richard Gates, Marfa

Mike Gibson, Paducah

Ronald J. “Ron” Gill, Chico

Frank Green, Liberty

W. H. “Billy” Green III, Albany

Milton S. Greeson Jr., Victoria

Thomas J. “Tommy” Haegelin, Concan

Dr. Philip C. Hardee, Beatrice, Alabama

Rafe Hargrove, Rotan

Tom J. Haynie, Navasota

Dr. Joe Pat Hemphill, Coleman

Ken Jordan, San Saba

Don Keeling, Fredericksburg

David W. Killam, Laredo

John Z. Kimberlin Jr., Dallas

Dan W. Kinsel III, Cotulla

Chris Lacy, Fort Davis

Steve C. Lewis, San Antonio

James E. “Jim” Link, Crowley

Coleman H. Locke, Hungerford

Ben Love, Marathon

Katharine Armstrong Love, Austin

Richard M. Lucas Jr., Houston

Robert B. Mansfield, Amarillo

Jon David Mayfield, Dublin

Jim McAdams, Seguin

James A. McAllen, Linn

William “Alan” McNeill, Beaumont

Len P. Mertz, San Angelo

Evalyn Moore, Richmond

Raymond E. Moore IV, Richmond

Bob Moorhouse, Weatherford

Tom Moorhouse, Benjamin

Beth Knolle Naiser, Sandia

Russell Noble, Ardmore, Oklahoma

Les Nunn, Pauls Valley, Oklahoma

Boots O’Neal, Guthrie

James Palmer, Roaring Springs

Rick Peebles, Baytown

Tim Pennell, Westhoff

Tom Perini, Buffalo Gap

Jim Peters, Quemado

Scott Petty Jr., San Antonio

Bill Phinizy, Gail

Frank Price, Sterling City

Gary Price, Blooming Grove

Mary Joe Reynolds-Montgomery, Fort Worth

Tom L. Roach III, Bozeman, Montana

Charles R. “Butch” Robinson, Navasota

Nolan Ryan, Round Rock

M. Stuart Sasser, Corpus Christi

Gordon E. Sauer, Fredericksburg

Wilson Scaling, Henrietta

Chris Scharbauer, Amarillo

Frates Seeligson Jr., San Antonio

Ed Small, Austin

Danny B. Stewart, Sterling City

Gerald Sullivan, Galveston

Stephen T. “Steve” Swenson, Dallas

Rick Tate, Marfa

Cliff Teinert, Albany

Richard Traylor, Batesville

Robert J. Underbrink, Houston

Tom Watson, Muleshoe

Dennis W. Webb, Barnhart

John Welch, Wolfforth

Richard Wortham, Austin

Ken Welch, Baird

Roger F. Welder, Victoria

A.B. Wharton, Vernon

W.C. “Billy” Williams, Mertzon

David W. Winters, Del Rio

Dr. M. R. “Mike” Wirtz, Brenham

Tom Woodward, Decatur

Bart Wulff, Dallas

Curtis A. Younts Jr., Belton

SPECIAL RANGERS

Faces of Law Enforcement WITH A SMILE

Now 30 years in, TSCRA Market Inspector Robin Gibbs remains enthusiastic in her role.

By Sarah Mullens

Robin Gibbs, a market inspector for Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association, never fails to bring the fun.

She covers auction markets across North Texas, traveling weekly between Gainesville and Paris. This year marks her 30th anniversary with the association.

“I’m a fun-loving girl,” says Gibbs, a Fort Worth native. “I walk around with a smile all day.”

One auctioneer even nicknamed her “Junebug” because of her upbeat attitude.

Livestock markets have always been familiar places because her in-laws owned a market in Bonham. Her husband, Jacky, briefly held the inspector title, but it was only a few months before he passed the torch.

“My husband asked if I could fill in because he was also the auctioneer and ticket rider at the sale barn,” Gibbs says.

She officially took on the job in 1995, and at the time, was the only female market inspector. Gibbs was also a new mother to her two children, Cody and Carson, who are now in their early thirties.

“It was really fun to go to the meetings with all the guys, and then there was little old me,” she says.

Throughout the past three decades, Gibbs has worked countless sales, sharpened her skills and gained friendships with people who she says make the cattle industry feel like home.

“Each sale barn that I go to is different,” she says. “You’ll meet different groups of people and different owners.”

With that in mind, Gibbs says she adapts to the unique rhythm of each livestock market. Over her years as a market inspector, she has learned valuable lessons, making her work more effective.

The use of technology has changed the game for Gibbs and market inspectors all over the Southwest, too.

She remembers how, not long ago, a report from a 1,500-head sale would’ve taken eight-plus hours to write up. Today, it’s three hours. “I love my computer,” Gibbs says. “I hope nothing happens to it; I pray over it all the time.”

While the cattle industry has evolved over the years, Gibbs says she is committed to her role as market inspector and the community she has built. After

decades of examining cattle and watching for theft, she has established strong rapport with cattle raisers and understands their operations.

“I know people’s brands,” Gibbs says. “One day I was at Gainesville and saw a man’s cattle come in with his brand on them; they were stolen.”

Recognizing that theft right away allowed for a faster response, and the stolen cattle were taken back to their owner that day.

“If I see something I know is not right, I will send my special ranger a message,” she says. “And they will do the same.”

Her positive impact on the cattle industry fuels her passion for the job.

“People ask me why I’m still doing this,” she says. “Because it’s fun. I like something to do besides sitting at my house playing with my own cows. I’m a people person; I like to meet all the people and talk to them.” T C

Sarah Mullens, a student at Oklahoma State University, was a summer intern through the Gilly Riojas Memorial Intern Program at Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association.

Robin Gibbs started as a market inspector for Texas & Southwestern Cattle Raisers Association in 1995. Courtesy photo.

New Members

2M Cattle Co. Red Oak

4 Rockin’ P Ranch Beaumont

8K Bar Land & Cattle Co. College Station

A&A Ranch Corrigan

Austin Ackerman Salado

Alexa Alcala Houston

Brynlee Allen McLean

Anderson Cattle Co. Cleveland

Paisley Archer Allison

Amber Arriaga Los Fresnos

Ashton Van Arsdale New Caney

Agustin Ayon Mathis

Ayres Cattle Co. Waelder

Bryce Baca Pflugerville

Bar H Brangus Boswell, Oklahoma

Claire Barbee Hawley

Barbee Ranch Lindale

Samantha Barnard Springtown

JulieAnne Barrett New Braunfels

Brayden Bartosh Livingston

Amie Beetlitz Olton

Kyler Berry Clyde

Hailey Bicking Abilene

Bindseil Ranching Meadowlakes

Black Heart Ranch Kent, Washington

Alleigh Blackwell Iowa Park

Kenneth Blackwell Groom

Blake Studios Benbrook

Blanscet Cattle Co. Henrietta

Rylie Bolling Poolville

Book The Wild Houston

Brittley Bowers Amarillo

Hollis Boyer Christoval

Kelly Brady Keene

Teagen Braun Bartlett

Kelley Brisco Waco

Broussard Farm LLC Beaumont

BSW Cattle San Augustine

Jordyn Bundick Ganado

Caydee Butler Miami

Lauren Butler McKinney

Byrd House Cattle Petersburg

C&S Cattle Santa Fe

C7 Ranch Henrietta Bailey Caballero Lipan

Cantu Farm La Vernia

Chesson Ranch Hamshire

CKI Cattle Co. Slaton

Samantha Clark Elmendorf

Clark Ranch & Horses LLC Pawhuska, Oklahoma

Coastline Cattle LLC El Campo

Coffee Creek Ranch Weatherford

Ty Cook Ravenna

Maci Copeland Stephenville

Claire Corder Scurry

Daniel Corker Seagoville

Covenant Farm Winona

Criadero Paraiso Conroe

Crooked Path Ranch Kempner

Cross H Land LLC Littlefield

Andrea De La Cruz Laredo

Shelley Curry Kennard

Mollie Cutrer Wharton

D3 Land & Cattle Walnut Springs

Dancing Elk Alexander Ranch Mathis

Olievia Dangerfield Katy

David Cattle Pilot Point

Reagan Dejohn Palacios

Dennis Moreland Tack LLC Weatherford

Diamondback Ranch Malakoff

Denisse Diaz Livingston

Jaylie Dickey Mobeetie

Matt Doerge Henderson

Domingue Ranch Katy

Harlie Dorman Hillsboro

Double Cross Nelms Granbury

Double Diamond G San Marcos

The Double K Ranch Austin

Double O Ranch Lovelady

Double S Farm Lubbock

Duncan Ranches Fredericksburg

Terry Ellis Graham

Kamryn Elmere Grandview

Enchanted Oaks Ranch Freeport

Paul Engle Nacogdoches

Fannin Farms DeKalb

FCS Equipment Dallas

Fisher Cattle Co. Frankston

Layne Ford Waller

Wesley Ford Waller

Forth Place Ranch Cranfills Gap

Marly Fosler Amarillo

Cayden Fowler Kaufman

Francois Ranch Copperas Cove

Galvan Leather Pflugerville

Ganske Blackhereford Farm Flint

Gabriella Garcia Pharr

Paityn Garcia Bartlett

Chris Garcia Katy

Alexis Garcia Arlington

Rick & Amy Garrison Dallas

Philip Garvin Dallas

Coleman Glenn Bastrop

Richard Godare Hull

Madeline Gonzalez McKinney

New Members

Kailey Gonzalez Laredo

Kristopher Gorecki Miami

Owen Graham Cameron

Grand Fork Ranch Alba

Leland Green Cleburne

Green Trees Ranch Brazoria

Addison Griffin Kaufman

Thomas Groom Brownwood

Diego Guerra Rio Grande City

Nicolas Guerra Rio Grande City

Lyleen Guerrero Olton

Elliana Gurry Grandview

Wesley Haase Wichita Falls

Kambree Hall Bronson

Angela Hammond Angleton

Hadly Hand Henrietta

Hangin Oak Ranch Madisonville

Ethan Harris

Houston

Kayla Hazlett Canyon

Herzog Cattle Chilton

High Order Operations Shallowater

New Members

Casey Hoff Windthorst

Kelly Hoffman Ledbetter

Scott Parker Hollingshead San Antonio

Jimmy Holmes Austin

Tyler Hooten Garland

Jeremy Horton Naples, Florida

Doug House Jourdanton

Rance Howard Waurika, Oklahoma

Nathan Huggins Hico

Carlos Isasi Pharr

J Bar B Ranch Johnson City

Gilbert Jaime Montague

Jayda Jameson Roaring Springs

Tommie Jenkins Pineland

Jacob Jenschke Fredericksburg

Jernigan Interests LLC Round Top

Blaine Johnson Harper

Jones Cattle Eastland

Cody Jones Runge

Everett Jones Crandell

Jaela Jones Kaufman

Tyson Jones Westbrook

Bo Jordan Center

JX Howard Ranch LLC Iola

K-Feed Nazareth

K&G Farms Gatesville

K3 Ranch Graham

Ayshin Karayaka Katy

Clay Krause Amarillo

Emma Kuehler Argyle

L2R2 LLC Austin

La Reina Cattle Co. Eagle Pass

Last Resort Livestock Burton

Lazy BJ Ranch Crockett

Noah Lee Terrell

Braelyn Leftuich Kaufman

Shawn Leifeste Cameron

Rylie De Leon Crawford

Matthew Lerdy Kipp

Makinley Lesikar Inez

Ragan Levien Junction

Garin Lindsay Garrison

Log Creek Farms Coldspring

Travis Lopez Eddy

Justus Love Christoval

Darcy Luedke Bellville

Charlie Van Luevon Sanger

Lutz Farm & Cattle Cameron

Lytton Springs Cattle & Land Austin

M Bar A Ranch LLC Bowie

Madera Cattle Corsicana

Derrick Martin Amarillo

Cayden Martinez Katy

Matt Anderson Cattle Crockett

Joe McAdams Ardmore, Oklahoma

John McCullar Jr. Lovelady

Samantha McFarland Bastrop

McGee Ranch Bennington, Oklahoma

Frankie McKinney Childress

MD Ranch

Sherman

Evan Meagher Dallas

Erin Mehta San Augustine

Minerva Live Oak Ranch LLC

Taylor

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New Members

Moon Shadow Ranch Heath

Jason Morano Grah

Xavier Moreno Ranger

Jacob Mosley Kingwood

Sloan Moss Lubbock

Leroy Munoz Uvalde

Murray Rankin Farms Bigfoot

N7 Farms & Ag McAllen

Nalls Cattle Co. Edgewood

Leyah Nash Houston

Mason Neelley Vega

Mycah Nicholas Denison

NM Contracting LLC Mission

Normangee Ridge Conroe

Kutter O’Keefe Clarendon

Michael Otto Cypress

Macee Parkey Olton

Brittany Patterson Cypress

Pedernal Land & Cattle LLC Big Spring

Penshorn Cattle Co. LLC Schertz

Lydia Perayes Donna

Kadrian Perez Freer

Emma Peters Klein

Zaylee Peyton Dike

PHJ Ranch Operations Mullin

Shannon Pick Mount Calm

Keylan Poe Needville

Quinn Pool Pontotoc

Wesleigh Pool Orange Grove

Azalee Porter Montgomery

Ella Porter Montgomery

Justin Posey Brownwood

Patsy Potter Lindale

Prime Metal Building Dublin

Abigail Quintana Houston

R Bar W Falls City

R&J Farms Lindale

Rafter P Farm Cleburne

Vincent Rains Iowa Park

Raul Ramos Bedias

Rankin Industries LLC Jacksboro

RB Farms Kenny

Red Creek Ranch Crockett

Red Rock Cattle Co. Lincoln

RedRanch Houston

Braelynn Reeves Ganado

Grady Reinke Axtell

Helena Rendon Houston

Rich in Time Farm Gonzales

Kevin Rivera Krum

RO Ranch Eldorado

Robi Ranch Seguin

Rochelle Ranch Yantis

Rocking B Farms Belton

Romine Cattle Montague

Adres De La Rosa Alamo

Alethea Rosas Pharr

Ross Ranch LP Caldwell

Addison Rouse Kenedy

RS Cattle Winnsboro

Sidney Rutledge Ranger

Laney Sanders Kaufman

Shayla Sanders Marshall

New Members

Karina Sandoval Lovelady

Ethan Santos Mission

Katelyn Schaumleffel Katy

Seth Ralston Dalhart

Timothy & Jennifer Shelton Comanche

Shibler Limited Co. Farmersville

ShillinOut Ranch LLC Jacksonville

Megan Shrum Denison

Payten Shuping Hale Center

Silver Stache Ranch Cranfills Gap

Naomi Simmons Broaddus

Six Bar Six Ranch LLC Athol, Idaho

Brad Smith Dodge

Caeden Snodgrass Cleveland

Audie Speir Saltillo

Michelle Spoon Weatherford

Kaylin Stacey Livingston

Joe Stanfield Farmersville

Kinder Stanley Talco

Lukas Stifflemire Temple

Sutton Farm & Ranch Mineola

Wiley Swan Poteet

Margie Szczvek Hawley

T Bird Ranch Granbury

Taff Land & Cattle Gilmer

David Taylor Coldspring

Johnny Teague Tomball

Texas White House Cattle Operations LLC Bedford

Lilly Thomas Cleburne

Carly Thompson Houston

Sara Tilghman Crawford

Allison Torres Pharr

Gustavo Torres Eddy

Makinzie Tovar Ganado

Ben Troce Dike

Tumblin B Muenster

TW Wiley Fort Worth

Twin Creeks Ranch Wills Point

Amarachi Uche-Eboh Lubbock

Blaze Upton Vernon

Colt Upton Vernon

Kyle Vahlenkamp Miles

Paizlee Velasquez Grandview

Kase Vogler

Vega

Spencer Walahoski Canyon

Kealeigh Walker Ravenna

Kambre Ward

Whitney Emma Wesson Palestine

Nathan White Houston

Tanner Whitworth Terrell

Journei Wilburn Greenville

Jansyn Wilke Edna

Charles B. Wilkison Van

Richard Wiltse Pattonville

Wolf Ridge Cattle Gainesville

Taylor Woodward Lufkin

Wright Farms Gilmer

Macey Wunderlich Spring Branch

Wynn Ranches

San Antonio

Destiny York Allison

Young Ranch Burkett

Zajic Farms Ennis

Auction Markets & Market Inspectors

ANDERSON

Elkhart Horse Auction

Where: Elkhart

Phone: 903-764-1495

Sale Day: Saturday

Contact: Tiffany Patterson, 903-388-7288

ATASCOSA

Atascosa Livestock Exchange

Where: Pleasanton Phone: 830-281-2516

Sale Day: Tuesday

Contact: Marvin Bendele, 210-213-5890

AUSTIN

Four County Auction

Where: Industry Phone: 979-357-2545

Sale Day: Tuesday

Contact: Lisa Sebastian, 979-270-3041

BAILEY

Muleshoe Livestock Auction

Where: Muleshoe

Phone: 806-272-4201

Sale Day: Friday

Contact: Leo Aviles, 956-437-3899

BEE

Beeville Livestock Comm.

Where: Beeville

Phone: 361-358-1727

Sale Day: Friday

Contact: Daniel Keese, 361-449-7942

BOSQUE

Clifton Livestock Comm. LLC

Where: Clifton

Phone: 254-675-7717

Sale Day: Wednesday

Contact: Larry Brown, 254-265-1920

Meridian L/S Comm. Co.

Where: Meridian

Phone: 254-435-2988

Sale Day: Monday

Contact: Larry Brown, 254-265-1920

BOWIE

J & J Livestock Auction

Where: Texarkana

Phone: 903-832-3576

Sale Day: Saturday

Contact: Cheri Beal, 903-280-4554

BRAZOS

Brazos Valley Livestock Comm.

Where: Bryan

Phone: 979-778-0904

Sale Day: Tuesday

Contact: Nina Nygard, 512-281-6753

BURLESON

Caldwell Livestock Comm.

Where: Caldwell Phone: 979-567-4119

Sale Day: Wednesday

Contact: Mark Nygard, 512-281-6330

CALDWELL

Lockhart Auction

Where: Lockhart

Phone: 512-398-3476

Sale Day: Thursday

Contact: Nina Nygard, 512-281-6753

CAMP

Bruce Overstreet Livestock

Where: Pittsburg

Phone: 903-856-3440

Sale Day: Monday

Contact: Michelle Willeford, 903-767-0670

CHEROKEE

Tri County Livestock Market

Where: New Summerfield

Phone: 903-322-4940

Sale Day: Saturday

Contact: Jerry Boulware, 936-465-1597

COLEMAN

Coleman Livestock Auction

Where: Coleman Phone: 325-625-4191

Sale Day: Wednesday

Contact: Dave Williams, 325-669-2030

COLORADO

Cattleman’s Columbus Livestock Auction

Where: Columbus

Phone: 979-732-2622

Sale Day: Wednesday

Contact: Wes Martin, 281-782-4412

COMANCHE

Comanche Livestock Exchange

Where: Comanche

Phone: 325-356-5231

Sale Day: Saturday

Contact: Michael Davis, 254-879-3121

COOKE

The New Gainesville Livestock Auction

Where: Gainesville

Phone: 940-665-4367

Sale Day: Friday

Contact: Robin Gibbs, 903-227-0791

CORYELL

Coryell County Comm.

Where: Gatesville Phone: 254-865-9121

Sale Day: Wednesday

Contact: Ray Davis, 254-718-5512

DALLAM

Cattleman’s Livestock Comm.

Where: Dalhart

Phone: 806-249-5505

Sale Day: Thursday

Contact: Clifton Miller, 806-570-7439

DEAF SMITH

Hereford Livestock Auction

Where: Hereford

Phone: 806-240-3082

Sale Day: Tuesday

Contact: Joe Bob Via, 806-452-9280

DEWITT

Cuero Livestock Comm.

Where: Cuero Phone: 361-275-2329

Sale Day: Friday

Contact: Kaylee Malatek, 979-942-0323

EASTLAND

Texas Cattle Exchange

Where: Eastland Phone: 254-629-2288

Sale Day: Tuesday

Contact: Shondra Davis, 325-642-5542

ERATH

Dublin Livestock Auction

Where: Dublin Phone: 254-445-1734

Sale Day: Friday

Contact: Mike Heck, 806-886-6554

Erath County Dairy Sale

Where: Dublin Phone: 254-968-7253

Sale Day: Friday Contact: Bob McBryde, 940-859-6217

Stephenville Cattle Co.

Where: Stephenville Phone: 254-968-4844

Sale Day: Wednesday Contact: Bob McBryde, 940-859-6217

FAYETTE

Flatonia Livestock Comm.

Where: Flatonia Phone: 361-865-3538

Sale Day: Monday

Contact: Vance Weltner, 210-473-9099

Schulenburg Livestock Auction

Where: Schulenburg Phone: 979-743-6566

Sale Day: Saturday Contact: Vance Weltner, 210-473-9099

FLOYD

Floydada Livestock Sales

Where: Floydada Phone: 806-983-2153

Sale Day: Wednesday

Contact: JE Stone, 806-777-4396

FRIO

Pearsall Livestock Auction

Where: Pearsall

Phone: 830-334-3653

Sale Day: Wednesday

Contact: Clarence Stevens, 210-415-0441

GILLESPIE

Gillespie Livestock Co.

Where: Fredericksburg Phone: 830-997-4394

Sale Day: Wednesday

Contact: Larry Bowden, 210-846-0380

Auction Markets & Market Inspectors

GONZALES

Gonzales Livestock Market

Where: Gonzales

Phone: 830-672-2845

Sale Day: Saturday

Contact: JoGayle Stavena, 979-332-2186

Nixon Livestock Comm.

Where: Nixon

Phone: 830-582-1561

Sale Day: Monday

Contact: Landyn Maguglin, 361-492-9484

GREGG

Longview Livestock

Where: Longview

Phone: 903-235-6385

Sale Day: Thursday

Contact: Paul Pruitt, 903-725-6200

GRIMES

Mid-Tex Livestock Auction

Where: Anderson

Phone: 936-825-3970

Sale Day: Thursday

Contact: Rick Faught, 936-442-1039

Navasota Livestock Auction

Where: Navasota

Phone: 936-825-6545

Sale Day: Saturday

Contact: Rick Faught, 936-442-1039

GUADALUPE

Seguin Cattle Co.

Where: Seguin

Phone: 830-379-9955

Sale Day: Wednesday

Contact: Elizabeth Cortez, 830-857-1945

HAMILTON

Hamilton Livestock Comm.

Where: Hamilton

Phone: 254-386-3185

Sale Day: Tuesday

Contact: Bob McBryde, 940-859-6217

HARDIN

Gore Family Auction Center

Where: Silsbee

Phone: 409-782-0612

Sale Day: Saturday

Contact: Christy McCoy, 409-782-0612

HENDERSON

Athens Comm. Co.

Where: Athens

Phone: 903-675-3333

Sale Day: Friday

Contact: Brandy Baughman, 903-440-4382

HIDALGO

Edinburg Livestock Auction

Where: Edinburg Phone: 956-383-5671

Sale Day: Saturday

Contact: Coney Alvarez Jr., 956-437-3899

HILL

Hubbard Livestock Market

Where: Hubbard Phone: 254-576-2584

Sale Day: Monday

Contact: Patrick Romine, 254-723-0950

HOPKINS

Sulphur Springs Livestock Comm.

Where: Sulphur Springs

Phone: 903-885-2455

Sale Day: Monday

Contact: Paul Pruitt, 903-725-6200

HOUSTON

East Texas Livestock Auction

Where: Crockett

Phone: 936-544-2246

Sale Day: Tuesday

Contact: Cheyenne London, 936-222-3689

HOWARD

Big Spring Livestock Auction

Where: Big Spring

Phone: 432-267-5881

Sale Day: Wednesday

Contact: Bruce Brandenberger, 254-977-5763

JACKSON

Edna Livestock Auction

Where: Edna Phone: 361-782-7666

Sale Day: Monday

Contact: Galynn Mazoch, 979-578-1823

JASPER

Kirbyville Auction Barn

Where: Kirbyville

Phone: 409-423-2612

Sale Day: Saturday

Contact: Erica Morgan, 409-509-1946

JIM WELLS

Gulf Coast Livestock Market

Where: Alice Phone: 361-664-4395

Sale Day: Tuesday

Contact: Ramiro Garcia, 361-460-0008

JOHNSON

Johnson County Cattle Auction

Where: Cleburne Phone: 817-556-9090

Sale Day: Saturday

Contact: Lee Snyder, 254-707-1682

KARNES

Karnes City Auction

Where: Karnes City Phone: 830-780-3382

Sale Day: Wednesday

Contact: Douglas Brunet, 830-708-6537

Karnes County Livestock Exchange

Where: Kenedy Phone: 830-583-2574

Sale Day: Thursday

Contact: Elizabeth Cortez, 830-857-1945

LAMAR

Cattlemen’s Livestock Comm.

Where: Paris

Phone: 903-784-2238

Sale Day: Saturday

Contact: Lana Caldwell, 903-908-0530

Paris Livestock Auction

Where: Paris Phone: 903-739-2575

Sale Day: Wednesday

Contact: Robin Gibbs, 903-227-0791

LAVACA

Hallettsville Livestock Comm.

Where: Hallettsville Phone: 361-798-4336

Sale Day: Tuesday

Contact: Kaylee Malatek, 979-942-0323

LEE

Giddings Livestock Comm.

Where: Giddings Phone: 979-542-2274

Sale Day: Monday Contact: Nina Nygard, 512-281-6753

Lexington Livestock Comm.

Where: Lexington Phone: 979-773-2922

Sale Day: Saturday Contact: Nina Nygard, 512-281-6753

LEON

Buffalo Livestock Comm.

Where: Buffalo Phone: 903-322-4940

Sale Day: Saturday Contact: Cheyenne London, 936-222-3689

LIBERTY

Raywood Livestock Market

Where: Raywood Phone: 936-587-4941

Sale Day: Monday

Contact: Harvey Williamson, 963-334-5325

LIMESTONE

Groesbeck Auction & Livestock

Where: Groesbeck Phone: 254-729-3277

Sale Day: Thursday

Contact: Mallory Steen, 903-390-0594

LIVE OAK

Live Oak Livestock Auction

Where: Three Rivers Phone: 361-786-2553

Sale Day: Monday

Contact: Marvin Bendele, 210-213-5890

MASON

Jordan Cattle Auction

Where: Mason Phone: 325-347-6361

Sale Day: Monday

Contact: Warren Ottmers, 830-669-2262

Auction Markets & Market Inspectors

MCLENNAN

West Auction

Where: West

Phone: 254-826-3725

Sale Day: Thursday

Contact: Ray Davis, 254-718-5512

MEDINA

Union Comm.

Where: Hondo

Phone: 830-741-8061

Sale Day: Monday

Contact: Clarence Stevens, 210-415-0441

MILAM

Milam County Livestock Auction

Where: Cameron Phone: 254-697-6697

Sale Day: Friday

Contact: Rick Faught, 936-442-1039

NACOGDOCHES

Nacogdoches Livestock Exchange

Where: Nacogdoches Phone: 936-564-8661

Sale Day: Thursday

Contact: Michael Witcher, 936-556-0992

NAVARRO

Corsicana Livestock Market

Where: Corsicana

Phone: 903-872-1631

Sale Day: Tuesday

Contact: Katy Webb, 903-388-4390

PANOLA

Carthage Livestock Auction LLC

Where: Carthage

Phone: 903-693-6361

Sale Day: Tuesday

Contact: Lori Blankenship, 936-234-3441

POLK

Livingston Livestock Exchange

Where: Livingston Phone: 936-327-4917

Sale Day: Saturday

Contact: Harvey Williamson, 963-334-5325

POTTER

Lonestar Stockyards

Where: Amarillo

Phone: 806-677-0777

Sale Day: Tuesday

Contact: Gary McClellan, 806-334-0517

RAINS

Emory Livestock Auction

Where: Emory

Phone: 903-473-2512

Sale Days: Tuesday & Saturday

Contact: Brandy Baughman, 903-440-4382

ROBERTSON

Calvert Livestock Co.

Where: Calvert

Phone: 979-364-2829

Sale Day: Friday

Contact: Ray Davis, 254-718-5512

RUSK

Hunt Livestock Exchange

Where: Henderson

Phone: 903-657-2690

Sale Day: Monday

Contact: Samuel Steadman, 318-617-1141

SAN SABA

Jordan Cattle Auction

Where: San Saba

Phone: 325-372-5159

Sale Day: Thursday

Contact: David Munden, 325-456-7253

SHELBY

Center Auction Co.

Where: Center

Phone: 936-598-4395

Sale Day: Wednesday

Contact: Michael Witcher, 936-556-0992

STARR

Triple G Livestock Auction LLC

Where: Rio Grande City

Phone: 956-437-1988

Sale Day: Friday

Contact: Coney Alvarez Jr., 956-437-3899

SWISHER

Tulia Livestock Auction

Where: Tulia Phone: 806-995-4184

Sale Day: Thursday

Contact: Tommy Thompson, 806-690-4080

TAYLOR

Abilene Auction

Where: Abilene Phone: 325-673-7865

Sale Day: Tuesday

Contact: Dave Williams, 325-669-2030

TITUS

Stone Livestock Comm.

Where: Mt. Pleasant

Phone: 903-575-9099

Sale Day: Tuesday

Contact: Paul Pruitt, 903-725-6200

TOM GREEN

Producers Livestock Auction

Where: San Angelo

Phone: 325-653-3371

Sale Day: Thursday

Contact: Bruce Halfmann, 325-315-5972

UVALDE

Southwest Livestock Exchange

Where: Uvalde

Phone: 830-278-5621

Sale Day: Thursday

Contact: Clarence Stevens, 210-415-0441

VAN ZANDT

Mort Livestock Exchange

Where: Canton Phone: 903-287-6386

Sale Day: Special Sales Only

Contact: Paul Pruitt, 903-725-6200

WASHINGTON

Brenham Livestock Auction

Where: Brenham

Phone: 979-836-3621

Sale Day: Friday

Contact: Lisa Sebastian, 979-270-3041

WHARTON

El Campo Livestock Exchange LLC

Where: El Campo

Phone: 979-543-2703

Sale Day: Tuesday

Contact: Galynn Mazoch, 979-578-1823

Wharton Livestock Auction

Where: Wharton

Phone: 979-532-3660

Sale Day: Wednesday

Contact: Megan Stavena, 979-320-4228

WICHITA

Wichita Livestock Sales

Where: Wichita Falls Phone: 940-541-2222

Sale Day: Wednesday Contact: R.C. Langford, 832-330-7279

WISE

Decatur Livestock Market

Where: Decatur Phone: 940-627-5599

Sale Day: Monday

Contact: Rebecca Benson, 940-389-6382

WOOD

Winnsboro Livestock Auction

Where: Winnsboro Phone: 903-365-2201

Sale Day: Friday

Contact: Alan Pruitt, 903-725-6200

YOUNG

Graham Livestock Comm. LLC

Where: Graham Phone: 940-549-0078

Sale Day: Monday

Contact: Ronnie Ober, 817-371-7071

BRANGUS CHAROLAIS

BEEFMASTER

CHAROLAIS BULLS

One or a truckload - Give us a call SW&S Cattle Company Don and Kathy Schill 903-388-1342 • Donie, Texas

T HOMAS CHAR O LAIS, INC . P.O. Box 595 • Raymondville, Texas 78580

Mitch Thomas: 956-535-0936

Tonnyre Thomas Joe: 956-535-0942 thomasra@gte.net www.thomascharolais.com

BAR J BAR HEREFORD RANCH

COATES RANCH COMPANY

Ranch located six miles north of Big Lake, Texas on Highway 137.

Steve Wayne Coates Box 645 Mertzon, TX 76941 325/835-2531

DOUBLE DIAMOND HEREFORDS

Registered Polled Herefords

McDade, Texas Rusk, Texas 512.970.1595 512.970.3588

www.DoubleDiamondHerefords.com

TX 75762

903-520-0390 mbpga@aol.com

903-530-8551 wtnca@aol.com

“Registered Herefords Since 1938” Email: john@dudleybros.com

Theuret Herefords Horned Bulls and Females

John 325-642-0745 Tom 325-642-0748 Comanche, Texas; Ph 325-356-2284

923 Hillside Ave. Canadian, TX 79014 806-323-2906 lee@indianmoundranch.com www.indianmoundranch.com Lee & Jacqui Haygood

CR 165, Kenedy, TX 78119 theuret@sbcglobal.net 210-315-0103

J .T . E chols DVM P.O. Box 709 Breckenridge, TX 76424 Of: (254) 559-9739 • Cell: (254) 559-0156 muleshoeranch@gmail.com

NOACK HEREF OR DS

“Quality Registered Herefords” Est.1921 – Bulls for sale at all times out of good milking cows Office: 512-446-6200 Cell: 979-218-0065

Santa Gertrudis

641-4771

BRIGGS RANCHES P.O. Box 1417 Victoria, Texas 77902 361/573-7141

Traylor Division San Roque DivisionSan Carlos Division Bloomington, TX Catarina, TXRio Grande City, TX Joe Jones-Manager • 361/897-1337

AND LIVESTOCK –

± acres a few miles southeast of Tucumcari, NM in Quay County. A total of 112.3 ± acres irrigated, 107 ± acres of native grassland, and 40 ± acres of dry farmland is combined with a 20’

or Red Simbrah • SimAngus HT • SimAngus

ATTLE C OMPAN Y Joe & Beth Mercer 327 CR 459, Lott, TX 76656 • 956-802-6995 bethmercer1974@gmail.com • www.filegoniacattle.com

(806) 983-7225 mbl. / fosterbros@att.net

David & DarLee Foster (806) 652-3824 (806) 983-7221

With crisp, clean markings, you can personalize Allflex Custom Tags with a logo, promote practices and sort cattle by combining colors with custom text.

Upcoming Events

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

OCTOBER

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 1

TSCRA Young Cattlemen’s Conference and Spring Internships Applications Due

Halfmann Land & Livestock: 2025 Annual Fall Sale Where: Miles When: 1 p.m.

THURSDAY, OCT. 2

Dudley Bros: 64th Annual Bull Sale Where: Comanche When: 12 p.m.

Bayou Creek Ranch: 7th Annual Production Sale

Where: Lone Grove, Oklahoma When: 1 p.m.

On the Road with TSCRA: New World Screwworm Education Where: Producers Coop, Bryan When: 6 p.m.

SATURDAY, OCT. 4

TSCRA & TCU Ranch Management Football Tailgate Where: Fort Worth When: TBD

TUESDAY, OCT. 7

McKenzie Land & Livestock: 2nd Annual Fall Bull Sale Where: Fort Stockton When: 1 p.m.

TUESDAY, OCT. 7 -

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 8

R.A. Brown Ranch: Bull, Female & Quarter Horse Sales Where: Throckmorton

THURSDAY, OCT. 9

Special Bull Sale

Where: Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba When: 10 a.m.

GKB Cattle: 2nd Annual Fall Bull Sale Where: Desdemona When: 12 p.m.

TSCRA Ranch Gathering Where: Westhoff When: 5:30 p.m.

SATURDAY, OCT. 11

Thomas Charolais: 24th Annual Bull Sale Where: Raymondville When: 1 p.m.

SUNDAY, OCT. 12TUESDAY, OCT. 14

Texas Cattle Feeders Assoc. Annual Convention Where: Fort Worth

TUESDAY, OCT. 14

Powell Ranch Herefords: 28th Annual Production Sale Where: Fort McKavett When: 12:30 p.m.

TSCRA Ranch Gathering Where: San Angelo When: 5:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 15

12th Annual Hill Country Youth Heifer Sale Where: Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba When: 11 a.m.

THURSDAY, OCT. 16

TSCRA Ranch Gathering Where: Fredericksburg When: 5:30 p.m.

Wilks Ranch: Elite Female Sale Where: Eastland When: 6 p.m.

FRIDAY, OCT. 17SATURDAY, OCT. 18

Strait Ranches & Hefte Ranch: 2025 StraitHefte Tried & True Production Sale Where: Streetman

SATURDAY, OCT. 18

Beefmaster Beef-on-Forage Genetics: Bull & Female Sale Where: Brenham

MONDAY, OCT. 20

TSCRA Ranch Gathering Where: Buffalo Gap When: 5:30 p.m.

TUESDAY, OCT. 21

Ranching 101: Disease DefenseRecognizing & Treating Common Illnesses Where: Online When: 1 p.m.

SATURDAY, OCT. 25

44 Farms: Fall Bull Sale Where: Cameron When: 10 a.m.

Fall “Best of the Best” Replacement Female Sale

Where: Jordan Cattle Auction, San Saba When: 10 a.m.

South Texas Hereford Assoc.: Fall Bull Sale & Pride of Texas Female Sale

Where: Beeville Livestock Comm., Beeville When: 12 p.m.

Oak Creek Farms: Fall Brangus Bull Sale Where: Chappell Hill When: 12:30 p.m.

7P Ranch: 50th Annual Fall Production Sale Where: Winona When: 1 p.m.

Nipp Charolais: 17th Annual Bull & Female Sale Where: Wilson, Oklahoma When: 1 p.m.

TSCRA & Texas Tech Football Tailgate Where: Lubbock When: TBD

SUNDAY, OCT. 26TUESDAY, OCT. 28 Farmer Veteran Stakeholders Conference Where: Waco Convention Center, Waco

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 29

TSCRA Ranch Gathering Where: Leonard When: 5:30 p.m.

S

U

W

OCTOBER 1925

A century ago, writer A.L. Spellmeyer shared a prediction that a land boom and population increase was headed to West Texas and the Panhandle.

“The Marfa and Alpine districts have fine grass, and the Panhandle is one great sea of fine cattle, waving milo and profitable cotton,” Spellmeyer wrote. He projected the city of Amarillo would quadruple its population in the next five years, along with many others.

“The development of pending irrigation problems along the Canadian will ensure the permanency of that Texas prosperity and growth,” he said.

Featured on the cover was 10-year-old Maxine Mayes and her horse, Fritz. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H.R. Mayes, San Angelo, and granddaughter of J.A. Todd, Muskogee, Oklahoma. T C

Gulf?

after Planting fter Planting

after Planting

“Several years ago I made the switch to Nelson Tetraploid Ryegrass from Gulf ryegrass. NO WAY I’m going back to Gulf... Nelson increases forage production and extends grazing days. With Nelson, the ranch is producing more Beef, and that means more dollars to our bottom line ... with only a little extra seed cost. The extra production from this switch to Nelson really helps to reduce our costs. (fertilizer and fuel costs)

I’m staying with Nelson Ryegrass! NO WAY I’m going back... My cattle like it... and so do I!”

Carlos Bonnot - DVM

Bonnot Ranch • La Ward, Texas

T h e re’s n othing lik e a 4 4 Fa r m s