Section B February 4, 2023

Couple showcases ranch-raised kids through series of publications

It all started in 2016 at the Arizona Cowpunchers Reunion Association Rodeo in Williams, Ariz.

After traveling the world together, photographing and writing about exciting places, couple Seth Joel and Charlie Holland of Seth Joel Photography found themselves somewhat “out of place” but also inspired and welcomed by the Southwest ranching community.

The response when they got home to Los Angeles and shared their travels was, “Wow, I didn’t know people still did that.”

So, Joel and Holland set out on their newest adventure – a project dedicated to informing people “who are not from around here” about how cattle are raised and who does the work in this day and age.

“We were invited to watch some kids compete and were amazed to find they had 200 friends, all as polite, talented and fun as they were. They were dressed like 19th century cowboys, but they had cell phones in their pockets,” reminisced Holland. “They lived 35 miles off the road but were well-educated. We wanted to know more about them and tell the story of contemporary ranching through their eyes – as they see themselves.”

Joel and Holland’s work began in Arizona, moved to California, and now they have a third installment –New Mexico – with a set of coffee table books with photographs, quotes and stories of youth as diverse as the landscapes they’re raised on.

“Our goal is to capture, in pictures and words, the work and lifestyle of fami lies who raise cattle. Tell ing their stories through the eyes and words of their kids is our way of showing our respect and faith in the future of ranching in Amer ica,” explained Holland.

Publications

The first book, “Ari zona Ranch Raised Kids,” was published in 2018 with the support of the Arizona Cattle Growers’ Associa tion and the Arizona Cattle Industry Foundation.

From photographs to the shared stories and words, straight from the mouths of ranch-raised kids, the cou ple said they were struck by the resourcefulness of the ranchers and animals in Arizona.

“We understood cattle ranching in Arizona uses land which is not suitable for any other agricultural use. This makes for some tough cowboying,” note Joel and Holland.

The second book, “California Ranch Raised Kids,” was published in 2020 in partnership with the California Cattlemen’s Foundation and the Cali fornia CattleWomen.

“In California we were

struck by how much ranchland was being lost to development and how ranchers were being squeezed by urban sprawl,” said Joel and Holland. “Very few ranches have contiguous pastures. They haul a lot.”

New Mexico is the most recent stop in Joel and Holland’s “Ranch Raised Kids” journey. In partnership with the Cattlegrowers’ Foundation, they have photographed and interviewed kids on 25 ranches in areas of New Mexico.

The newest book, “New Mexico Ranch Raised Kids,” will be published in fall of 2023.

“In New Mexico, we understood how vulnerable the ranching business is to the uncontrollable weather. Extremes of heat, drought, cold and wind affect the outcome of the cattle business in clear, hard ways. Large, vast parcels of land are still intact, the remains or the reforming of old Spanish land grants,” wrote Joel and Holland.

Ranch-raised kids are special

When asked how ranchraised kids might be different, Holland answered, “Instead of saying how they differ from ‘urban kids,’ let’s just talk about the things that make them special.”

A few of the reasons Joel and Holland believe ranchraised kids are so special are as follows.

They are not afraid to get dirty.

Kids who live far out of town are not lonely – they are happy for the peace.

They do not consider being polite a burden. They

Kind-hearted caretaker – “People think we are cruel to our animals, but we are not. We try our hardest to take care of them and give them a good life,” says Kyle Fowie, pictured, a 12-year-old and fifth generation rancher on the KK Bar Ranches in Etena, Calif. Seth Joel photo

Inspiring rancher – “I never thought about anything else. From the day someone asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I said ‘rancher,’” says 18-year-old Ryan Klump, pictured, of Dos Cabezas Cattle Company in Cowie, Ariz. Seth Joel photo

mature because they learn to intuit how large, speechless animals will act.

They are given responsibility, so they take responsibility.

They are mature beyond their years.

They are comfortable

nity to earn trust. They do things other kids are not allowed to do because they need to be able to pull their weight in an emergency, they do dangerous work and they don’t quit until the work is done. Future work

Little horsemen – “I will ride or walk as far as I need to – to fish,” says Tommy Fogarty, 10, pictured with his sister Rissa at the Anchor Ranch in Lone Pine, Calif. Seth Joel photo

quite finished.

“We will continue to tell the story of ranching, through the unique and shared experiences of kids being brought up in this life,” Holland said.

raised kids. Heidi Crnkovic is the associate editor for AGDAILY. She is a New Mexico native with deepseated roots in the Southwest and a passion for all things agriculture. This article was originally published in AGDAILY on Dec. 19, 2022 and can be found at agdaily.com

udders, bad feet, cancer eye or poor temperament. ey summer at 5000 to 8000 ft elevation on some 7000 acres of mountain forage. ere is no creep feeding or hot rations. Our goal is to provide you with some of the freshest and most proven genetics that the industry has to o er; with bred in performance and an unconditional soundness guarantee. Come see for yourselves how Rees Bros can help your program. You'll be happy you did.

By Lynn Harlan

The American Sheep Industry (ASI) held their annual convention recently in Fort Worth, Texas. Fort Worth is where cattle drives to the North all started. The sheep industry in America is a small knit group, and 400plus attendees fit nicely in to one Texas-sized hotel.

All sizes of flocks were represented, from smaller farm flocks in the East and Midwest, to large range operations in the West. Sheep are a well-diversified animal, providing flavorful loins, legs and chops as well as wonderful,

warm, wool clothing.

Sheep are also stars in the solar grazing field, where flocks of sheep are grazed under and near solar panels –not only keeping weeds down but eating grass growing under the panel’s rain run-off as well. Sheep are also high in demand for grazing vineyards and ski areas during summer months.

Attendees at this year’s convention know how wonderful sheep are. We were all just hoping for some good news in our industry. The lamb, wool and pelt mar-

kets are depressed, and better days don’t seem to be coming along anytime soon. It will be helpful for all of agriculture if the farm bill passes this September.

But, back to the good news – hotel chefs at the convention did an amazing job with the tasty lamb donated by Double JJ Lamb – Texas of San Angelo, Texas. There were good, informative sessions, as always, and the tours were fun.

Wyoming’s own Dr. Jim Logan received the Peter Orwick Camptender Award. He shared this with Dr. Cindy Wolf of Minnesota.

Make It With Wool contestants are always a bright spot, with their wonderfully constructed wool garments. Madi Dunning, a contestant from Encampment, made it to the top 10 in judging.

Of course, a trip to the historic Fort Worth Stockyards was in order, with its remain-

ing yards and catwalk. Many old buildings have been repurposed into shops and pubs. And, no trip to Fort Worth is complete without a visit to the Duke John Wayne’s An American Experience Museum.

Trips to and from the airport and around town were taken in “Ewe-bers” – I told you the sheep is a special animal. For those who haven’t been there, the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport is as big as Manhattan’s inland area.

We had different nationalities of Uber drivers, for example, Rwanda, Ethiopia and a native Texan or two. The most interesting driver was our last one when we were leaving to come home. He was born in Palestine, moved with his family to Jordan, Texas when he was young and decided to come study in America when he was 16 years old.

He became an engineer, married an Irish gal, raised a

JC HEIKEN ANGUS & SONS

successful family and retired. He drives an Uber occasionally because he likes people.

He also loves lamb. He is an “ethnic buyer,” which is one of the fastest growing consumer groups of American lamb. He buys a live lamb and will sacrifice it in a ceremonial way, cut it up and share the meat and then have a feast celebrating a religious holiday.

By the end of the ride, he and Bob shook hands and both said there could have been a business, perhaps if they were younger.

Wyoming is well represented on the ASI board with Brad Boner of Glenrock coming in as president. Brad has already spent four years on the board and will reign as president for the next two years.

Peter John Camino of Buffalo will continue on as chairman of the Lamb Board, and Lee Isenberger of Gillette sits on the Wool Coun-

cil. Outgoing President Susan Schultz of Ohio asked young people to get involved, and Kate Harlan jumped in with both feet being nominated to the National Lamb Feeders position on the executive board.

Kate was actually not at the convention as her travel plans were scrubbed with the storm snafu in Denver, but she’s assured her parents will be home next year to do the feeding as Bob Harlan’s term as National Lamb Feeders representative on the executive board was up.

We’re all home now enjoying the last of January, as much as below-zero temps and plenty of snow can be tolerated.

Wendell Berry says, “You think winter will never end, and then, when you don’t expect it, when you have almost forgotten about it, warmth comes in a different light.”

SALE

Top Sellers

Fall bulls

Lot 49 – VZR FRON-

TIERSMAN 2146 – Seller:

Ryan and Bridgette Van

Zee Price: $12,250 DOB:

10/20/2021 Sire: Ellingson

Frontiersman 7132 Dam’s

Sire: SAV Harvestor 0338

EPDs: BW: +5, WW: +78, YW: +151 and Milk: +24

Buyer: Gary Siverson, Bismarck, N.D.

Lot 52 – GAFFNEY

GROWTH FUND 183 –

Seller: Gaffney Family

Cattle Price: $6,500 DOB:

08/23/2021 Sire: Deer Val-

ley Growth Fund Dam’s

Sire: RB Tour of Duty

EPDs: BW: +2.2, WW:

+71, YW: +129 and Milk:

+29 Buyer: Ballou Angus

Ranch, Hulett

Lot 50 – DANDY

ACRES DUALLY 2141

– Seller: Dandy Acres

Angus Price: $5,500 DOB:

09/12/2021 Sire: DL Dually

Dam’s Sire: SAV Bismarck

5682 EPDs: BW: +1.9, WW: +77, YW: +129 and Milk: +18 Buyer: Stan Williamson, Garretson, S.D.

Lot 53 – TR PIERC-

ING 1369J – Seller:

N/A, YW: N/A and Milk:

N/A Buyer: Collins Ranches

LLC, Biddle, Mont.

Lot 40 – BULLERMAN

CORK 2080 – Seller: Bull-

erman Angus Price: $7,000

DOB: 01/23/2022 Sire: JAR

Cork F944 Dam’s Sire: SAV

Quarterback 7933 EPDs:

BW: +2.7, WW: +93, YW:

+162 and Milk: +29 Buyer:

Minow Ranch, Olive, Mont.

Lot 39 – BSF KING

RANCH 2203 – Seller:

Becker Stock Farm Price:

$6,500 DOB: 02/02/2022

Sire: KR Cadillac Ranch

Dam’s Sire: Dameron First Class EPDs: BW: +2.3,

WW: +76, YW: +131 and Milk: +23 Buyer: Ron

Wollmuth, Moffit, N.D.

Lot 46 – BULLERMAN SHAMROCK

2014 – Seller: Bullerman

Angus Price: $6,250 DOB:

01/03/2022 Sire: Connealy

Shamrock Dam’s Sire: H

A Cowboy Up 5405 EPDs:

BW: +3.1, WW: +92, YW:

+153 and Milk: +27 Buyer:

Minow Ranch, Olive, Mont.

Lot 29 – DSA GROWTH

FUND 292K – Seller: Dou-

ble S Angus Price: $5,750

DOB: 02/28/2022 Sire:

Deer Valley Growth Fund

Dam’s Sire: GCR Unbe-

lievable 393B EPDs: BW:

+0.4, WW: +82, YW: +144 and Milk: +27 Buyer: Bal-

lou Angus Ranch, Hulett

Lot 38 – SPRING

CREEKS PACIFIC COAST

– Seller: Spring Creeks Cat-

tle Company Price: $5,500

DOB: 02/07/2022 Sire:

Sterling Pacific 904 Dam’s

Sire: SAV Pedigree 4834

EPDs: BW: +2.1, WW:

Zee Price: $7,250 DOB: 09/24/2021 Sire: SCC SCH 24 Karat 838 Dam’s Sire:

EXAR Classen 1422B

EPDs: BW: +4.2, WW: +66, YW: +111 and Milk: +27

Buyer: Dustin Schwaller, Milford, Iowa

Lot 58 – FLYING V

WESTERN EDGE 9J –

Seller: Vandeberghe’s Flying V Angus Price: $6,000

DOB: 01/30/2021 Sire:

Deer Valley Growth Fund

Dam’s Sire: Bubs Southern Charm AA31 EPDs:

BW: +2.1, WW: +93, YW: +164 and Milk: +29

Buyer: Bochek Stock Farm, Vienna, S.D.

Lot 51X – GAFFNEY

PLUS ONE 1113 – Seller:

Paige Gaffney Price: $6,000

DOB: 09/11/2021 Sire:

E&B Plus One Dam’s Sire: Werner War Party 2417

EPDs: BW: +0.1, WW: +58, YW: +114 and Milk:

+26 Buyer: Collins Ranchs, LLC, Biddle, Mont.

Lot 57 – KAR GOOSE 153 – Seller: Kammerer

Livestock Price: $5,500

DOB: 02/24/2021 Sire: KR

Synergy Dam’s Sire: SAV Brilliance 8077 EPDs: BW: -0.1, WW: +57, YW: +95 and Milk: +22 Buyer: Jake Kammerer, Rapid City, S.D.

Yearling heifers

Lot 14 – CHEST-

NUT QUEEN LUCY 235

– Seller: Chestnut Angus Price: $18,000 DOB: 01/17/2022 Sire: Chestnut

Redemption 38 Dam’s Sire: Vision Unanimous 1418

EPDs: BW: +2.9, WW: +82, YW: +144 and Milk: +22 Buyer: Lindskov’s LT Ranch, Isabel, S.D.

Lot 15 – KR LESLIES DREAM 2585 –Seller: Payton and Harper Scott Price: $12,500 DOB: 01/15/2022 Sire: Connealy Hayday Dam’s Sire: Colburn Primo 5153 EPDs: BW: -0.7, WW: +62, YW: +105 and Milk: +28 Buyer: Jim Crouse, Belgrade, Neb. Lot 16 – GAFFNEY

QUEEN RUTH 204 –Seller: Kelly Gaffney Price: $9,000 DOB: 01/14/2022 Sire: PVF Surveillance 4129 Dam’s Sire: PVF Insight 0129 EPDs: BW:

+1.3, WW: +46, YW: +74 and Milk: +28 Buyer: Russell Stinson, Hulett

Lot 11 – BSF FC

CADILLAC QUEEN 2201

– Seller: Becker Stock

Farm Price: $8,000 DOB:

02/01/2022 Sire: KR Cadil-

lac Ranch Dam’s Sire:

Dameron First Class EPDs:

BW: +2.2, WW: +76, YW:

+131 and Milk: +23 Buyer: Jon Brown, Devils Lake, N.D.

Lot 2 – TR MS DUCHESS 2907K ET – Seller: Thomas Ranch Price: $4,500 DOB: 04/22/2022

Sire: EXAR Classen 1422B

Dam’s Sire: SAV Brilliance

8077 EPDs: BW: +3.1, WW: +58, YW: +97 and Milk: +20 Buyer: Erling

Olsen, Dupree, S.D.

Lot 9 – TW COMMANCHES 2801-2822 – Seller:

Tate Williams Price: $4,250

DOB: 02/17/2022 Sire:

Sitz Barricade 632F Dam’s

Sire: TW Brand Name 3616

EPDs: BW: +3.6, WW: +73, YW: +128 and Milk: +22 Buyer: James Hegg, Bruce, S.D.

Lot 13 – DANDY

ACRES BLACKBIRD

2238 – Seller: Dandy Acres

Angus Price: $4,000 DOB:

01/18/2022 Sire: DL Dually

Dam’s Sire: Dandy Acres

Frontline 26 EPDs: BW: +2.5, WW: +70, YW: +122 and Milk: +22 Buyer: Lindskov’s LT Ranch, Isabel, S.D.

Bred heifers Lot 20 – WEBER

MONTANA SKY 30J –

Seller: Weber Brother’s Cattle Company Price:

$14,500 DOB: 02/01/2021

Sire: S&R Roundtable J328

Dam’s Sire: PVF Insight 0129 EPDs: BW:

PVF

TCF Frozen 6078 EPDs:

BW: +2.1, WW: +76, YW: +142 and Milk: +27 Buyer:

Doug Simons, Enning, S.D.

Lot 25 – WEBER

EXCLUSIVE 52K – Seller:

Weber Brother’s Cattle

Company Price: $8,000

DOB: 03/24/2022 Sire:

Musgrave 316 Exclusive

Dam’s Sire: PVF Insight

0129 EPDs: BW: +1.9, WW: +62, YW: +107 and Milk: +28 Buyer: Dartt

Angus, Wall, S.D.

Lot 30 – WEBER

EXCLUSIVE 43K – Seller:

Weber Brother’s Cattle Company Price: $7,500

DOB: 02/22/2022 Sire:

Musgrave 316 Exclusive

Dam’s Sire: PVF Insight

0129 EPDs: BW: +2.5, WW: +66, YW: +112 and Milk: +25 Buyer: Weber

Brother’s Cattle Company, Lake Benton, Minn.

Lot 31 – LSGM GUAR-

ANTEED ANNUITY K203

– Seller: Gailen Misk and

Lyle Sukup Price: $7,500

DOB: 02/19/2022 Sire:

CAR DON Annuity 114

Dam’s Sire: DHD Traveler

6807 EPDs: BW: N/A, WW:

+75, YW: +132 and Milk:

+24 Buyer: Ken Rhoden, Union Center, S.D.

Lot 34 – TW RECOVER

7022 – Seller: Tate Wil-

liams Price: $5,250 DOB:

2/13/2022 Sire: Sitz Resil-

ient 10208 Dam’s Sire: Cen-

tennial Windy 083 EPDs:

BW: -0.4, WW: +64, YW:

+113 and Milk: +24 Buyer:

Matt Amick, Letcher, S.D. Two-year-old bulls

Lot 48X – S & R STA-

BILITY J162 – Seller: S & R

Angus Price: $9,750 DOB:

10/05/2021 Sire: S & R Sta-

bility J842 Dam’s Sire: S & R Roundtable J328 EPDs:

BW: +0.5, WW: +54, YW: +88 and Milk: +20 Buyer:

Chestnut Angus, Pipestone, Minn.

KARAT

Experts predict high food inflation in the U.S. will persist throughout 2023

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) 2023 Food Price Outlook, food prices increased 9.9 percent in 2022, with all food price categories tracking more than five percent above previous year levels.

Following a year’s worth of skyrocketing food prices, USDA doesn’t believe there will be any relief from high food inflation in the near future.

In fact, while the department expects food prices to grow more slowly over coming months than they did in the past year, they still predict above-historical-average rates and have forecast 2023 food prices to increase by 7.1 percent.

Consumer Price Index

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) for food, a measure of economy-wide inflation, was down 0.3 percent from November 2022 to December 2022, but was up 6.5 percent from December 2021.

“The level of food price inflation varies depending on whether the food was purchased for consumption at home or away from home,” writes USDA. “The food-at-home – grocery store or supermarket purchases – CPI increased 0.3 percent from November 2022 to December 2022 and was 11.8 percent higher than

December 2021.”

Comparatively, the foodaway-from-home – restaurant purchases – CPI increased 0.4 percent in December 2022 and was 8.3 percent higher than December 2021, according to USDA.

CPI price predictions

USDA explains the primary forecasting methodology used in their Food Price Outlook changed between December 2022 and January 2023.

“Data using legacy methods will continue to be published alongside the primary methods but will not be reported in the summary findings,” says USDA. “The updated primary methods are based entirely on statistical models fitted to recent trends in the data. These methods provide wider initial prediction intervals, which narrow over the forecast period as more data becomes available and the degree of uncertainty declines.”

With this said, USDA points out prices are expected to decrease for three price categories in 2023, including a 1.8 percent decrease in beef and veal prices, a three percent decrease in pork prices and a 1.7 percent decrease in fresh fruit prices.

The department also predicts an increase over the next year for eight food

categories including other meats, up 12.8 percent; dairy products, up eight percent; fats and oils, up 16.5 percent; processed fruits and vegetables, up 9.6 percent; sugar and sweets, up 10.6 percent; cereals and bakery products, up 12 percent; nonalcoholic beverages, up 8.7 percent and other foods, up 6.8 percent.

Record-high egg prices

Additionally, USDA forecasts egg prices to continue increasing up to 27.3 percent throughout the next year. The department notes retail egg prices increased 11.1 percent in December 2022, 59.9 percent higher than prices from the year before.

While USDA notes it is normal for egg prices to jump during holiday seasons or times of economic strain, today’s record-high egg prices are the result of a highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) outbreak, a booming demand for egg consumption, the high cost of production, including higher fuel, feed and fertilizer costs and inflation in general.

“The ongoing outbreak of HPAI continues to reduce the U.S. egg/layer flock, as well as the poultry flock, to a lesser extent,” says USDA. “This decrease is expected to increase wholesale and retail egg prices for coming months. The HPAI out-

break has contributed to elevated egg and poultry prices as over 57 million birds, 300 commercial flocks and 47 states have been affected.”

In states where HPAI decimated poultry flocks, the demand for laying hens and eggs for consumption and food preparation outpaced supplies. In fact, USDA reported egg inventories were 29 percent lower in the final week of December 2022 than the year previous.

“On constrained supplies, wholesale egg prices were elevated throughout the year. The HPAI recurrences in the fall further constrained egg inventories, which had not recovered from the spring wave,” writes USDA.

In a Jan. 27 Farm Prog-

ress article written by Gail Ellis, Oklahoma State University Extension Food Economics Specialist Rodney Holcomb notes, “The price of chicken also went up last year because of HPAI, but the rebound is faster for broilers. It only takes about six weeks to go from a hatched chick to a broiler ready for market.”

In contrast, Holcomb explains laying hens take months to grow to sexual maturity, start laying eggs and provide a consistent supply at peak production.

“After flocks had to be euthanized following the HPAI outbreak, all of those birds had to be replaced,” reiterates Stephanie Klein, program specialist in the Department of Poultry Sci-

February 16, 2023

ence at Texas A&M University, in a Jan. 24 article published by KXAN News.

“Egg producers have been repopulating their coops, and many of the chicks will hatch in the next few weeks. After they emerge from their shells, it takes around 20 weeks until they can start laying eggs of their own and 40 weeks before they reach their peak production levels,” she adds.

With this said, Klein believes egg prices may begin returning to more normal levels after August of this year.

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

1

There IS a Difference!

Our bulls breed in large pastures, competing with other bulls, ensuring structural soundness & breeding instinct. Any bull can breed in a single sire breeding unit, but yours don't & neither do ours. All our calves are DNA' d for sire confirmation.

We have always focused on the fertile, low maintenance female. Our cows continue to breed in the mid 90 percentile in these years of drought, fires, grasshoppers, limited water and minimal winter feed. They do this on grass, water and mineral.

We have over 50 years of combined breeding experience backing every bull we sell. Our genetics have been developed in range conditions to excel in range conditions. We are confident our bulls will work for you, because we use our bulls and they work for us.

There is a difference!

Our bulls are affordable, typically averaging $3,500.

50+ 2-YEAR-OLD BULLS

25+ YEARLING BULLS (MOST SUITABLE FOR HEIFERS)

25 BRED HOME-RAISED F1 BALDY 3-YEAR-OLD COWS WHO HAVE RAISED A CALF

3 YOUNG RANCH RAISED & RANCH-RIDDEN SADDLE HORSES

Adobe Stock photo

SALE REPORTS

McConnell Angus Ranch Annual Bull and Female Sale

Top

Marcy Livestock Angus Bull Sale

WW: +82, YW: +142 and

The U.S. economy will progressively slow through the first half of 2023 and fears of a recession are still high and warranted. Inflation and interest rate increases intended to combat swiftly rising prices are behind the broad economic slowdown.

But, with the unemployment rate at a 53-year low and inflation trending lower, forecasts are turning at least a little less gloomy.

U.S. consumers are still spending but doing so by increasing dependence

CoBank

Quarterly: Inflation is beginning to loosen its grip

on credit. They are also finally pushing back on price increases on goods, a response to continuous declines in real wages and dwindling reserves of pandemic savings.

Like consumers, businesses economy-wide are also spending more cautiously, according to a Jan. 20 quarterly report from CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange.

“The economic cracks emerging late in 2022 in housing and technology are beginning to spread to manufacturing, finance

and retail,” said Dan Kowalski, vice president of CoBank’s Knowledge Exchange division. “These sectors are showing signs of weakness but not to the degree of pointing to an imminent recession. Manufacturing and retail are both undergoing a normalization phase as pandemic consumption of goods has shifted to post-pandemic consumption of services.”

The Federal Reserve (the Fed) raised its benchmark overnight rate by more than 400 basis points in 2022 and it is not fin-

ished hiking. The Fed has made it clear it is focused less on headline inflation and more squarely on the labor market and core services inflation excluding housing.

With job growth far outpacing the availability of workers, the scarcity of labor is cause for concern, especially for the services sector.

China’s abrupt reversal of its zero-COVID-19 policy is unleashing the full brunt of the virus.

The humanitarian toll has been severe. Little data

For more information or to view the entire report, visit cobank.com.

is coming out of China, but reports have estimated in some regions up to 75 percent of the labor force has been infected – forcing shutdowns at manufacturing plants and causing major delays in trucking and at ports.

U.S. exporters are feeling the impacts now, as supply chain problems have been preventing the movement of many goods into and around China.

Grains, farm supplies and biofuels

Grain markets balanced several challenges in the fourth quarter, from the war in Ukraine and economic slowdowns in China and Europe to interest rate hikes in the U.S. and other developed economies.

The continuation of these factors and La Niña weather conditions into 2023 will likely put pressure on grain storage and merchandising margins.

Stocks-to-use ratios for corn, soybeans and wheat finished 2022 at multiyear lows driven by strong domestic demand.

A heifers first calf with a WWR of 118. Another bull with an impeccable set of numbers being in the top 20% for 15 economically important traits and indexes. Extra pigment and big bodied. Sire “Barracuda” was sold to ABS.

LOT 59

ET

If you need to increase carcass value in your feeder calves tie to these Validated sons. They are especially strong for marbling. Extremely dark red, red to the ground with great pigment with a long level hip and wide topped.

LOT 159

Great built son of Tahoe that packs all the bells and whistles along when it comes top carcass values. His added length of body and stride is a bonus for ranchers who need a bull that can travel big country.

Guy, Sherry and Katie Colyer, 208.845.2313 Kyle, 208.250.3924

• Guy cell: 208.599.0340

far. 2105 has great EPD and Index values being in the top 3% for 10 traits.

For the second year in a row, agriculture retailers posted exceptionally strong revenue and profit growth, driven by sturdy grain market fundamentals.

Interestingly, despite high spring demand and tight global supplies, fertilizer prices declined during the fourth quarter amid falling prices for natural gas. While the farm supply sector begins 2023 on strong financial footing, rising wages, higher interest rates and continued high transportation costs are likely to tighten margins.

strength of demand.

In a major shift from the prevailing conditions earlier in the year, chicken markets were well-supplied during the fourth quarter, thanks to increased placements and higher live weights.

Retail chicken prices remained elevated, averaging $1.85 per pound for the quarter. However, wholesale chicken prices crumbled amid the pressure of mounting supplies.

Export markets have been less affected. Overall, U.S. chicken remains supported by global markets despite the weakening fundamentals at home.

Shrinking marketready fed cattle supplies are bullish for cattle prices, but beef prices have drifted down from their summer highs. While retailers provided modest relief at the meat case during the fourth quarter, and a discount to year ago levels, consumer demand remained resilient despite comparatively high prices.

At the wholesale level, however, beef prices have dropped from elevated levels. From January highs to December lows, the boxed beef cutout lost 15 percent of its value. Processor margins suffered through the fourth quarter due to moderating beef prices and higher operating costs.

Nearby lean hog futures accelerated quickly to begin 2022 and had gained 68 percent in value by late July, peaking at $122 per hundredweight. Hogs retained much of this support through the third quarter.

C 1311 GENESIS 2135 ET

One of three full sibs from a tremendous flush. The only full sister was our record selling female in our fall sale at $195,000. Both of the brothers are definite herd bull prospects and will be in our 2023 Denver Pen of 3. They combine the show ring look with performance and additional pigment. 1311 seems to never miss and has produced 1.2 million in progeny sales thus far. 2135 has great EPD and Index values being in the top 10% in nine economically important traits.

LOT 208

C 8007 ALTERNATIVE 2149 ET

One of two flush brothers to sell out of a great Yeti donor, 8007. This son of Alternative is a phenotypic standout with figures that rank him among the elite. Maternal power and carcass combination.

~ OFFERING 250 BULLS & 45 FEMALES ~ Horned Hereford | Polled Hereford | Angus Two-Year-Olds, Senior Yearlings and Yearlings Sale broadcast live on ...

Ethanol production in the fourth quarter nearly caught up to preCOVID-19 levels, averaging 15.5 billion gallons for the quarter. Profit margins averaged 27 cents per gallon compared to 25 cents for the first nine months of 2022 and long-running historical average levels of 25 to 30 cents.

Profitability was well above average during October and November, but increasing corn prices, coupled with a 12 percent decline in ethanol fuel prices, pushed down margins in December.

Year-round sales of E15 gasoline gained momentum with the Biden administration’s announcement of its intention to review states’ proposals.

Animal protein and dairy

But despite tight hog supplies, valuation succumbed to the pressure of seasonal tendencies and processing limitations during the fourth quarter. The lean hog index dropped into the upper $70s to end the year, and the hog market appears poised for a significant bounce in 2023.

U.S. milk prices continued softening in the fourth quarter with class three milk futures falling five percent. Butter prices have also fallen in a faster-than-expected retreat. Spot butter prices are down nearly 10 percent from the record highs scored in October.

Record large total U.S. dairy exports for 2022 carried through the fourth quarter, underpinned by recent weakening of the U.S. dollar. However, the outlook for U.S. exports in the first half of 2023 is deteriorating.

guy@hereford.com

• Fax: 208.845.2314 www.hereford.com

Animal protein production surged in the fourth quarter, with the weekly average increasing six percent compared to the third quarter. While cold storage inventories edged higher through the second half of the year, they remain below the five-year average due to the ongoing

Dairy product prices are expected to grind lower as post-holiday season demand wanes amid uncertain global demand.

One of three full sibs from a tremendous flush. The only full sister was our record selling female in our fall sale at $195,000. Both of the brothers are definite herd bull prospects and will be in our 2023 Denver Pen of Three. They combine the show ring look with performance and additional pigment. 1311 seems to never miss and has produced 1.2 million in progeny sales thus

C 1311 GENESIS 2105 ET

C CUDA BELLE 2111

C 4297 VALIDATED 2132

C TAHOE 2015

Cotton, rice and specialty crops

China’s worsening COVID-19 situation adds even more uncertainty to cotton markets, which farm commodities in 2022.

Wholesale refined sugar prices averaged the year near 60 cents per pound, nearly double the longterm average.

And, the 2023 out

Power, water and communications

Higher energy costs will continue to squeeze the majority of U.S. consumers this year. Nearly half of all U.S. households heat primarily with natural

DOCSIS 4.0 technology across its cable footprint. This will bring top speeds of 10 gigabits by 2025 at a cost significantly less than fiber.

Comcast has also voiced its support for

lished by CoBank on Jan. 20. CoBank is a cooperative bank serving vital industries across rural America and is a member of the Farm Credit System. Headquartered

outside Denver, CoBank serves customers from regional banking centers across the U.S., while also maintaining an international representative office in Singapore.

By Paul Dykstra

Market update

Fed cattle slaughter was encumbered during the week beginning Jan. 23 due to very large snowfall totals in Nebraska. The Jan. 25 total was down 10 percent at just 90,000 head and the total on Jan. 26 was down 6,000 head, roughly six percent compared to the 99,000 head daily potential observed recently.

Certified Angus Beef (CAB) anticipates a big slaughter week to make up some of the difference this week, but keep in mind, packers may be happier to pace themselves during January. The typically lower beef demand month has started to show signs of faltering cutout values, and the

supply chain need for beef tonnage is not as rampant as in December.

Fed cattle markets

The cash fed cattle market was uninspired during the week beginning Jan. 23 in continuation of the lackluster January theme. The weekly average price was down more than one dollar per hundredweight (cwt), and cattle futures were lower, pulling market psychology down with it.

Feedlot conditions in Nebraska, Colorado and Kansas have turned sloppy with daily freeze and thaw cycles, decreasing cattle performance and feed efficiency. These conditions also tend to build some neg-

ativity into feedlot management psychology. Live weight sales also become less numerous as dressing carcass yield is increasingly difficult to estimate.

Carcass cutout values are mixed in the report for the week beginning Jan. 23, with the Select cutout showing a $2.62 per cwt increase while Choice was down $3.82 per cwt, and CAB was $4.04 per cwt lower.

The quality price spreads logically retreat from lofty December levels in the month of January. As highlighted in the past number of weeks, the premiums for elevated marbling including CAB acceptance and Prime have been historically high.

The Jan. 1 Cattle on Feed report was not quite as bullish as analysts expected. The eight percent year-on-year marketing pace decline for the month of December was a point or two short of the more aggressive projections, but bodes well for cattlemen as the outlook for tight fed cattle supplies this spring

continues to build on the two prior months’ lower placement data.

The December fed cattle marketing pace was also restricted at six percent lower than a year ago. The summary effect of both lower placements and marketing kept cattle on feed numbers just three percent lower than Jan. 1, 2022, at 11.68 million head.

From a beef end-user perspective, this news is much less promising as customers will be caught short on their product needs, especially those who are less apt to maintain a continual book of business with wholesale suppliers.

Projections factor in carcass value

The math used to calculate feeder cattle purchase price requires very few numbers and simple arithmetic. Starting with a target fed cattle finished weight minus feeder cattle purchased weight reveals pounds of feedlot gain. Multiplying a current cost of gain projec-

tion – dollars per pound – by the pounds of required feedlot weight gain then reveals the feedlot cost.

Several variables within the feeding phase affect the cost of gain figure, generating pen-specific costs unique to health, genetics, weather and feed cost dynamics.

However, cattle feeders can quickly distill some of the known and unknown qualities of a set of feeder cattle they’ll use to adjust their cost of gain projection up or down by a few percent.

Using the projected Chicago Mercantile Exchange Live Cattle futures month in which the cattle will finish provides a current finished price projection, which could be hedged the same day the cattle are purchased. Thus, projected sale price minus feedlot cost reveals the dollars one could pay for the feeder animal to break-

This rudimentary review is simply a setup for the discussion often shared surrounding high feeder cattle prices. Among cattlemen who understand the above math, the question becomes, “How are these feeder cattle bringing so much money?”

It depends a lot on one’s perspective and sector as to whether or not this conversation comes up. After all, prices are highly variable, as are cattle and regional supply and demand dynamics.

30 percent low Choice and two percent Select. The yield grade side of the ledger featured just nine percent Yield Grade (YG) four discounts, seven percent YG one, 39 percent YG two and 45 percent YG three. There were no heavyweight discounts in the pen.

In relation to industry averages the YGs for these heifers are just barely better than the latest published U.S. Department of Agriculture numbers. Relatively small grid premiums and discounts across YG two through four ended up impacting the net price per cwt across the pen by only +$0.52 per cwt.

It’s a win to be in a net black ink position regarding YG, but it didn’t move the profit needle much.

Quality grade and CAB premiums, however, changed the revenue picture quite a lot.

The $20 per cwt Prime premium and six dollars per cwt CAB premium values stacked on top of the $24 per cwt Choice/Select spread made those quality attributes very attractive.

Since all but two percent of heifers were Choice or better, the net starting carcass price was $6.80 per cwt above the regional average weighted cash price.

WE HAVE BEEN PAP TESTING FOR OVER 40 YEARS! WE HAVE BEEN PAP TESTING FOR OVER 40 YEARS!

Where else in the US can you find Angus Bulls with this depth of quality and degree of accuracy for PAP?

Some buyers may have a heightened need to fulfill a given head count of a specific quality and class of cattle, which may drive their price ceiling above what a simple breakeven calculation would recommend. Others, however, are factoring in a higher return based on better-than-projected feedlot performance and/or carcass quality premiums than

Focusing on carcass quality in today’s fed cattle pricing environment highlights the latter of the two phenomena. For instance, a recently closed out pen of 148 head of heifers capitalized on a much better-thanaverage carcass return.

The heifers graded 16 percent Prime, 52 percent CAB, with the remaining

This is a big boost right out of the gate for this pen in a market scenario where historically wide Choice/Select price spreads have been present since July.

Superior marbling and CAB certification at high levels brought the quality premiums to $14.54 per cwt dressed price. The YG bump brought the net carcass premium to $15.06 per cwt across the pen, or $133.43 per head.

We don’t know the purchase price or in-weight of these cattle, so readers can simply calculate the dollars per cwt impact that $133 per head equates to on a feeder heifer. It’s not a small number, whether it be a fourweight or an eight-weight heifer. There’s a difference.

Paul Dykstra is the director of supply management and analysis at CAB. He can be reached at pdykstra@certifiedangusbeef.com.

Distinguished chair – Corey Tarwater, an associate professor in the University of Wyoming’s Department of Zoology and Physiology, was recently named the Robert Berry Distinguished Chair in Ecology at the University of Wyoming. Here, Tarwater poses with a blue-crowned manakin at a long-term netting site

Tarwater named Distinguished Chair in Ecology

Corey Tarwater, associate professor of Zoology and Physiology at the University of Wyoming (UW), has been named UW’s Robert Berry Distinguished Chair in Ecology. Her appointment was effective earlier this month, and she replaces Craig Benkman who has held the chair since 2004.

The chair position has two primary functions –to foster and enhance the ecology program, with an emphasis on avian ecology and conservation and to enhance the research of a faculty member in the field of ecology, with an emphasis on ornithology.

Three new initiatives

“This chair position is an exciting next step for me and for ornithology at UW,” says Tarwater. “Funds from the position will benefit ornithology through three new initiatives I am leading, with support from a newly formed committee.”

The first of these three initiatives is the establishment of a Berry Invited Seminar Speaker Series, in which one internationally recognized ornithologist will be brought to UW every semester to present a seminar and meet with students and faculty.

The second initiative includes the creation of a professional development program for graduate students and faculty to support them in gaining new quantitative skills, provide more funding for graduate students in ornithology and start a regional ornithology mini-conference with faculty and their students from nearby universities.

The third initiative includes expanding a summer program Tarwa-

ter started last year with Sam Case, a PhD student from Minneapolis, Minn. The undergraduate research experience program is focused on studying nest boxes for Laramie-area wild birds.

Current research

Tarwater’s research interests are broadly focused on the links among ecology, evolution and behavior of year-round resident birds and using individualbased studies to understand variation in individual fitness and population demography.

Her work examines reproductive and dispersal strategies, life history trade-offs, demography, seed dispersal and how the changing environment impacts these processes.

Her projects include the effects of rainfall and fragmentation on demography in understory birds in Panama, causes of variation in fitness and demography of birds in central Panama, the role of invasive vertebrates in seed dispersal in Hawaii and life histories and demography of song sparrows in British Columbia.

Tarwater received her PhD in ecology, evolution and conservation biology and her master’s degree in natural resources and environmental sciences, both from the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign. She received her bachelor’s degree in wildlife, fish and conservation biology from the University of CaliforniaDavis.

UW Ag News originally published this article on Jan. 30. For more information, visit uwagnews.com

Dixie Lee Rabou

March 2, 1942 – Jan. 21, 2023

Dixie Lee Rabou, 80, of Laramie, formerly of Albin, passed away suddenly on Jan. 21 at Poudre Valley Hospital in Fort Collins, Colo.

Dixie was born March 2, 1942 in Falls City, Neb. to Avery and Betty (King) Chesnut. She married Kenneth Sherwin in 1962, and they had three children, Candace, Kathleen and Daniel.

The couple later

divorced, and in October 1985, Dixie married the love of her life and very longtime friend, Bill Rabou of Albin.

Dixie and Bill spent the next 35 years loving life on the Rabou Family Ranch. Dixie would soon become not only a great addition to the family, but she served as the ranch bookkeeper because of her banking background, a task she was still doing until the day before she passed. She adored her time in the office.

In 2020, her sisters and their husbands moved Bill and Dixie to Laramie to be closer to family and medical care.

Dixie is preceded in

death by her grandparents; parents; daughter Kathy; and brother Jim Chesnut. She is survived by her loving husband Bill of Laramie; daughter Candy Sherwin and son Dan Sherwin, both of Boise, Idaho; stepdaughter Stacy (Andy) Malm of LaGrange; grandchildren Keighley Sherwin, Katelin (Avery) Jamerman, Karrisa Malm and Kaden Malm and great-grandson Carson Jamerman.

A celebration of life will be held June 24 at 2 p.m. at the Albin Community Center. Cremation is under the care of the Schrader, Aragon and Jacoby Funeral Home.

Condolences may be offered at schradercares.com

in Panama, where she works as a research associate for the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute. Sam Case photo

Cattlemen’s Call

Several farmers and ranchers are beginning to test the waters of virtual fencing, especially those in rough, rugged country throughout the West.

During the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association Cattlemen’s Call podcast on Dec. 27, Montana

Rancher Leo Barthelmess describes the way virtual fencing technology has

podcast highlights the future of fencing future with virtual fencing company

changed his operation and given him more knowledge about his herd.

Getting started

The Barthelmess Ranch near Malta, Mont. in Phillips County raises Red Angus cattle and practices Allan Savory holistic resource management strategies. In 2018, the ranch looked into virtual fencing and implemented

it by 2019.

The use of virtual fences has helped the ranch increase stock density and establish beneficial regenerative grazing practices.

The ranch utilizes a Vence livestock management system, which is a virtual fencing system for cattle. According to the webpage, the system con-

trols cattle movement, manages grazing, creates virtual fences to dictate grazing behavior and monitors animal well-being.

The solution uses advanced GPS tracking to monitor the location of animals within a pasture or grazing area using mobile devices running on Android or iOS operating systems.

“Our goal as a grazing operation is to encourage our cows to eat snow in the winter, so we will fence them into outline areas a long way from water so they can eat snow and graze. We provide appropriate supplements, but by doing this, it allows us to save additional forage near water sources for hot weather during summer and spring,” he says.

Barthelmess hopes to achieve a 12-month grazing season to minimize the need for prepared feeds, hay and supplements.

To listen to the full podcast, visit ncba. org. For more information about Vence, visit vence.io.

How it works and benefits

Currently, Vence is the only company to offer a commercial virtual fencing product for livestock in the U.S. Other companies exploring virtual fencing include No Fence, Halter, Agersens and Gallagher.

The Vence app uses GPS collars worn by cattle. The collars emit a radio frequency signal to automatically create a virtual fence around the cattle.

The app keeps track of cattle locations and sends alerts if cattle attempt to leave the virtual fence. When livestock reach the limit of the virtual fence, auditory stimuli emit from the collar. If livestock pass the fence limit, a benign shock is given.

“During the training phase, cows understand fairly quickly that when they hear a sound, there’s going to be event shortly thereafter,” Barthelmess notes.

The company is tuneful of animal welfare, and he notes it’s interesting to see how the virtual fence works in the field when cows historically graze further apart. However, with virtual fencing, a producer can control where exactly cattle graze, he explains.

“In many situations, virtual fencing can be highly beneficial for a lot of people,” mentions Barthelmess.

Depending on the area of the pasture, the batteries in the collars can last anywhere between six months to two years. If collars are lost, they can be found on a map on the Vence webpage, he notes.

“The expense and set up of virtual fencing is not painless, but it’s pretty pain free,” he says.

The biggest expense of virtual fencing is the gateways or towers, which run roughly $10,000 a piece.

On the Barthelmess Ranch, cattle are run on very large pastures, varying from 800 to 4,000 acres, and utilize five gateways or towers, covering a total of 25,000 acres.

He notes the steeper the land, the more gateways or towers the program will need.

The rancher incurs the cost of the batteries and rents collars on a monthly basis. According to Barthelmess, in 2019, Vence wasn’t really competitive with barbed wire to wire fence, but today, a barbed wire fence can cost $15,000 a mile give or take, by the time materials are bought.

“In our case, I built 50 miles of fence last year in a couple of hours work-

ing on a computer, so the management opportunities are broad and bigger than the hardwire infrastructure because it costs too much to move a hardwire fence,” he says.

The virtual fencing system has allowed Barthelmess to establish intensive grazing without hours of labor, erecting temporary fences on his ranch and leased Bureau of Land Management land.

Other considerations Barthelmess shares the ranch still utilizes existing infrastructure in terms of boundary fence.

“I enjoy the technology, and I think it has great potential,” he says. “We have not removed any infrastructure on the ranch based on Vence technology. When we need to replace it, we will certainly make the decision whether to restore existing infrastructure.”

Training a cow herd doesn’t take very long. For Barthelmess, it took his herd roughly two days to be trained for virtual fencing.

Transitioning into a virtual fence is not a cheap purchase. It takes a lot of time, commitment and a different kind of work, according to Barthelmess.

He notes there are several YouTube videos about virtual fencing and the Ranchers Stewardship Alliance webpage is a great resource for more information.

“We’re pretty excited about the technology, and I want people to have the opportunity to learn about it,” he says. “The technology is expensive, so ranchers need to have a plan and do the research to see if the product can be done on their property – it’s a lot of effort and change.”

In an Ag Proud article dated Oct. 25, 2021, Barthelmess mentions, “Virtual fences will be a valuable tool on many kinds of ranches. If people want to increase stock density and work cost-effectively at regenerative grazing practices, it’s a tool many ranchers can use.”

He adds, “If producers have a small number of cows in a large pasture, portions of the pasture aren’t grazed or overgrazed. This can be fixed now. Ranchers are responsible for actively managing grazing, preparing sophisticated grazing plans and trying to create long rest periods for the grass. We’ve got to manage our access to water.”

Brittany Gunn is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

Rod Litzel retires as district supervisor with Johnson County Weed and Pest

The Wyoming Weed and Pest Council (WWPC) wouldn’t be what it is today without great members who continuously work hard to manage invasive species.

Since 1973, supervisors and staff with districts across the state have provided years of dedicated service to keep Wyoming wild and beautiful.

This is especially true of Rod Litzel, who recently retired as district supervisor with the Johnson County Weed and Pest after working there for 34 years.

Litzel grew up in Buffalo and studied at Casper College. To help pay for college, he successfully participated on the livestock judging team, which led to recruitment from Texas A&M University to compete on their team.

During his senior year of college, Litzel interviewed for the district supervisor position at Johnson County and got the job.

“After spending two years in Texas, I started appreciating Buffalo and Wyoming,” Litzel stated. “In particular, trying to get out of the heat and back into four seasons, hunting and doing all the stuff I enjoyed. It was a great experience, but I was ready to come home.”

Leafy spurge program

In the summer of 1988, Litzel began his career as district supervisor. Throughout his career, two programs stood out – the leafy spurge and saltcedar programs.

The leafy spurge program was already in place when he arrived, but over time he realized he needed to make some changes.

“In terms of changing our philosophy so we weren’t just throwing money at spraying something, we wanted to have some intent and purpose, a plan with landowners,” Litzel said.

In 2000, instead of using heavy amounts of herbicides every two to three years on little infestations of leafy spurge, Litzel wanted to attack the heart of the beast.

The program turned to using a smaller amount of herbicides on the invasive weed but applying it every year. Now what used to be a sea of yellow is healthy, native grass.

He turned the program around by listening to the landowners, and in turn, the landowners committed to his ideas.

“It took me eight or 10 years to realize the landowners were what I was here for,” Litzel said. “Not

PAP

for my own ambition, but to help them. I realized I really enjoyed being able to help them.”

Saltcedar initiative

The other program Litzel is most proud of is the saltcedar initiative. In his first years at Johnson County Weed and Pest, he mentioned a local landowner who would come in quite often and prod him to do things.

“She had been hounding me for probably five years about the saltcedar on her place on the Powder River,” Litzel. “So, in 2007, we started on her place with not much of a plan – we just started trying different things.”

Litzel and the landowner’s husband took two chainsaws to the saltcedar. Litzel would cut the invasive species until the chain would slip off. The husband would put it back together and sharpen it,

while Litzel kept going with the second chainsaw.

Today, the program has been incredibly successful and has little to no saltcedar along the Powder River. In 2017, the district board elected to remove saltcedar from the special management program because of how much the invasive weed had been reduced.

“The biggest reward out of this whole thing was having those good board members,” Litzel said. “And then, pure and simple, good landowners to work with. It takes both in order to make it go.”

When asked what he wanted others to know about fighting invasive species, Litzel said it’s a commitment.

“I think too often, there’s the desire to have a silver bullet,” Litzel stated. “We’ve got to have a plan in the works, and we’ve

got to stay committed or it’s not going to work.”

Other organization involvement

Not only did Litzel work in the field for Johnson County, he also helped WWPC in numerous ways, such as working on the state allocations committee, assisting in federal legislation and building best management practices.

“He had a vast knowledge of how things work, how things should work and experiences I drew on very heavily when I took the job,” said Slade Franklin, former Weed and Pest coordinator with the Wyoming Department of Agriculture. “It’s not only the professional relationship I appreciate, he is also a

good friend. I think everyone could learn from Rod.”

Now that Litzel is retired, he’s looking forward to working part-time in the field with his son and going on long weekend trips with his wife. He’s grateful for his time with Johnson County Weed and Pest and WWPC and looks back on it fondly.

“I am honored to have been part of an organization with dedication, passion, professionalism, camaraderie and friendship at the heart of it,” Litzel said. “I am going to miss that and the good people who are also a part of it.”

WWPC originally published this article on Jan. 31. To learn more about WWPC, visit wyoweed.org

Checkoff dollars must be used for: promotion, research, consumer information, industry information, foreign marketing and producer communications

 The Cattleman’s Beef Promotion and Research Board and the USDA oversee the collection and spending of checkoff dollars.

The Beef Checkoff is a grass-roots, producerled, and producer driven program.

For more information on how you can get involved please contact us:

Wyoming Beef Council PO Box 1243 . Cheyenne 307.777.7396

gary.gwin1@wyo.gov

CLASSIFIEDS

307-234-2700 • 1-800-967-1647 • Fax: 307-472-1781 • E-mail: jodym@wylr.net or denise@wylr.net

Notice

Website: www.wylr.net. Weekly Deadline: Wednesday, 12:00 p.m.

NOTICE: Publication in this newspaper does not guarantee the legitimacy of any offer or solicitation. Take reasonable steps to evaluate an offer before you send money or provide personal/ financial information to an advertiser. If you have questions or believe you have been the victim of fraud, contact the Wyoming Attorney General’s Office, Consumer Protection Unit, 109 Capitol Building, Cheyenne, WY 82002, 307777-6397 TFN

Events

UP IN ARMS, LLC FLEA MAR-

KET AND GUN SHOW FEB.

24-26, Gillette, WY at the CAMPLEX. Open to the public. Fri., Feb. 24, 3-7 p.m. Sat., Feb. 25, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Sun., Feb. 26, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Giving away a .22 pistol Sunday at 2 p.m., must be present to win, 21 years of age and able to pass background check. Buy, sell, trade. Adults $6, children 12 and under free (when accompanied by an adult). For more information, contact Lisa, 208-420-2295 2/18

Help Wanted

Help Wanted Services Services

HOT SPRINGS COUNTY WEED & PEST DISTRICT IS ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF WEED AND PEST DISTRICT SUPERVISOR: The position is in Thermopolis, WY. Send letter of application, resume and 3 references to: Hot Springs County Weed & Pest District, PO Box 543, Thermopolis, WY 82443. For additional information, call 307-921-0574 or 307-864-2278.

Hot Springs County Weed & Pest is an EOE 2/18

RANCH HAND WANTED: Cow work/calving, irrigating, haying, fixing fences. Wages based on experience. Call 307-250-8475 2/11

Auctions

Torrington Livestock Markets

307-532-3333

www.torringtonlivestock.com

is currently accepting applications for the following:

Full-Time Custodian Hulett K-12

Please visit us at www.crook1.com for complete information on position openings.

Crook County School District #1 is an Equal Opportunity Employer

SHOP FOREMAN WANTED:

Shoshone Irrigation District is an equal opportunity employer who is looking for a self-motivated individual. The Shop Foreman’s job is to maintain and repair district equipment as well as help out with some day- to-day operations around the irrigation district. Applicants must have good general mechanical skills. A class A CDL license is very desirable but not a requirement and must be willing to get a CDL. Our hours of operation are Mon.-Thurs. 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and 7:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Friday. We offer full medical, vision, dental and Wyoming State Retire. Pay will depend on experience. Applicants can come by our office at 337 East 1st, Powell, WY and fill out an application with a resume, e-mail resume to shoshoneid@hotmail. com, sid.secretary@outlook. com or feel free to call at 307754-5741 2/11

FARM WORKER OR CDL

A DRIVER WANTED: Yearround, full-time position. Housing included with arrangement. Utilities paid by employee. Couple preferred and both would be employed. Pay $100-220/ day. Call 775-224-3283, e-mail clairsjr@yahoo.com 2/11

HOT SPRINGS COUNTY

WEED & PEST DISTRICT IS

ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR THE POSITION OF WEED AND PEST DISTRICT

MOSQUITO COORDINATOR/ RANGE MANAGER: The position is in Thermopolis, WY. Send letter of application, resume and 3 references to:

Hot Springs County Weed & Pest District, PO Box 543, Thermopolis, WY 82443. For additional information, call 307-921-0574 or 307-8642278. Hot Springs County Weed & Pest is an EOE 2/4

WIGGINS FEEDYARD, LLC

HIRING FULL-TIME EMPLOY-

EE: Current driver’s license required. Call Sue Wiggins, 308-279-0924, e-mail sswiggins@wigginsfeedyard.com, 10077 U.S. 385, Bridgeport, NE 69336, provide references with phone numbers 2/25

Solar Water Pumping Systems

Water Well Services • Well & Pipeline Design Submersible Pump Specialist

Scott Blakeley, Owner ppr@pronghornpump.com www.pronghornpump.com

(307) 436-8513 • Cell: (307) 267-1022

Dogs

AMERICAN AIREDALE CAT-

TLE DOGS: Excellent cattle and herd dogs. Will be big, friendly and protective. Farm and ranch dogs. Good with kids and livestock. Call for details 719-217-8054 2/11

GREAT PYRENEES PUPPIES CURRENTLY WORKING WITH LIVESTOCK!! Proven bloodlines, parents onsite. Socialized. Males and females, 6 months old.

$1,000. Have been raising these fantastic LGD for 48 years. For more information, call 406-207-7674 2/25

SANDHILL BORDER COLLIES: Working border collies for ranchers. Reds, blacks, merles, mainly short hair. Thirty years experience. Shots appropriate to age, dewclaws removed, wormed weekly. Pups and ready-to-start pups available. Prices vary. Call us (texts are better) to set up delivery, 701-770-2364 or e-mail sandhillbc@yahoo.com. Visit our Facebook page: Sandhill Performance Horses and Border Collies. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 5/6

Cattle

WOODEN SHOE FARMS MATERNAL VALUE ADDED BULL

SALE: HEREFORD AND ANGUS GENETICS, THURS., FEB. 16, 1 p.m. at the ranch, 673 N. 825 W., Blackfoot, ID 83221. Selling 65 lots, coming 2-year-olds, fall and spring yearling bulls, select groups of Angus and black baldy open heifers. Contact 208-681-4169 or 208-604-0235, woodenshoefarms@gmail. com 2/11

Clay

Farm/

ranch and all commercial loans. We have been helping with all aspects of agricultural, commercial financing and management for years. LET US HELP YOU on a consulting level with management to increase profitability, deal with and fix credit problems and for all your financing needs. WE CARE AND HAVE WORKING PROGRAMS designed for the farmer/rancher and not the banker. Please call Steve, 303-773-3545, or check out our website www. agrionefinancial.com. I will come to you and get the job done!! 2/25

ALL TYPES OF EQUIPMENT AND VEHICLE FINANCING. Great service!! Great rates!! Call Chuck Brown at C.H. Brown Co., WY LLC, 307-3223232 (office), 307-331-0010 (cell) or e-mail chuckbrown@ wyoming.com 2/4

S ub S cribe T oday ! c all 800-967-1647 or 307-234-2700

Brands

TEA KETTLE BRAND FOR SALE: One-iron, one strike brand for sale. LRC, LSS, LSH, LRB. Renewed through Jan. 1, 2033. Asking $9,000 OBO. Call 307532-7524 2/25

WYOMING BRAND FOR SALE: RHC, LBH. Expires Dec. 31, 2026. No irons included, $3,000 OBO. Call 307772-1126 2/4

REGISTERED WYOMING

BRAND FOR SALE: LRC, RSS, RSH. Expires December 2027. Iron available for pickup in Dayton, WY. $3,000 OBO. Call 307-7510877 2/18

Services Services

Brands

OLD WYOMING LIVESTOCK BRAND, DOUBLE QUARTER CIRCLE

3: One iron. Has been in one family since my grandfather registered it over 100 years ago!! From Sheridan County, LRC, LTH. Renewed to 2031. Would love to see it back in use!! Must sell, $2,800. For more information, call 406-538-3710, if no answer please leave message or e-mail raccoonmt@yahoo. com 2/18

REGISTERED WYOMING BRAND FOR SALE: LRC, LTH, one electric branding iron included. $3,000. 307-851-5901 2/25

Dogs

AUSTRALIAN SHEPHERD PUPPIES OUT OF OLD WORKING LINES AND BRED TO WORK!! ASCA registered. First shots and dewormed. One female. Ready to go!! For more information call 970-313-7002. To view photos, go to www.wylr. net in the classifieds 2/4

AKC FOX RED MALE LAB

PUPS FOR SALE: Field trial champion bloodlines. Ready to go. Photos available. Call 308430-0459 2/4

PUREBRED BORDER COLLIE

PUPPIES FOR SALE: Out of excellent working parents. Extremely smart. All are traditional black and white. $250. Call 307645-3322 2/4

Dogs

BLUE AND RED HEELER PUPS FOR SALE: Out of working parents, smart. Current on shots. Born Nov. 18, 2022. Call Mary, 970-568-3635 2/11

Angus

YEARLING BLACK ANGUS BULLS FOR SALE: Actual weaning weight 727 lbs. Cow herd AI’d since 1969, predominantly use ABS and Select Sires. Purebred but not papered. $2,000. If we feed till April 1, $2,500. Call 307-3662911 2/25

HEIFER BULLS: ANGUS & ANGUS-CROSS, 50 lb. birth weights. Easy calving!! $1,950, delivery available. Call 970-4563126 2/18

YEARLING ANGUS BULLS: These bulls are grown, not fattened, will get out and cover cows. Many will work on heifers. We will deliver. Call Joe Buseman, 605-351-1535 3/11

FOR SALE: 300 registered and commercial Black Angus BRED HEIFERS, 1 group of F1 baldy bred heifers. Three groups AI bred to these elite calvingease sires: MAF Triumph O415 (Musgrave Exclusive 316 son 2022 high selling calving-ease bull) and Connealy In Focus 4925. Two groups pasture bred to “sleep all night” low birthweight, calving-ease Black Angus bulls. AI bred: Group #1 due March 19. Group #2 due April 5. Group #3 due April 6. Bull breds: Group #1 due April 1 for 30 days. Group #2 due May 1 for 21 days. Vaccinated and poured/dewormed. Available FIRST COME, FIRST SERVED. Delivery and volume discounts available. MILLER ANGUS FARMS, Estelline, S.D. Kody, 605-690-1997 or Brady, 605-690-5733 2/4

PRIVATE TREATY

120 Yearling Bulls • 80 Coming 2-Year-Old Bulls 120 Replacement Heifers by Popular Sires: S A V Bismarck, Rito 707, S A V Resource, Connealy Spur, Connealy Countdown and Coleman Charlo

Jindra Angus 23 rd Annual Production Sale

February 8, 2023

Selling 175 Registered Angus Bulls and 30 Registered Angus Heifers

Nick Jindra • Clarkson, NE • 402-920-3171 nickjindra@hotmail.com • jindraangus.com

At the Bull Center near Clarkson, Nebraska 45th Annual Sale

Tuesday, March 28, 2023 • 1:00 PM Riverton Livestock Auction, Riverton, WY

For more information contact Fred & Kay Thomas at 307-868-2595 or e-mail fkdramsrus@gmx.com

Annual High Country Genetics Performance Bull Sale Selling 60 Angus, SimAngus & Simmental Bulls

P\T Livestock

Northwest WY Angus Association Northwest Angus Association Cattle Raised by Cattlemen for Cattlemen in a Real World Environment at 8,000’ - 9,000’ Elevation NEW SALE DATE: Monday, March 13, 2023 Cowboy Auction - 1 p.m. • Shoshoni, WY Pete & Lynnda Thompson Lynnda 307-709-8361 Big Piney & Riverton, WY

Angus

25 RED ANGUS COWS, 4 to 6 years old. ALSO, 12 Red Angus heifers. April 1 for 60 days, all bred to Red Angus bulls. Southeast Wyoming. Call 307-2312883 2/18

93 RED ANGUS YOUNG - MIDDLE AGE COWS FOR SALE: 3-year-olds to 10-year-olds. Bred to Red Fork and Lucht Red Angus bulls. April/May calvers. Smaller framed, efficient, easy fleshing. Gentle dispositions and great longevity. Have been worked with dogs, on foot and horseback. Raised in rough, rugged, steep, rocky, high elevation country. ALSO, 70 RED ANGUS FIRST-CALF HEIFERS, (includes 9 black hided). April/May calvers. Bred to Red Fork and Lucht Red Angus calving-ease bulls. Red Fork Red Angus, Ken & Cheri Graves, Kaycee, WY, phone 307-7382247, e-mail gravesredfork@ rtconnect.net 2/4

Salers

WANTED, PASTURE FOR YEARLINGS, 200 to 1,500 head. Call 308-765-0300 2/25

39th Annual Salers Focus Bull Sale

SUMMER PASTURE NEEDED FOR 2023 AND BEYOND for 100 to 200 cow/calf pairs. Good references. Call 605347-3403 or 605-499-90882/4

Hay

February 13, 2023

Stockmen’s Livestock Dickinson, ND Big Sky Salers Bill Helm 406-557-6259

Hereford

Durbin Creek Ranch

TOLMAN RANCH LLC IS ACCEPTING BIDS FOR GRAZING APPROXIMATELY 300 ACRES OF IRRIGATED (40 acres) pasture 30 miles up the Nowood in Ten Sleep, WY. For 60 to 80 head of cattle or 200 head of sheep. Grazing turn in May 1 - Nov. 1. Two year contract with the possibility of renewal. There are a few requirements that will need to be addressed, like responsibility for irrigation of fields, cleaning of ditches and weed spraying. Send bids to Tolman Ranch LLC, PO Box 576, Ten Sleep WY, 82442, postmark by Feb. 20, 2023 For more information, contact Frank Keeler, 307-3506994 2/4

Horses

SEVERAL WELL BRED, REGISTERED THOROUGHBRED MARES AVAILABLE TO GOOD HOMES: Most of them are winners. All good broodmares. Owner is 85 years old, only selling due to getting older and health issues. Willing to make a heck of a deal, just want them to go to good homes. For more information, call 559-6606182 2/4

Simmental

Simmental

IRONHORSE FOUNDATION

TRAINING ESTABLISHES A FOUNDATION OF RESPECT WITH HORSES FROM THE GROUND UP, helps horses with belligerent, reactive behavior and increases a horse’s performance under saddle. Horse trainer, farrier and clinician, Megan McKnight, has 21 years of developed feel, timing and experience. Located in Laramie, WY. Call 307-338-8583. www. ironhorsefoundationtraining. com 2/11

FIFTH ANNUAL MID-STATES HAIR SHEEP SALE MARCH 25, 2023, at 11:30 a.m. Starting with equipment. Sheep to follow immediately after. NEW LOCATION!! WAHOO

LIVESTOCK SALES 636 1st St., Wahoo, NE 68066: Looking for consignors and buyers. Healthy hair sheep only, all stock will be inspected upon arrival. No sheep with broken or missing teeth. All out of state sheep will need health papers. Veterinarians present to inspect and write outgoing health papers. Brucellosis testing must be done on rams over 6 months old to ship out of state. No more than 2 rams per producer. 10% commission. Sale order will be in order of consignment, call early!! NO consignments day of sale.

REGISTER TO BID ONLINE minimum of 7 days in advance at www.dvauction.com and contact the barn for approval, 402-443-3512. To consign sheep call Josh Kaster, 402245-7391 or Neal Amsberry, 308-651-0327 3/18

Goats

Hay & Feed

2022 LARGE ROUND

BALES: Net wrapped, 1,5501,650 lbs., tests done, nitrate free, Japanese and German millet, $130/ton. ALSO, large round bales of 2021 net wrapped and 2022 twine tied grass hay. Will deliver. Call 605-224-6100 (home) or 605280-3879 (cell), if no answer leave message 2/25

SHELL CORN FOR SALE: Very good feed value. ALSO, hay and straw for sale. For more information, call 307-7545864 2/18

Gelbvieh

FOR SALE: Team of 5- to 6-year-old, red sorrel Belgian geldings. Well broke to drive, been a feed team all winter. A nice, well-matched team. ALSO, 3-year-old gray Quarter pony gelding. Well broke to ride. A nice, quiet gelding. Henry Lambright, 307-467-5651, leave message 2/4

Saddles & Tack

GRASS HAY FOR SALE: Cow and horse quality, 3x4 and 3x3 square bales. Delivery available!! Call 307-6303046 2/18

GRASS HAY FOR SALE: 3x4 bales, 1,200 lbs., $250/ton. Lyman, WY. Call Kelly, 307-7807027 2/25

WYOMING CERTIFIED

GRASS SEED GROWER HAS GRASS HAY FOR SALE: 3x4x8 squares baled behind the combine. Bales have all the forage without the seed, $110/ ton Powell Wyoming area. Call Mike, 307-202-0494 2/25

Seed

GOOD AVAILABILITY OF ROUND AND SQUARE HAY AND STRAW BALES FOR SALE: Low delivery charge at cost. Volume discounts available. Call/text 1-204-209-1066 anytime for pricing 2/11

GRASS SEED FOR SALE: Manifest wheat grass, Manska wheat grass, Cache Meadow Brome, good germination, $3.90/lb. Call Big Horn Seed Company, 307-202-0704 or 307-645-3322 2/4

Warner Ranch Seed

Serving Fremont County, Wyoming and the surrounding areas.

HarvXtra® alfalfa with Roundup Ready® technology, Roundup Ready® alfalfa and conventional varieties available! Plant the best!

Buffalo Brand Seed for annual forages, cover crops, pasture grasses, small grains and custom mixes.

Call Today!

Bryan Warner • 307-850-7668 (cell)

Vehicles

2007 DURAMAX 1 TON DUALLY WITH HYDRABED. 4WD, straight body, no rust, 210,000 miles, 4 new drive tires, $25,000. Call 307-5753763 2/25

WANTED!!! 1932, 1933 or 1934 Ford car project, restored or older restored one. Call 605290-3208 2/11

Equipment

LIMOUSIN SEMEN, HOMOZYGOUS BLACK BULL, polled, can be used with heifers. ALSO, 2 western saddles and 1 Australian saddle with pad and breast collar. 307-2728576 call for any pictures or more information 2/11

IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE

, 1

NINE BAR NINE GELBVIEH

Yearling Gelbvieh Bulls Available:

1 Red Bull • 4 Black Bulls (Videos Available in Mid-March)

307-351-6453 ninebar9@hotmail.com

GET READY FOR THE RIDE!! Large SELECTION of saddles, HEADSTALLS, reins and SADDLE pads. 20% OFF BOOTS!! HONDO, BOULET, JUSTIN WORK BOOTS, TWISTED X (boots and shoes) and more!! Well stocked for arena, range and above the plains. WE CAN ship!! Shop Moss Saddles, Boots and Tack, 4648 West Yellowstone Highway, Casper, WY, 307-472-1872. Our family serving yours for 50 years!! Check us out on Facebook or our website 2/4 USED HEREFORD CUTTING SADDLE: Good shape, 16” seat, $1,000 OBO. Call Cliff Vogel, 402-519-1958. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 2/18

40 HEAD OF TARGHEE

EWES FOR SALE: Twoyear-olds, first time lambing, starting March 1. $350/head, Powell, WY. Dennis Miller, 330-275-0708 2/11

HAY FOR SALE: 2022 first and second cutting alfalfa, alfalfa/ grass, grass mix, straight grass, Haybet barley, straight millet and sorghum. 2021 alfalfa, alfalfa/grass, grass, alfalfa/oats, alfalfa/oats/millet. All in netwrapped round bales. Semi load delivery available. Call for pricing, 701-690-8116, please send a text if no answer or keep trying 2/18

SMALL SQUARES OF BROME GRASS/ALFALFA

MIX HAY: Covered, $10/bale. ALSO, second cutting alfalfa. Sheridan, WY. Call Drew, 307752-5920 2/18

VALLEY VIDEO HAY MARKETS, LLC: Hay still available. Go to www.valleyvideohay. com or call Barry McRea, 308235-5386 2/11

BARLEY STRAW: Certified weed-free small squares, $4/ bale. ALSO, round bales. OATS, WHEAT AND BARLEY, $20/100 cwt. Greybull, WY area. Call 307-762-3878 or 307-202-0108, leave message 2/11

FOR SALE: H&S 7+4 17’ chuckwagon with tandem running gear. John Deere 714A and 716A chuckwagons with John Deere running gear and bunk feeding extensions, been shedded, nice condition. Haybuster 2650 bale processor, shedded, like new. Lorenz 16’x33’ 18 ton stack mover. Farm King 8’ snow blower with hydraulic spout. All in very nice condition!! Call 605999-5482 2/18

Heating Equipment

YEARLING PASTURE WANTED for 1,500 head steers/spayed heifers for 2023 and beyond. Take all or part, smaller places okay. CO, WY, OR and ID preferred. Competitive rates, reference available. Call or text Jon, 831-240-5795 7/1 PASTURE WANTED for 2,000 yearlings and 500 pairs. Can split into smaller bunches. 701-5231235 3/11

MOFFAT COUNTY SHEEP SHEARING SCHOOL, CRAIG, CO MARCH 31-APRIL 2, 2023: This 3-day shearing school provides hands-on, instructed experience in shearing sheep and an introduction to equipment maintenance. E-mail megan. stetson@colostate.edu or call 970-826-3402 for registration information and questions 2/4

HORSE HAY: BARN STORED, 3x3 bales weighing 710 lbs. Laramie, WY. Native meadow grass, irrigated, fertilized and put up right. Dry, no rain, fine green hay. RFQ 155. We select the best meadows and windrows for our horse customers. A blend of grasses including Timothy, Brome and Garrison. $120/bale or $340/ton on semi loads. 800 available, volume discounts. Call 307-760-3837 for photos and hay test. We can arrange trucking. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 2/4

CERTIFIED BARLEY STRAW FOR SALE, 3x4. Cody, WY. Call 307-899-1952 2/11

EQUIPMENT FOR SALE: John Deere 8960 tractor with PTO; John Deere 5090e tractor with loader; CIH 1015 pick-up header; John Deere 455 30’ grain drill; White 30’ disk; Morris 53’ airdrill; Lawson 12x30 double drum land areator; New Holland 1075 balewagon; Freeman self propelled 3 string balers; Freeman pull type 3 string balers; Vermeer R23 rake; Hesston 7434 3x4 baler; John Deere 569 baler; Massey Ferguson 2190 4x4 baler; Cat 950 loader; New Holland 359 grinder mixer; Artsway 425 grinder mixer; Modern Mill (mix mill) feed mill; IHC 80 bbl vac truck; Merritt 48’x102” cattle pot; 2007 Western Star 4900 sleeper truck; Mobile Tech 9 yd. volumetric concrete mixer; Degelman 570 rock picker. Call 406-2541254 2/4

ELIMINATE ● RISING ● FUEL COSTS: Clean, safe and efficient wood heat. Central Boiler Classic and E-Classic Outdoor Wood Furnace; heats multiple buildings with only 1 furnace, 25-year warranty available. Heat with wood, no splitting! Available in dual fuel ready models. www.CentralBoiler.com WE ALSO HAVE whole house pellet/corn/biomass furnaces. Load once per month with hopper. www. Maximheat.com A-1 Heating Systems. Instant rebates may apply! Call today! 307742-4442. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds TFN

GOING, GOING, GONE. THAT'S WHAT YOU'LL SAY WITH ROUNDUP CLASSIFIEDS

Fencing

LODGEPOLE PRODUCTS, 307-742-6992, SERVING

AGRI-BUSINESSES SINCE

1975!! Treated posts, corral poles, buck-and-rail, western rail, fence stays, rough-sawn lumber, bedding. SEE US at www.lodgepoleproducts. com and click our “Picking A Fence Post” tab to see why folks choose our posts!! TFN

ADVERTISE TODAY

Pipe

PIPE FOR SALE!! 2 7/8, 3 1/2 tubing, 4” drill pipe, 4 1/2 casing, 5” casing, 7” casing. Rods 3/4, 7/8 and 1” located in Montana, can ship anywhere. Call Mike, 602-758-4447. To view photos, go to www.wylr.net in the classifieds 6/17

Irrigation

Irrigation Systems

Irrigation

The choice is simple.

Copper wire is being stolen from electrically powered pivot systems world-wide. Many growers have resorted to 24-hour guards, razor wire, floodlights and daily disassembly to protect themselves. T-L’s hydraulically powered pivot systems can be designed with little or no wire to steal. Stop theft and discover T-L’s reliability, simplicity and low maintenance cost. T-L irrigation systems are easier on you - for life.

Big Horn Truck and Equipment

Manderson, WY

rairdenjlw@tritel.net

Pipe

HDPE Pipe for Ranch Water Systems

Fair prices, good service, rancher owned. Quantities up to a truck load.

Delivery available throughout the West. 775-657-1815

Read it in the Roundup

Roof Coating

TANK

Hunting & Fishing

FEB. 9-10: PETSKA FUR WILL BE BUYING ALL RAW/DRY FUR DEER/ELK HIDES AND ANTLER, IN THE FOLLOWING WYOMING TOWNS AND LOCATIONS: FEB. 9: Douglas 7:10-7:20 a.m., Douglas

Feed (drive thru); Bill 8-8:10

• 800-770-6280

Property for Sale

Hunting

FEB. 11-12: PETSKA FUR WILL BE BUYING ALL RAW/DRY FUR DEER/ELK HIDES AND ANTLER, IN THE FOLLOWING WYOMING TOWNS AND LOCATIONS: FEB. 11: Powell

7-7:20 a.m., Murdoch’s; Ralston

METAL, composition shingles or tar roofs. Long lasting and easy to apply. We also manufacture tank coatings for concrete, rock, steel, galvanized or mobile tanks.

Available

Call

VIRDEN PERMA-BILT CO. 806-352-2761

a.m., Bill’s Store (drive thru, call Greg); Wright 8:50-9:20 a.m., Exxon Big D on S. 387; Newcastle 11:15 a.m.-11:45 p.m., Voelker’s Body Shop; Upton

12:30-12:45 p.m., Joe’s Grocery Store parking lot; Moorcroft

1:15-1:45 p.m., The Coffee Cup; Gillette 2:10-2:30 p.m., T&T Guns and Ammo; Gillette 3-3:30

p.m., Rocky Mountain Sports.

FEB. 10: Gillette 7-7:20 a.m., Rocky Mountain Sports (drive thru, call Greg); Sheridan 9:3010 a.m., Sportsman’s Warehouse; Buffalo 10:45-11:15 a.m., Good 2 Go; Ten Sleep

12:45-1:15 p.m., Pony Express; Hyattville 1:45-2 p.m., Paint Rock Processing; Manderson

320 ACRES WITH A MILE AND A HALF OF LIVE SPRING WATER: Alpine setting. Beautiful views. Located in the Dillon, MT area. REDUCED $1,200,000. Call Sidwell Land & Cattle Co., Richard Sidwell, 406-861-4426, 406-3224425 or e-mail sidwell@sidwellland.com 3/25 Check

2:40-2:50 p.m., Hiway Bar (drive thru); Basin 3-3:20 p.m., Overland Express Mart (drive thru); Greybull 3:40-4 p.m., Overland Express Mart (drive thru); Lovell

4:30-4:50 p.m., Good 2 Go; Byron 5-5:15 p.m., Cardtrol (drive thru); Powell 5:30-5:50 p.m., Murdoch’s. For more information, call Greg, 308-750-0700 or visit www.petskafur.net 2/4

Mineral Rights

WANT TO PURCHASE mineral and other oil/gas interests. Send details to PO Box 13557, Denver, CO 80201 2/11

Educator highlights mental health awareness in agriculture

The University of Nebraska-Lincoln (UNL)

BeefWatch podcast welcomed Wayde Pickinpaugh, a Nebraska Extension educator, on Jan. 9 to discuss an article titled “Breaking the Stigma of Mental Health Among Producers” in the January UNL BeefWatch Newsletter.

Breaking the stigma Agriculture is a rewarding business, but it does come with stressors – weather, cattle, grain prices, debt, etc. It’s important to recognize the value a person brings to an operation compared to the markets, number of acres one owns or the number in a bank account.

According to the article, farmers and ranchers tend to struggle with a lack of routine and are constantly dealing with the unknown, making farming and ranching difficult. Pickinpaugh mentions producers tend to push through these adversities without giving themselves grace.

“We would never hesitate to go and talk to a market specialist, cattle buyer or veterinarian, so why are we hesitating to go get help ourselves?” she says. “It’s OK to push ourselves through stressful times when necessary and keep going, but not when it’s time to get help.”

She adds, “It’s important to get help. Farmers, ranchers and producers don’t have to have a mental health issue to get help and go talk to someone.”

Pickinpaugh notes it’s okay to be stressed, but she encourages producers to do

what they can and set reasonable expectations. Additionally, it’s important for producers to remember they do the best they can for their family and operations.

“Producers should keep this in the back of their mind – we are doing the best we can, and it’s not always going to be easy,” she says.

Reducing stress

Pickinpaugh mentions data from Miller and Rudolphi, published in 2022, shows production agriculture workers are ranked fourth in male suicide. She encourages others to know when it’s time to ask for help and when to sit down to talk to someone and learn ways to manage stress.

A few ways one can reduce stress is by finding someone to talk to, whether it’s a spouse, neighbor or friend – someone who can help provide a different perspective, help with reflection on current struggles and to have someone who can simply listen.

“Getting professional help is one of the hardest Band-Aids to rip off, but know when it’s time to do so,” she says.

In agriculture, a common phrase among the ranching and farming community is “there are no days off.” Livestock will always need fed, but Pickinpaugh encourages producers to find time to take breaks and to take care of their physical and emotional health.

She advises producers to focus on what can be controlled and try to relax

For more information, visit beef.unl. edu.

Mental health resources

Many mental health resources exist to help those in the agricultural community. A few of these include:

• Rural Response Hotline, 1-800-464-0258

• National Suicide Prevention Life Line, 988

• Betterhelp.com

• Ruralwellness.unl.edu

• Local mental health professionals

and manage stress during peak stress seasons. She notes it takes a constant discipline and practice, but it can be done.

In addition, she encourages producers to plan ahead, set priorities and have open discussions with others on the operation to divide tasks.

Learning how to recognize stressors and how to manage stress can not only help the farmer, rancher or producer but can help those around them as well.

“If a person recognizes someone in distress, use a caring approach, listen and connect them to resources,” she says.

Resources

Stress looks different on everyone. Pickinpaugh mentions this may be when someone is no longer acting like themself. According to 2019 data from Harris-Broomfield, individuals should empower people to ask for help but know when it’s time to reach out with help.

“There are a lot of resources out there where one doesn’t even have to be in person – make a phone call, talk to someone on the phone, and they can provide some different steps one can take during a time of struggle,” she says. “Agriculture has always been a hard business to be in with a lot of fulfillment – whether it’s putting food on the plate for our families or the nation,

but it does come with a lot of stressors. So, it’s important to get help when needed.”

Pickinpaugh says being a listening ear can go a long way. Everyone manages their struggles differently, so sometimes being empathetic is the best thing one can do for their family member.

Some people who are in distress or depressed may not realize they are or may even be in denial. Family members can encourage them to speak to a professional if necessary.

“Multiple layers of stress can be difficult to overcome. We are potentially not our best selves while enduring this current climate of stress,” Pickinpaugh mentions. “People need to be kind to themselves and gracious of others. If symptoms of anxiety or depression last longer than two weeks, or if a person notices a family member or friend pulling away from work processes, talking with others or isolating themselves, connect them to a resource.”

Finding resources and using them are really important.

She notes, “It’s what’s going to help us, our families and the people around us.”

Brittany Gunn is the editor of the Wyoming Livestock Roundup. Send comments on this article to roundup@wylr.net.

7:30 a.m., Good 2 Go (drive thru, call Greg); Cody 8-8:40 a.m., Nature’s Design Taxidermy; Meeteetse 9:20-9:40 a.m., Elk Horn Bar; Worland 10:50-11:20 a.m., Coop One Stop; Thermopolis 11:50 a.m.-12:20 p.m., Renegade Guns; Shoshoni 1-1:15 p.m., rest area/bus stop (drive thru); Riverton 2-2:50 p.m., Vic’s Body Shop (behind the Dollar Tree); Hudson 3:10-3:20 p.m., Wyoming Custom Meats (drive thru); Lander 3:40-4:10 p.m., Zander’s One Stop; Jeffrey City 5:15-5:30 p.m., Split Rock Cafe; Muddy Gap 5:50-6 p.m. (drive thru, call Greg). FEB. 12: Casper 7:20-8:20 a.m., Wagner Outdoor Sports; Glenrock 9-9:15 a.m., east exit on I-25; Douglas 10:10-10:20 a.m., Douglas Feed; Orin Junction 10:40-10:55 a.m., truck stop (drive thru); Lost Springs 11:10-11:20 a.m., truck pull off (drive thru, call Greg); Manville 11:50 a.m.-12 p.m., truck stop (drive thru, call Greg); Lusk 12:20-12:40 p.m., Decker’s Grocery. For more information, call Greg, 308-750-0700 or visit www.petskafur.net 2/4

Teacher of the Year honored

On Jan. 25, the Wyoming Legislature honored Wyoming’s Teacher of the Year Zach Beam, a high school science teacher from Newcastle High School.

Legislators recognized Beam’s contributions to Wyoming’s youth and the day-to-day efforts made by all Wyoming teachers which are resulting in the strong performance by Wyoming students in the 2022 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) results, also known as the nation’s report card.

“Teachers are the key to student success,” said Speaker of the House Albert Sommers. “Today, we had the distinct privilege of honoring one of Wyoming’s finest, Newcastle High School’s Zach Beam. We thank him and all Wyoming teachers for their dedication.”

“What we see in the NAEP results tells us the commitment of Wyoming teachers is paying off,” Sommers continued. “Quality education is and will continue to be a top priority for the Wyoming Legislature.”

“It is an honor to recognize Zach Beam today,” said House Education Committee Chairman David Northrup. “There is

no doubt the effort of Wyoming teachers is making a difference, and the NAEP results are a testament to the good work of Wyoming’s teachers and the benefits Wyoming’s students are gaining.”

“Wyoming students also deserve congratulations for their hard work. Wyoming is well positioned to continue our momentum as a leader in education throughout the country,” Northrup continued.

The report demonstrates a trend of strong performance for Wyoming education. Some highlights from the 2022 report include: for all 50 states, Wyoming is among those leading the pack in grade four reading; for all 50 states, Wyoming is among those leading in grade four math; grade eight math students outperformed national average test results and grade eight reading is even with the national average in reading for public school students.

NAEP assessments were established in 1969 and evaluate students in grades four and eight in reading and mathematics every two years. The 2021 assessments were postponed until 2022 due to the pandemic.

Teacher of the Year – Newcastle High School Science

Teacher Zach Beam was honored as the Wyoming Teacher of the Year by the Wyoming Legislature on Jan. 25. Courtesy photo

Meteorologist discusses effect of different types of precipitation on ag soil

For producers across the West and Midwest, this winter has been everything but mild. Many have battled frigid, below-zero temperatures and varying precipitation depending on location.

In an episode of Kansas State University’s (KSU) Agriculture Today podcast, dated Jan. 20, KSU Meteorologist Chip Redmond discussed various types of precipitation seen across the U.S. the past few weeks and the lingering effects it will have on agriculture land in weeks to come.

Location determines weather patterns

To begin, Redmond points out high and low pressure systems, dependent on location, play a huge role in weather patterns. He notes southeastern areas of Kansas received freezing rain last week, while areas north and west – in and out of the state – mostly saw snow.

“In Kansas, we have a systematic, normal process we call a mid-latitude cyclone, which is a synoptic scale, low-pressure system where wind spins counter clockwise, which wraps warm air from the South – usually the Gulf – northward, so the warm air rises,” he explains.

This also occurs with cold air, which comes from the North and the East and wraps around westward, according to Redmond. This causes air masses to spin around each other at various heights in the atmosphere, which dictates the kind of precipitation that will fall.

“Kansas sits south and east of the low pressure zone in a warm weather sector. We are south of the warm front and east of the cold front, so we were the warmest compared to other areas, and we only saw rain,” Redmond says.

“As we move further north, we cross the warm front and get into a colder air mass at the surface, usually resulting in mixed precipitation. As we move out to the West, we cross the cold front where there is a much deeper mass of cold air, and those areas saw snow,” he adds.

Types of precipitation

Redmond notes the type of precipitation an area will see largely depends on the temperature of these air masses.

“We will start with rain. Rain is cut and dry,” he states. “As precipitation falls from a cloud, it accumulates into water droplets or ice. It gets heavy enough to fall, and gravity pulls it down through a thick layer of warm air where it melts into a raindrop. And, since it’s warm – above 32 degrees Fahrenheit – all the way to the surface, it hits the ground as a raindrop.”

As the temperature of the air profile from the cloud base to the surface changes, so too will the type of precipitation, Redmond says.

In fact, a thin layer of air, at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, sitting on the surface with warmer air above it all

the way to the cloud base will result in freezing rain.

In this situation, Redmond explains precipitation will fall through the warm layer as a water droplet. When it hits the thin, cold layer, it won’t have time to refreeze, but if the ground is cold enough it will freeze on contact.

He notes this combination of conditions is hard to come by, which is why freezing rain doesn’t occur very frequently.

“If the layer of cold air is any thicker at the surface, with warm air still above it, the precipitation will refreeze in the cold layer and fall as sleet,” he says. “Sleet is typically clear, compared to graupel which is cloudy and looks like hail. They are two different things, created differently based on buoyancy and turbulence in the atmosphere.”

Lastly, Redmond explains if the entire air profile from surface to cloud base is at or below 32 degrees Fahrenheit, precipitation will fall as snow.

Moisture content, soil effects

To conclude his discussion, Redmond shares all of this variability in precipitation may have an effect on agriculture operations in regard to moisture content for agricultural soils.

“Snow is really important for agriculture because it typically melts slowly, which gives moisture a chance to soak into the ground,” he says. “On the other hand, if we get rain in the winter and it falls too heavy and the ground is frozen, it will just run off.”

Additionally, Redmond notes there is large variability in types of snow and how much moisture they contain.

“Say we get 10 inches of snow during a really cold period with below-zero temperatures. It will typically have a lot less moisture in it because cold air can’t hold moisture,” he explains. “Typically, when it’s cold, the snow is soft and fluffy, but it tends to compact quickly when it starts to melt. We can see ratios of as much as 20 inches of snow reduce down to less than one inch of moisture.”

In contrast, Redmond refers to recent snowstorms in the West which left many with nearly two feet of snow.

“Temperatures were around 30 degrees Fahrenheit during these storms, which means the atmosphere had the ability to hold a lot more moisture. This causes a difference in the chemistry, dynamics and moisture content of snowflakes,” he says. “This 24 inches of snow may melt down to three inches of precipitation, which is a lot of moisture from snowpack.”

“However, this thick, heavy snow might have a harder time melting down. It can compact and turn to ice and will probably stick around for a lot longer,” he adds. “It really all depends on the time of year, the type

of precipitation and the moisture content of the different types of snowflakes.”

“The most recent precipitation events could have impacts for producers down the road,” Redmond concludes. “The amount of moisture and potential ice and snowpack will have underlying effects on temperatures and precipitation trends over the next few weeks.”

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

Adobe Stock photo

Lazy JB Angus named 2023 Angus Herdsman of the Year

Jeff and Kathi Creamer of Lazy JB Angus in Montrose, Colo. recently received prestigious acknowledgement for nearly 40 years of hard work. Their cumulative management experience, industry knowledge and dedication to the Angus breed earned them recognition as the 2023 Angus Herdsmen of the Year.

Since 1984, the Creamers have assisted Kathi’s family operation, Lazy JB Angus, which they now own and operate after taking over the reins in 1999.

The couple, alongside

including everything from breeding, feeding, marketing, daily show cattle care, secretarial work, irrigation, harvesting hay and anything else needing to be done on the ranch.

Receiving the award

“This award had been a lifelong goal for us as a couple,” Kathi said. “For years we have watched many talented cattlemen and women come before us to receive this award and to be named amongst those individuals and couples is truly icing on the cake for our Angus story.”

The Herdsman of the Year Award recog

To learn more about Jeff and Kathi’s operation or the other three 2023 Herdsman of the Year candidates, visit bit.ly/3wrVcsY.

breed.

Selected by their peers through a nomination committee and voting process, Kathi said this award makes her thankful for all the people involved.

“To know our peers, both young and old, found us worthy of this prestigious award is something we will be forever grateful for,” Kathi said.

“To those who have

There Is A Difference…

You will find that there is truly a difference in the type of bulls we use in our program. We breed cattle based on how they perform in the real world and are maternally focused and profit driven. We pay close attention to each cow family and how they perform against one another. We structure our breeding program off balance, use multiple-trait selection, and understand the importance of having the right type of cow that thrives in a forage-based environment.

to cross paths, we are excited to meet you, and to all who cast their vote for us, we hope we can continue to be role-model herdsmen for generations to come. We appreciate your support,” she added.

At Cattlemen’s Congress, held in Oklahoma City Dec. 31-Jan. 14, Angus enthusiasts gathered for the Angus Foundation’s 150 Years of Angus Celebration to enjoy camaraderie and eagerly anticipate the announcement of the recipient.

Unable to attend the reception, Kathi said the winning phone call caught her completely off guard.

“When I received the call from Mark McCully, I really had no idea what he was calling about,” Kathi said. “We had been busy preparing for Denver and had lost track of what day the winners would be announced. I was in complete shock when he told me – I even asked him if he was serious, followed by overwhelming tears of joy and gratitude.”

Kathi said she wasted no time sharing the news with her family.

“I instantly opened the door to where my children were clipping cattle and stood there with tears streaming down my face telling them, ‘We won! Your dad and I won,’” Kathi said. “The emotions were truly reflective of how appreciative, shocked and grateful Jeff and I felt knowing we had been selected.”

Fueling the fire

As expected, the lives of herdsmen worthy of this award aren’t always glamorous, but Kathi said it’s the people who keep them motivated.

“The people of this industry are what fuel our fire,” Kathi said.

“They are the reason we get up every day, why we push through seasons of drought or poor weather to raise cattle – they truly are our family.”

Kathi said the Angus family is one of the most unique assets of the breed – it’s truly indescribable.

“Being a part of the Angus family and what it means to us is something that would exhaust even the greatest vocabulary,” Kathi said. “The Angus family is a bond unlike any other – it is a unique gift which is appreciated, treasured and simply can’t be duplicated.”

Briley Richard is the Angus communications specialist for the American Angus Association (AAA).

5L Ripped In Black 510B

Award recipients – The 2023 American Angus Association (AAA) Herdsman of the Year was announced Jan. 6 during the Angus Foundation’s 150 Years of Angus Celebration at Cattlemen’s Congress. Pictured left to right, 2023 Miss American Angus Kelsey Theis and Jeff and Kathi Creamer of Lazy JB Angus, Herdsman of the Year Award winners, at the 2023 National Western Stock Show. AAA photo