EmpowerU Podcast — Episode Summary
Episode: Beefmaster Cattle & UFC Fights… Featuring Reese Tassin
Date: September 13, 2025
Hosts: Weston Hendrix, Luke Domingue, Quinn Hartley
Guest: Reese Tassin
Episode Overview
This episode brings together the worlds of show cattle and UFC fighting, featuring an in-depth conversation with Reese Tassin, a prominent breeder and exhibitor in the Beefmaster cattle industry. The hosts and Reese discuss his unconventional start in cattle, the evolution of his program, strategies for success in showing and breeding, the value of mentorship and community, and how his passion extends to the grit found in UFC fighters. The episode offers candid, practical insights and personal stories that empower listeners both in livestock and beyond.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Reese’s Introduction and Unlikely Start in Beefmasters
- Background: Reese didn't grow up in a traditional cattle family. His journey began through a 4H nudge, a chance newspaper ad, and plenty of learning by trial and error.
- “A little bit of dumb luck, a little bit of ignorance, and probably a whole lot of stupidity at the time led us to the Beefmaster breed.” — Reese Tassin (04:54)
- Early Struggles: The family started without any cattle experience—his first heifer, Showgirl, even ran away the second day.
- Turning Point: Acquiring a cow named Elizabeth in 2017-2018 elevated their breeding program, leading to their current successes.
2. Overcoming Challenges and the Importance of Setbacks
- Lack of Knowledge: Reese underscores not knowing what to feed, how to breed, or even how to set up panels as an initial challenge.
- “The biggest struggle… is just lack of knowledge.” — Reese Tassin (07:32)
- Mentorship: Key figures like Steve Emmons and Lady Ellis influenced his breeding and business approach.
- Value of Failure: Setbacks and not winning taught crucial lessons, fueling hunger for improvement.
- “Those big losses, those big disappointments, I think are the biggest blessings.” — Reese Tassin (12:22)
3. Advancing Breed Quality and Show Ring Success
- Evolving Type: Reese talks about shifting breeding strategies to match industry trends, while ensuring cows retain functional traits.
- “I like ones that make you stop and stare.” — Reese Tassin (15:17)
- Genetics & Networking: Building connections via established breeders and leveraging social media has been pivotal.
- “Whenever it comes to knowledge, you should be a thief… copy, paste, plagiarize as much as you can and… make it your own.” — Reese Tassin (18:05)
- Social Media: Facebook and Instagram have driven sales and reputation, surprising even Reese.
4. Feeding and Show Management
- Adaptability: Each animal (heifer, bull, pair) requires individualized feeding. Less is often more, especially with Beefmasters.
- “Feeding the Beefmasters… less is more, take a more simplistic approach.” — Reese Tassin (22:47)
- Learning from Others: Reese credits Doug McCollum as an influential feeder, demonstrating humility and openness to advice.
- “That guy is a wizard. He’s a genius. I will bow down to him when it comes to feeding.” — Reese Tassin (25:31)
- Animals Have a Prime: He discusses the difficulty in keeping cattle looking their best year-round, focusing instead on having multiple animals peaking at different times.
5. Mentorship & the Power of Community
- Relationship with Doug McCollum: Reese describes meeting Doug (and being intimidated), eventually becoming friends and trading knowledge.
- “He can take one that is a good heifer and he can make her an elite heifer. And I think that’s very hard to do.” — Reese Tassin (33:56)
- Helping the Next Generation: The joy of helping young showmen succeed—such as Riley Purvis—motivates Reese more than personal accolades.
6. Continuous Progression & Breeding Philosophy
- Avoiding Complacency: Reese is focused on never staying "stuck in the past," pushing daughters and granddaughters of "game-changing" cows like Elizabeth to be even better.
- “When you get complacent, you stop improving... That goal post is always moving.” — Reese Tassin (42:24)
- Balancing Show & Real World Traits: Soundness, functionality, and eye-appeal are the goal:
- “You want one that can win a beauty contest, but boy, she can have those babies and she'll look good doing it.” — Reese Tassin (46:08)
7. Reese on Beefmaster Cross Programs
- E6 & Advancer Explained: He breaks down these programs in simple terms for listeners (see [49:48]).
- Expanding Shows: The breed is introducing more open show classes for these crosses, leading to growth and inclusion.
8. Unexpected Passion: UFC Fandom
- Origin Story: Reese’s UFC obsession began with Conor McGregor vs Nate Diaz 2 in 2016, drawn by the authenticity and hard-won stories of the fighters.
- “I'd rather watch grass grow than sit down and watch an organized football game... But man, when it comes to the UFC fights, I am watching them.” — Reese Tassin (56:21)
- Inspiration from Grit: The stories of fighters overcoming hardships inspire Reese to persevere in his own life.
- Cattle Named for Fighters: Inside joke: many bulls are named after favorites (e.g., Black Beast for Derrick Lewis).
9. Most Inspiring UFC Moment
- Leon Edwards vs Kamaru Usman 2: Reese recounts this fight as the ultimate comeback story, using it for motivation.
- “You got five minutes. Five minutes to change your life... He goes out there and with 50 seconds left... head kick KOs and walks off.” — Reese Tassin (61:31)
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On Starting in Cattle:
“We were those people, like 100%. She ran away. A few days later, she came back.” — Reese Tassin (04:54) -
On Learning:
“Whenever it comes to knowledge, you should be a thief.” — Reese Tassin (18:05) -
On Social Media in Agriculture:
“If people don’t see you, I feel like they’ll forget about you a little bit.” — Reese Tassin (18:38) -
On Feeding Cattle:
“As far as feeding, it's best to have an open mind. I never act like I know everything. I'm the smartest guy in the room.” — Reese Tassin (25:31) -
On Progress:
“Your best one right now… five years from now… if your breed has done its work… the ones who are good right now shouldn’t be the best five years from now.” — Reese Tassin (44:58) -
On UFC:
“You can play golf, you can play football… but you can't play fight.” — Reese Tassin (56:21) -
On Adversity
“It's not how you win, it's how you lose.” — Reese Tassin (73:34)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Introduction to Reese, his background – [02:20–07:14]
- Overcoming challenges, guidance from mentors – [07:14–13:42]
- Evolving the Beefmaster program, cattle type discussion – [13:42–17:37]
- Building connections, social media, marketing – [17:37–22:13]
- Feeding strategies and “prime” animals – [22:26–30:03]
- Doug McCollum mentorship and learning from others – [30:03–35:50]
- Helping youth, the power of giving back – [35:50–40:02]
- Future breeding focus, advancing quality – [40:02–46:08]
- Breeding in the South, E6/Advancer programs – [46:11–55:54]
- Reese’s passion for UFC, parallels with cattle showing – [55:55–61:19]
- Most inspiring fight: Leon Edwards vs Usman – [61:19–64:58]
- Daily philosophy, Bible verse, what empowers Reese – [65:09–74:17]
Final Reflections and Takeaways
- Success is a process built from mistakes, community learning, and continuous adaptation.
- Both cattle breeding and fighting take passion, discipline, resilience, and a willingness to be shaped by challenge.
- Empowering the next generation and giving back is an essential part of sustained success.
- Never get complacent: “That goal post is always moving.”
- Personal growth: “My daughter empowers me to be better… I want her to be proud of me.” — Reese Tassin (69:47)
- Kindness in adversity: “Be good to those who are wrong to you.” — Reese Tassin (65:09)
- “It’s not how you win, it’s how you lose.” — Worthy advice for competitors in any arena.
This episode is a blend of practical show cattle advice, personal resilience, and surprising inspiration from the Octagon—showing that empowerment comes from community, discipline, humility, and the courage to keep growing regardless of where you start.