Podcast Summary: EmpowerU - "Burn The Boats" Featuring Willie Weiss

Episode Information

• Title: Burn The Boats... Featuring Willie Weiss
• Hosts: Weston Hendricks, Luke Domingue, Quinn Hartley
• Release Date: June 27, 2025
• Description: EmpowerU aims to empower individuals in the livestock industry by providing insights and confidence from industry leaders. This episode features Willie Weiss, a renowned figure in the cattle showing world.

1. Introduction to Willie Weiss

The episode kicks off with hosts Weston Hendricks and Luke Domingue expressing their excitement about featuring Willie Weiss, a prominent name in the show heifer and cattle industry. Luke shares his admiration for Willie, highlighting his significant impact on breeding and selling competitive show heifers.

[00:37] Luke: "Willie's made a huge impact in this industry when it comes to selling competitive show heifers... couldn’t be more grateful."

2. Willie Weiss’s Journey into Livestock Shows

Willie Weiss introduces himself, detailing his background and how his passion for cattle breeding began as a 4H project during his youth in Sandcar, Iowa. What started as a hobby to fund his education evolved into a thriving cattle operation.

[01:39] Willie Weiss: "Our cattle operation started out as a 4H project and then kind of grew into a way for me to pay for school and college."

3. Building the Foundation: From Holstein Calves to Show Heifers

Willie recounts his early experiences raising Holstein feeder calves on his family's row crop farm. Influenced by neighbors and mentors, he transitioned from dairy calves to beef cattle, focusing on building a show-quality herd through selective breeding and artificial insemination.

[05:16] Willie Weiss: "I flipped through the livestock exhibitor magazine and just picked out a couple bulls and ordered semen... that's how we started."

4. Mentorship and Influences

Willie emphasizes the pivotal role mentors like Terry Cruzy played in his development. These mentors provided Willie with cattle for breeding, guidance on show preparations, and valuable industry insights, shaping his approach to cattle breeding and business growth.

[09:00] Willie Weiss: "One of the earliest mentors is Terry Cruzy from Cruzy Angus Farms... he got me started."

5. Strategies for Selecting and Breeding Show Heifers

A significant portion of the discussion centers around Willie’s approach to selecting cattle based on structural integrity and physical traits. He stresses the importance of foundational structure over breed preferences, aiming for cows that are muscled, well-built, and capable of performing under show conditions.

[18:04] Willie Weiss: "I've always considered myself a structure fanatic... structural issues are one of the hardest things to breed out of."

6. Online Sales and Partnerships

Willie shares insights into his online sales strategy, crediting partnerships with experts like Ferris Simon and John Declerck for enhancing his marketing and nutritional programs. These collaborations have been instrumental in expanding his reach and improving cattle quality.

[28:50] Willie Weiss: "Ferris Simon is crazy intelligent... John Declerck has completely helped us rework our nutrition."

7. Feeding and Managing Heifers: Practical Advice

Willie offers practical advice on feeding heifers, advocating for simplicity and consistency. He advises against overcomplicating diets with numerous additives, emphasizing the basics—fresh hay, clean water, and appropriate feeding schedules—to maintain cattle health and readiness for shows.

[32:10] Willie Weiss: "Stick to the basics. Just make sure all your bases are covered before adding anything extra."

8. Evolution of Show Heifers Over the Past Decade

Discussing changes in the industry, Willie observes significant advancements in the physical attributes of show heifers over the past ten years. Modern genetics and technologies like embryo transfer have allowed for more refined and versatile cattle, balancing aesthetics with structural soundness.

[42:17] Willie Weiss: "There's more of them out there and that's kind of what everybody's striving to do."

9. Defining Success and Personal Motivation

Willie defines success as consistent progression and the continuous setting and achieving of goals. Influenced by mentors and personal experiences, his drive is fueled by the desire to provide for his family and to foster a sustainable and evolving cattle operation.

[58:37] Willie Weiss: "Success is maintaining some form of progression for an extended period of time... a long career."

10. "Burn The Boats" Philosophy

Inspired by Hernando Cortez’s famous "Burn The Boats" speech, Willie discusses the importance of commitment and eliminating fallback options to fully dedicate oneself to their passion. This philosophy underpins his approach to both his cattle business and personal growth.

[60:09] Willie Weiss: "If you choose to do something, put your mind to it and do it. Don't give yourself a plan B."

11. Industry Insights and Future Outlook

Willie reflects on the need for authenticity in the livestock industry, encouraging participants to pursue their unique goals without succumbing to external pressures. He underscores the importance of maintaining the fun and familial aspects of livestock shows to sustain the industry’s future.

[51:09] Willie Weiss: "I wish people would just do what they want to do... breeding good livestock matters, using those livestock to raise our kids matters."

12. Closing Thoughts and Inspiration

The episode concludes with Willie sharing his favorite motivational quotes and scriptures, reinforcing his commitment to continuous improvement and family-centric success. Both hosts express their appreciation for Willie’s insights and participation.

[66:53] Willie Weiss: "Every year we're analyzing and improving and trying to get better."

Notable Quotes:

• Willie Weiss at [05:16]: "From there, the rest is kind of history."
• Luke at [00:37]: "We keep on growing and we keep on running."
• Willie Weiss at [60:09]: "...don't give yourself a plan B."

Conclusion In this episode of EmpowerU, Willie Weiss provides an in-depth look into his journey in the livestock industry, emphasizing the importance of structural integrity in cattle breeding, the value of mentorship, and the philosophy of unwavering commitment. His practical advice on cattle management and his forward-thinking approach offer valuable insights for individuals aiming to excel in the competitive world of livestock shows.