EmpowerU Podcast — Lafrentz Cattle Sale Preview
Host: Weston Hendrix
Guest: Cody LaFrentz
Date: October 20, 2025
Episode Overview
This episode of EmpowerU centers on a comprehensive preview of the forthcoming Lafrentz Cattle Sale, the first live auction held at the Lafrentz family’s Oklahoma farm. Host Weston Hendrix dives deep with guest Cody LaFrentz, tracing his journey through the cattle industry and meticulously breaking down each lot of the 2025 sale. Their dialogue provides valuable insights for both seasoned breeders and junior exhibitors, highlighting genetics, cow families, and special individuals within each breed group.
Background: Cody LaFrentz’s Story
[01:32 – 05:26]
- Cody, originally from Saskatchewan, Canada, comes from a legacy of livestock with roots in Wheatland Cattle Company.
- “Started actually with, I think the first set of bulls they had was 15 and now they're selling about 70...” — Cody [02:19]
- Early experiences leaned heavily toward raising functional, real-world cows.
- Involvement in youth showing at Canadian Western Agribition, compared to Denver Stock Show in the US.
- Cody attended college in Kansas on a livestock judging scholarship, met his wife Shane, and worked at Mark Kelly’s in Texas post-high school—learning about top show cattle.
- After years at the Hoffman family ranch in Nebraska, he and Shane launched their own ranch in Prague, Oklahoma.
“We wanted to kind of spread our own wings and try to kind of carve our own path in this industry.” — Cody [03:53]
Sale Format & Access
[00:52–01:32]
- First Ever Live Sale: On-farm event, with digital catalog and videos on SC and CCI Live.
- Preview accessible both in-person and online; bidding via CCI Live or in person.
Sale Offering Breakdown
Angus Females — Lots 1-8
[05:26–15:10]
- Eight lots, with four out of the rising star Dignity bull.
- Spotlighted genetics include Lizzo, Sarah’s Dream, Blackbird, and more.
Lot Highlights:
- Lots 1 & 2: Full sisters from the Lizzo cow line — one powerfully burly, the other more refined and showy.
“Five would side with one and five would side with the other. … both very high quality.” — Cody [07:10]
- Lot 3: “Sale highlight” heifer, close blood to a $600,000 record-setting junior national champion.
“Certainly one I think is very unique just in terms of just look and presence...” — Cody [08:30]
- Lot 4-8: Dignity daughters, each with distinct cow families and show potential.
- Lot 4: Exceptional flexibility and youthful “green” quality.
- Lot 5: Out of Blackbird cow from Udell/Hoffman lines, described as “big boned and beautiful.”
- Lot 7: Stemming from Cody’s wife’s show cow; standing out for presence and stoutness.
- Lot 8: Sired by Encore, “just kind of like a brood cow in the making.”
Charolais — Lots 9-11
[15:10–20:07]
- Lot 9: Outlier daughter; celebrated as an industry-defining Charolais generator.
“If there’s one Charolais bull that I could label the best generator... it has to be Outlier.” — Weston [15:10]
- Lot 10: Striking neck refinement; full sister to a standout past sale heifer.
- Lot 11: Composite (Charolais x Angus); resulting from an unplanned but fortuitous mating.
Keyanina (Key) — Lots 12-15
[20:07–26:09]
- Lot 12: Deep orange, “clubby” daughter with structure and body; eye-catching appeal for club calf enthusiasts.
“If you don’t bid on this one, you ain’t doing the right thing. … just flat, intriguing, very unique.” — Weston [20:09]
- Lot 13: Hierarchy lineage; praised for brood cow potential and rare pedigree.
- Lot 15: Exceptionally high-percentage Key, out of limited-supply End to End bull.
Maintainers & Maines — Lots 16-21
[26:09–34:37]
- Highlights include a standout blaze-faced maintainer (Lot 16), “cocky” presence, and color that enhances profile.
“She is so three-dimensional from front to rear…” — Cody [27:20]
- Lot 17-18: Half-sibs, with Lot 17 described as more “arrogant”; both dual registered (Maintainer/Main Angus/Low Key).
- High Maines (Lots 19-20): All Me and Moon genetics, both praised for “presence, bone and power.”
- Lot 21: Main Angus with a fusion of style and substance.
Main Angus & “Other” Breeds — Lots 22-35
[33:51–57:45]
- Lot 22: The sole Shorthorn Plus; notable for extra bone, hair quality, and presence.
“First time ever offering one of these, but… she certainly raises the bar quite high.” — Cody [36:04]
- Herefords (Lots 23-25): Two polled, one horned—sired by Marksman, High Roller, and Jet Smooth, with deep success in their lines.
- Lot 26: The only Red Angus; described as having “depth of heel… the assembly of everything… I’d put it up against anything in the sale” [42:55].
- Simmental and Sim-influenced heifers make up the largest purebred cohort, beginning at Lot 27.
Simmental & Percentage Simmental — Lots 27-44
[43:31–69:48]
Haley Cow Family (Lots 27-31):
- Two Broker-sired flush sisters (27–28); heavy on power, presence, and successful maternal lineage.
- Trust Fund dtrs (Lots 29–30): Unique blazes and great “roi after you take the show halter off."
- Lot 31: By JS Boulder; high praise for donor prospects and generating abilities.
Kansa Cow Family (Lots 32–36):
- Lots 33–34: Full sib Next Level daughters; one solid black, the other with a blaze face, both presenting unique strengths.
- Lot 35: Half-blood (Angus x Encore) — a personal favorite of Madison Fisher and highly recommended.
“I think this one brings people to the place and you want to look at her and kind of get a little chatter going…” — Cody [55:01]
- Lot 36: 24 Carat outcross; robust "brood cow build."
Relentless Cow Family (Lots 37–39):
- A1, Next Level and Trust Fund sires used to produce three show prospects, each with slightly different strengths.
Specialty Lots (Lots 40–44):
-
Lot 40: So Remedy x Ms. Rudy — purchased from Willie Weiss, brings out the “baldy” features so valued in Simmentals.
-
Lots 41–42: Encore daughters, representing strong cow families and bonus show appeal.
-
Lot 43: “Broker” out of Tim Schaefer’s herd; labeled a definite “sale highlight.”
-
Lot 44: The only Lim-Flex entry — extreme length, femininity, and outcross look.
“She is an absolute freak… her parked… from the side it'll make you look from three pins over and be like what is that animal?” — Cody [68:20]
Notable Quotes
- Industry Perspective:
“We wanted to kind of spread our own wings and try to kind of carve our own path in this industry.”
— Cody [03:53] - About a Sale Heifer:
“Certainly one I think is very unique just in terms of just look and presence is just incredible…”
— Cody [08:30] - On the Red Angus:
“I am Holly… looked at him and I said, ‘What are you doing with her?’ And he said, ‘You can have her.’”
— Cody [41:32] - On the Lim-Flex Heifer:
“She is an absolute freak is probably the best way to put it.”
— Cody [68:20]
Key Timestamps
| Timestamp | Segment | |-----------|-------------------------------------| | 01:32 | Cody's background story | | 05:26 | Angus offering introduction | | 15:10 | Charolais preview | | 20:07 | Keys & Key composites | | 26:09 | Maintainers/Maines discussion | | 33:51 | Main Angus/Other breeds | | 43:31 | Simmental/Sim-influenced lots intro | | 68:20 | Lim-Flex “absolute freak” highlight | | 70:38 | Closing thoughts & Sale details |
Memorable Moments
- Weston’s enthusiastic endorsement of Lot 12, a deep orange Key heifer:
“If you don’t bid on this one, you ain’t doing the right thing.” [20:09]
- The inside stories of accidental but successful breedings (e.g., Lot 11 composite Charolais).
- Numerous nods to the impact powerful cow families make on donor and show potential.
- Repeated praise for the “generation potential” and the breadth of cow families represented.
Conclusion
[70:38–71:53]
Weston wraps up by commending the sale depth, urging listeners not to miss viewing or bidding on this set. Cody extends his thanks for the feature and invites questions from prospective buyers, highlighting the October 26th live auction date, both in person and on CCI Live.
For further information or catalog access:
Visit the Lafrentz Cattle Facebook page and see videos/pictures on CCI Live. For personal consultations or herd tours, Cody or Shane are available by phone.
EmpowerU: “Empowerment’s here. Thank you all for tuning in.” [71:53]