EmpowerU Podcast — Episode Summary

Episode Title

Minute Differences & Deep Waters... The Post Game Sort Featuring Frank Ward

Hosts

Weston Hendrix & Luke Domingue

Guest

Frank Ward (Livestock judge, cattleman, and industry veteran)

Recording Date

February 7, 2026

Overview

This episode delivers a rare “live” post-game breakdown with Frank Ward immediately after he judged the prestigious Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo steer show—one of the most prominent, competitive events in the U.S. cattle industry. Frank recounts his personal backstory, judging approach, and the minute, high-stakes decisions behind sorting through some of the nation’s top steers. The episode offers unique insights into cattle judging philosophies, specific class details, and the emotional and technical challenges judges face. Both the hosts and Frank emphasize mentorship, industry evolution, and the significance of details, making this episode a must-listen for cattle enthusiasts, show families, and livestock industry leaders.

Main Topics & Key Discussion Points

Frank Ward’s Journey and Background

• Frank’s Early Beginnings

  • Grew up in California, fifth-generation, showing in 4H and FFA (00:19)
  • Mentored by Jackie Davis at a Hereford ranch; managed Angus for Kendall Jackson Winery
  • Built a reputation trading and raising club calves for 30+ years
  • Frank’s current work with Altech selling supplements, and his family’s continued involvement in showing cattle

• Quote:

  “We've been trading calves 30 plus years and then raising a few and always had to work a day job. …Our kids, they show cattle, mainly steers. …They were addicted to the steer game too.”
  — Frank Ward (01:37)

Entering the Fort Worth Steer Show: Expectations and Nerves

• Event Prestige and Prep

  • Acknowledgment of Fort Worth as probably the “biggest one in the nation” (00:00)
  • Nerves about judging such a high-level show, including concerns about stamina and the logistics of managing very large classes (often 70 per class)
  • Different “pulling” strategies compared to other judges (03:04)
    • Frank chose to pull from the bottom rather than the top, in collaboration with ring stewards Jim and Randy

• Quote:

  “I know Mark [Hobe] pulled off the top… I kind of like to pull off the bottom.”
  — Frank Ward (03:19)

Judging Philosophy and Practice

• Selection Criteria

  • Immediate focus: “Big legs and a good hind leg… I’m a hip and hind leg guy.” (04:30)
  • Also emphasizes movement, muscle shape, practical finish, and overall look
  • Not afraid to revisit calves or reconsider ones that “came in wrong” or were unsettled on entry

• Managing Large Classes

  • Typically, of ~70, “maybe 15 that you like, …10 that you really like, …then go grab some” (05:00)
  • Understanding stress for exhibitors and using multiple passes to ensure fairness

• Showmanship

  • Recognizes that elite showmanship can tip the scale into the top spots in marginal decisions

• Quote:

  “You get to walk them again as they're leaving and you'll pull…some of those cattle I’d pull off the wall, they would make it in, you know, to the top 10. Several times that happened… I knew I'd missed some because they just came in wrong or something was loose.”
  — Frank Ward (05:33)

Breed-by-Breed & Class Analysis

Angus

• Impressions: Lighter classes—balance between youthfulness and readiness (“finished” market cattle). Stronger practicality in older-school judging. By the second class, competition was visibly “deep.”
• Notable detail: Frank inadvertently picked two sisters as Grand and Reserve
  • “When they read their names, I thought, oh, boy, you know, I just picked sisters.” (08:40)

Hereford/Horned Hereford

• Lightweights: “Pretty unique” white-legged calf that took time to relax before showing off (09:17)
• Middleweights: Good, though not quite stout enough overall
• Heavyweights: Found his kind; noted breed challenges in classing red vs. more traditional Herefords (10:18)
• Classing Out: Frustration at losing some high-quality, dark (red) herefords to classing rules (10:47)

Polled Hereford

• Reserve & Grand: Praised structure and soundness; “If you’d painted him black…could have rolled into any of them.” (12:02)
• Noted mindset shift: Judging all breeds with a market steer mentality, not just jackpot-class youthfulness (12:20)

Shorthorn

• Lightweights: “Looked so youthful and fresh…” but smaller stature limited use (13:12)
• Heavyweights: Extreme density, shape, and silhouette, with lesson on fitting and grooming choices to highlight desirable traits (14:16)
  • “He just looked so dense and good legged…chiseled him down.” (14:51-14:56)

Americans (e.g., crossbreds, Brahman-influenced)

• Lightweights: The gray calf made a huge impression but couldn’t win due to size (18:16)

• Middleweights: Solid black steer—almost picked for Grand, but physical substance gave edge elsewhere (19:05)

• Heavyweights: Unusual weight breaks made classes deeper/harder to sort; many expected to be middleweights ended up in heavies (20:13)

• Judging Frustrations:

  “...the amount of kids that told me, ‘We thought we were going to be a middleweight.’ They all did.”
  — Frank Ward (20:33)

Division Highlights – Exotics/Crossbreds

• Division 1: Standouts included a gold-colored calf with “big back, really big rear, huge rib cage” (22:44) and a black-and-white, “wild necked” steer, different from the norm but desirable (23:59)
• Division 2-3: Gold (“yellow”) steers often rose in lighter classes, perhaps due to regional genetics better suited for market-readiness at smaller weights; black steers, especially northern-bred, tended to be less mature early on (30:13)

Heavyweight & Grand Drive

• Classes 9-12: Noted as “the heater classes” (41:01), where excitement peaks and pressure is highest

• Deepest class (Class 11):

  • “I may … end up with 20, I bet.” (45:54) — many outstanding calves, multiple plausible winners
  • Used all available angles (including frontal views) to break ties
  • “There were so many good cattle in that class … throw five, six, ten different guys in there, and it’s gonna get turned around.” (46:35)

• Judge’s Process:

  • Defaulted to personal type—structure, especially “big back legs,” and movement
  • Painful cuts: Several outlier, elite calves left off the top for slightly structural faults or type variance, even acknowledging in other scenarios they would win major shows

Moderation, Structure, and Modern Type:

• Discussion on the evolution toward denser, stouter, more “moderate” steers—less tall and framey, more powerful mass
• “Anymore…moderation is starting to be more significant in exotic steers especially. …framier 1400-pounders are starting to be less existent.” (55:05)

Final Reflections and Takeaways

• No Regrets:
  Frank stands by his logical, thorough approach—no second-guessing or moving calves after they're placed

  • “Every decision I make…I live with it. …You don't waver before you pull those cattle. …I've never been one to go back down the line and start switching them.” (58:11)

• Mentorship Philosophy:
  Encourages younger judges (including his own sons) to be decisive and committed in the ring

• Gratitude:
  Expresses appreciation for the opportunity and emphasizes the importance of empowering others through transparency in sorting and selection decisions

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Frank Ward on Preparation:

  “I listened to Mark Kobe’s podcast with you last year. …I paid a lot of attention to it so I wouldn’t be blindsided.”
  (02:39)

• On Selecting Top Cattle:

  “Some of those cattle I’d pull off the wall, they would make it in, you know, to the top 10. Several times that happened, and I wasn’t worried about that.”
  (05:33)

• On Breed & Class Particulars:

  “If you got a dark one, red one…he’s gonna get outclassed. …There was a few pretty good calves … getting booted.”
  (10:32)

• On Showmanship Impact:

  “You made multiple comments. …This showman was extremely good. That’s probably what got into the top 10.”
  (06:25)

• On Judging Evolution:

  “Nowadays, moderation is starting to be more significant in exotic steers especially…those long extended ones, you just wonder if you got enough steer there.”
  (55:05)

• On Decision-making:

  “I want to spend enough time out there to make sure I got it right. And when I pull, pull them, it’s a done deal.”
  (58:56)

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Frank’s Story and Background — 00:19 – 02:22
• Preparation & Anticipation for the Show — 02:34 – 03:54
• Judging Approach & Criteria — 04:22 – 05:57
• Angus Classes — 06:36 – 08:57
• Hereford/Horned Hereford Analysis — 09:07 – 11:14
• Polled Hereford Classes — 11:44 – 12:46
• Shorthorn & Breed Comparisons — 12:58 – 14:55
• Americans (Crossbreds/Brahman-influence) — 18:01 – 22:05
• Division Recaps and Middleweights — 27:46 – 33:49
• Heavyweight Division & Deepest Classes (The “Heater” Classes) — 41:01 – 49:55
• Grand Drive Strategy, Final Selections & Reflections — 52:17 – End

Tone & Insights

The episode is candid, technical, and educational, with a balance of humility and authority. Frank’s practical wisdom is evident, and the dialogue is a mixture of analysis, mentorship, and appreciation for the cattle industry. Listeners get both an inside look at judging’s nuances and a sense of the emotional toll and pride inherent to the process.

For New Listeners & Show Families

This episode is a masterclass in both the logic and art of livestock evaluation, the evolving trends in cattle conformation, and the behind-the-scenes mindset of top-tier judges. Whether you show, breed, or simply want to understand what “quality” means in modern steer shows, Frank Ward’s commentary provides clarity, inspiration, and respect for both the cattle and people driving this industry forward.