EmpowerU Podcast: Murphy Cattle Company Sale Preview

Host: Weston Hendrix
Guest: Cole Murphy
Episode Date: November 17, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the Murphy Cattle Company's upcoming online sale on November 24th, 2025, featured on SC Online Sales. Host Weston Hendrix sits down with Cole Murphy to discuss each lot in detail, spanning Herefords, show steers, heifers, a standout bull, and rare semen offerings. The conversation is rich with candid insights into cattle selection, breeding philosophy, and the exciting prospects up for sale.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction & Philosophy

• Weston introduces the sale preview concept, describing how he discovered the Murphy Cattle Company set on Facebook and became impressed by the offering, prompting him to invite Cole on for a detailed breakdown ([00:01]–[00:56]).
• Cole introduces himself and the family operation in Houstonia, Missouri, spanning 230–275 mama cows with a focus on diversity—commercial, seed stock, Herefords, and competitive show steers ([00:56]–[01:57]).
• Quote:

  "In the last three to five years, dad and I have really tried to put a focus on generating some show steers that we think can be competitive at all types of levels."
  — Cole Murphy, [00:56]

2. Lot-by-Lot Sale Preview

Lot 1: Hereford Heifer

• April-born, sired by 2296 Sensation, impressive lineage with show accolades in the family; IVFed due to dam loss but turned into "an absolute unit" ([01:57]–[03:23]).
• Quote:

  "A lot of selection pressure has been built in for me and my passion to generating this one."
  — Cole Murphy, [02:10]

Lot 2: Shorthorn Steer

• "How Great Thou Art" x Monopoly; described as "green," indicating quality build and not simply thinness—ideal for someone wanting a middle heavyweight with eye appeal for fall shows ([03:23]–[05:30]).
• Quote:

  "He is alert headed. His neck sets right. His sternum and his lower body balance is so, so good. ...Just where his full rib, his heart girth, just his true rib cage building construction I think is, is really good."
  — Cole Murphy, [04:20]

Lot 3: Maintainer Bull

• New Decade x May We All x Irish Whiskey; exceptionally built feet and legs; versatile and "a different league" for look, balance, and structural correctness ([05:30]–[07:54]).
• Quote:

  "His skeleton, his lower joint work is very, very good. I like a lot of things about him. ...If we had a bunch of heifers running around with his neck set, presence and just build quality, we'd be in a really, really good spot."
  — Cole Murphy, [06:45]

Lot 4: Simmental Steer

• "How Great Thou Art" on a purebred Simmental; heavier duty, punchy muscle, and flexibility for fall state fairs, either haired or slick ([07:54]–[09:13]).

Lot 5: Maintainer Heifer

• "Good as it Gets" x Relentless; early March-born, initially picked for Cole’s brother but decided to offer in the sale due to quality; standout proportion, muscle, and strong maternal heritage ([09:13]–[11:55]).
• Quote:

  "Just genuine muscle and dimension. She's got as much as any of them. ...But where we get the most excited about this heifer is thinking about the buyer of this heifer in the next generation."
  — Cole Murphy, [09:55]

Lot 6: Holdover Steer Prospect

• By "How Great Thou Art" over a Hereford-colored main-bred cow (663); noted for impressive dimension, structure, big skull and foot—ideal as a heavyweight slick steer at a spring major ([11:55]–[13:41]).
• Quote:

  "Fat legged, fat ankled ones that know how to move. And that is that one."
  — Weston Hendrix, [12:13]

Lot 7: "Here I Am" x Maternal Made Steer

• Described as Midwest state fair size, with excellent balance, set, and dimension. Possibly a sleeper lot, with great upside and added grow ([13:41]–[15:36]).
• Quote:

  "Every time I'm going to tell them, tag seven. ...His video probably isn't just the best representation of that calf I've had. ...I like this calf. He is just a shot skinnier in terms of from his flank to his sheath."
  — Cole Murphy, [14:08]

Lot 8: Commercial/Market Heifer

• Trust No Bay x Lover Boy, March-born. Praised for thickness, bone, soundness, and club-calf potential. Extremely gentle disposition ([15:36]–[17:20]).
• Quote:

  "She's dog gentle. Like we could walk out there and we could just. We could scratch her belly and I think she'd roll over like a show barrel would."
  — Cole Murphy, [16:05]

Lot 9: June-born Hereford Heifer

• Another Sensation daughter, a bit young but high upside; exemplifies femininity, excellent feet and leg structure, and flawless udder in the dam ([17:20]–[19:10]).

Lots 10–15: Semen Lots

• Maternal Made, MAB, BDR, and Sandman semen. Emphasized scarcity and utility for progressive herd improvement; logistics and transfer handled through Transova ([19:10]–[21:01]).
• Quote:

  "Dad's been fortunate to work for a lot of really good semen companies and get to put his hands and get to buy and have the ability to own some of this really good semen."
  — Cole Murphy, [20:01]

3. Sale Details and Final Thoughts

• Sale is November 24th via SC Online Sales; open house and inquiries welcomed by Cole ([21:01]–[21:48]).
• Cole addresses his initial hesitation but stresses the importance of pushing personal comfort zones in both business and life ([21:48]–[22:51]).
• Quote:

  "If you're uncomfortable and you're doing things that get you outside of your comfort zone, you're probably doing okay, and you can swing. And, hey, we might miss. But we're trying. We're giving all we got."
  — Cole Murphy, [21:59]

Notable Moments & Quotes

• On Lot Diversity:

  “There’s quality within all of them. We love talking about them. ...We think that they fit a various set of goals, a serious various set of budgets...”
  — Cole Murphy, [21:48]

• Encouragement to Connect:

  "Shoot us a call, shoot us a text. Shoot. If you're driving down 70, hop off exit 71, we'd love to have you."
  — Cole Murphy, [22:47]

Important Timestamps

• Introduction & Sale Overview: [00:01]–[01:57]
• Lot 1 (Hereford Heifer): [01:57]–[03:23]
• Lot 2 (Shorthorn Steer): [03:23]–[05:30]
• Lot 3 (Maintainer Bull): [05:30]–[07:54]
• Lot 4 (Simmental Steer): [07:54]–[09:13]
• Lot 5 (Maintainer Heifer): [09:13]–[11:55]
• Lot 6 (Holdover Steer): [11:55]–[13:41]
• Lot 7 ("Here I Am" Steer): [13:41]–[15:36]
• Lot 8 (Commercial/Market Heifer): [15:36]–[17:20]
• Lot 9 (Hereford Heifer): [17:20]–[19:10]
• Semen Lots & Logistics: [19:10]–[21:01]
• Sale Wrap-Up & Open House: [21:01]–[22:51]
• Final Thoughts & Encouragement: [21:48]–[22:51]

Episode Tone & Language

The episode stays grounded, transparent, and inviting—blending practical cattle talk with personal stories, competitive insight, and an “open gate” attitude towards connecting with potential buyers and fellow cattle enthusiasts.

Takeaway

This preview serves both as an encyclopedia for the Murphy Cattle Company’s 2025 sale and as a window into Cole Murphy’s strategic breeding mindset, unwavering commitment to quality, and open-door, community-first values. With every lot thoughtfully discussed, listeners come away equipped to make informed buying choices—or simply inspired by the passion and expertise driving a progressive cattle operation.