EmpowerU Podcast – "Power Plus Bull & Female Sale Preview"
Hosts: Weston Hendrix, Luke Domingue
Special Guests: Kirk Duff (Power Plus Cattle), Mike Marlow (Premium Beef Genetics)
Release: February 1, 2026
Purpose: Comprehensive preview and in-depth discussion of the upcoming Power Plus Cattle Bull & Female Sale (Feb. 7, 2026, Hobart, OK) featuring elite genetics and offering expert insights for breeders, commercial operators, and livestock enthusiasts in the Angus, Red Angus, Hereford, and Simmental industries.
Episode Overview
This episode is a deep-dive sale preview featuring renowned cattlemen Kirk Duff and Mike Marlow, hosted by Weston Hendrix. Listeners are given a lot-by-lot walk-through of the Power Plus sale, discussing the genetics, visual merits, and cow family strengths of bulls and females in the offering. The conversation is packed with sale highlights, breeding philosophy, genetic strategy, and real-world performance data—making it invaluable for buyers, operators, and cattle breeders at all levels.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Introduction and Guest Backgrounds ([00:00]-[01:39])
- Weston Hendrix sets the stage, emphasizing the honor to preview the Power Plus sale and introduces Kirk Duff (Power Plus Cattle, Hobart, OK) and Mike Marlow (Premium Beef Genetics, semen sales expert and sales manager for various elite breeders).
- Kirk Duff stresses commitment to breeding top-end cattle, prioritizing function and profitability.
- Mike Marlow shares his passion for bringing proven genetics to clients and collaborating with industry leaders like Duff.
2. Sale Bulls: Deep Dive & Highlights
Lot 1: RF Lit Up 357 – "A Game-Changer" ([01:39]-[05:49])
- Unique genetic profile (Brooking Emerald—seldom available in the U.S.).
- Massive feet, power, look, and maternal strength; proven progeny excelling in femininity and structure.
- Duff: "It’s the first time ever we’ve started a sale with a bull we didn’t raise…this bull is one of a kind." ([03:03]).
- Marlow: "Never been any Emerald semen come down here. That’s why this is so unique—adding outcross genetics and punch to our lineup." ([03:42]).
- Sale offering: Full possession and half American semen rights.
Lot 2: Duff Harmony 3180 ([05:52]-[07:42])
- Proven calving-ease specialist ("haven't touched a calf out of him," [06:11]).
- Out of Hummels Argentine x super-fertile 9309 cow.
- Marlow: "She ranks in the top 1% for angle and claw, and top 10% for dollar-m, does a lot right. You can keep every female out of that bull if you choose." ([06:54]).
Lots 3–11: Reno Sons – Consistency & Maternal Value ([07:43]-[13:14])
- First offering of two-year-old Reno sons—"Most consistent sire group we've had," ([08:32], Duff).
- Emphasis on broodiness, maternal efficiency, easy-fleshing cattle.
- Individual highlights: Lot 5–11 each bring unique strengths (muscle, balance, maternal).
- Memorable quote: Duff: "His top will hold water like a Duroc hog!" ([09:33]).
- Marlow values Lot 7’s ranking: "Top 1% of the breed for calving ease direct and dollar energy...you could change the game on a set of heifers with a bull like that." ([13:14]).
Notable Standouts—Additional Bulls ([13:36]-[23:21])
- Lot 12: "Decked Out" – Maternal brother to Harmony; strong EPD profile; sisters sold for $60K+.
- Lot 13: "Take It Easy" – Calving ease + growth; "You don't find these on every street corner." ([16:43], Duff).
- Lots 16–17: "Mama’s Boy" sons – Consistent performance, extra frame, South American influence.
3. Red Angus & Specialty Breed Highlights
Red Angus Section ([37:42]-[81:38])
- Lot 82: Maternal brother to Duff Territory—building red genetics by strategic blending of elite Black Angus and Red Angus lines.
- Redwood sons/daughters: Outcross, muscle, and maternal value; "If he’s not, he’s one of the very best Redwood sons I’ve seen," ([39:06], Marlow).
- Territory sons (Lot 84–89): Unmatched style, consistent performance, semen sales potential.
- Heaven Sent progeny: The first group available, praised as “incredible, not just bulls, but heifers alike.” ([80:59], Duff).
Hereford & Simmental Offerings ([59:20]-[67:06])
- Lot 140: Unique “Master Plan” son, red to the ground, exceptional markings and muscle.
- Lots 149 (C4 Rebel) and 152 (Walk the Line): Red Simmental and haircoat standouts; Walk the Line is full brother to External Law, "more bull, better look, more performance" ([66:20], Duff).
4. Fall ET Bulls and Philosophy ([67:54]-[71:26])
- Fall ET group: All elite donor cows; "everyone can breed the same bulls...the one who wins has the best cows." ([68:44], Duff).
- Emphasis on cow families like Ariel Erica 74A, “egg producing machine” ([67:23], Duff), 94, 84H, and Pine Coulee.
5. Elite Females & Proven Cows ([71:28]-[95:09])
- Lot 200: Wanada—key Angus female; “as proven and valuable as it gets” ([72:47], Duff).
- Lots 223–224: Red Angus standouts, top cow families like Cedar and Lady X; “That’s as royal a red Angus pedigree as you can make” ([75:47], Duff).
- Heifer picks (238A & B): Denver Reserve Pen; “Both donor quality...flat good” ([82:54], Marlow).
- Reliance, Stockpile, and other first-offering females—emphasizing maternal power and functional phenotype.
6. Commercial Breds—A Rare Opportunity ([96:12]-[100:12])
- Consignments from long-term customers known for quality and phenotype.
- “I’d run them heifers against any registered breeders...phenotypically, absolutely consistent from type to kind across the board” ([97:44], Marlow).
- Hard-to-find, "kept back" genetics offered for the first time.
7. Bonus: Heifer Giveaway & Final Thoughts ([101:38]-end)
- Power Plus will give away a heifer to a young person—a new tradition inspired by industry peers.
- Duff: “Probably the thing I’m most excited about—we hope it impacts a young person’s life and we’ll make this an annual event” ([101:47]).
- Sale Details: Feb 7, 2026, 12:30 CST, Hobart, OK (live on CCI, online catalog with videos and details).
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On bringing outcross genetics:
"We were hunting something different...to add a twist of outcross genetics. And we broke the barrier on that bull."
— Mike Marlow, [03:42] -
On cow families:
"The one who wins the game is the one who has the best cows."
— Kirk Duff, [68:44] -
On sale philosophy:
"We sell the ones that hurt."
— Mike Marlow, [42:28] -
On Red Angus program:
“This bull has more—or equal—as much Black Angus genetics as he does red...that’s taken us 20 years to do.”
— Kirk Duff, [38:10] -
On heifer giveaway:
"I hope it impacts a young person’s life and we’re glad to do it. We’re going to try to make this an annual event."
— Kirk Duff, [101:47]
Important Timestamps
- [01:39] – Start of bull preview (Lot 1)
- [07:43] – Reno sons discussion (Lots 3–11)
- [13:14] – Standout calving-ease bulls
- [23:41] – Introduction to “Red Meat” and red sires
- [37:42] – Red Angus division opening (Lot 82 and on)
- [59:20] – Hereford and Simmental offering intro
- [67:54] – Fall ET bulls and cow family focus
- [71:28] – Transition to elite females
- [96:12] – Commercial female segment
- [101:38] – Heifer giveaway announcement
- [102:34] – Sale details, online catalog, and wrap-up
Flow and Tone
The episode is lively, knowledgeable, and steeped in decades of breeding experience. Duff and Marlow speak with candor (“We sell the ones that hurt,” [42:28]), passion for the cattle business, and appreciation for cow families and the mating decisions behind each animal. The hosts and guests maintain a conversational yet technical tone, making the episode engaging for industry veterans and accessible for newer listeners.
For Listeners
This podcast is more than a sale preview—it's a master class in pedigree selection, cow family essentials, and practical cattle evaluation. Whether you’re a breeder seeking new herd sires, a commercial cattleman aiming to add proven maternal power, or a young cattle enthusiast, EmpowerU’s Power Plus sale episode offers invaluable insights, context, and inspiration. The detailed lot-by-lot format, honest opinions, and focus on true cow power set this conversation apart as a go-to resource ahead of one of the year’s premier sales.
For more information:
- View the sale catalog and videos at [Power Plus Cattle’s website and CCI.live].
- Sale Day: February 7, 2026, 12:30pm CST, Hobart, OK – available online for remote bidding.
- Contact Kirk Duff, Mike Marlow, or the EmpowerU hosts for buyer support and questions.