EmpowerU Podcast: "Pushing The Envelope… Featuring Laramie Priest"

Host: Weston Hendrix & Luke Domingue
Guest: Laramie Priest
Date: October 12, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode dives deep into the journey of Laramie Priest, a rising figure in the livestock and show cattle world, known for his forward-thinking approach to cattle breeding and operation management. Hosts Weston and Luke explore Laramie's background, philosophies, practical advice for newcomers, and his distinctive drive to "push the envelope" in the cattle industry. The conversation offers valuable insights into building a successful operation, the importance of mentorship and setting ambitious goals, and the evolving landscape of the show cattle world for both breeders and youth competitors.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Laramie Priest’s Background and Path into the Cattle Industry

• Early Life and Influences

  • Grew up on a stocker operation in Lorena, Texas (near Waco).
  • Began showing cattle in third grade, inspired by frequent visits to the Fort Worth Steer Show.
  • Father wanted him to take a different path, but Laramie was passionate about cattle from a young age.
  • Quote: "I took a little different venture than he did, but was blessed with that." – Laramie Priest (04:09)

• Mentors and Showing Career

  • Connected with influential figures like C.H. Long and later Jacob Toussa, who became a key mentor.
  • Modest show results, with the highlight of winning State Fair of Texas senior year.
  • "I don't really have a lot of accolades showing cattle ... but man, it was just absolute, a lot of fun." (05:57)

• Livestock Judging & Academic Journey

  • Coached by respected judging coaches in high school, including Donald Kelm and David Grodzke.
  • Competed in high-level livestock judging teams, attended Texas Tech, and developed a lasting network with peers now coaching teams themselves.

2. The Value of Livestock Judging and Mentorship (08:59 – 13:58)

• Supporting Youth Teams

  • Laramie actively opens his operation for college and youth workouts, seeing it as a way to give back and influence the next generation.
  • Quote: "If I make an impact on one kid's life to kind of, you know, help their future, I mean, my job's complete, you know." (08:58)

• Judging Teams Build Skills

  • Emphasized the development of camaraderie, accountability, critical thinking, and confidence through judging teams.
  • "Just being able to, you know, hold each other accountable ... is really what I think it teaches along with, you know, being able to make very wise decisions, critical thinking." (10:08)

• Reasoning Styles and Advice

  • Prefers detailed, descriptive oral reasons over short, overly-concise sets:
    • "I'd rather a kid come in there and just absolutely flat out try to describe the animals rather than just get, come in, say a short set and say, at least we're done with that one, let's move on to the next." (13:30)
  • Encourages finding and refining one’s personal style in reasons delivery.

3. Building and Operating Priest Cattle Co. (17:03 – 22:28)

• Foundational Philosophy

  • Built his herd fielding "less is more" – focusing on quality over quantity from the start.
  • Invests in unique, proven donor cows and isn’t afraid to seek outside genetics annually to diversify.

• Vision for Cattle "Pushing the Envelope"

  • Known for selecting "edgy" and "hard-to-create" phenotype cattle:
    • "I like them edgy. I like them just as wild looking as you can make them, but still be able to, you know, hopefully we can cross the finish line and hit the banner." (18:31)
  • Sells not just his best-looking heifers but also unique breeding pieces retained to further his vision.

• Sharing Success & Genetic Partnerships

  • Enjoys seeing genetics he’s raised succeed for other breeders.
  • "I really actually enjoy selling the bred heifers, letting someone else buy it and then seeing them get to raise extremely good cattle." (21:06)

4. Breeding Philosophy and Risk-Taking (22:24 – 40:00)

• How to "Push the Limits" Without Losing Structure

  • Mixes bold, high-featured cattle with a focus on managing structure and functional soundness.
  • "Not every one of them is going to hit. I know that, my customers know that. But I like, I, I like when they do hit, they're, they're fun to go to the show." (22:28)

• Breeding Decision Approach

  • Keeps it practical and gut-driven:
    • "I just try to breed good on good and hope they come out better. There's not really a whole lot of thought process ... usually just try to go with the flow as much as I possibly can, you know." (23:09)

• Building a Network and Access

  • Gained industry access through childhood mentors and by working for established operations (Bushy Park, Ryman Ranches).
  • Sees value in visiting a diversity of breeders around the country and absorbing lessons from each.
  • Emphasizes that visiting other people's operations and understanding their logic is crucial for growth.

5. Key Sires, Promotion, and Cattle "Type" Trends (27:43 – 36:02)

• Bull Promotion: Story of “Golden Ticket”

  • The “Golden Ticket” bull came from a heifer selected by his dad, proving the importance of trusted opinions and taking calculated risks.
  • Known for producing structurally correct, dense, easy-feeding cattle of diverse colors.
  • "That bull just makes some great structured, good bodied, dense cattle." (30:30)

• Sire Selection Trends

  • Laramie avoids overusing the most popular bulls, seeking to carve out a unique market, especially with breed cattle and “weird colored ones.”
  • Focuses on structure, soundness, and presence over strictly following trends.

• Adapting to the Market and Show Ring

  • The industry is increasingly first-impression based, with judges and buyers gravitating toward cattle that have "presence" from the moment they walk in.
  • Now places greater emphasis on hip and hind-leg structure, functional soundness, and animals that catch the judge’s eye immediately.

6. Perspective on Industry Shows & Changing Environments (49:04 – 53:56)

• Thoughts on New Show Formats

  • Discussed changes at Denver (National Western) and how lighting, size, and ring setup affect the kind of cattle that succeed.
  • "The lighting plays factors ... I think different kind of cattle could possibly win that show from what everyone deems a Denver one is quote unquote supposed to look like." (49:31)

• Regional Differences in Winning Cattle

  • Winning “type” varies across regions and even from show to show:
    • "Each ring a different kind of calf looks better ... Like Indiana is completely different than Ohio ... But there are different kinds of cattle that look better in different rings." (52:37)
  • Predicts further evolution in the types that do well as new venues become prominent.

7. Motivation, Goal-Setting, and “What Empowers You?” (42:08 – End)

• On Ambitious Goals

  • Advocates for setting goals so big that “if people don’t laugh at your goals, they’re not high enough.”
  • Originally inspired by a Johnny Manziel quote, this mindset fuels continual self-improvement and resilience against naysayers.
  • "If you don't set your bar high enough, I think you will underachieve ... you have to expect the absolute best out of yourself, because if you don't, nobody else is either." (42:33)

• Resilience and Faith

  • Discussed how difficult the show cattle game can be, stressing the importance of endurance, faith, and steadfast priorities.
  • "You gotta have luck on your side. And right now I'm trying to perfect hip and hind leg structure, make sure they got that big fat foot on them big rear ankle." (36:21)

• Closing Advice for Youth and Industry Newcomers

  • Emphasizes learning from each show and judge, studying feedback objectively, and committing to continual improvement.
  • "Listen to [post-game interviews] with intent of trying to get better as a, whether it's a trader, a family, people that raise them ... that's what wins more shows." (49:04)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Giving Back:

  • "If I make an impact on one kid's life to kind of, you know, help their future, my job's complete, you know." (08:58, Laramie)

• On His Cattle Approach:

  • "I like them edgy. I like them just as wild looking as you can make them, but still be able to, you know, hopefully ... hit the banner." (18:31, Laramie)

• On Risk-Taking in Breeding:

  • "If you don't swing and miss, then you're not trying hard enough." (24:57, Laramie)

• On Goals and Ambition:

  • "If people don't laugh at your goals, then they're not high enough." (42:08, Laramie — citing Johnny Manziel)

• On Presence in the Show Ring:

  • "If the cattle don't have it when they hit the ring ... this deal's gotten so tough anymore ... the judges are just so first impression based." (36:21, Laramie)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Laramie’s Introduction & Background: 01:53 – 06:12
• Youth & Judging Philosophy: 07:17 – 13:58
• Operation Foundations & Cow Selection: 17:45 – 22:28
• Breeding Strategy & ‘Pushing the Envelope’: 22:28 – 24:57
• Mentoring, Sire Choices & Industry Trends: 27:43 – 36:02
• Ring Presence & Evolving Standards: 36:02 – 41:46
• Ambition, Mindset & Motivation: 42:08 – 44:43
• Industry Show Layouts & Type Preferences: 49:04 – 53:56
• Final Inspiration & What Empowers Laramie: 57:03 – End

Conclusion

Laramie Priest stands out for his commitment to innovation, willingness to take risks, and passion for supporting the next generation. The conversation is filled with practical advice for anyone looking to make their mark in the livestock industry, emphasizing quality, adaptability, mentorship, and relentless self-improvement. His story is a testament to the impact of setting high goals, continuously learning, and being intentional with both people and animals.