Podcast Summary: EmpowerU – "Richland Farms Embryo Meltdown Preview"
Release Date: February 10, 2026
Host: Weston Hendrix / Luke Domingue
Guest: Garth Simpson, Richland Farms
Episode Overview
This episode gives listeners an in-depth preview of the upcoming "Embryo Meltdown" sale from Richland Farms. Host Weston Hendrix is joined by Garth Simpson, who provides a lot-by-lot walkthrough, offering background on their elite cattle genetics and sharing insight into their decision to make such a large volume of high-end embryos available to the public. The episode aims to empower both cattlemen and customers with knowledge of elite matings, donor cow lineages, and the value offered by Richland Farms' program, ahead of the February 15th online sale.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
1. Richland Farms Introduction and Philosophy
[00:34]
- Garth Simpson introduces Richland Farms (Trent, Texas), noting focus on show steers, heifers, embryo sales, and donor cows.
- The "Embryo Meltdown" is a rare opportunity, offering 96 embryo lots, no reserves.
- Reason for sale: To reduce surplus inventory and allow others access to proven genetics.
“We have so many embryos and just a limited number of recips... We're going to open this thing up and get them out there to everybody.”
— Garth Simpson [01:32]
2. Signature Donor Cows and Highlighted Matings
The episode spotlights several of Richland’s most impactful donor cows, with Garth explaining their histories, notable offspring, and what makes their genetics special:
2.1. The 5722 Donor: “Last of Their Kind”
[02:16]
- Lot 1: Sexed female embryos out of the 24 Carat x 5722 mating, related to heifers with major show wins and new donor "Marty".
- “These are the last of the 5722s that we will ever offer.”
— Garth Simpson [03:25]
2.2. Jalen Rose 8249: A Legend’s Legacy
[03:56]
- Key matings: DJ Outsider, Perfection, Fu Manchu, Dakota Gold — variety of color and registration options.
- Noteworthy: This donor “wrote a legacy of her own... she’s done it for a long time, 18 years to be exact... everything we’ve done her to.” [04:19] Still has two clones in production.
- “These matings that we’re offering on her are truly one of a kind. And the last of their kind out of the Original Jalen Rose 8249.”
— Garth Simpson [05:56]
2.3. Skelly: Consistency & Versatility
[06:24]
- Multiple Angus, club calf, and shorthorn matings.
- Skelly described as “lights out good…stout, burly, big footed, awesome looking cattle” [07:07], performing both for steers and donor production.
- Unique clubby color matings discussed ([08:35]): “...make some very interesting, you know, club calf... donor cows.”
- Introduction of club calf bulls like Trust and Obey.
- “These things out of Skelly are just lights out good...” — Garth Simpson [06:59]
2.4. “Princess 999C,” “Dixie,” “Giddyup Girl” and More
[13:52], [17:35], [19:49]
- Testimonials on sons/daughters that have been high sellers ($20k–$40k+), major show winners.
- Clear lineage-based marketing, emphasizing proven success in both show ring and production herds.
3. Unique & High-Reward/High-Risk Mating Options
- Several lots offer rare or “last of their kind” embryos, including from deceased donors.
- Special mention of matings that can produce color variation and dual/triple registrations (e.g., key composite, shorthorn plus).
- Boldness in offering “TH/TH” matings with honest discussion of the risks and reward.
“...sometimes you take that risk and it’s worth it.”
— Garth Simpson [39:55]
4. Club Calf and Outcross Genetics—Emphasis on New Sires
[41:52], [45:05], [49:28]
- Coverage of “clubby” club calf matings (e.g., Here I Am, In God We Trust, Take Me to Church, etc.), especially towards end of preview.
- Garth shares past success and excitement for upcoming calves out of both fresh and time-honored sires.
- Several embryos are “full sibs” or “maternal sibs” to major show champions.
5. Personal Stories & Legacy
- Garth shares sentimental background on several cows (e.g., Voodoo, Rose)—demonstrating the program’s long-term, multi-generational cow families.
- Notable story: Using college tuition money to buy “Rose” [59:51].
6. Customer Service & Continued Support
[67:15]
- Garth states Richland Farms will support customers with advertising, marketing, and allow future embryos/cattle to be sold back into their sales.
- Openness to consult: “I love to talk cattle...feel free to call, text...we’d love to work with you.”
— Garth Simpson [67:15]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
-
On breeding philosophy:
“We raise show steers, show heifers, sell a lot of embryos, a lot of donor cows...kind of the whole ray of everything on the show cattle industry.”
— Garth Simpson [00:34] -
On the Club Calf market:
“These clubby bulls are going to make some very intriguing animals for sure.”
— Garth Simpson [12:16] -
On legacy cows:
“That cow, she’s been a really good one for us over the years...the absolute hairiest female I own. When I first sent her DNA in…she came back triple clean. I pulled hair four different times, sent them to four different labs because I didn’t believe for the life of me that that cow could be clean.”
— Garth Simpson, about Voodoo [27:25] and [28:41] -
Sentimental value:
“Rose...I bought her with my tuition money from college of all things. She’s got sentimental value to me for sure.”
— Garth Simpson [59:51] -
On program transparency:
“None of these matings are just washed up, you know, trying to get rid of them situations. We just have such a large surplus...trying to get some of these out there and not just sitting in the tank.”
— Garth Simpson [66:34]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- [00:00–01:21]: Introduction to Richland Farms and sale details
- [01:32–02:16]: Reason for the large embryo offering
- [02:16–06:24]: Spotlight on key donor cows — 5722, Jalen Rose, Skelly, and early lots
- [06:46–12:18]: Deep dive into Skelly and related matings
- [13:26–21:32]: Princess & Giddyup Girl, consistency, and market impact
- [21:49–37:55]: Walkthrough of main donor cow families, including innovation in outcross matings, dual registrations, and sale exclusives
- [41:52–49:17]: Club calf and show steer-centric matings
- [59:51]: Personal story — buying Rose with tuition money
- [67:15–68:14]: Closing remarks, customer service, and ongoing support
Closing and Takeaways
- Sale Date: February 15th on SC Online Sales
- Support: Richland offers post-purchase support, marketing, and sales opportunities for customers’ resulting calves.
- Contact: Garth is open to calls/texts from interested buyers wanting more information on the matings or donor histories.
The episode is a masterclass in cattle genetics marketing, combining technical insight, transparency, and storytelling to showcase the best of the Richland Farms program. Perfect listening for anyone seeking elite show cattle genetics or wanting to learn how to market a breeding program at the top level.