EmpowerU Podcast: Shaggy Meadows Annual Bull Sale Preview

Host: Weston Hendrix
Date: February 27, 2026
Guests: Jared (Shaggy Meadows owner/operator), Mike Marlo (Premium Beef Genetics representative)

Episode Overview

This episode offers an in-depth preview of the 9th Annual Shaggy Meadows Bull Sale, set for March 6th in South Dakota and available on DV Auctions. Host Weston Hendrix is joined by Jared, owner/operator of Shaggy Meadows, and Mike Marlo, representing Premium Beef Genetics, to discuss the genetics, philosophy, and standout offerings in the 2026 sale catalog. The discussion focuses on the Red Angus breed, maternal and growth traits, program history, and the individual bulls being offered.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Shaggy Meadows Philosophy & History

• Program Roots: Shaggy Meadows got into Red Angus about 22 years ago, inspired by maternal quality seen in local herds. Strong maternal traits are at the core of their operations, emphasizing cows that are efficient and long-lived. (00:47)
  • Jared: “It's always been a primary goal of ours to focus strong on maternal traits. ... Moving forward, these are going to pay dividends, especially if it's a pay weight product from the cow she's able to produce that year in and year out.” [00:47]
• Growth & Phenotypic Evolution: The program has gradually introduced growth and phenotype traits to benefit commercial customers while maintaining maternal consistency.

Partnering with Premium Beef Genetics

• Why Partner? Marlo has worked with Jared and Shaggy Meadows for five years, drawn in by Jared's passion for breed improvement and the natural development of the bulls. The cattle are not aggressively pushed but instead, are developed for natural structure and longevity. (01:42)
  • Marlo: “What about them is they just get better rather than go backwards. ... It's all genetics that does it out there at Shaggy Meadows.” [01:42]

Sale Highlights by Sire Groups

Turnpike 724 Progeny (Lots 1–7)

• Phenotype: Structural soundness, length, excellent feet and udders, and consistent muscle pattern. Emphasis on longevity through strong cow families. (04:15–07:09)
  • Jared: “Phenotypically, I think [Turnpike] is one of the better bulls we've used... structurally incredibly sound front end. ... Lot 4 is kind of the epitome of our program. He's coming out of a 12-year-old cow with awesome feet, awesome udder.” [04:15]
  • Marlo: “Turnpike has changed the game. ... They've got a cookie cutter design, they're just perfectly balanced. ... If you're wanting to buy a Red Angus bull to build a foundation around, these Turnpikes will absolutely get it done.” [07:11]

Lots 8–9: Contrasting Cattle

• Lot 8: “Big, tall bull... going to stretch them out and put some frame in things.”
• Lot 9: “Maybe the beefiest bull of the sale... big hipped and big ribbed.” [09:00–09:49]

Deep Canyon 2040 Black Angus Bull (Lot 13)

• Unique Black Angus entry: Expressive power, rib shape, yet athletic and from a maternal powerhouse. (10:19–11:46)
  • Jared: “This thing came off the cow at a thousand pounds, actual weaning weight... Pretty remarkable for a young female to jump through all those hoops.” [10:19]
  • Marlo: “...more blue sky behind this bull ... than I've seen in a long time. ... Efficiency, performance, fertility, the bull just lights it up.” [11:46]

Charlie 409 Elbow Progeny (Lots 15–27)

• First Calf Crop: Charlie was heavily used due to maternal strength and outstanding dam. Consistency among sons—big-boned, wide-based, thick-hipped, great phenotype and foot quality. (15:48–21:56)
  • Jared: “When you go find that bull’s mother and that bull’s mother’s even better, that kind of puts it together for us.” [16:27]
  • On Lot 16: “Biggest boned bull in the sale... big rib cage. ... The consistent thing about Charlie is that big wide base and that big hip.” [16:27]
  • On Lot 25: “If anybody's wanting to sire a show heifer or two, you should probably take a hard look at 25.” [20:16]
  • Marlo: “I don’t think you can make one any more square hipped and ... perfect profiling than that bull.” [20:36]

Operator 389 Progeny (Lots 28–29)

• Performance & Spine Length: Operator has delivered moderate calving and high growth, especially in ranch settings. Bulls out of Operator daughters show maternal consistency. (22:10–23:56)
  • Marlo: “The performance that operator gave us is incredible. ... Lot 28 ... weaned off 835 pounds. ... He's a golden ticket, in my opinion.” [23:12]

Other Standouts & Heifer Bulls

• Lot 30 (Outcome x Big Sky 326): True heifer bull with excellent growth, high calving ease, not sacrificing performance. [24:08–24:32]
  • Marlo: “A bull like that's valuable in my opinion to put on heifers... you're not going to sacrifice growth.” [24:32]
• Purple Rain Progeny: Prolific maternal bull. [25:29–26:16]
• Sirloin, Rage 115, Propulsion, Sunwood 327, Payback 435S: Each group discussed for their respective contributions (heifer bull, maternal, and performance traits), with pedigree highlights and practical breeding advice.

Maternal Power & Longevity

• Across multiple lots, the emphasis on cows with "awesome feet, awesome udder," and maternal longevity is constant. Bulls are described both for phenotype and their ability to sire future cow-makers.

Notable Sale Logistics & Visitor Invitation

• Sale date: March 6th, 5:30 PM CST, South Dakota (DV Auctions).
• On-site Experience: Sale cattle and their dams are all easily accessible for viewing. An open invitation is extended for buyers to tour and meet the Shaggy Meadows team.
  • Jared: “I think it’s great when guys get here and they’re able to see everything. Kind of tells the story.” [34:48]

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Turnpike’s Influence:
  “From a phenotypical standpoint, I think his number one trait is his muscle pattern in his cattle. Incredibly consistent.” – Jared [05:29]

• On Charlie’s Calves:
  “The consistent thing about Charlie is that big wide base and that big hip, and 16 is a great example of that.” – Jared [16:27]

• Building on Maternal Power:
  “Efficiency, performance, fertility, the bull just lights it up.” – Marlo, on Lot 13 Deep Canyon bull [11:46]
  “Payback has left a massive ... job out there at your place. ... Foundation cowherd.” – Marlo [29:48–31:16]

• Sale Invitation:
  “You can look through the bulls and say if you want to see their moms, I mean, it’s literally ... five minutes and you're there. ... Jared don’t hide anything, puts everything on front street.” – Marlo [35:19]
  “It’s not typical South Dakota weather this winter. So it's been real nice. ... I don't have any beer, but I'll probably get some ... We love doing that. We're going to be around.” – Jared [34:48]

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 00:47 – Shaggy Meadows’ History & Maternal Breeding Philosophy
• 01:42 – Marlo on Partnership & Program Quality
• 04:15 – Turnpike Sons Phenotypic Highlights
• 07:09 – Marlo on Turnpike’s Impact
• 09:00 – Lots 8 & 9 Contrasts
• 10:19 – Lot 13 Deep Canyon Angus Bull
• 15:48 – Introduction to Charlie 409 Progeny
• 16:27 – Charlie Sons Consistency & Lot 16 Highlight
• 22:10 – Operator 389 Impact
• 24:08 – Lot 30: Elite Heifer Bull
• 25:29 – Purple Rain Maternal Strength
• 27:06 – Sirloin and Rage 115 Bulls (Heifer Bull Options)
• 28:59 – Sunwood 327: Ranch-Ready Bulls
• 29:32 – Payback 435 Daughters and Maternal Foundation Discussion
• 32:23 – Lots 43 & 44: PI Complete 2085
• 33:28/34:48 – Final Sale Details & Viewing Invitation

Conclusion

This episode provides a knowledgeable walk-through of the Shaggy Meadows bull lineup, driven by a practical, maternal, and customer-focused approach to Red Angus breeding. Each bull is discussed with candor and detail, allowing listeners to understand both the cattle and the people behind them. The mix of technical evaluation and storytelling, combined with an open invitation to the sale, empowers both seasoned buyers and new entrants to approach the Shaggy Meadows offering with confidence.