← Ranch It Up Radio Show & Podcast
Ranch It Up Radio Show & Podcast
Stock Show Updates, Cattle Teaching Kids, Ranch Jobs, & Beef News
00:27:00
Loading summary
Transcript35 lines
- [00:00]
A
Coming up on today's episode, we hear how places like the National Western Stock show are helping the next generation of livestock professionals. The latest news close to the southern border, a couple amazing job opportunities and lots more crew. Let's Ranch it up. Good day everyone and thanks for riding with us on this all new episode of the Ranch It Up Radio Show. I'm Jeff Ticker Earhart. A big thank you goes out to our partners for today's episode episode. We'll hear more from them throughout the show. Ellingson Angus ranch channel.com Clear Springs Cattle Company and the annual Bread for Balance sale. The all new sales series found on ranchchannel.com W.A.S.O.M. red Angus Sirebuyer, Westway Feed Products and livestockmarket.com cow country news. You know the cow stuff. More cases of New World screwworm have been found in a Mexican border state. A total of 11 cases of screwworm have been reported in that state since December 30th. The Texas Agriculture Commissioner, Sid Miller said it's just plain cowboy logic. When you're seeing this many cases this fast, it tells you there may be established screwworm fly populations in that Mexican border state. Miller went on to say, we're grateful sterile fly deployment has begun. But make no mistake, he says Texas producers need to stay on high alert along our border. The Texas cattle industry says if screwworm crosses the border, it could devastate livestock and cost the industry right around $2.1 billion in damages. Inspectors have been deployed as well as surveillance and traps along the border. However, Miller urges Texas livestock owners north of the border to take preventative action now. New World screwworm larva can burrow into the flesh of animals, livestock, pets, birds and even people. They can kill animals in two weeks, infections and feeding on wounds with their screw like teeth. And those of you possibly looking for a career change, maybe a career addition? The University of Nebraska A few different positions open. First, a ranch technician near Whitman, Nebraska at the Gunmanson Sandhills Laboratory. Check it out. Also available from the University of Nebraska. If you're into extension or research, ruminant digestion technician, a beef systems technician, that one near Ithaca, and some various different position positions near Clay Center, Nebraska. I will put the link in the show notes for this episode directly to that page for more information and if a seed stock operation is your jam, a leader in Red Angus Genetics Leland Red Angus, located in western North Dakota, is seeking an honest, responsible and dependable applicant to join the team asap. Now, they do a lot of their work horseback, so the ideal candidate comes with their own horses and gear and housing, utilities, a ranch vehicle, beef provided along with competitive wages depending upon experience, of course. You can send your resume and information to Lelandred Angus gmail.com head to their website Lelandred Angus.com or check out their Facebook page. Leland Red Angus Ranch we know this outfit well. The people and the cattle are second to none. Coming up next on the Ranch it up radio show, we head to the National Western Stock show where champions have been crowned or slapped in this case. Plus how Colorado State University uses places like the Stock show to train and teach the next generation. It's the Ranch it Up radio show and we'll be right back. Nutrition does not need to be difficult or overwhelming or complicated at all. Keep things simple with Westway Feed products, cow calf dairy feedlots, equine and custom. If you need, you can count on Westway. Westwayfeed.com the Red Angus Outfit Checking all the boxes Powerful, profitable and practical genetics was Some Red Angus 70 registered Red Angus bulls and 130 commercial open heifers hit the ring Thursday, February 19th at the Wick's Barn in Richerton, North Dakota. Calving east? Check. Maternal power? Check. Longevity? Check. Efficiency? Check. Genomic testing? Check. New and exciting pedigrees? Double check. And it's all@ranch channel.com and wasomredangus.com Wasom Red Angus Check if you're buying or.
- [04:30]
B
Selling cattle, make your first stop. Livestockmarket.com Livestock market features private treaty sales, online auctions and live production sale bidding. You'll also find horses, sheep, goats and hay. Check out the free Livestock Market magazine wherever you pick up Tractor house and download the Livestock Market mobile app today.
- [04:53]
A
Coming soon to ranch channel.com, the sales series the evolution of how producers connect with elite livestock and proven operations from top end bulls, heifers and horses to land equipment, products and programs shaping the future of agricult. The Sales Series where smart ranching starts. Find out more by emailing inforanchchannel.com. Cattle Battle welcome back to the Ranch it up radio show. The most information packed into a 30 minute program that you can find. It's your All Things Ranching newscast and so glad to be with each and every one of you. Questions, comments, concerns? Criticisms? It doesn't matter. Call or text. The phone number is 707-Ranch 20. That's 707-726-2420. Our email is ranchitupshowmail.com and prowling around social media Ranch It up show the National Western Stock show and Rodeo just wrapped up this weekend in Denver, Colorado. The Super Bowl. For many in the seed stock business that choose to exhibit promote through such types of venues. The National Western Stock show features rodeos, equine events and competitions of all sorts. Livestock exhibits, entertainment and of course, shopping in the trade show. Now, Beck and I couldn't get to the stock show this year, but one of our crew did. Charles Anderson caught up with Tyler Bush of bush Angus, Britain, South Dakota after their Angus bull MC Caesar 3109 was slapped grand champion for the second year in a row. The Bush Angus outfit sleep celebrating their 100th year in the Angus business.
- [06:33]
C
This is Charles Anderson with the ranch it up radio show coming to you from Denver, Colorado. For the last 120 years, the National Western Stock show has been the super bowl of cattle shows. And a highlight of every year is the selection of the champion Angus bull. And right now I'm joined by Tyler Busch from Bush Angus, one of the the owners of the just recently named champion Angus bull at the 2026 National Western Stock Show. A bull they call Caesar. So first off, congratulations, Tyler, an awesome day. Why don't you just start out by introducing yourself, telling us a little bit about Bush Angus and what you guys do there in South Dakota.
- [07:16]
D
Yeah, absolutely. Thank you, Charles, for having me. Certainly a great thing and a great pleasure honor to go ahead and be named champion Angus bull again here at the National Western. Actually, fun fact, Caesar now has gone back to back national Western champion Angus bull. Here he was back in 2025 and now 2026. That's a pretty neat feat for us. Our operation, the McCall family and seldom rest farms as well. Our operation based here, Britain, South Dakota, Bush Angus. We've owned Angus cattle since 1926. Cool thing about that, every female in our operation goes back to one single cow. And so we're a closed herd and never bring in a female beyond that original one. So we kind of focus around bringing in herd sires, AI sires and breeding consistent good cattle on down the road with good performance and still good looks.
- [08:15]
C
For a second. Tyler, for those people that weren't here to see Caesar in real life, go ahead and put on your judge hat and just give everybody a description of this bull. When he was out there, the judges in the ring talked about obviously his outstanding phenotype, but also comes at you with a solid set of EPDs. Go ahead, put on your judging cap and tell the world about Caesar.
- [08:37]
D
Yeah, for sure. You know, the cool thing about that bull is I am from my Unbiased opinion. I'll try my best. I think a big footed, heavy, structured bull that's super high performing. The cool thing about him, he's big middle, he's still big and dense there up out of his hip, hits the ground with all sorts of feature there at the surface. But like Charles said, the real cool thing about that one is not only his pedigree that is unique and fun and has the ability to be used on down the road, but still reads with true growth character in terms of weaning and yearling weight production there. Good on milk. And so for us, we're both excited for the bulls and very excited for the females. I think of what he's going to do for us on down the road and hopefully breeders across the country.
- [09:22]
C
You also have a pin of bulls in the pin show. Just talk to us real quickly about how Bush Angus utilizes events like the National Western Stock show to promote their bulls not only to other seed stock breeders, but to the commercial cattlemen as well.
- [09:37]
D
Yeah, that's a big thing for us is, you know, we don't hit the show road super hard with our bulls, but when we get to the National Western and come out to Denver, you know, just the prestige and the history of it, having a pen of bulls out here and having the people that come through, you know, from purebred producers to commercial cattlemen alike, they all kind of hit the yards and kind of see cattle and see what they want for genetics and what's working across the country and see what genetics work for everybody else. So we'll go ahead and promote them through the week and then we'll go ahead and exhibit them in the pen show.
- [10:10]
C
One final thing. I know you guys have a bull sale coming up. Go ahead and give us all your contact information for Bush's Angus and dates on your sale and all the pertinent information so people can get ahold of you.
- [10:22]
D
Our 52nd annual bull sale, Focus on Performance, will be held February 28th of 2026, 1:00pm Central Standard Time. We can be found on Facebook, online at our website@bushangus.com or be found on DV Auctions for pictures, videos and a link to our catalog as well. Don't be afraid to ever holler at us, get a hold of us. We're more than happy to answer any questions that you guys have.
- [10:50]
C
Congratulations again, Tyler. Great day at the National Western Stock show and thank you for taking a few minutes to talk with us.
- [10:55]
D
Yep, absolutely. Thank you, Charles.
- [10:57]
A
Obviously very busy there. You could hear in the background, all sorts of blowers going off and commotion going on. Tyler Bush with bush Angus their 52nd annual production sale. Saturday, February 28 Britain, South Dakota some outfits use places like the National Western Stock show to promote their genetics and operations while others want absolutely nothing to do with the world of exhibiting whatsoever. And I understand and respect both opinions now. While in Denver, Charles Anderson was able to catch up with Dr. Sam Cunningham, an associate professor at Colorado State University Department of Animal Sciences, hearing how the CSU seed stock merchandising team uses places like the National Western stock show exhibiting CSU's cattle to teach the next generation invaluable skills like finances, livestock selection, decision making, communication and customer service.
- [11:55]
B
This February we will be hosting our 49th annual sale selling pack tested age advantaged Angus and Hereford bulls and a handful of bred females, both registered Herefords and some black and black Baldy commercials. And through these classes I try to expose students to a lot of things and a little bit of time time. We talk a lot about pedigrees, EPDs, genomics, different types of marketing, whether we're looking at social selling or online only sales versus hybrid sales where we're video and in person and then also private treaty sales. And so we were very fortunate this week here at National Western to have some private treaty conversations out of our pen. And so they also got to practice your having conversations with industry folks, fellow cattlemen, potential customers, repeat customers. And so then through these classes they also work on planning the annual sale. So each week through the fall, our sales class, each week we do something towards the sale. We build a budget, we build an ad plan, we zoom call with our auctioneer, we zoom call with our ring men, we go through Sail bowls over and over again. Those students know those bulls better than I do. At this point we've pictured sail bowls and a week from yesterday we're going to go home and semen check sail bowls. And a week after that we're going to video. And the week after that we go to Nashville for four days for NCBA convention and trade show. Then we come home and we do those finite details for ourselves. Sale. Probably clean the sale arena, set up our tables, make sure the TV's work. And then on February 21st we will host the 49th annual sale there at Arctic at 11 o' clock in the morning. But at 8 o' clock in the morning folks can join us for what we started last year. We call cattle Chat and we invite two to three industry professionals we to have casual conversations about current issues in the beef industry. And it might be markets, it might be trends. For example, last year we had a great discussion with Randy Block and Lee Leachman over coffee and breakfast burritos. And then there is still time for folks to go preview cattle before the sale and then come back in where Justin Stout, our auctioneer, sold just over 40 lots for us.
- [14:21]
E
And the one thing that always impresses me about your kids, every time I walk into the Colorado State University pen, those kids are, they'll shake your hand, they'll look you in the eye, they'll introduce themselves. There's so much of that that is included in this, as everybody kind of likes to generically say, using this livestock to raise our youth. There's that point in there that you definitely see and I wanted to commend you on that.
- [14:47]
B
For the past 20 plus years, they started bringing pen cattle to Denver. So these students work all fall with the end game of coming to National Western with a set of cattle. Depending upon how many kids I have out for the Seed Star team will depend on how many cattle we're able to bring. This year I had a very small, very mighty team of four students, only one of which coming from a beef cattle background. But all of the students that I've worked with the past six years all have individual stories and went on to do things where they're contributing to agriculture, some more specifically the beef industry somehow. I have some at breed associations, farm credit, government agencies, graduate school, some that are waiting to hear back on vet school applications, some that have wound up in sales, some that have wound up in meat, some that are in repro. So they're taking different pieces of their experience, whether really like the data management because we do a lot of work with Excel and records, some of them have found things where they focus on that. Another young lady has built a photography business. And so it's fun to keep up with them after they're done and after they've graduated.
- [15:57]
E
When I think of Colorado State University, there's not another way to put it. There are just absolutely industry icons and giants, faculty, former faculty. Just give us besides the wonderful Seedstock merchandising team and the beautiful city of Fort Collins, just give us that 30,000 foot view of some of the stuff that Colorado State University has to offer and why a prospective student should at least look at Colorado State University for further education.
- [16:26]
B
Well, thank you, Charles. So thinking about Colorado State University, first think of this proximity to an airport. So no matter where you come from, it's an easy trip home because we're a little over an hour from dia. But more than that, speaking of Denver, you're a little over an hour from tons of national industry offices. Ncba, Cattle Facts, US Meat Export Federation, we have our state commodity offices between Denver and Greeley. So the amount of industry that students are able to connect with, be it through tours to offices away from campus or whether how easy it is for those folks to get to campus to guest lecture or to engage with students. And so I think that the industry connections that are made because of where Fort Collins lies. And like you said, it's rich history in livestock and agriculture. And so at CSU we focus a lot on student experience. There's a big push for hands on learning. And so whether you are a pre vet student or you're looking to do something with livestock or equine animal behavior, leading meat scientists, a long standing tradition of strong beef genetics research. And we also have our Agnex team that's digging into sustainability. But there is a lot of work and the work often is a lot of faculty collaboration. So we're integrating, we're integrating disciplines into looking at an entire system which I think is really unique for students. That way they don't, they don't just zoom in on that one thing. They can remember that there's a lot of things that going that go into feeding an ever growing population.
- [18:11]
E
Well, thank you so much for joining me today. Sam. Congratulations on a great week at the National Western Stock Show.
- [18:17]
B
Thank you Charles. We appreciate it.
- [18:19]
A
Charles Anderson reporting from the National Western stock show with Dr. Sam Cunningham of Colorado State University. Appreciate the time. Now to find out more about the 49th annual CSU Bull and Heifer Sale, head to ranchitupshow.com youm'll find the links in the show notes for this episode crew it is time for a quick break. When we come back we talk the numbers. It's market report time here on the Ranch it up radio show. So keep it. Get ready for the Ellingson Angus Real World Genetics annual production sale. Join us Saturday, February 7th at the ranch in St. Anthony, North Dakota for an outstanding offering of 1,240 Angus bulls, heifers and cows. Check out this lineup. 355 yearling and 18 month old bulls, 50 registered bred heifers, 600 commercial open heifers, 180 commercial bread heifers and 50 coming 3 year old cows. Attend in person or bid online at DV Auction or Northern Livestock Video and all sale information from videos to catalogs is available@ellingsonangus.com and ranch channel.com Ellingson Angus Real World Genetics welcome to Sirebuyer, a place where we connect cattlemen, the nation's number one destination for buying and selling breeding genetics. In depth reviews and upbeat news on your favorite sires. Sire Byer features the top Angus bulls across the country. Be sure to sign up to receive your directory by emailing infoirebuyer.com if you're looking for the best place in breeding genetics, you've just found it.
- [20:04]
F
Attention cattlemen seeking profit driven genetics that help your bottom line. This is Travis Wolfe from Bread for balance, Starbuck, Minnesota. You are invited to our annual sale February 13th, 1pm at the ranch selling 130 Simmental and Simangus bulls and 65 females. There's a three year breeding soundness warranty on the bulls. To view or request a catalog, visit breadforbalance.com and bid online at DV Auctions. Hope to see you February 13th in Starbuck, Minnesota.
- [20:37]
A
Welcome back everyone to the Ranch it up radio show. That time in the program we check in with Kirk Donsbach, Stonex Financial Incorporated, recapping the markets from last week. So Kirk, numbers wise, what do you got for us buddy?
- [20:48]
F
Good morning theater and all your listeners out there. As of Friday, January 16th March feeder futures close the week at 356.15. That's up $1.60 on the week. It is kind of overlooking a rally to new highs. On Thursday before a very large 840 sell off. On Friday the CME feeder index closed up 2 and a quarter at 370 15. Big number there on cash. 370 15. That left the basis positive $8.40 versus January futures and positive $14 versus March futures. The futures market is definitely struggling. It'll come down to cash. Will cash continue to drag it higher or will futures win out the day at some point in time? February Live cattle close the week at 232.07 and a half. That's down $1.70 on the wheat cash traded 233 to 234 late in the week after futures sold off aggressively on Friday. Futures went into Friday carrying a negative 2 basis or futures were over cash and then the futures sold off aggressively and left the basis at a positive $2.37.5. Friday's action, if nothing else, was very much just correcting the basis when the market realized that the 235 cash everything everybody thought was a sure deal was not going to happen on Friday. Choice Boxes closed the week up 675 at 362.38. That's some movement in boxes, but it's still Pretty concerning after 6.75 rally that boxes are actually trading under the 365 dressed. Weekly slaughter was 562000 head. That's 9000 head above last week and 39000 head below the same week last year. Dress weights were up 3 pounds to 897 pounds. Historically a very heavy weight as we all know, that's 23 pounds over the same week last year. The combination of slaughter and dress weights left yearly production up 1.2% at 4.0% less than this week last year. To wrap this up, March corn closed the week at four and a quarter. That's down 20.25 cents on the week. It's actually fairly encouraging that after the USDA report the market sold off 23 cents with a shocking report that raised yields and increased acres by 1.3 million. So the fact that we've held together after the 23 cent sell off following the USDA report is actually fairly encouraging in my opinion.
- [23:08]
A
So before I say fairly well Kirk, let's, let's dance with this topic about bull sales. I don't know where you're at if you need to replace some of your bull battery kind of where you're at with that, but let's talk about proposed prices for bulls. And there's that saying that people have take the price of what like 5 steer calves are going to sell for and that's the price that we should pay for our bulls. And that's subjective of course, but if we just use that as a general formula, we're looking at bull sales of what you should pay for your next herd sire at 10, $12,000 on up. So what's your thoughts on that? I'm just kind of curious.
- [23:51]
F
I think the general concept is actually fairly accurate. I would say that's going to get you, you know, in every sale is different of course, but I think that's going to get you the top. No, not the top 5%. Obviously that'll be 20 grand or higher. But I would say that that rule will get you in the top 10, 20% of the Bulls for sale in that particular sale. I think more important though is, is consistency with your bulls. I'm a big believer in that. So if I want a certain quality or standard of bull, I'm pretty much going to stick to that standard no matter where the market goes. I'm not going to lower my power of my bulls to decrease my price. That's my personal opinion. And I say that because, you know, if you're say, the middle of the range bull buyer, obviously I don't think that's going to equate to ten $12,000 bulls, but maybe that's an $8,000 bull this year. One thing we can say fairly confidently is the bull sales have been higher and more than likely, highly likely, will continue to be pretty high this year.
- [24:46]
B
Want a healthier calving season this spring? Hey hey. I'm Shay Wanner and I host the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast. I recently visited with veterinarians Troy Dutton and Joe Holcalter about how ranchers can improve herd health during calving season and year round. Here's a portion of our conversation.
- [25:05]
C
Well, if we're talking about things we can do to help a calving season, I think the thing to talk about right now is they're having issues. They need to work with their veterinarian now to help prevent some of those issues they've had in the past and see what they can work with their veterinarian and nutritionist to help prevent those issues in the future. That would be my takeaway.
- [25:23]
B
I would agree with that statement.
- [25:24]
F
I mean, as Dr. Dutton said at.
- [25:26]
E
The beginning of the talk here, ready.
- [25:29]
B
To tune into the full conversation? Check out the Casual Cattle Conversations podcast on your favorite podcast player as soon as you're done listening to the Ranch it up radio show.
- [25:38]
A
And now that's going to wrap it up for today. A big thanks goes out to our crew. Charles Anderson reporting from the National Western Stock show in Denver, Colorado, Kirk Donsbach with Stonex Financial, Inch Shea Wanner with Casual Cattle Conversations. And now a big thank you goes out to our partners for today's episode, ranchchannel.com, sirebuyer Ellingson Angus and their annual Real World Genetics production sale, Westway Feed Products Clear Springs Cattle Company bringing us the bread for balance sale livestockmarket.com, w.A.S.O.M. red Angus, the all new sales series and this fine radio station and crew. So glad y' all came with us one more time as we ranch it up. Be sure to like and follow us on Facebook at Ranch It Up Show. Our email is ranchituphowmail.com and you can call and text 24 7. That phone number is 707-RANCH20. That's 707-726-2420. Spread the good word and join us again next week where it's always Tigger and Beck approved. Stay ranchy and ranch it up.
- [26:43]
F
It.