American Cattlemen Podcast

Welcome back to the American Cattlemen and our series on the 2026 American Wagyu Conference. Today, Gale McKinney sits down with Jason Shepard, general manager of Genesis Enterprises, for a conversation about building better cattle, producing quality beef, and finding your place in the Wagyu industry.
Jason Shepard shares the ranching roots and management experience that shaped his approach to the cattle business, including more than twenty years with Express Ranches. He also introduces the people and purpose behind Genesis Enterprises, an Oklahoma operation founded by Steve and Betty Orr that combines registered Angus, Red Angus, and fullblood Wagyu cattle with a growing branded beef program. 
With more than 5,000 acres and approximately 1,000 mother cows, Genesis puts data at the center of its breeding decisions. Jason explains how evaluating females, selecting genetics, and collecting carcass information help the operation pursue improvements in beef quality, feed efficiency, growth, structure, and longevity. He also discusses using the MIJ camera to gather carcass data and guide future mating decisions. 
The conversation explores Genesis’ F1 Wagyu beef program and its plans to connect directly with consumers through beef shipped to their doors. For Jason, producing a desirable product goes hand in hand with understanding the families who buy it. Listening to customer feedback, building trust, and delivering a consistent eating experience are central to that effort. 
Gale and Jason also discuss why conferences, breeder relationships, and sharing performance data with the breed association matter. Those connections can help producers strengthen their own programs while contributing useful information to the broader Wagyu community. 
For anyone considering Wagyu cattle, Jason offers practical advice: identify your goals, research your market, and decide whether your focus belongs in branded beef, bulls, or breeding females. Each path calls for deliberate genetic choices and a commitment to continual improvement. 
The episode closes with a look at opportunities for new producers and the importance of involving young people in agriculture. Tune in for a producer’s perspective on pairing ranch experience with progress, stronger customer relationships, and a clear direction for the future of your cattle operation and the industry. 
 
For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com.
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For the Quam family at Marda Angus Farms, the fall production sale means offering cattle they would be glad to keep. In their invitation to this year's sale, the family makes that point plainly: parting with quality females isn't easy, but putting their best forward gives buyers an opportunity to evaluate the program. 
Based in Lodi, Wisconsin, Marda's approach centers on sound, functional cattle that meet the needs of today's cattlemen. The emphasis is on females that can go to work in another herd, supported by established cow families and the breeding decisions behind them. 
The Astis, Blackbirds, Isabels, and Blackbird Ursas are among the families represented in this year's offering. Those names provide a starting point for a conversation about consistency, maternal value, and what the Quams look for as they select the next generation. The catalog also points to Marda's results at the Midland Bull Test and the Asti family's success in Angus PGS competition. 
On this episode of Genetics & the Gavel, powered by American Cattlemen Media, Aaron McKinney visits with Cody Quam of Marda Angus Farms about the people behind the cattle. The conversation begins with the family's involvement in the beef industry before turning to breeding philosophy, the female offering, and plans for sale day. 
Marda's 12th Annual Angus Production Sale will be held Saturday, November 14, 2026, at 5 p.m. Central at the farm, N706 Highway 113 in Lodi. The offering includes young females from the 2026 calf crop and bred heifers, alongside cattle from guest consignors. 
Cattle will be available for viewing beginning Friday afternoon. Saturday's meal starts at 4 p.m., and buyers who cannot attend can purchase online through CCI.live. Listen to the episode to hear more about the program and the offering.
 
For previous episodes of Genetics & The Gavel, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com.
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At Henke Angus Farms, the cow herd guides the breeding decisions. The family’s approach starts with females that breed, stay sound, and remain productive, then builds performance and genetic value around those expectations. That thinking runs through this year’s Focused on the Female Fall Sale, set for November 4 at the farm east of Salisbury, Missouri. 
Charles Henke and his family put fertility and disposition high on the selection list. Foot quality matters, too.  The program collects information on udders and teats, feet, and hair shedding to help evaluate how cattle perform beyond the pedigree. The goal is to keep the numbers connected to what buyers can see in the pasture. 
In his catalog welcome, Charles describes a program that balances phenotype and genotype. Cattle need to be functional and productive while carrying genetic merit that can move a breeding program forward. For buyers evaluating replacements or their next herd sire, that makes the operation’s selection process a useful place to begin the conversation. 
On this episode of Genetics & the Gavel, Charles joins Aaron McKinney to discuss the family behind Henke Angus Farms, how the operation works today, and the philosophy behind the offering. It’s a chance to hear Charles explain what the family expects of its cattle and where the program is headed. 
The sale includes more than 75 females and more than 15 yearling and 18-month-old bulls, featuring progeny of Honcho and High Ground. It begins Wednesday, November 4, 2026, at 5 p.m. Central at 27955 Woodson Ave, Salisbury, Missouri. Supper will be available after the sale. Buyers who cannot attend can watch and purchase online through DV Auction. For information about the cattle, contact Charles Henke at 660-676-6233 or Colin Henke at 660-414-0081.
 
For previous episodes of Genetics & The Gavel, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com.
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A bull purchase is a decision a cattleman can live with for years. The calves he sires, the daughters kept in the herd, and the way those cattle perform all matter long after sale day. That is the kind of conversation we’re setting up with Russ Princ of Leachman Cattle on Genetics & The Gavel. 
Leachman’s breeding program centers on profitability for the producer. The operation puts emphasis on cattle that work in the cow herd and calves that perform beyond the ranch gate. Feed efficiency, fertility, and carcass quality are part of that effort, with performance information and genetic evaluation helping guide selection. 
Today, Leachman serves producers through bulls, females, semen, and data services. Its program includes Stabilizer genetics, along with Angus, Red Angus, and Charolais offerings. The operation’s reach extends across the United States and into international markets, bringing its breeding approach to producers working in different environments and production systems. 
As Sales Manager, Russ works across domestic and international sales, including live cattle, semen, embryos, and data services. He is also involved in Leachman’s beef-on-dairy business, where beef genetics play a role in the value and performance of calves coming out of dairy herds. 
For this episode, host Aaron McKinney will ask Russ what is happening at Leachman, where international opportunities are developing, and how he sees the beef industry. The conversation will also touch on Inherit Select and $Profit, giving Russ the opportunity to explain how producers can use those tools in their own programs. 
We’ll finish with a look at Leachman’s bull and female sales and what buyers should know as they evaluate the offering. Join us for Genetics & The Gavel, powered by American Cattlemen, and hear directly from Russ about the cattle, the information behind them, and the work going on at Leachman today. 
 
For previous episodes of Genetics & The Gavel, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com.
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Welcome to the American Cattlemen and our series on the American Wagyu Conference. In this episode, we’ll explore the people, history, and opportunities shaping American Wagyu. Today.  Gale McKinney sits down with Adam Wackle, president of the American Wagyu Heritage Fund, and Pam Armstrong, the organization’s treasurer, to discuss preserving the breed’s past while investing in its future.  
Adam and Pam introduce the American Wagyu Heritage Fund and its mission to support education, youth scholarships, research, and historical preservation. They explain why gathering photographs, registration records, correspondence, and other documents matters, especially as firsthand accounts of the breed’s arrival in America become harder to capture.  
The conversation traces Wagyu’s American beginnings, from the first four bulls imported in 1975 to additional cattle arriving during the 1990s. Along the way, listeners hear about the pioneers who helped establish Japanese genetics in the United States and the challenges producers faced as international markets changed. Adam and Pam also discuss how those challenges encouraged creative marketing and helped shape today’s Wagyu beef businesses.  
For producers looking to better understand the breed, Adam and Pam address misconceptions about fullblood Wagyu and explain how those cattle differ from crossbred animals. They also share their perspectives on using Wagyu genetics in commercial programs, including considerations around birth weights, beef quality, and marketing goals.  
Beyond preserving history, the Heritage Fund is helping prepare the next generation through scholarships and support for junior educational camps. Adam and Pam highlight opportunities for young people to visit industry facilities, learn from experienced professionals, and build connections that can support their agricultural futures.  
The episode closes with practical guidance for new and aspiring Wagyu breeders: find trusted mentors, learn from multiple operations, and choose a production approach that fits your goals.  Whether your focus is seedstock, raising calves, or selling finished beef, understanding the breed’s history can help inform the path ahead.  
Tune in to learn how historical contributions, community support, and producer education are helping carry American Wagyu forward, and discover how breeders can contribute records, support fundraising efforts, and take part in preserving this distinctive cattle breed for future generations.  
 
For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com.
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The Create a Vision Fall Female Sale gives cattlemen a chance to look at the females behind the Vision Angus program. Before sale day, Austin Vieselmeyer joins Aaron McKinney on Genetics & the Gavel to talk about the family operation in Amherst, Colorado, and the thinking behind the cattle they raise. 
Brent and Tina, Austin and Sarah, and Alex are the family behind Vision Angus. This conversation starts with their background and how the family works together today. From there, Austin shares the breeding philosophy that guides their decisions and what they want their cattle to do for the people buying them. 
The sale catalog describes a program built around functional, docile, fertile, and productive cattle. The family puts emphasis on sound structure, maternal strength, and females that raise calves efficiently and breed back early. They also encourage producers to think about their own environment, labor, marketing system, and production system when making breeding decisions. 
The offering includes cows, bred heifers, heifer calves, embryos, and pregnancies. Austin gives an overview of the offering and shares what buyers should know about the group of cattle selected for this sale. It is an opportunity to hear directly from Vision Angus and get familiar with the program before making sale plans. 
The Create a Vision Female Sale takes place Saturday, October 24, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Mountain at the Beef Barn of Vision Angus, 130 W Denver Street in Holyoke, Colorado. Complimentary lunch begins at 11:30 a.m. 
Sale cattle can be viewed at the ranch one mile north of Amherst and will be penned October 23 for easier viewing. Buyers who cannot attend can purchase online through SaleRing.Live, where lot videos are also available. 
For more information, visit visionangus.com or contact the Vieselmeyer family. Genetics & the Gavel is powered by American Cattlemen Media. 
 
For previous episodes of Genetics & the Gavel, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com.
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Welcome to the American Cattlemen Podcast and our series on the American Wagyu Conference, where we’ll have a conversation about premium beef, customer relationships, and the future of a family farming operation. Today, Gale McKinney sits down with Dustin and Brittany Borden and their sons, Easton and Briggs, to explore the history and vision behind Morris Stock Farm in the Texas Panhandle.  
Located near Gruver, Texas, Morris Stock Farm combines a custom feed yard, farming  operation, and a commitment to serving cattle owners of every size. Whether a customer brings  one animal for the family freezer or a larger group destined for market, the Bordens emphasize  that every relationship deserves attention and respect.  
Dustin explains how the operation helps producers feed, finish, and market Wagyu cattle by  connecting customers with buyers and planning ahead for harvest. The discussion also covers  age and source verification, maintaining chain of custody, and the records and audits that  support customer marketing goals. Brittany shares how these processes help preserve valuable  information as cattle move from the ranch through the feeding stage.  
Listeners will also hear about the farm’s feeding approach, including its use of corn and  sorghum silage as water availability shapes crop decisions. Dustin introduces Kobe Tech, the  operation’s proprietary feed additive, and discusses the marbling and carcass results the family  reports seeing in its cattle.  
Beyond the feed yard, the Bordens explain how their 4B Meats business connects their cattle  operation with consumers through local deliveries, shipping, gift boxes, and beef supplied to  school cafeterias. They also discuss selecting Wagyu genetics for marbling and growth in  crossbreeding programs.  
The episode closes with an honest look at generational transition. As Morris Stock Farm  approaches its hundredth anniversary in 2027, Dustin and Brittany reflect on preserving  experience, welcoming new ideas, and involving the next generation. Their story highlights the  planning, communication, and shared commitment required to carry a family business forward  while raising their boys with the values that make agricultural life meaningful.  
For producers interested in Wagyu feeding, beef marketing, or farm succession, this  conversation offers a personal look at building relationships and keeping a family operation  moving forward.
 
For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com.
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A female sale gives cattlemen a chance to look closely at the cows behind a breeding program. For Roman Schooley and his family in Bloomfield, Iowa, their first Fall Elite Female Sale is an opportunity to offer females that have helped shape the herd, along with bred heifers that carry those breeding decisions forward. 
Schooley Cattle Company is offering cattle raised and bred at the operation. Roman describes the offering as the heart of the herd, with maternal ability at the center of the selection process. Sound feet, functional udders, and a disposition that makes cattle easier to work with are priorities he points to in the sale welcome. 
The proven female offering includes Schooley Miss E69 171J in the purebred division and Schooley Miss 823F  068H on the percentage side. Roman identifies both as important females in the program. The bred heifer division brings another part of the herd into the sale, with heifers that were pastured on fescue until late August. 
The work behind the offering involves the Schooley family and the crew caring for the cattle each day. Roman also emphasizes working alongside customers with their marketing needs. Allied Genetic Resources is assisting with sale marketing as the family prepares to welcome visitors to the ranch. 
On this episode of Genetics & the Gavel, Aaron McKinney visits with Roman about the operation today, the philosophy behind the cattle, and the decision to hold this first female sale. It is a chance to hear directly from the breeder before making sale plans. 
The sale takes place October 23, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. Central at the ranch bull barns in Bloomfield. Visitors are welcome to view cattle before sale day, and complimentary lunch will be served. Online bidding and lot videos are available through DV Auction. Call Roman at 515-450-3685 to arrange a visit.
 
For previous episodes of Genetics & the Gavel, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com.
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When I look at a bull sale catalog, I want to know what went into the cattle before they ever made it to the sale ring. The pedigrees and numbers matter, but so do the decisions being made at home. What are the breeders selecting for, and what do they expect those bulls to do once they leave? 
That is where we will start with Robert Scott on this episode of Genetics & the Gavel, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Robert is the owner and general manager of the Red River Beefmaster Performance Group and sale manager for the Red River Beefmaster Premium Bull Sale, coming up October 24 in Paris, Texas. 
The Red River Beefmaster Performance Group brings together cattle from several Beefmaster programs. Their stated breeding priorities include milk production, disposition, growth, fertility, structural soundness, and hardiness. Those are practical traits, and I want to give Robert a chance to explain how the group puts those priorities to work when selecting bulls for the sale. 
There is information behind this offering, too. The catalog includes feed test records, ribeye and intramuscular fat measurements, and EPDs. Each bull has undergone a breeding soundness examination, and the catalog outlines a 180-day fertility guarantee. We will talk about that preparation and what buyers should know before making their selections. 
We will also get into Robert's background in the cattle business, how the group came together, and what stands out about this year's offering. It is a chance to hear from the person helping bring the sale together and ask a few questions before sale day. 
The sale begins at 11 a.m. Saturday, October 24, at Paris Livestock Auction. Buyers can view cattle Friday and Saturday, and those who cannot attend can purchase online through DVAuction. For the catalog, visit redriverbeefmastersale.com or call Robert Scott at 469-667-7899. 
 
For previous episodes of Genetics & the Gavel, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com.
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Winter readiness begins long before the first snowstorm. In this episode of the American Cattleman Podcast, host Dustin Hector welcomes Dr. Michelle Calvo-Lorenzo, chief animal welfare officer for Elanco Animal Health, to discuss how proactive cattle management supports animal comfort, health, and performance throughout the colder months. 
Drawing on her research background and years of experience working alongside livestock producers, Dr. Calvo-Lorenzo explains what happens when cattle experience cold stress. Temperature is only part of the picture. Wind, precipitation, wet hair coats, and poor environmental conditions can increase heat loss and make it harder for cattle to maintain normal body functions. Animals need adequate energy, hydration, and time to acclimate as conditions change.
The conversation highlights practical steps producers can take during the fall to prepare their herds. Maintaining good nutrition and body condition helps cattle develop insulating winter coats and enter the season healthier. Working with veterinarians and nutritionists can help producers prepare appropriate health protocols and adjust feeding plans when weather conditions increase energy requirements.
Reliable access to water remains essential, even when freezing temperatures require additional checks and ice removal. Windbreaks, shelter belts, protection from precipitation, and dry resting areas also help cattle conserve body heat and recover comfortably. Dr. Calvo-Lorenzo emphasizes that a thick winter coat loses its insulating effectiveness when wet, making environmental protection especially valuable.
Dustin and Dr. Calvo-Lorenzo also explore the importance of observing cattle behavior and evaluating facilities from the animal’s perspective. Changes in routines, shelter seeking, access to feed and water, slippery footing, and sharp edges can reveal opportunities to improve welfare and safety. Young cattle, sick animals, and those with poor body condition deserve particular attention.
Whether improvements involve small adjustments or larger investments, the goal remains consistent: cattle that are healthy, nourished, hydrated, dry, and acclimated. This episode encourages producers to recognize their animals’ needs, consult experts, and prepare before winter challenges arrive. Listen for practical insights into strengthening stockmanship and building a proactive approach to winter cattle care that fits your operation, supports your herd, and helps animals stay comfortable through changing weather conditions.
 
For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com.
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