It was a dreary April day this past spring in western Wisconsin. I spent the afternoon driving back from a cattle event, heading right to another community commitment I had that evening. That’s where I got the dreaded text, “Looks like 048 is calving.”

Be proud that you’re a first-generation rancher. We need you. The industry needs you.

Estate and succession planning can feel overwhelming, and it’s no surprise that many producers put it off. Many factors and unknowns come into play and can include: fear of losing your identity, not wanting to give up control, ego, fear of things changing and not wanting to hurt people’s feelings.

Estate and succession planning can feel overwhelming, and it’s no surprise that many producers put it off. Many factors and unknowns come into play and can include: fear of losing your identity, not wanting to give up control, ego, fear of things changing and not wanting to hurt people’s feelings.

I’d only been in the house for 10 or 15 minutes when my phone buzzed. I’d stepped in to grab a sandwich, or whatever I could conjure up on my own, for lunch. Although it was only in the mid-80s, it felt like an oppressively hot day.

We are entering autumn – harvest season and “get everything done on the list before winter comes” season. This season is impacted by the weather, so we check the forecast regularly. (Let’s be honest, at our age, we check it at least once a day, anyway.)

Outside of the small farming town of Manhattan, Montana, sits Feddes Red Angus. What started as a registered Hereford operation in 1945 has evolved into a multigenerational registered Red Angus operation.

John and Deanne Chuiko and their children, Matt and Rylee, operate the family ranch, CJ Ranching, in St. Walburg, Saskatchewan, that was homesteaded by John’s grandfather in 1941.

Nestled in Cartwright, Manitoba, is Silver Lake Farms, a family operation that is a testament to strategic breeding, agricultural innovation and generational commitment to livestock excellence.