Page 31 - MWC 8-20-20s

AHEAD ple’s cattle and talking to them The Midwest Cattleman · August 20, 2020 · P31
continued from page 21 about their genetic needs, Steve
and subzero temperatures com- gets a better idea of what deci-
bine with wind to create some- sions he needs to make. “Every
times extremely cold tempera- breeding decision we make is
tures. “Survival of the fittest” is not really for ourselves. We’re
a principle that keeps the cattle making it for our customers.
fit for the budget-minded com- Everything we do affects their
mercial operations they go into. cow herd for decades, so we try
The cows calve entirely outside to employ everything we can to
and are expected to raise a calf make the right decision,” he ex-
every year. plains.
The family is also staying
Keeping a Connection connected to raising cattle. Sons
Much like seeing actual car- Jake and Ben are now helping
cass data, Sunflower Genetics is Steve with the daily operation, bull sales, and also videoing the lowed the program to grow and
invested in actually seeing their while Mary continues to manage Sunflower Genetics sale each become established. “We are out
cattle perform. Steve spends a the records. Steve and Mary are year. “Around here, everything here on a lot of hot days, miser-
significant amount of time ei- also the parents of Becky, who revolves around the family,” able days, cold days, wondering
ther visiting customers’ ranch- works for Advisors Excel, an an- says Steve. Jake, who received why we’re here. But come sale
es or talking on the phone with nuity company; Joe, who works a master's degree from Virgin- day, when people come in and
them. By looking at other peo- for Flint Hills Stone; and Sam, ia Tech, chose to return to the appreciate what we’re doing, it
a senior at ranch to remain involved in the makes those days all fade away
Butler Coun- family business and Ben, who and we go back to why we’re re-
ty Community attended Kansas State Univer- ally doing it,” says Steve. “With
College. Jake, sity, prefers the lifestyle raising the boys here, there’s really no
Becky, Ben, cattle offers. end in sight. I’m looking for-
Joe, and Sam Steve and Mary have been ward to continuing to build for
also raise pigs forward thinking from the be- the future and grow.”
and lambs for ginning, noting they are “new Originally published in
show stock. In yet established”. Utilizing DNA ASA's Register Magazine, Octo-
addition, Ben testing, data keeping, and ac- ber 2017
works for Live cepting new technology are just
Auctions TV, some of the factors that have al-
traveling to

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