American Cattlemen Podcast

galesz

Welcome to the American Cattlemen Podcast with Gale McKinney, the ultimate platform for connecting with the heart of the cow/calf industry! As the Publisher of American Cattlemen, Gale expertly brings to light the dynamic intersection of business and lifestyle, spotlighting everything from the latest production sales to the excitement of your local county fair. Join us as Gale conducts engaging interviews with the passionate individuals who truly shape our industry, making you a vital member of our community. Our audience includes dedicated cow/calf producers across the United States and industry professionals from every corner of the globe, all part of our thriving social media network of over 500,000 unique followers. Don’t miss out—each episode of the American Cattlemen Podcast is promoted through our extensive digital platforms, the American Cattlemen magazine, and our newsletter, ensuring you stay informed and connected. Tune in and elevate your engagement in this vibrant community!

  1. 9H AGO

    Martens Angus Farms 25th Anniversary Sale

    Welcome back to Genetics & The Gavel, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Just ahead, we have Gale McKinney, he's the owner of American Cattlemen Media, and he sits down with Jody Marten, Owner of Martens Angus. In this episode, Jody and Gale dive into the Martens Angus Farms 25th Anniversary Sale, held on February 25th, 2026, at 1PM CST, located at the farm, Bellevue, Iowa.  The history of this operation is deep-rooted, actually starting with his father, Leo, who raised and sold Registered Angus Cattle in Clinton County, Iowa, back in the 1950s. There was a pause, tough, as a family move led to a switch to purebred hogs. But, with the decline in the pork industry in the late 1980s, the Angus herd made its return in the early 1990s. Jody himself jumped in after graduating from Iowa State in the mid-1990s, working alongside Leo until he fully purchased the cow herd in 2001. Discussing the Martens Angus breeding philosophy, Jody emphasizes running a purebred Angus program that functions like a commercial herd. Cattle are not pampered, and traits like disposition and birth weight remain foundational priorities. He focuses on balanced genetics, blending calving ease, growth, carcass merit, maternal value, and structural soundness, using EPDs as a guide rather than a strict target. The sale offering includes approximately 40 18‑month‑old bulls, bred heifers, open heifers, and commercial spring‑bred heifers. Jody highlights the extra age and durability of the bulls and describes several standout lots that combine calving ease with muscle and performance. Many of the top bred and open heifers, he notes, are the kind that normally would stay in his own replacement pen, with several candidates suitable for donor status. The commercial spring‑bred heifers, bred to a strong performance bull, are purebred cattle marketed as commercial, with the option to obtain registration papers for an additional fee. For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com. American Cattlemen Podcast is Sponsored By: Rawhide Portable Corrals Udder Tech, Inc. Central Life Sciences

    26 min

  2. 12H AGO

    Silencer Squeeze Chutes with Moly Manufacturing & Bar 7 Ranch

    Welcome back to the American Cattlemen Podcast. Just ahead, we have Kaid Panek with the American Cattlemen, and he sits down with Cody and Erica Archie of Bar 7 Ranch and Marc Ahrens of Moly Manufacturing. In this episode, Kaid and the gang will discuss the benefits of strong, effective cattle-handling equipment and how Moly's Silencer Squeeze Chutes fit that bill.  No one wants to work with faulty equipment and Cody contrasts his early years working cattle with rudimentary or worn-out equipment—manual chutes, guillotine head gates, makeshift setups, and unsafe conditions—against the experience of using a Silencer. He emphasizes how inferior equipment increases stress, risk of injury and cattle wrecks, and ultimately costs more in the long run. The discussion highlights the Silencer as a long-term, customizable investment. Mark explains that almost everything beyond the basic tail doors is custom built to match the customer’s herd, working style, and future plans. Options like palpation cages, walk-through doors, side exits, neck extenders, brisket bars, and expandable floors allow ranchers to tailor the chute to their needs and to grow into it over five to ten years, rather than outgrowing it quickly. Erica adds the family perspective, describing how the Silencer has dramatically improved confidence and safety for her and their children. Once hesitant to run the controls, she quickly found it intuitive and now sees it as a critical tool that reduces risk, stress, and the chance of serious injuries. They note that even young or older family members can safely operate the hydraulics.

    50 min

  3. 13H AGO

    Peckenpaugh Angus Annual Bull Sale

    Welcome back to Genetics & The Gavel, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Just ahead, we have Gale McKinney, he's the owner of American Cattlemen Media, and he sits down with Tony Peckenpaugh, owner of Peckenpaugh Angus. In this episode, Tony and Gale dive into thee Peckenpaugh Angus Annual Bull Sale, held on February 22nd, 2026, at 2PM CST, located at the farm in Carthage, South Dakota.  Peckenpaugh Angus has a deep history in purebred cattle, beginning with Registered Herefords in 1936 and adding Registered Angus in 1998. Today, they run about 300 Registered Angus cows alongside a commercial herd and farming operation. Their philosophy emphasizes functionality: the cattle must perform well within a busy schedule without a full-time herd manager. The Peckenpaugh Angus philosophy is built around functionality and real-world performance rather than pampered management. With limited labor and a busy farming schedule, cows are expected to calve unassisted, get calves up and going, and thrive under variable conditions without constant checking. The environment in South Dakota demands this kind of resiliency, as cattle regularly face mud, damp cold, dust, heat, humidity, and harsh winter wind chills. Over time, the family has accumulated extensive carcass and grid data, reinforcing their focus on marbling, carcass quality, and uniformity. They will then get into some highlights and several standout lots, noting the emphasis on length, volume, structural soundness, and especially docility, which Tony sees as increasingly important given the aging ranching population. He describes bulls that are easy to handle yet powerful and athletic, suitable for covering cows efficiently and adding pounds to calves. The sale also includes a couple of commercial bulls that are fully purebred by genetics but will sell without papers due to uncertain dams. Tony expresses strong confidence in the entire offering and invites interested cattlemen to study the catalog, view the bulls, and evaluate the program’s practical, performance-oriented genetics. For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com. American Cattlemen Podcast is Sponsored By: Rawhide Portable Corrals Udder Tech, Inc. Central Life Sciences

    27 min

  4. 1D AGO

    Kalf Kozies with Georg Weitzel

    Welcome back to the American Cattlemen Podcast. Just ahead, we have Dustin Hector, he's the Director of Business Development of American Cattlemen Media, and he sits down with Georg Weitzel, with Crystal Springs Ranch and Kalf Kozies. In this episode, Georg and Dustin will dive into the Kalf Kozies product and how it was designed to help calves out in the cold.  Georg explains that his family ranch calves out around 500 cows in January, February, and March, often in temperatures reaching 30 to 40 degrees below. Calves are usually born outside and then brought into the barn, but limited barn capacity means they can only stay inside for about 24 hours before returning outdoors. Even when calves were dried off, their ears frequently froze. Over the years, Georg and his family tried multiple existing products, but none performed the way they needed. That led Georg’s wife, Sarah, to design the Kalf Kozies. It is a custom-woven, water-resistant fleece hat that slips over the calf’s head, with dedicated ear pockets and eye holes. The material has stretch built into the right areas for a secure yet comfortable fit. Adjustable snaps on the neck band allow a single hat to fit a wide range of calf sizes, from small preemies to large beef calves. To solve the issue of losing visual identification when all the calves were wearing hats, they added a leather patch on the outside that can be marked with a reusable grease pencil. Georg emphasizes that comfort and functionality distinguish Kalf Kozies from competing products. The design allows the ears to remain in their natural forward position, so calves stay comfortable, active, and inclined to get up and nurse. The fabric wicks moisture away instead of trapping it, helping ears naturally toughen over several days of use. The ear pockets also help keep the hat in place, reducing the need for constant adjustment. Economically, preventing frozen ears can avoid substantial market discounts on calves, so a single saved ear can more than pay for the product. Georg notes that dairy producers use the hats to safely house multiple calves together and that calves wearing Kalf Kozies tend to be warmer, happier, and healthier throughout the winter. For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com. American Cattlemen Podcast is Sponsored By: Rawhide Portable Corrals Udder Tech, Inc. Central Life Sciences

    17 min

  5. 1D AGO

    Rennert Ranch 10th Annual Charolais Bull Sale

    Welcome back to Genetics & The Gavel, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Just ahead, we have Gale McKinney, he's the owner of American Cattlemen Media, and he sits down with Kristian Rennert, Owner of Rennert Ranch Charolais. In this episode, Kristian and Gale dive into the Rennert Ranch 10th Annual Performance of the Platte Charolais Bull Sale, held on February 16th, 2026, at 1PM CST, located at Darr Feedyard Bull Development Center, in Cozad, Nebraska.  The sale will offer 129 head, including purebred Charolais, red factor, and Golden Gainer Charolais hybrid bulls, designed to serve both commercial and purebred cattle producers.  The ranch’s philosophy centers on serving commercial cow‑calf producers while keeping an eye on the entire beef chain from pasture to packer. Priority traits include calving ease, vigorous newborns, strong weaning and yearling growth, and carcass merit, particularly ribeye area, carcass weight, yield, and marbling. With a lot of great bulls for sale Kristian went ahead and highlighted some of the top performers in this sale. He highlights Grandview for balance and highly functional daughters, Jefferson for powerful, wide‑based bulls, and Jose for structure and notably high marbling. Gun Runner is described as a power sire that adds muscle, length, and performance, while Cowboy Romeo provides genuine calving ease with strong marbling and attractive, maternally focused daughters. Counselor and his sons Conviction and Litigator contribute big‑bodied, thick, rugged cattle with strong carcass data. Full Tilt is presented as the primary heifer bull, combining elite calving ease with surprising muscle and marbling, and Historic brings in sought‑after New Germain genetics. Additional sires such as Performer, Lexington, Front Range, Freeland, Pacifico, Triumph, and the red factor Heart J Ranger 3019 round out a set aimed at adding pounds, muscle, and carcass value. For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com. American Cattlemen Podcast is Sponsored By: Rawhide Portable Corrals Udder Tech, Inc. Central Life Sciences

    30 min

  6. 2D AGO

    Penz / Albrecht 15th Annual Presidents Day Angus Bull & Female Sale

    Welcome back to Genetics & The Gavel, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Just ahead, we have Aaron McKinney, he's the field editor for American Cattlemen Media, and he sits down with Jeff Penz, Owner of Penz Angus Ranch. In this episode, Jeff and Aaron will dive into the Penz / Albrecht 15th Annual Presidents Day Sale, held on February 16th, 2026, at 12:00 PM CT, located at the farm, 20443 SR 22, Caddo, Oklahoma.  Penz Angys Ranch, a fourth-generation family operation in Southeastern Oklahoma, began its registered Angus seed stock program in 2001. They maintain a disciplined approach, focusing on producing fault-free females with emphasis on fertility, maternal ability structure, feet, udder quality, docility, and easy fleshing. These females, key to their productive herd philosophy, yield stout, heavy-muscled, easy-fleshing bulls whose offspring are bred for commercial producer gain and consumer grade. Jeff explains that the operation is very much a family endeavor. His son Derek is heavily involved in day-to-day work and herd development, his wife manages bookkeeping while working off-farm, and his daughter and her family are in the process of moving closer, with hopes of being more involved. Jeff outlines a clear breeding philosophy that centers on the female. For him, success starts with a beautiful, productive cow that breeds back reliably, has sound feet, good temperament, easy fleshing ability, and produces a calf that weighs at least half of her body weight at weaning. Bulls, he emphasizes, are the byproduct of sustained pressure and culling within this disciplined female-focused program, with the goal of creating stout, heavy-muscled, easy-fleshing bulls whose offspring perform for commercial producers and grade well for consumers. The episode previews several key sire groups in the sale, including sons of a high-selling bull known as Checkered Flag, the powerful and maternally strong Respects, the deep and wide Royal Flushes, and the moderate-framed yet big-topped Tabascos, which will feature even more heavily in future offerings. Jeff also describes their development program: fall-born calves are weaned in late March or early April and grown on a high-roughage, pasture-based ration, in large traps rather than feedlot pens, so bulls stay athletic, sound, and accustomed to moving. Beyond bulls, this year’s offering includes an expanded and rare set of females, including donor cows and females out of featured donors, bred heifers (some already with calves), open heifers, and a strong group of fall-calving first-calf heifers from a longtime customer. The conversation closes with an emphasis on customer service, viewing opportunities, and the ranch’s commitment to offering a deep, problem-free set of seedstock for a wide range of producers. For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com. American Cattlemen Podcast is Sponsored By: Rawhide Portable Corrals Udder Tech, Inc. Central Life Sciences

    28 min

  7. 2D AGO

    Powder River Angus 2026 Annual Production Sale

    Welcome back to Genetics & The Gavel, powered by American Cattlemen Podcasts. Just ahead, we have Aaron McKinney, he's the field editor for American Cattlemen Media, and he sits down with Neal and Amanda Sorenson, Owners of Powder River Angus. In this episode, they will dive into the Powder River Angus 2026 Annual Production Sale, Held on February 13th, 2026, at 1:00PM MST, at Buffalo Livestock Marketing 44 TW Rd Buffalo, WY 82834.  Located in Northeastern Wyoming near Spotted Horse on Highway 14-16 with their two sons on a ranch previously operated by Neal's parents, the Sorenson's have been in Wyoming since 1882 where they first homesteaded on the Powder River. They have been ranching and farming for generations in an environment which can offer many challenges and hardships. Amanda and Neal dive into the philosophy and breeding program at Powder River Angus. Neil emphasizes that fertility is the top priority, followed by calf performance, foot quality, structural soundness, and what are often called “convenience traits,” such as udder quality and overall functionality. He argues these are not conveniences but necessities, especially in their challenging, low-rainfall environment where cows must travel longer distances between grass and water and still rebreed and raise a substantial calf every year. The operation favors moderately sized, athletic, range-adapted cattle, raised primarily on native grass and mature grass hay with a wheat midds pellet, resulting in “greener” bulls that hold up better in harsh range conditions. The Sorenson's program is built around producing superior females, with bulls viewed as a byproduct of a strong cow herd. They use older-line genetics such as Black Mass and Windy-line cattle and highlight a home-raised sire, PRA Bull Dogger, known for excellent feet, udders, disposition, and longevity in his dam. They acknowledge their cattle may not chase the very highest EPD profiles but stress proven real-world performance, including strong feedlot results and grading. The episode also previews the Powder River Angus 2026 annual production sale, featuring 128 yearling, test-based Angus bulls selling February 13 at Buffalo Livestock Marketing in Buffalo, Wyoming, with on-site and online bidding options through DV Auction and other platforms. The Sorensons discuss their guarantee, free wintering and delivery arrangements, and their use of PAP testing to reduce the risk of brisket disease and heart-lung failure, benefiting both high-altitude and feedlot-focused customers. The interview closes with a strong endorsement of the offering’s depth, consistency, and suitability for commercial producers seeking both marketable steers and long-lived, productive females. For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com. American Cattlemen Podcast is Sponsored By: Rawhide Portable Corrals Udder Tech, Inc. Central Life Sciences

    27 min

  8. 3D AGO

    Leachman Cattle with Russ Princ

    Welcome back to Genetics & The Gavel, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Just ahead, we have Gale McKinney, he's the owner of American Cattlemen Media, and he sits down with Russ Princ, Sales Manager for Leachman Cattle. In this episode, Russ and Gale will focus on Leachman’s stabilizer program, international and domestic sales growth, the broader outlook for the beef industry heading into 2026, and a detailed rundown of upcoming Leachman sales.  Russ Princ leads the sales operations across the U.S., Canada, and international markets. He directs sales of live animals, semen, embryos, and data services while driving the adoption of genomic tools, such as Inherit and $Profit. Russ is also active in the growing beef-on-dairy sector, helping dairies capture more value with Leachman Beef Genetics. Russ explains that international business has expanded significantly since Leachman became part of the Urus family, which increased global exposure for their stabilizer and composite bulls. The stabilizer is described less as a fixed four-breed composite and more as a breeding philosophy focused on profitability, hybrid vigor, and consistency. While typically around half British and half Continental genetics, the real emphasis is on solid-colored cattle, red or black, that deliver red meat yield, marbling, and especially fertility, keeping cows productive in the herd longer. Stabilizers have proven adaptable across a wide range of environments, from the Midwest and West to regions with Bos indicus influence. Russ reports that Leachman is now roughly the third-largest seedstock provider in the United States, marketing about 1,750 bulls and 1,300 females in 2025, with both volume and average prices rising. He stresses that long-term industry sustainability depends on profitability and making more efficient, high-quality beef with fewer cows and less land. Genomic tools such as Inherit and Leachman’s across-breed dollar profit index help commercial producers identify and keep more profitable females while culling lower-merit cows. The conversation also covers the importance of consumer education and producers telling their own story, often through social media, to highlight animal care and real ranch conditions. Russ describes major feedlot developments that aim to feature Leachman genetics, along with several spring sales and educational events centered at the new Wyoming “mothership” facility and regional locations, all designed to connect buyers with profitable, data-driven beef genetics. For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com. American Cattlemen Podcast is Sponsored By: Rawhide Portable Corrals Udder Tech, Inc. Central Life Sciences

    24 min
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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
3 Ratings

About

Welcome to the American Cattlemen Podcast with Gale McKinney, the ultimate platform for connecting with the heart of the cow/calf industry! As the Publisher of American Cattlemen, Gale expertly brings to light the dynamic intersection of business and lifestyle, spotlighting everything from the latest production sales to the excitement of your local county fair. Join us as Gale conducts engaging interviews with the passionate individuals who truly shape our industry, making you a vital member of our community. Our audience includes dedicated cow/calf producers across the United States and industry professionals from every corner of the globe, all part of our thriving social media network of over 500,000 unique followers. Don’t miss out—each episode of the American Cattlemen Podcast is promoted through our extensive digital platforms, the American Cattlemen magazine, and our newsletter, ensuring you stay informed and connected. Tune in and elevate your engagement in this vibrant community!

Information

  • Creator
    galesz
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2026
  • Episodes
    100
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Copyright 2023 All rights reserved.
  • Show Website
    American Cattlemen Podcast

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