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Welcome 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 chats with Steve and Laura Knoll, Owners of 2 Bar Angus. In this episode, they will dive into the 2 Bar Angus 10th Annual Bull Sale, held on March 18th, 2026, at 1PM CDT, at the Hereford Vet Clinic, Hereford, Texas.

At 2 Bar Angus, they take pride in heritage and commitment to quality. Their family has been raising Angus cattle for generations, ensuring that each bull sold meets their high standards.

Steve explains that 2 Bar Angus began roughly 28 to 29 years ago and has always operated as a family enterprise. From the start, their core business has been raising bulls for commercial cattlemen. He emphasizes that the bulls are the centerpiece of the program, while females are treated as a byproduct of that effort, although many of those females still turn out to be particularly valuable in their own right. The guiding philosophy is straightforward: produce bulls that help commercial customers make money and stand up to practical ranch conditions year after year.

Steve describes how they prioritize low birth weight combined with strong growth, aiming to balance calving ease with performance. Carcass merit is also a key objective; they work to build in as much carcass quality as possible so customers can capture added value further down the production chain. At the same time, he stresses that cattle must remain structurally sound and adapted to their environment. The cows need to breed back regularly, deliver a live calf each year, and have the maternal instincts to raise that calf successfully. Common-sense functionality underpins every selection decision.

Gale and Steve also touch on the family dimension of the ranch. Steve notes that he and Laura have two sons and two daughters, with one son and one daughter still actively involved in the operation. Aside from one hired hand, the ranch is essentially a family-run outfit, with day-to-day work and long-term decisions handled by the family.

 

For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com.

American Cattlemen Podcast is Sponsored By:

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Welcome back to the American Cattlemen Podcast. Just ahead, we have Dustin Hector, he’s the Director of Business Development for American Cattlemen Media, and he sits down with Chip Kemp, Chief Strategy Officer for 701X, Cattle Con 2026.

Chip frames the bull as a ranch’s “most important employee,” noting that producers invest heavily in him but historically have had little real-time insight into his activity, health, or location. With 701X devices, producers can continuously monitor bulls and other cattle, knowing where they are, when they are mounting cows, and when early signs of health issues emerge—often before they are visible to the human eye.

The conversation broadens to the role of technology in ranching. Chip acknowledges the nostalgia for earlier, simpler times but compares modern tech adoption to choosing a cab tractor over an old Ford 8N: once the benefits are clear, most people would not go back. He stresses that skepticism often stems from past overpromises by “charlatans,” and contrasts that with 701X’s engineering-first, ranch-informed approach that actually delivers on what it claims.

Dustin and Chip emphasize that good technology allows producers to be proactive instead of reactive. Examples include integrated water monitoring, calving alerts, and stress or no-movement alerts that can prevent death loss or losses from breeding inefficiencies. Chip shares a story of an alert that allowed a family member with physical challenges to save a calf from a dangerous waterway, turning what would have been a loss into preserved value for the operation.

Throughout, Chip returns to the idea of “technology enhancing tradition.” The goal is not to replace hands-on animal husbandry, but to use data and smart tools to allocate time and labor more efficiently, support multi-generational continuity, and help small family outfits remain viable and competitive in a modern marketplace.

For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com.

American Cattlemen Podcast is Sponsored By:

Moly Manufacturing

Central Life Sciences

 

Welcome back to Genetics & the Gavel, powered by American Cattlemen Media. Just ahead, we Gale McKinney, he’s the owner of American Cattlemen Media, and he chats with Jeremy Leister, Ranch Manager of Pollard Farms. In this episode, Jeremy and Gale will dive into the Pollard Farms 27th Annual Spring Bull & Female Sale, held on March 18th, 2026, at 12PM CT, at Pollard Farms in Waukomis, Oklahoma.

At Pollard Farms, their goal is to produce bulls with superior growth and carcass traits, ensuring customers benefit from the increased value of heavy calves and the substantial grid premiums achieved.

The Pollard Farms program is built around customer service and long-term profitability for buyers. Pollard Farms strives to produce Angus cattle that combine phenotype, structural soundness, and elite EPD profiles, with a particular focus on growth and carcass traits that allow customers to capture premiums on heavy, high-quality calves. Jeremy emphasizes that they are not chasing a single niche; instead, they are using the tools and technology of the American Angus Association, along with carefully selected AI sires and top-end Angus females, to create cattle that work in a wide variety of commercial environments.

The sale is front-loaded with long-age bulls ready for heavy service, including powerful, structurally sound brothers in the first two lots that combine eye appeal with strong numbers. The offering includes sire groups by several prominent AI sires that bring together marbling, performance, and balance.

On the female side, the sale includes first-calf heifer pairs carrying young, fresh genetics, along with proven four- to six-year-old spring-calving cows and a group of fall-bred cows and heifers. Jeremy explains that this variety is intentional, giving buyers the opportunity to start a herd, rebuild numbers, or add quality females in whatever combination fits their program. He also outlines buyer-friendly terms such as breeding soundness exams, breeding-season guarantees, and volume incentives, all designed to support customer success.

For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com.

American Cattlemen Podcast is Sponsored By:

Moly Manufacturing

Central Life Sciences