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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

 

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 Kelsi Retallick, Co-Owner of 2K Cattle Enterprises. In this episode, Kelsi and Gale will dive into the 2K Cattle Enterprises 28th Annual Performance-Tested Bull & Female Sale, held on March 15th, 2026, at 1PM CDT, at Bloomington Livestock Exchange, in Bloomington Wisconsin.

At 2K Cattle enterprises, 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.

The 2K Cattle philosophy is to avoid extremes and instead build cattle that combine maternal strength, structural soundness, longevity, fertility, and strong growth with an eye on carcass quality and marbling. The goal is for customers to raise calves that get up, grow quickly, and push down the scales, while still producing replacements that make productive, long‑lived cows.

Kelsey also outlines how their broader business model ties together a farm‑to‑table system. The family finishes many of their own cattle, supplying a butcher shop and a steakhouse she opened a couple of years ago. This vertical integration allows them to see firsthand how their genetics perform all the way to the plate, reinforcing the focus on carcass merit alongside maternal traits.

This year’s offering includes 54 yearling Angus bulls and 21 elite bred Angus females. Kelsey reviews the strength of the sire groups represented: Clarity sons from proven donor cows, Kindreds noted for calving ease with frame and pounds, Bedfords with eye appeal and mass, and Top Gun bulls that combine calving ease with performance and are suitable for heifer use. Additional sire lines such as Connealy Comrade descendants, Rise Above, and Growth Fund contribute to a deep, uniform set of bulls that have performed well since weaning and present consistent quality across the pen.

On the female side, Kelsey highlights Lot 55, a lead-off bred female out of an Everelda cow purchased from Deer Valley and flushed multiple times with excellent results. This female calved at the end of December and is raising a promising calf by Baldridge Heat Seeker. The broader group of bred heifers were carefully developed and AI bred to sires like Heat Seeker and Boyd Bedrock, and Kelsey expresses strong confidence in their quality, udders, and future production. All bulls have passed reproductive soundness exams and are sold with a first season breeding guarantee, and the family is committed to working with buyers on trucking and logistics to ensure a smooth sale experience.

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

American Cattlemen Podcast is Sponsored By:

Moly Manufacturing

Central Life Sciences