The Drake Simmental Bull and Female Sale Jan. 30, 2026
Welcome back to the American Cattlemen Podcast. Just ahead, we have Gale McKinney, he’s the owner of the American Cattlemen Podcast, and he sits down with Flint Drake and Mason Harlan of Drake Simmental, Centerville, Iowa. In this episode, they will dive into The Drake Simmental Bull and Female Sale held on January 30, 2026. 
The Drake family began raising cattle in the rolling hills of southern Iowa as soon as their ancestors arrived by covered wagon in 1854. Their path to accelerated genetic improvement and seedstock production began with Charlie Drake, Larry Drake’s father. Today, Drake Simmental is comprised of three operations: Iron Creek Cattle Company, Drake Simmental, and Harlan Cattle Company.
Flint explains the Drake Simmental philosophy of matching cattle to the environment, prioritizing structurally sound animals with moderate frames, good maternal traits, and calving ease. This balanced approach, he emphasizes, avoids extremes in genetics, ensuring that cattle remain productive and efficient while thriving in real-world commercial operations.
Mason then details their current offering of both age advantage and yearling bulls, which consist of purebred Angus, Simmental, and Angus-sired animals. He describes the bulls as dense and powerful, particularly praising the Haymakers, Jacksons, and Knockouts for their growth, calving ease, and overall performance. There is a noted balance between age-advantaged and yearling bulls, with yearlings outnumbering the aged group.
They then get into the female group, with a focus on the notable jump in genetic value among the heifers this year. The Jackson heifers stand out for their balance, maternal traits, and calving ease—some reaching donor quality. The Matron of Honor donor cow remains influential, producing high-value bulls, and the calving window for heifers begins in early to mid-February.
For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast, please visit: www.americancattlemen.com.
American Cattlemen Podcast is Sponsored By:
