Hello All:

The Wait is Over: Please join us for our 8^th annual bull and bred heifer sale at 11 am on THIS Saturday, March 9.

Customer Testimonial: A few weeks ago we listed some cows for sale for a customer who has 100% ICE genetics in their herd. There was significant demand and they sold within a day. The purchaser of those cows, Laura Burandt of Texas, had the following to say: “We bought the cows and are very happy with them as they make their home in Texas! We also have a Hereford bull that was purchased in a Pharo sale several years ago that is still one of my favorites – he is an ICE raised bull and still going strong. We hope to get one last year out of him and some good daughters to keep back!” (Our last bulls to sell thru PCC were in late 2016, so her bull would have to be at least 10 years old.)

Thank you, Laura! Satisfied customers are CRUCIAL to every successful business. ICE aims to make sure our cattle are right BEFORE they go to another herd. We also aim to make things right when something goes wrong. The last few years we were with PCC, our bulls were some of the highest selling and averaging bulls in the program. PCC cooperative producers have purchased several of our bulls and bred heifers in the years since we left. Our bulls are better now, especially the bottom end, and we are averaging less than half of what they brought 8 years ago. I still get compliments from customers who have bulls they purchased from us through Pharo. How much is a bull worth that lasts that long?!? We are a TRUE low-cost producer of seedstock…because we have to be. If other operations averaged what we do in their sales, they wouldn’t exist because they spend too much on feed and supplements to develop their cattle…and have a lot nicer pickups and trailers.

Hauling Bulls and Heifers: We have a customer from Stanton, IA who is willing to haul animals back after the sale. We will no doubt have more people willing to haul if we can get people together after the sale. If you are planning to be here with a trailer and willing to haul, please let us know.

Cow-Calf Budget: I did a quick Google to see what the experts predict for a cow-calf budget. I wanted to confirm my belief that feedstuffs are the biggest expense in a cattle operation. My first surprise was that for the year under examination, 2020, the budget showed every pair would lose $262. Paying to get beat up seems…odd. The budget showed a little over half of the cost to run a pair was in feed and 25% of the feed cost was protein supplementation and hay.  When we started farming in 1996, we calved in February/March and fed a lot of hay…and protein…and brought calves into the house to put in the tub to warm up…don’t miss that.

Sale Prices: I’m asked every year and every year I don’t know. My experience: To this point, almost every year prices have been a little higher than last. Last year, bulls averaged over $3100 and the heifers a bit over $2400. Until I come up with a different reason I will continue to blame my marketing skills for our low averages compared to most seedstock producers. It’s NOT the quality of the cattle. When we were with PCC, they were one of the largest bull producers in the world. I was stunned by how many people I would talk to in the cattle business who had never heard of PCC. How can I expect people to know ICE exists in Guide Rock, NE? I should do a better job. Come and get ‘em before the word gets out!

Herd Bulls on Display: We intend to have our herd bulls on display on sale day. You will have an opportunity to see what the sale bulls will look like in 2-3 years.

2023 Born Calves on Display: We recently purchased a group of ’23 born calves from long-time and loyal customer Matt Shurts from Beloit, Kansas. The calves were born in May and I want you to see them. Matt runs his cattle almost identically to the way we do. For anyone wondering if an ICE calf at 10 months old is “big enough,” these should answer that question.

Loading Out Livestock: There are multiple reasons we pick Saturday to have a sale. The most predominant would be that when I was teaching I didn’t want to take a vacation day to go to a sale, or to anything. I wanted to save those vacation days for planting and harvest. (My wife and I did not take a vacation away from home where we paid for lodging until I was 36.) I assume some of you prefer not to take a day off work as well. We have the sale at 11 so that many of our customers have time to drive to our operation that morning and home that night. One thing we ask is that you don’t load out until the bulls are done selling. The bull part of the sale only takes about an hour and we will aim to get you loaded as soon as convenient after that is done. David Ellis is in charge of load outs, and he will be conducting the auction for the bull part of the sale. When we start on the heifers, he will start loading out.

Lodging: If you do need to spend the night, Green Acres Motel in Red Cloud, NE is closest. The next closest would be motels in Blue Hill and Superior. Hastings is a bit farther away (35 miles) but has more traditional and diverse lodging and dining options.

Philippians 2:3-4: “Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.” I don’t do a good job of looking to the interests of others who are supposed to be looking out for my interests, who are paid to do so, but don’t. I experience large companies not able to function properly since Covid; slow, mistakes, apathy, cover their backside to the chagrin of yours, etc. I must remember I’ll never be scored more mercilessly than Christ…and I’ll never have as much to forgive. Romans 5:8: “but God shows His love for us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”

Grazing Conference: I’ve been asked to mention some upcoming conference options. https://www.eventbrite.com/e/alejandro-carrillo-a-grazing-journey-four-ok-datescities-tickets-705438273867?aff=oddtdtcreator The Beaver event will be free due to the recent wildfires.