Ryan Arndt is a rancher and a cowboy from the Emporia, KS, area. He and his family own and operate Arndt Farms, a diversified farming and ranching entity that spans portions of several counties in the Flint Hills. They run cows, purchased yearlings for grazing, plus are partners on several feedyards in western Kansas.
Their no-nonsense, no-frills approach to farming and ranching has served them well for generations, as they have continued to adapt to the times, while expanding their business to include more family members.
Ryan and his family enjoy youth rodeo and ranch rodeos, plus he serves on several volunteer boards, including the Flint Hills Beef Fest committee.
Ryan Arndt is a rancher and a cowboy from the Emporia, KS, area. He and his family own and operate Arndt Farms, a diversified farming and ranching entity that spans portions of several counties in the Flint Hills. They run cows, purchased yearlings for grazing, plus are partners on several feedyards in western Kansas.
Their no-nonsense, no-frills approach to farming and ranching has served them well for generations, as they have continued to adapt to the times, while expanding their business to include more family members.
Ryan and his family enjoy youth rodeo and ranch rodeos, plus he serves on several volunteer boards, including the Flint Hills Beef Fest committee.
Thanks once again for joining us for episode 18 of practically ranching. The last few weeks we have had a couple of PhDs and a M S and several folks with a lot of letters after their names and a lot of education and a lot of knowledge. So I thought it was time to get back a little closer to home. And, we call this thing practically ranching and today's title for Ryan Arndt's interview is ranching practically. And that's exactly what the art family does. They farm and ranch in several counties to the west of the Emporio and Opie, Kansas areas. And if you've ever sat down and visited with Ryan or his dad, Mike, or any of the family, You realize that the word practical fits them really, really Um, there's not a lot of fanfare. There's not a lot of BS. They're going to tell you what they think and what they believe, and then they're going to go do it. And, um, I think their family, and I think their business shows this in this episode, we talk about several different things. Their are many different ranching interests in many segments of the beef industry. We talk about Ryan's work with the Flint Hills, be fast, uh, both on the competition side, but also on the volunteer side, serving on their board. Just basic ranching types of issues that I think will hit home for a lot of our folks that are listening to this from a pickup or a saddle or, or as they do their daily work with, uh, with the cows. I think we can learn a lot from the very simple approach that, uh, Ryan and his family takes as they try to decide how best to adapt and how best to, make sound business decisions, given the knowledge that we have in today's beef industry and the basics of what we have to work with at home. And In this episode, Ryan jokes about, Sponsorship and trying to promote things such as this podcast, so he can get a few more listens than is a lifelong buddy, Glen Collinge, who has done very well from his podcast a month or two ago. Um, and I joked and said that, Folks, favorite thing about practically ranching is they don't have to fast forward through any advertisements. Well, I'm going to break that. We're not going to have anything too fancy but I do want to remind folks that we are having a bull sale come up. Our family Dalebanks Angus annual bull sale will be on November the 19th. We'll be selling about 130 coming. Two year old and yearling bulls. And, we would love to have you at the sale or watching online. And if you would like information about the bulls will be selling. Uh, drop us a line Uh, our email and, and information is there. dalebanks.com Or give us a call 6 2 0 5 8 3 43 0 5. And we would love to add you to our list and send you a catalog with information about those bulls. So. Now that we've got that out of the way. Thanks again for listening to practically ranching. welcome Ryan to practically ranching. Appreciate you taking a little time this afternoon. Tell me where you're at today.
Ryan:Uh, I am Eastern edge of chase county out in the pasture checking some cabin cows right now.
Matt:The signal is, uh, better than the last time we tried this. I think so you must be, uh, at a higher elevation or so.
Ryan:I'm high and I'm, I'm not too far from the turnpike. So I suppose it was pretty good coverage all the way along here.
Matt:Yep. well, that's the, uh, guess the benefit of being buying major interstate, if, if there is a benefit, uh, you at least might get cell phone service when you're close to the, to the four lane. Well, Ryan, this is take two of your podcast and the first one was supposed to be with glen Collinge and I think it's safe to say that we failed miserably on that one. It's It's my first and only complete flop on practically ranching, at least in the recording side of things. Um, so we had to split you two up, I think, uh, it was clear the internet couldn't handle that much comic relief in one setting. So, um, we had Colin John already and you get the last word and get to refute any and everything that he said on there. So, feel free to, uh, correct any statements that were misspoken by, uh, by your buddy Glenn Collins.
Ryan:Oh, I didn't know. Glen had one air already.
Matt:clearly very few people did we won't, uh, we won't even divulge where he sits on the all time rankings of practically ranching.
Ryan:uh, yeah. no, he did a good job, You get him talking about fire and grass and anything else. He's always gonna do a good job with talking about that. But I did tell him that it was funny when he gets serious and the older he gets, he sounds more like a mike junior,
Matt:I thought the same thing
Ryan:uh, and I suppose we're all guilty of that sounded more like our dad's the older we get. But I listening to that, I thought, well, he just sounds like Mike, more and more. You.
Matt:Well, you clearly understand genetics from all of your work in the cattle and horse business. Um, it, it works for humans too.
Ryan:Yes, it does it tank
Matt:Yep. Yeah. Well, um, the first thing you've gotta do is make sure that, uh, somehow some way you record more downloads than glands, so you can shut him up about his bragging on that, on that front. We we'll do, we'll do what we have to do to make sure we get that done
Ryan:sponsored ads and whatnot on the facebook and Twitter.
Matt:Yeah, Yeah. There you go. Well, I haven't tried those yet, but I'm, uh, I guess, uh, I guess if it's worth it to you um,
Ryan:I'll leave it.
Matt:So first off while it's fresh on my mind, congrats on your, uh, you're. You're quite the cattle showman here and a little different type than, uh, than. be it's county fair, but you have had fairly high ranking pins of cattle or individuals at both what? Beef empire days out in garden city. And also at Flint Hills beef Fest here in Emporia a couple weeks ago, right?
Ryan:Yeah. Um, you know, this year we got along, dad, Steve got along pretty good there at the B Fest, had a nice set of heifers and they did, uh, gain well and they showed well, the judges liked him and it's set good, uh, Del bakes, genetics, I guess, showing up there, but.
Matt:may maybe I, maybe I am having ads on here and didn't even realize it.
Ryan:but you know, it's, uh, like you were talking about genetics. Um, I pick those BF cattle out when we wean every fall and it's getting harder because they're getting, I can only have it a handful of ones that'll be small enough or light enough and not get too big when it's time to land them in, in April. But.
Matt:Uh,
Ryan:I kind of know what I'm picking and go from there, or the heifers some years might just be whichever ones don't pass the, uh, pelvic exam reading sinus exam. Before we set'em up to AI in the spring two. So the, the genetics are there. It's just a matter of hitting getting the right weight and target for wait a minute in august or in april. I mean,
Matt:Tell for folks who aren't necessarily from this area. Um, explain how that beef Fest, uh, cattle Fu charity works, cuz it's a pretty cool concept.
Ryan:It is. Um, so in April you enter three pins or three head pin of cattle, the steers or heifers. And we graze'em out here on the Highland ranch, southwest Opie. And we'll, we'll weigh em in that Monday. Whichever usually about the last Monday of April, get an in wait, turn,'em out, gather em back up in august and then we'll weigh'em off grass again.
Matt:again.
Ryan:And so that's one contest is your grass gain, and we leave'em in those pins of three and the judges come around and they judge'em based off of feeder cattle qualities that they'd like for cattle going in the feed yard. and then they go to the feed yard and we use our off grass weight as a starting weight for the feed yard and have another gain contest in the feed yard as well as a carcass contest. Uh, so it.
Matt:so it. kinda
Ryan:Goes most of the year ends in late January, february and starts again?
Matt:And that midpoint there, when they come off of grass and, and weigh those and, judge shows that's they do that Emporia livestock, correct? Still?
Ryan:Yes. Yep. Do that there at sale barn here in town and, uh,
Matt:And they do that the same weekend as they have this big celebration that they call Flint Hills beef Fest. name it, speakers and banquet, and used to have a ranch rodeo, I guess trade show all
Ryan:yep. Still have the ranch rodeo and, uh, the dance and all, and it's, it's usually a pretty good time in august.
Matt:all. Yep. Yep. Well, it's it's a neat deal. And a, and a concept that I don't know that I've seen anywhere else. And of course, Emporia is pretty well positioned. To kind of have it all done there within a few hundred miles. And of course, Kele, where are they fed now
Ryan:Uh, we rotate around every year. This year, they went to sellers at lions is where they went to. Uh, and you might, I might say, you know, you talk. Nothing else around press white was a vet. Oh, shoot. I don't know when he was here, but he's one of the ones that was kind of key in getting it started. and he was spent some time in Western Kansas and with the beef empire day. So that's kind of what, I mean, it's different, but it's kind of what it was modeled after, I guess, or not modeled, but where, where the idea come from obviously, but, um, just taking it and kind of running in our own direction with it back here. So.
Matt:Well, that's a neat deal. So. you also had some cattle in beef FPI days, which you just mentioned, um, Southwest Kansas garden city area. Uh, tell us how those did and, and then also, I guess, give us a rundown of beef empire days as.
Ryan:Uh, you're gonna put me on little spot a little bit, cuz I've never been to it. Um, I know it's kind of a similar deal. you enter, you know they gotta be fed at one of them, feed yard, feed, yard, and feed yard enters them. And. Uh, the, we had a steer and it's just an individual and there's no weight or anything like that. So I think it's just a live show and a carcass contest. So there's no performance type contest with it. Uh, but we had a steer that would've been home raised that was fed at Kinsley feeders. And, uh, I think did all right in the live show. And I can't remember where it did in the carcass, but it did all did okay.
Matt:Yeah, it seemed like as a composite, it was up in the
Ryan:Yeah, top five That's what I was gonna say. I could
Matt:And, and that one, like you said, they were their beef Fest. They're an Emporia. It was kind of modeled after beef empire days. Um, I think the biggest difference is the beef empire days judging. And the big event is at the back end of the feeding feed yard period. And so those cattle individually come past the crowd and they get to. Put their own placing on it. A, a judge puts placing on it and then those cattle in, they go onto the feed yard. And I, And I'm sorry, onto the packing plant and, um, our. Course graded and yield out and run through a formula to see who wins that carcass contest too. But, uh, you know, just it's I chuckled about being the show jock, but, um, it's a cattle show, but it's a totally different type of cattle show than we would have with haltered animals and things like that. And a little more real world scenario. so that's pretty cool that, that you've got cattle that are, that are doing well in both of those. and um, and like, I. Raised right there off the ranch and then sent on and, and we've got several customers and lots of folks in the area that, uh, that continue to do very well at those at both of those events, but especially beef Fest.
Ryan:And the competition part of it's, you know, that's. You know, part of it, but it is kind of nice. Just kind of, so you got an idea, you know, if you need to improve or where you're at, kind of compare, not to need to compare yourself to other people but you know, if you, where you're at in the rest of the world with what you're doing with your stuff, so
Matt:Well, whether we like it or not, we do it every day. And I think that, um, you know, that competition's a good thing. And like I said, when it's done in a real world type of fashion that, um, shows you some industry trends like. What you mentioned, we've talked about it, the last several episodes on this podcast, but cattle are getting bigger. I mean, we continue to make these things, um, more efficient in their growth pattern and, and quite often that efficiency is, is more total volume too. And, um, more total pounds. So. Whether that's good or bad for the industry, we can, we can, uh, argue And cuss and discuss. But the fact of the matter is until someone tells us differently, when we go to sell those cattle, whether it be add or shortly after weaning, yearling, or through the feed yard, to the packing plant, until someone discounts us for making'em bigger. Um, we're probably gonna just keep on making them bigger,
Ryan:That's right. Yeah. And I guess I'm back just a real quick aside, I guess. Uh, I've been on the BFS board for 16, 17 years and, uh, I can remember the last. Cattle. We weighed out of the feed yard. at ward feeders or feed yard. We ran through the alley, you know, used to always just weigh'em on their suit scales. That was the last year we did that. Cuz we had. Two or three of up to get'em all the way through and, uh, started, it's been on truck scales, one at a time. and for that which doesn't work as bad as it sounds, it actually works pretty dang good Uh, we kind of figure out how to make that work with a few panels and a gate and electronic reader. But, uh, yeah, so that's just kind of what you're saying is they've gotten nothing but bigger and it's just, just a pretty good gauge right there.
Matt:there. Yeah. That's, that's one logistics challenge that I hadn't even considered that, uh, you don't put a 14 to 1600 pound fat steer on, on just any old shoot scale and.
Ryan:No,
Matt:Uh, Yep. Yep. That's, uh, that's part of the industry, uh, whether we like it or not, and we get to address and figure out, uh, how we, how we respond to that. So we talked a little bit about genetics, Um, as you go to buying bulls for your cal herd, and we can talk, I guess, first let's back up, um, and, and give us, give us a feel for the different segments of the beef industry that you and your family are involved in there at art farm.
Ryan:Okay. Um, so we ranch here, lion chase, Greenwood counties, um, run cow calf on it. We have a fall in spring, Kevin herds. Uh, graylands on it. Send the feed yards out west that we've got some interest in, always background in Kevs here in the feed yard here at farm and hay, you know, grow some of our own feed. Not all of it, uh, grow quite a bit of hay, but not all of it ourself here. So a little bit of everything, um, hire about all the farming out. And I guess that's it, I'm kind of handle a lot of the cow calf management and breeding decisions and replacements and the background in the yard here, there. And. Grazing the cattle here and kind of taking care of all them.
Matt:So, then as you, as you handle that cow calf side of things, and, and like you said, the genetics, um, when it's time to buy bulls, describe to me today, um, what the perfect bull for you would be. And I guess what traits and everything else that you kind of prioritize as you go and make those selection decisions?
Ryan:uh, well, well we're keeping heifers. Feeding them out and usually selling'em on a grid or shouldn't say usually always selling'em on a grid. It, uh, it takes a pretty balanced bull. And I figured out first few times I went to buy bulls. I was looking at the same bulls that people like you were a lot of times. And so I kind of had to take a backseat to that, but I like, you know, if it's gonna go on a half road, dang sure. Wanting a low birth weight, um, some growth to.
Matt:it,
Ryan:Some fertility, a moderate size frame and, uh, good carcass characteristics, what I look at and kind of bounce of it. And then I like to usually buy'em around sale average or a little less if I can so that you can't always find them that way, but
Matt:well, it's like I tell folks every time you either add a, another trait or get higher up into that trait level, um, That's gonna add dollars. And so you try to try to figure out. what you, need to have and, um, let the other ones float quite often in That That allows you to make sure that you make the most economic difference within your own herd and your marketing scenario, without having to buy a bunch of traits or pay for a bull that's got a bunch of traits that you may not necessarily get paid for on the back end.
Ryan:That's right. And I, it took me a while to realize it or figure it out. But you, that better bull you buy, uh, you're not just looking at its calves. You're looking. that you start multiplying them across several generations. And that's where that I think really helps or, you know, where you get that benefit out of that better bull that you go ahead and spend little for
Matt:so in that regard, when did you let's see, you came back home, graduated from college. In what year?
Ryan:2002.
Matt:Okay. And how are things different today with the Cal herd there compared to what they were then?
Ryan:Um, well, basically we started buying cows when I was in college. Didn't really ever run much of a cow herd. The drought was going on the Southwest and west and started buying just Odding cows then. And we were feeding at that time, still finishing cattle here at home, cuz Tyson was processing. So we could go in and.
Matt:in and.
Ryan:Which we still get it now, but don't do it ourselves. Get the ear tag data and get the individual Carcas data. And I've got
Matt:got
Ryan:Carcas data all the way back to then. That we've been able to use to keep heifers back or colon DEC may not so much colon cuz we just kind, just don't keep heifers back out of them. But, um, the only thing we coal is if they're open or don't raise a, calf. So, but that's, I've got three or four generations, deep individual Carcas data that's helped make a lot. So the cow herd has changed from a wide size and frame and color and temperament and to uh, a whole lot better, you know, I think they were a better, more even kind of set of cows.
Matt:Well, I know I get to see the heifers every year in, in April there as, as we're AIing and, and um, just the last, whatever that's been seven or eight years that we've been doing that, um, it's pretty impressive. What, just two to three generations of, uh, of you know, not super disciplined seed stock selection, but pick the four or five traits that, uh, that are the most impactful and fine bulls that are in your budget. and, um, it has, I mean, it has, it has totally changed those heifers and how they look and how they act and, and, uh, produce I'm sure as well. And it's just, it's pretty cool to see what you can do with, with just a little bit of attention paid to, to genetic selection.
Ryan:Yeah. Uh, this is kind of, we're shooting off track here, but speaking of AI and our, the going back to Glen's episode, you were talking about those scales they bought. and, I can remember that trip to Topeka when Mike went over to, to look at those scales and I felt like I was Bush whacked on the way home, because you, you turn around, have you ever thought about aI and cattle and, uh, that's boy after that? I, I almost wonder if you. Giving me that DEC or giving me that talk sometimes. But
Matt:Now see.
Ryan:it, it, was that trip when, uh, I rode up there with you and Mike Topeka and he went off over there and we weren't sure that's where he went for sure. But that's where he claimed he went.
Matt:You, you, had a different story, but then when he actually bought the scales, I, I think I believed Mike
Ryan:yeah. I never really questioned it. It was just, like like see him on
Matt:squirm a little bit.
Ryan:that's right.
Matt:Well, and I remember the conversation as well. Um, but I'm gonna, I'm gonna give credit to Mike because I think it was Collins that, um, that asked you if you'd ever thought about AI in and then maybe either volunteered me or, or I had a weak moment
Ryan:Wrong place at the wrong time. Yeah. Something
Matt:but ah, it's, it's good. It's it's worked out well for everybody and, uh, No, it, it is fun to see the, the difference that can be made, not just through AI, but even, you know, picking bulls that, that back, that AI program up well and, and, uh, make it where you can keep heifers from all through that group, I
Ryan:Yep.
Matt:So touching back, you know, Your family has a pretty diverse swath in the beef industry. I mean, you're, you're growing a cow herd. You're keeping back your own replacement, females, your AI in those Springs and turning out good bulls with, with both spring and fall herds. Um, in addition, you're taking outside yearling cattle in sometimes developing some heifers for breeding. Most of the time probably. Grass, uh, grazing those, uh, those steers and heifers to go then onto the feed yard. And then you've also partnered with some other, uh, people and, and bought several feed yards, Uh, partnered on several feed yards in Western Kansas. So you see not only all parts of the industry in all aspects, which I think is invaluable. But you're also challenged with trying to keep all those balls in the air and make sure that from a business standpoint, it, it, it makes sense. And you can, you can kind of keep, watch over it. Can you share, and we don't need to get too deep into your family's business, but can you share some things that you all have learned and some, maybe a business structure standpoint that, that helps you effectively manage and own and make sure that you keep the people. Doing what they do the best and what they're interested in in terms of family and employees, and maybe keep from getting involved in areas that, uh, that maybe they don't have as much interest or expertise in how's. How do you structure that
Ryan:Uh, you know, I don't know that it's ever really sat out and drew up a plan for it. It's just kind of. I guess worked out. I liked being out here. Um, I always thought if you're gonna be a cowboy, you gotta have cattle. So that's that's I guess why I enjoy it, but, uh, enjoy the work part of it and horses and the ranching and being outside and, oh, you know, Luke came back after he, after college, he did some other things for a little bit and he came and him and Steve in the office in there and handled some of that stuff. And dad and I are out here. I mean, we all have our different roles and kind of overlap occasionally on different stuff. But I was joking one time, i, we were going to a rodeo in Western, Kansas, stopped in Greensburg to eat lunch. And I was walking across the street and Steve pulled up stoplight. That was the first time I'd seen him in several weeks, but it was in Greensburg, Kansas. So, but I mean, that's just kind of the way it, it operates sometimes. Uh, and like I said, we all got a role. That's just where we all fit.
Matt:I think one time you told me that your uncle Steve was the sale. And your dad was sometimes the anchor
Ryan:yeah, that's I, and I would have to agree with that. Somebody else told me that one time and I may have just regurgitated, but I'd say. After observing for 40 years, it's exactly right. And they both know when one Needs to. dig in and, or let yield the other
Matt:Yep. Well, I think that's the biggest part. I mean, uh, we all have our different. Perspectives but, um, that difference and that variation and variability in, in a team approach is, is really pretty valuable. As long as you respect and recognize, okay, this person's always gonna be wanting to go. And this person quite often is gonna be wanting to wo and there's sometimes that either both of them are, are wrong or, or they at least need to give a little bit. Um, and so, so that's. that's.
Ryan:Yeah. And, and it's, I think, like I said, it's worked out they've and it's funny. I can, like I said, after watching the two of them for 35 plus years, you know, I'm 42, but look my. As long as I can remember watching those two interact with each other and how they go about things. It's kind of just second nature. Cause I can tell what the other's thinking or what what's really going on in their mind about half time.
Matt:Well, it's not always the prettiest. I mean, these family, family businesses, regardless if it's in agriculture or outside, most of the time, most ones that I see are within ag, but, it's kinda like making sausage when you get all done. You're glad that you've got it, but um, having to see the process can sometimes be a little ugly. and, and that's okay. That's, it's, it's the end result. And, and as long as we don't let the family or don't let the business completely steamroll over the family part of it. And, and, um, but it can be, be pretty healthy, I'd say.
Ryan:Yeah.
Matt:So what led you all to decide to add the feed yard side into your business and, and invest in some of those feed yards?
Ryan:Oh, I guess the opportunity just kind of presented itself. Not like the very first one was really outlook and there's, uh, Fran guy we did business with was already in one and offered the opportunity and. That was about the time Tyson quit processing here. and we were finishing cattle here at home. Uh, so the timing kind of worked out there. And then just one thing led to another, I guess, one popped up here and there never like really set out it just kind of one door opened, opens another.
Matt:And, but you were willing to you or Steve and Mike or whomever were willing to at least consider it and, and adapt as, as, uh, the environment changed around you. Cuz that was a big change for a lot of, a lot of folks at fed cattle around Emporia, kansas, and could take them there to IBP. And then Tyson, uh, when that, when that plant closed, um, you know, it, it changed things for a lot of folks and a lot of people had to make some significant changes because of it.
Ryan:Yes.
Matt:So you referenced yourself as a a cowboy needing to have cows. Um, give us a typical, I know there's no such thing as a typical day, but when you go to take care of cattle, um, yearlings, cows, what are you on? What are you in? What are you doing? Um, have you got a horse behind you or a four wheeler behind you
Ryan:Uh, well, I've got a four wheeler behind me today, but I'm just
Matt:say, you say that with such with such embarrassment
Ryan:I do. It's like I remember a fella tell an old man that we used to do some business with said I'd rather be caught in? a dress and caught on a four Wheeler. And I, uh, and I'm sure it's changed as he's gotten even older, but I always think about that, but, uh, I I'm just running around tagging caves, checking cows right now. Oh, I could do it horseback, but I wouldn't get near as much ground covered. But other than that we pretty well, I mean, when we go to ride pastures and move cattle or doctor, um, we're a horseback. People that help us and work for us all like can use horses. Um, that's still the way we go about it.
Matt:back. Yeah. And there's, it's just like anything else. There's a tool that works the best for every job. And generally I think that's what we try to do. I'm I'm. A little like you in that if everything else is equal, I'd rather be On a horse. Um, but there's some times where from an efficiency standpoint, it just, it, it makes sense to throw the four Wheeler on and and tag them. Caves is definitely, I tried it one season. Of course, I have to lug a scale around and we tattoo'em at birth and, and we have to do more than just sticking a tag in the air. And I tried to do that for one season on a horse and good gosh, it was way too much. Getting up and down 12, 15 times every morning and was trying to make a saddle bag that held everything without busting. I broke a couple scales, just, just from the long trot. You don't realize how much how hard that is on equipment or probably people. But yeah, now I'm, I'm a four Wheeler tager for sure.
Ryan:Yeah. Well, if I was gonna try and cover as much country. On a horse this afternoon did on a four Wheeler. All I'd have is a hot horse when I was done. Uh, yeah. He'd probably be broke and tired, but he may just be hot and, you know, on the borderline below. Yeah. I mean, I don't know that that it's really the application or be that good for him in the end, as far as far as we need to get in an afternoon. So.
Matt:Yep. Do you raise your own horses? Are you buying all those?
Ryan:Um, we do race several by the rest of'em kind of as Colts. Um, I got a mayor. But actually B off that fellow, I was talking about said you'd rather be caught word of dressing on a four Wheeler several years ago. And we raised several, several COLS outta her, um, through Ts ranch over there, west Bailey and Rochelle, and the family, uh, re heard as some of their studs over the years. And then another fellow Jerry Kinzie lives south of us said I bought several his Colts over the years. So that's where a big chunk of'em.
Matt:and your kids are pretty involved in the horse side of things with rodeo and everything else as well. Aren't they?
Ryan:Yep. They all enjoy it. Uh, stay pretty busy, hauling them around the oldest one's got in and cutting in the cow horse rain, cow, horse discipline. So that's a whole other world, but it's it's fun and fun to watch her enjoy it. and it's. You know, it's probably as close to anything we do as there is in the real world, you know, out here as there is really outside of you know, maybe RPA, but, uh, the CalWork and that they do. It's, it's pretty fun. Why I've always told people when she gets down in the arena, her or that horse can hardly breathe. And they've been out there for three minutes, so I can see why she enjoys that and just going and, you know, roping a calf or tying a goat or running. I mean, she's still into that team ropes and barrel races and whatnot, but, uh, boy, she's ate up with that stuff.
Matt:And is she still able to use some of your ranch horses for that?
Ryan:Uh,
Matt:you graduated up to buying the, uh, the specialized horses?
Ryan:you know, we, when she kind of got into it, I had an old horse that I you know, got as a colt from Jerry and I ranch really had all them years on it and roped, they roped calves on it. And I showed him a little bits, ranch, horse shows. And so, you know, that's, that's it. That's what you're gonna use here. And sure that, so that's what it was. And she cut on him and CalEd, and I mean, got along, but he wasn't, we didn't go to national. She qualified for nationals just because there's not that many people in Kansas do it, but, uh, we didn't go the first year. Cause she wouldn't wouldn't have been really too competitive, but, and I, so I told her after that, take your pick. Horses here and we'll just kind of start out and make her own well, I'm not sure she picked the right one and B there's a whole lot more to it than that as I found out. So yes, we bet the bullet and bought one. And I'd say that was probably a whole lot better investment than trying. It'll teach her more, a high, one of those ought to ride and operate than I ever could. Three lifetimes, probably. So.
Matt:Again, it goes back to that genetics. I mean, there's, you know, yeah. They're all quarter horses, but it's amazing how much difference there is in their ability. Forget the training,
Ryan:Yeah.
Matt:or bad, their ability to do a certain thing or two and do it well. Um, so yeah, we, I, I, I never. past the, Hey, they're a versatile ranch horse already. They oughta be able to do anything you're gonna throw at'em. Uh, I never got past that. So you're, you're a lot better dad than I
Ryan:Well,
Matt:My kids will be listening to this going see dad, we told you.
Ryan2:yeah, so that horse she shows in the cow horse is about the only one that doesn't really earn his keep earn, or living around here anymore. The rest of'em all go to the rodeo or drag caves or ship cattle to ride pastures. they all still got a job when the girls are around.
Matt:Well,
Ryan2:Well,
Matt:Keeps winning. Maybe he'll learn way more living than the rest of them do. Just, just in a different fashion.
Ryan2:well, I don't know if that's possible probably, but, uh, we can it's worth a shot, I
Matt:That's right. That's right. Once you, if you're gonna compete, go big
Ryan2:that's.
Matt:So dragon caves, you mentioned, um, and this is more, I guess, on the horse versus four Wheeler or rope versus shoot. Um, How do you work those young calves and why do you do it the way you do it?
Ryan2:You know, we've started dragging them or, you know, roping them. I don't know, several years, 27 years ago, maybe I just think I was in college and we decided when kind of started getting them cows. You never, I doubt anybody that puts'em through a cradle. Has people calling, asking when you're gonna work? Kids would be my guess.
Matt:isn't that funny?
Ryan2:sometimes I feel, feel bad. We've got enough people we're tripping over everybody just cuz it's that many people wanna come. But at the same time, If you got the right help, it isn't near as much work as pushing'em through a Cray. You getting stepped on and kicked all day, And. We're walling that thing around, so, oh, it might seem like it's more work at the time or more people, but I think with the right crew and everybody's having fun, I guess that's, it's nice to have those days too. So that's we do'em that away and wait till the kids. get outta school in the spring ones and Try and get like Thanksgiving break or sometime on these. fall ones and get them done.
Matt:Yeah, it's been the same way here. I mean, growing up, we hardly, it's interesting. The rest of the world, I think uses horses less today, the ranching world than they did 50 years ago. And for whatever reason, Dale banks uses'em way more than we did when I was a kid. Um, the only time we put a saddle on a horse was when we were gonna work cows and they knew it because they'd see a horse and absolutely dead run to the backside of the pasture and it was a race and just a fight. And now when you, they see a horse several times a year and nothing ever bad happens to'em. Um, now they just barely even look up for eating grass and it's the same way we started dragging calves. It wouldn't have been quite 20. It'd been 15 years ago, uh, shortly after I moved back here. And man, those first few times, it. It was way less efficient than pushing'em through the shoot, uh, whether we enjoyed it more or not, there wasn't any argue in the fact that we were slower. Uh, today I think, you know, you get the right crew and it doesn't have to be a big crew, but you get the right folks and, and we can get'em. Work just about as fast, if not, faster. And I think easier for sure. Easier on the people and sure. No tougher on the calves.
Ryan2:Yeah. I mean, they're handled one time. They get, it's not, uh, shoved down through there and I mean, pull its cows peel off, just go to catching them and then, you know, they're done before they know it.
Matt:Yep. Yep. It's uh, it's pretty slick. And, and again, it's tough to do it with three guys. Um, we, we have, we have done some small groups that way and, and you work your tail off, but, uh, um, you do have to have a few more people, which is not always easy, but you're right it's a whole lot easier to get people to come drag caves than it is to, to do just about any other task you can think of on the farmer ranch. So.
Ryan2:Yep.
Matt:And I've seen, I've seen some research data that has shown that, you know, cortisol levels, stress levels on the calves are no are sure, no different. And if it's done with the right crew are actually lower, when you, uh, when you open and catch those calves, then they are necessarily when you're shoving,'em through a shoot. I, I saw that and it's fairly old data and they even tried to get detailed enough. To where they were comparing, whether you sort calves and cows first, and then drag the calves from one pen, as opposed to dragging'em right outta the herd, um, and showed that the sorting was about as stressful, especially if they were apart for more than a few minutes, then the actual processing it processing those caves themselves. So, um, anyways, it was interesting And of course you've got a lot of statistical noise there. I mean, who was, who was working them, um, whether it be through the shoot or dragging'em, we've all been to a place. Um, and maybe even can say ourselves that, uh, some days it doesn't matter what you're doing. You you've got the wrong. Wrong guys, you got the wrong weather, wrong facilities. And, uh, anything can be stressful if you don't do it. Right.
Ryan2:Some days are just bad
Matt:yep. Yep. No doubt. So his life at aren't farms any different today than it was. Was when you were a kid.
Ryan2:Yeah, you know, it's a whole lot different than when I was a kid. I remember feeding with a Kelly Ryan feed wagon and a 66 all over. and then when we dad got that cab 1 0 5, he thought he was just, you know, king of the hill. still had to, to scoop the the proteins supple of it out the window of the old horse barn into it, as it was sitting outside. But that's, uh, things have changed quite a little bit as they have for everybody. I'm sure just technology and size and you know that there's less and less people out. You know, I remember when I was a kid, we had lots of neighbors. We traded work back and forth with a lot of them aren't around and I'm not just seeing cowboy work, we'd get together and chop silage, and, you know, somebody had a chopper or a couple guys had a chopper. Everybody had trucks just went around, tails gone. Well, now we hired then just grandma would have a, a lunch in the kitchen ready for everybody when it came in. And I don't, that don't happen very often anymore. It's just, everything's different.
Matt:So is it different? A good way or I, it doesn't really matter cuz I don't think we're going, going back.
Ryan2:no Oh, I guess it's good. You know, I don't know if it's good or bad. It's just different. I, guess we're all surviving, still enjoying doing it. There just nostalgia. I guess some of those things remember as a kid and probably no different than people that were my age older when I was a kid talking about away when they were a kid, but I, I just remember some of the old timers around, uh, Just the way things happened around here. That don't go that way anymore.
Matt:how will your kids or Luke's kids tell us that it's different here in 20 years,
Ryan2:Boy, that's a good question. Uh, you know, I'd hate to, even speculate on that. Whether there's, you know, more use of drones or stuff like that, I don't know how much more technology can change what we do. Day to day taking care of cattle and be effective. But, you know, I think about, you know, I had an ultrasound machine. I was Craig checking heifers with this morning who would've thought we'd had that, around 25 years ago, You know, at our disposal and iPads and iPhones. And the, I remember the first time we were riding across pasture, somebody joked about they got their phone in their saddle bags And, we all laughed, cuz that was 35 years ago when everybody's got em in their
Matt:pocket.
Ryan2:But. Uh, it was just kind of a joke then, but hell We can check the markets and send emails and I do it all all the time riding across just cause it's, I couldn't imagine not having one. now and trying to do, do business and work at the same time, even though they're both are the same, but.
Matt:so that brings up my, a question that I ever once in a while, I'll ask myself and I'll ask you here. if there was one tool that you had to keep or that you got to keep, um, around you and you had to dispense with everything else in 2022, what would the tool that you keep be?
Ryan2:Oh, wow.
Matt:Is it The, phone or is it the horse or is it the ultrasound machine?
Ryan2:That's a good question.
Matt:anything else? Good.
Ryan2:If I had a phone, I could call somebody and they could bring me what I wanted.
Matt:that's cheating.
Ryan2:Oh, okay. Well, oh shoot.
Matt:you're you're right. You're right.
Ryan2:uh, cause, you know, I guess if I had a horse I could ride in town and get it, or is that that's all you got for the rest of your life or that's all you have to start with?
Matt:see there you are again, negotiating, always, always having to negotiate.
Ryan2:Well, I wouldn't even have to think about that.
Matt:Different days is gonna require a different? one, but you're
Ryan2:That's exactly right.
Matt:I, don't think we would've ever dreamt. And your comment about how much more technology can we have and, and still be us out here punching cows. But, um, that phone it's, it's amazing what we use the dang thing for. Um, it's no longer just communication tool. of course. I heard a, uh, retired seal say, this is, this is uh, A tracking device that happens to make phone calls. Um, so there's some scary sides to it as well, but Yeah. I mean, what don't we use that thing for on a, on a minute, by minute, an hourly basis, um, uh, all day every day and. you know, the horse, you know, we use For a half day and then go on the pickup We use to get from point a to point B and the trailer. you know, you, you can go down the list to technologies that are pretty handy, but it's scary. Just how, how impactful if we lost that phone? Um, we We'd have to change a lot of, a lot of things, the way that we access information and do, business and everything else have to come back to the house. I mean, that's the thing I can, of course, I still fill the time up. But, you know, before having that mobile phone, especially before having access to the internet, I'd be on the computer and the phone. All evening long trying to catch up and respond to emails and call customers and things that now I do as a second task while, I'm. Feeding or tagging caves or freeze branding bulls or whatever else. and so you can multitask and that's where the thing has become such a, a time saver or maybe a drag on my, on my focus. Uh, some, some of
Ryan2:there is a fine
Matt:with. Yeah. Um, but, uh, but yeah, that it's almost indispensable, which is kind of scary,
Ryan2:Well, just think if you had to stop and use a payphone every time you need to make a phone call when you're
Matt:man.
Ryan2:or that was the way somebody got ahold of you, you'd call check in or, you know, whatever. Um, It's a, it was a whole different world. I just, the other day, I was trying to explain where a gate was in a pastor to a kid. And I, we pulled up Google earth and zoomed in and, You know, pointed out that that's where the one I'm talking about is, and, you know, otherwise it had been kind, you know, trying to describe it, but what I was describing and what he was picturing may have been the same and the way
Matt:when you got to the point of, uh, go where the schoolhouse used to be.
Ryan2:That.
Matt:And then that tree that got blown over into tornado where it used to be. Yeah. Yeah. We're, we're great at those descriptions.
Ryan2:there's, uh, or, you know, you can get on there to measure, You can. measure things down to the foot, whether it's a fence or a pin. I mean, it's just unreal. I could get on there And go see how it measure your pins at your place. If I wanted to.
Matt:see that uh, they aren't as straight as I thought they were when we were laying them out 20 years ago.
Ryan2:Well, that could be, I remember when we were building some fence, my grandpa, we were eyeballed it and he finally says, well, if anybody's looking at it that hard, we'll whack him in the back of the head while they're, while they're looking at it. so well, that's pretty good, pretty good philosophy. But if somebody's looking at it that hard, they don't need to be, so,
Matt:How little we knew then
Ryan2:yeah.
Matt:Well, any other words of wisdom for podcast land this afternoon, Ryan?
Ryan2:Uh, boy, not words of wisdom you come to the wrong place. I'd say for that, but just download and listen twice. As much as Glen's episode is
Matt:Yeah, there you go. See you just crack the code that there's like six different platforms where they can, get this. actually, I don't think they let you game the system that way. I think if you download it twice on Spotify and apple podcast, they just count you once. You'll have to use a second phone. or use second computer. You'll figure it out. I guarantee after you've bought your, your ads, that you're gonna try to bolster this up
Ryan2:yeah, I don't think I'll put that much effort into it probably.
Matt:this will be the first time that you two, uh, have let a competition go, go that, uh, that easily.
Ryan2:Well, probably so. Oh, usually we're competing together, not against each
Matt:true. You didn't get that's. That's what we missed this time that, Uh, we tried to start when we blew the thing up. uh, you didn't get to tell any ranch rodeo stories about the old art Collins team.
Ryan2:Oh, boy, there'd be lots of them. Uh, lots of them. uh, I I'll tell you one I can remember pretty well. I can't remember it, but Glen tell Glen's way better storyteller than I am. And I can't tell you where we were at. Uh, but you know how we'd always just. Four or five of us get in a hotel room and split it. up. And him and I were in the same bed one night and he said, I, I reached over and thought, man, Rachel's chest has gotten hairy. And, uh, he said he finally fell around and he said, all I did was wake up and said, stop being weird and went back to sleep. And he said, I, he, he laid there the rest of the night, come, go back to sleep. Cuz he was weirded out. But I didn't know about it till the next morning, but.
Matt:Oh,
Ryan2:we finally outgrew, uh, Sharon hotel rooms, uh, several years ago, but Yeah. there was lots of them. There was one other time. He, uh, I don't remember who all was in the room, several of us. And evidently we were all snoring pretty bad. Cause he finally grabbed the comfort and went to the, the bathtub and slept in the bathtub just so he could get some sleep that night.
Matt:that have to be bad.
Ryan2:Anyway. He said, thought that, one kid was dying dunking. I think so. He, and then he just quit breathing and start back up, but he said one of us would stop and the other one would start. It just kept going around the room.
Matt:Just like the crickets. Yeah.
Ryan2:Just like the
Matt:a little, a little louder.
Ryan2:Yeah. Oh no. we had fun. A lot of fun. Those back in them days. Just hell, like we always said how the fun was getting there. So.
Matt:you, are you going to any anymore?
Ryan2:You know, we went to the lion county fair, Josh and Wes and Glen, and I did first of the month, but we're all busy enough anymore. That it's, my daughter would like for me to start going again, but I keep telling'em, they'll have to pick something they're not going through for me to go. So.
Matt:yep. Yeah. There's only so much time and patience and money and maybe athletic ability.
Ryan2:that too. Yeah, I, yeah, there's a little too much birthday cake, Glen would say.
Matt:Well, I appreciate you sharing some, uh, some wisdom with us and a few good stories. And, um, we, always appreciate the business and always appreciate the friendship and it's good to have good to have good neighbors in the country, so,
Ryan2:you bet. Well, thanks for inviting me on enjoyed
Matt:Yep. Good luck, uh, tagging calves the rest of the day and take care.
Ryan2:All right. Thanks, sir.
Matt:Thanks for joining us for practically ranching, brought to you by Dalebanks Angus. If you enjoyed the podcast, heck even if you didn't... help us improve by leaving a comment with your review wherever you heard us. And if you want to listen again, click subscribe and catch us next week. God bless, and we look forward to visiting again soon.