At the Cattlemen’s Congress, Senior Farm and Ranch Broadcaster Ron Hays had to opportunity to talk to father and daughter duo, Nick and Lily Judd, of Judd Ranch located near Pomona, Kansas.
The Judd Ranch was established in 1981 by Nick’s parents who soon settled on raising Gelbvieh and Balancer cattle along with Red Angus. They chose those breeds because they complement each other well to fit what is commonly desired in the commercial market.
“Growth and performance are at the forefront of our production goals, but also breeding longevity into the cows,” Lily offered. “The cow is the backbone of any operation, so we want to make sure that we can provide that for any commercial or registered breeder that buys our cows.”
Gelbvieh cows are known for their mothering ability which originally attracted Nick’s father to the breed. Now, the Judds are top breeders. “We are trying to deliver those genetics that keep the cow man in business for longevity,” Nick added. “Fertility and milk are some of the backbones that keep you in business. On top of that, producing the pounds per cow to sell dollars off of them keep you going every year.”
Nick touted their strong customer base hailing from roughly 21 states. “We have been blessed to have a very good following who have been truly good cow-people to work with over the years,” he said.
The Cattlemen’s Congress provides the perfect platform for the Judds to reach new customers with its centralized location and draw of a large audience.
“We are meeting with other Gelbvieh breeders and seeing what directions people are going,” Nick said. “If we find some customers who are commercial guys who are able to sneak in and look at some bulls, we like to catch up with them. It is a good combination. It might not mean a new customer right away, but as you build those friendships, years down the road, you might have one.”
Nick likes the direction their cattle are going and believes that the future for all three breeds that they raise is wide open.
Shows like Cattlemen’s Congress are important for breeders like the Judds and for Junior Showmen to get acquainted with. “The livestock industry is one of the best to bring a junior up in, so the more events like this that you can open up to juniors, the better,” Lily said. “It gets them exposed, not only to their breed and members within their breed, but also to other breeds and the people involved with those. Places like this offer a good atmosphere to make connections within the industry.”
While Nick is the second generation to run Judd Ranch, Lily is looking forward to becoming the third after she obtains an agricultural degree from OSU in about 18 months.
