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ONE THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY IS CONSTANTLY EVOLVING. WHAT DIRECTION WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE IT GO? I would like to see it get strong enough to bring kids back home to family farms and ranches and also give other young people who have interest in agriculture an opportunity to acquire ownership in time. For livestock itself we need to stick to the basics and produce livestock that align with the needs of the consumer and real ranch values…and not chase every trend that comes along as I think we take unrealistic trends too far. TWO YOU HAVE VERY STRONG ROOTS IN THE AGRICULTURE INDUSTRY. TELL US ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND AND HOW IT IMPACTS YOUR CURRENT INVOLVEMENT? Like my dad, I was born with a passion for cattle and ranching. I LOVE IT…I love the different seasons and different marketing options. It’s given me and my family an opportunity to live in a rural area that focuses on grass root production. I love the fast pace that comes with the seedstock business, but I also love the simplicity of calving, branding, weaning and developing each years calf crop, however at the end of the day none of this would be worth it to me if I didn’t see the interest my kids are taking in the ranch. The biggest influence in my life would be God first as like most people I try to improve my relationship there however I still have my ups and downs. There are four people that come to mind are my dad, my late uncle Tom Griffith, the late John McArthur from McArthur, CA, my late Grandpa Gerald Montgomery, my late father-in-law Clair Orr, my late judging coach Jerry Hawkins as well as my wife and kids. This list could go on and on because I deal with people daily that I respect and take pieces from to be a better person. THREE WHO HAS HAD THE BIGGEST INFLUENCE ON YOU AS A PERSON? FOUR WHAT IS THE VALUE OF RAISING KIDS IN THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY? The value of raising kids in the livestock industry is that it’s one industry that mostly conservative, level headed, Christian based and rewards a strong work ethic.
FIVE WHAT HAVE BEEN SOME OF YOUR MOST MEMORABLE JUDGING MOMENTS? Some of my most memorable judging moments would be the 2023 National Hereford Show at the Cattlemen’s Congress…the experience itself was second to none but the amount of breeders that reached out to me afterwards whether they exhibited or not made me proud that I was an advocate for the breed and treated everyone fairly. SIX FAMILIES MAKE SACRIFICES ALL SUMMER TO TRY TO WIN THE STATE FAIR. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU JUDGE TO BE ABLE TO JUDGE THEM IN COLORADO? The Colorado State Fair is probably the most talked about state fairs in the West. I think it’s neat how feedlot and ranch oriented several of the kids are in this state. Family’s do make sacrifices to show at all shows. I don’t think people in other youth programs understand the work and time that can go into one single steer. I promise you it will not matter who the family is as every kid will get a fair look and will be placed on how I like their steer and that is it. SEVEN IF YOU COULD MEET AND HAVE DINNER WITH ANY PERSON, WHO WOULD IT BE? If I could have dinner with any person, it would be the deceased Ronald Reagan. The living would be Donald J. Trump if he would allow me the opportunity speak on behalf of the cattle industry and family ranching. EIGHT WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ASPECT OF JUDGING? My favorite aspect of judging is finding good cattle and when you get that class that’s stacked so deep it gets your heart racing and you can’t wait to compare the front end!
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NINE What is something most people do not know about you? If I told you then they would know!
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TEN THIS IS WHY I SHOW... At this point in my life it’s for the next generation and other youth that want a future working on cattle.
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