Welcome back to the American Cattlemen Podcast. Just ahead, we have Dustin Hector, he's the Director of Business Development for American Cattlemen Media, and he sits down with Chip Kemp, Chief Strategy Officer for 701X, Cattle Con 2026. 

Chip frames the bull as a ranch’s “most important employee,” noting that producers invest heavily in him but historically have had little real-time insight into his activity, health, or location. With 701X devices, producers can continuously monitor bulls and other cattle, knowing where they are, when they are mounting cows, and when early signs of health issues emerge—often before they are visible to the human eye.

The conversation broadens to the role of technology in ranching. Chip acknowledges the nostalgia for earlier, simpler times but compares modern tech adoption to choosing a cab tractor over an old Ford 8N: once the benefits are clear, most people would not go back. He stresses that skepticism often stems from past overpromises by “charlatans,” and contrasts that with 701X’s engineering-first, ranch-informed approach that actually delivers on what it claims.

Dustin and Chip emphasize that good technology allows producers to be proactive instead of reactive. Examples include integrated water monitoring, calving alerts, and stress or no-movement alerts that can prevent death loss or losses from breeding inefficiencies. Chip shares a story of an alert that allowed a family member with physical challenges to save a calf from a dangerous waterway, turning what would have been a loss into preserved value for the operation.

Throughout, Chip returns to the idea of “technology enhancing tradition.” The goal is not to replace hands-on animal husbandry, but to use data and smart tools to allocate time and labor more efficiently, support multi-generational continuity, and help small family outfits remain viable and competitive in a modern marketplace.

For previous episodes of the American Cattlemen Podcast, please visit:  www.americancattlemen.com.

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