From the Pasture with Hired Hand

In this episode, we talk with Andrea Giamfortone Wilson, Chairman of the Board and Executive Director of The Longhorn Project, about the program’s nearly 30-year impact blending agriculture, leadership, and hands-on learning at Johnson Space Center. Andrea shares how it all started in 1996—and what’s ahead, including the Silver Buckle Ball on April 18, 2026.

The Longhorn Project:  https://www.thelonghornproject.com/Longhorn-Project-Johnson-Space-Center

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In this episode of From the Pasture with Hired Hand, Molly heads to North Texas just north of Gainesville, where the Red River bends and the elevation rolls—home to Stark Ranch and its steady climb as a premier cattle operation.

But this isn’t your standard ranching conversation. Molly sits down with Jeremy Townley, Business Lead at Stark Ranch, to talk about an unexpected influence on the way he leads: Attila the Hun. Yep—really. Jeremy shares why that leadership playbook has stuck with him and how its ideas—clear direction, courage, discipline, and staying ready—show up in modern ranch life more than you’d think.

As a first-generation rancher overseeing both the cattle and construction sides of a growing enterprise, Jeremy walks through what it takes to build something from the ground up without cutting corners. From people to pastures to projects, this conversation is all about making steady, smart decisions and playing the long game—one season at a time.

Stark Ranch: https://www.thestarkranch.com/

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We’re in Cushing, Oklahoma with Austin and Heather Cravens of Big Creek Longhorns—a family outfit where muddy boots, kid chaos, and big-hearted Longhorns all share the same pasture. The Cravens walk us through their “long game” approach: pairing pedigrees with patience, focusing on structure and disposition, and letting time reveal which matings truly click.

We talk daily rhythms (and the “did that really just happen?” moments), how the kids pitch in, and why faith, hard work, and humor keep the ranch running. It’s a conversation about simple joys, resilient cattle, and building a program that lasts—one thoughtful cross at a time.

Craven's Big Creek Longhorns: https://www.bigcreeklonghornsok.com/

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From the Pasture with Hired Hand:
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In this conversation with Daniel Quintanilla of Siesta Q Ranch, we trace a ranch built on legacy and old-fashioned work. Daniel shares how his late father, Epifanio “Cowboy” Quintanilla, sparked a dream that became a family tradition—one fence post, one long day at a time. As new Texas Longhorn breeders, the family is raising cattle with care and gratitude, keeping the land healthy, and leaning into early mornings and late nights to do the job right. It’s a story about promises kept: honoring a father’s vision, stewarding good ground, and building something better for the next generation.

Siesta Q Ranch: https://www.siestaqranch.com/

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From the Pasture with Hired Hand:
Hired Hand Websites (@hiredhandwebsites): https://hiredhandsoftware.com
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This episode we head to Soda Springs, Idaho to visit with Tony and Monica Rosen of Dirtbag Ranch—first-generation Texas Longhorn breeders and well-known Bloodhound breeders/trainers. We dig into how they built a Longhorn program from scratch, what they prioritize in structure and disposition, and how Idaho weather, forage, and terrain shape day-to-day decisions. Then we switch collars to talk Bloodhounds—breeding philosophy, training foundations, and how nose work, patience, and reading behavior carry over to working cattle.

Tony and Monica share the realities of juggling two serious programs, winter prep and calving in the high country, fencing and handling for calm cattle, and the community that’s helped them learn fast. It’s a conversation about grit, good dogs, good cattle—and carving out a ranch identity on fresh ground.

Dirtbag Ranch: https://www.dirtbagranchid.com/

THE NOSE KNOWS: Missing local 8-year-old found safe thanks to community effort and bloodhound Miss Mae

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This week on From the Pasture with Hired Hand, we sit down with Shawn Sayre of S-A Longhorns in Brookfield, Missouri—a name you know both from the sale ring and the pasture. Shawn shares how S-A Longhorns began in 2011, the same year he and Alyson were married, and how their program carries forward a family legacy that started in 1978 when his father founded the B&C Longhorn Sale—a sale the Sayres still run today.

We talk herd vision—why S-A prioritizes black-and-white Longhorns, how they pair proven genetics with conformation, horn, and eye appeal, and what day-to-day decisions keep the program consistent. Shawn also pulls back the curtain on Sayre Auction—from Longhorn sales to land, commercial, real estate, machinery, and estate auctions—and how that experience informs both buyer confidence and seller results. It’s equal parts family history, breeder strategy, and auction craft from one of the breed’s most familiar voices.

S-A Longhorns: https://www.s-alonghorns.com/

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From the Pasture with Hired Hand:
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Fresh off the Eddie Wood Cowtown Classic in Fort Worth, today’s Monday Mini rounds up the big takeaways from sale day at the Will Rogers Memorial Center. We hit the highlights: standout consignments that drew deep bidding, pedigrees that turned heads, and the lots that overachieved once they hit the ring.  Short, sharp, and all Cowtown—let’s recap.

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We’re kicking off the year in Fort Worth with a look at the Eddie Wood Cowtown Classic, the marquee Texas Longhorn sale held alongside the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo at the Will Rogers Memorial Center.  Today we talk with Karen Allen from Circle A Longhorns about this exciting event. She shares with us what to expect on sale day and around the Stockyards, tips for previewing cattle efficently, and where to be and when - so you don't miss a thing! 

This weekend’s consignors have reached deep into their programs, bringing a tight set of females and select lots with proven production, eye appeal, and pedigrees built for the long haul. 

Saddle up—bidding into 2026 starts now in Cowtown.

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From the Pasture with Hired Hand:
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This week we sit down with Nancy Dunn of Rolling D Ranch in Eclectic, Alabama to trace a legacy built on grit, family, and a lifelong love of Texas Longhorns. Nancy opens the gate to her program’s history—how it started, what’s shaped it over the years, and the values that still guide every pairing on the ranch today.

We talk about her well-known cattle, including Dunn Lucky Dice, and the traits she insists on keeping front and center: correctness, longevity, and a calm, workable disposition. Nancy also shares timeless insight for both new and seasoned breeders—how to evaluate cattle with clear eyes, avoid common traps, keep learning from the community, and stay dedicated to the breed through the ups and downs. It’s a conversation full of heart, hard-won lessons, and the kind of perspective you only earn by living the Longhorn life, day after day.

Rolling D Ranch: https://www.rollingdranch.com/

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From the Pasture with Hired Hand:
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We close out the year with a data-first look at the 2025 sale season through the lens of Hired Hand Live—focusing on online bidding and what it brought to the auctions. We break down winning bids, the geographical hotspots where animals were bought (state-by-state and regional patterns), and the listing features that correlated with more clicks, watchers, and bids (photos, video, pedigree depth, and description quality). Here’s to strong Wi-Fi, stronger buyer reach, and an even better season ahead in 2026.

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From the Pasture with Hired Hand:
Hired Hand Websites (@hiredhandwebsites): https://hiredhandsoftware.com
Hired Hand Live (@hiredhandlive): https://hiredhandlive.com
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Newsletter: https://www.hiredhandsoftware.com/resources/stay-informed