From the Pasture with Hired Hand

It’s our end-of-year special! We sit down with guest commentator Ryan Culpepper to unpack the 2025 Website Trends Report from Hired Hand–powered sites: what visitors looked at most, how they searched, and which pages actually converted. We dig into animal view data (by class, pedigree, and photo style), search patterns that drove inquiries and sales, and the rise of new breeds joining the platform—and what that means for marketing in the year ahead.

We also get practical about “digital chores”—the simple, regular tasks that keep a ranch website working: fresh photos, accurate pedigrees, clean sale pens, and smarter links between social, classifieds, and your site. If you want a tighter, more effective online presence in 2025, this episode is your playbook.

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From the Pasture with Hired Hand:
Hired Hand Websites (@hiredhandwebsites): https://hiredhandsoftware.com
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In this episode of From the Pasture with Hired Hand, we sit down with both 2025 NLFR champions—Danielle Mershon of Whistling Longhorn Ranch (Heifer Winner) and Jeff Wilson of Wilson Longhorns (Bull Winner). They walk us through the decisions that mattered most this season: how they picked their entries, managed conditioning and handling, dialed in feed and mineral programs, and prepared cattle to travel and show their best on the day.

We also get into ring craft and presentation, reading judges without “chasing,” balancing pedigree with phenotype, and the small daily habits that compound into big wins. Danielle and Jeff share common mistakes to avoid, what they’d do differently, and a simple planning timeline for newcomers—so you can head into next season with a clearer game plan and a calmer, better-prepared animal.

NLFR info: https://www.huntingtonsales.com/NLFR

Heads, I Win (Heifer Winner): http://www.whistlingtxlonghorns.com/Default.aspx?AnimalID=149746&Name=Heads%252cIWinDSM

M7 Double Jack (Bull Winner): http://www.m7longhorns.com/Default.aspx?AnimalID=147409&Name=M7DoubleJack

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From the Pasture with Hired Hand:
Hired Hand Websites (@hiredhandwebsites): https://hiredhandsoftware.com
Hired Hand Live (@hiredhandlive): https://hiredhandlive.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiredhandwebsites/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HiredHandSoftware
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hiredhandwebsites
Newsletter: https://www.hiredhandsoftware.com/resources/stay-informed

In this episode, we sit down with Ross Ohlendorf of Rocking O Longhorns in Lockhart, TX—a Princeton grad and retired MLB pitcher who’s traded strike zones for pasture lines and found a new arena for strategy, discipline, and results.

Ross opens up about the habits that carry over from the mound to the ranch: building a system, tracking what works, and staying patient through the long game of breeding. We talk about reading cattle with the same attention to detail he once used to read hitters, why calm, useful cattle matter on a working place, and how the Lockhart climate shapes day-to-day decisions. He also talks about focusing on fundamentals, tuning out the noise, and stacking small wins that compound over time—all rooted in a genuine dedication to the Texas Longhorn breed.

Rocking O Longhorns: https://www.rockingolonghorns.com/

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From the Pasture with Hired Hand:
Hired Hand Websites (@hiredhandwebsites): https://hiredhandsoftware.com
Hired Hand Live (@hiredhandlive): https://hiredhandlive.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiredhandwebsites/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HiredHandSoftware
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hiredhandwebsites
Newsletter: https://www.hiredhandsoftware.com/resources/stay-informed

In this episode of From the Pasture with Hired Hand, we visit Brad and Mckenna Weick of Weick’s Registered Longhorns (WRL)—a small, 80-acre family farm in Hopkins, Michigan. With help from their kids—Weston, Evelynn, and Braxton—the Weicks share how they balance preserving Texas Longhorn tradition with breeding for conformation and a future-focused program.

They walk us through the practical playbook they wish every new breeder had:

• Find a mentor early and lean on their experience.
• Have a plan—clear herd goals, timelines, and a budget.
• Visit other ranches to study cattle in person and learn different program approaches.
• Quality over quantity—why a tighter, better herd advances faster than just adding numbers.

From the show ring to everyday chores on their Hopkins place, WRL’s story is about family, resilience, and raising Longhorns that honor the breed’s heritage while pushing standards higher—one generation at a time.

Weick's Registered Longhorns: https://www.weickslonghorns.com/

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From the Pasture with Hired Hand:
Hired Hand Websites (@hiredhandwebsites): https://hiredhandsoftware.com
Hired Hand Live (@hiredhandlive): https://hiredhandlive.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiredhandwebsites/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HiredHandSoftware
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hiredhandwebsites
Newsletter: https://www.hiredhandsoftware.com/resources/stay-informed

It’s a special edition of From the Pasture with Hired Hand! Jaymie and Molly sit down with longtime friend Stacey Schumacher of Schumacher Cattle—and then the mics flip. After sharing Stacey’s program and story, Stacey turns the tables and puts our hosts in the hot seat.

You’ll hear:

• The early days—how Jaymie, Molly, and Stacey first met and what’s changed since.
• Stacey’s playbook for social media that actually sells: building audience, driving private treaty inquiries, directing traffic to her website, and the origin of Hey Scott!.
• A candid conversation on how Hired Hand has evolved—from features and design to data, and marketing tools.

Part nostalgia, part masterclass—this episode blends friendship, practical marketing tactics, and behind-the-scenes insights you can use on your own ranch brand.

Schumacher Cattle: http://www.schumachercattle.com/

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From the Pasture with Hired Hand:
Hired Hand Websites (@hiredhandwebsites): https://hiredhandsoftware.com
Hired Hand Live (@hiredhandlive): https://hiredhandlive.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiredhandwebsites/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HiredHandSoftware
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hiredhandwebsites
Newsletter: https://www.hiredhandsoftware.com/resources/stay-informed

This week we’re headed to Northeast Oregon to visit with Jeremy McCulloch of Rocking M Cattle Co., a family-owned ranch outside Wallowa (about an hour from La Grande). Jeremy shares how they’re scaling private treaty sales for registered Texas Longhorns—keeping a steady pipeline of bulls, heifers, and cows for sale backed by pedigrees from some of the biggest names in the breed—and the practical steps that keep buyers engaged year-round.

We also dive into Rocking M’s fast-growing beef program: selling halves and wholes, curated value packs, and USDA-processed individual cuts, plus how they connect ranch visitors to the brand with Longhorn-related products like heads, hides, horns, and leather goods. From family operations to marketing touchpoints, Jeremy walks us through what’s working in Wallowa, OR—and how they’re building a sustainable, diversified ranch business.

Rocking M Cattle Co:  http://www.rockingmcattleco.com/

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From the Pasture with Hired Hand:
Hired Hand Websites (@hiredhandwebsites): https://hiredhandsoftware.com
Hired Hand Live (@hiredhandlive): https://hiredhandlive.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiredhandwebsites/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HiredHandSoftware
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hiredhandwebsites
Newsletter: https://www.hiredhandsoftware.com/resources/stay-informed

In this episode of From the Pasture with Hired Hand, we visit with Chase Lunsford of 20/20 Cattle Co, located in Halfway, Kentucky. Chase and his wife Elizabeth began their Longhorn herd in 2020, keeping their numbers smaller with a focus on quality over quantity, while also growing their Wagyu program for premium beef production.

Chase shares how his passion for Texas Longhorns began while working alongside his dad, and how he and Elizabeth combined their family backgrounds in cattle, dairy, and agritourism to build their ranch vision. We talk about the excitement of producing F1 Wagyu beef while also staying committed to raising Longhorns with world-class genetics.

From balancing family life to building a diverse livestock program with a strong foundation, Chase offers insight into how 20/20 Cattle Co is carving its place in both the Longhorn and beef industries.

http://www.2020cattleco.com/

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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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Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HiredHandSoftware
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hiredhandwebsites
Newsletter: https://www.hiredhandsoftware.com/resources/stay-informed

In this episode of From the Pasture with Hired Hand, we visit with Trevor Maxwell of Lone Chimney Longhorns at Maxwell Ranch, located in Glencoe, Oklahoma.

Trevor shares what it’s like to still consider himself a new breeder, how he works to help others just getting started, and why raising Longhorns is such a true family affair at Maxwell Ranch. When he’s not out in the pasture, Trevor also serves as a baseball coach at the local school, balancing ranch life with community life.

Since starting their herd in 2013, the Maxwells have grown to about 45-50 Longhorns, blending original Vanizm bloodlines with genetics from Cowboy Tuff Chex, Coach, Drag Iron, Tejas Star, and Tempter. Trevor talks about his passion for the breed, the joy of sharing Longhorns with others, and the excitement of continually diversifying their pedigrees.

Whether you’re a seasoned breeder or just starting out, this conversation is a reminder of why the Longhorn community is so special.

Lone Chimney Longhorns at Maxwell Ranch: http://www.lonechimneylonghorns.com

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

In this episode of From the Pasture with Hired Hand, we visit with Janice and Travis Pell of JT Longhorns in Fremont, Michigan. Hear how a Tim McGraw concert in Texas sparked an unforgettable idea that led them to start their own Longhorn herd—and how that single night reshaped their family’s future.

Janice and Travis share what it’s like to build a program as newer Longhorn breeders, balancing ranch life on their homestead with raising three daughters—Elsie, Averie, and Macie Lou. We talk about their focus on quality, sound livestock, the community they’ve found in the industry, and how they’ve expanded into selling Longhorn beef while growing a herd they truly love.

If you’re just getting started—or need a reminder that big dreams can come from unexpected places—this story from JT Longhorns will hit home.

JT Longhorns: https://www.jtlonghorns.com/

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

Straight to the numbers: we break down the in-person Top 5 sellers, the online Top 5, and how those prices stacked up against the overall average. We also cover the most-viewed lots online—both pre-sale and post-sale—plus what that traffic says about buyer interest and pedigree demand. Perfect quick listen if you want the leaderboard and the trends.

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From the Pasture with Hired Hand:
Hired Hand Websites (@hiredhandwebsites): https://hiredhandsoftware.com
Hired Hand Live (@hiredhandlive): https://hiredhandlive.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hiredhandwebsites/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HiredHandSoftware
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@hiredhandwebsites
Newsletter: https://www.hiredhandsoftware.com/resources/stay-informed