The Cattle Coach Show

Learn From Kolten: https://www.cattle-coach.com/cattle-coach-academy-sign-up-page

The calf everybody wants isn't always the calf you should buy.

When sale season rolls around, there's always that one calf everyone is talking about. It catches everyone's eye, drives up the bids, and looks like the obvious choice. But does being the most popular actually mean it has the best chance of winning?

In this episode of Cattle Coach, Kolten Thigpen breaks down why the most sought-after show calf isn't always the smartest investment for your family. Drawing from years of experience raising, selling, and evaluating show cattle, Kolten explains why some early favorites fall short while overlooked calves go on to become champions.

We're talking maturity patterns, genetics, show ring presence, hidden potential, and the pressure that comes with buying a high-dollar calf. Plus, why understanding your goals, your showman's abilities, and the animal's long-term potential matters more than following the crowd.

Whether you're buying your first show calf or preparing for another competitive season, this episode will challenge the way you evaluate cattle and help you make more confident decisions.

Because the goal isn't to buy the calf everybody wants. It's to buy the calf that's right for you.

Subscribe to Cattle Coach for more conversations about raising champions, making smarter cattle decisions, and building success in the show cattle industry.

#CattleCoach #ShowCattle #ShowCalves #LivestockShowing #CattleIndustry

Learn From Kolten: https://www.cattle-coach.com/cattle-coach-academy-sign-up-page

Brandon Horn and his family have built a legacy in the show cattle industry that most people only dream about—but the wins are only part of the story.

In this episode, Brandon opens up about the faith, work ethic, family dynamics, sacrifice, and relentless drive behind decades of success. From working seven days a week and approaching every day like “ground zero,” to raising kids under the pressure of a well-known family name, the Horns share the part of winning that most people never see.

They talk about building a marriage and business together, teaching their kids how to handle both winning and losing, trusting God through major decisions, and why Brandon still doesn’t feel like they’re finished.

Plus, Brandon shares stories from some of their biggest wins—including the Fort Worth champion they almost didn’t take.

This is more than a conversation about raising great cattle. It’s about building a family, a reputation, and a legacy without losing sight of what matters most.

Learn from Kolten: https://cattlecoach.com

What happens when cattle handling goes wrong—and what should you actually do differently?

In this episode of The Cattle Coach Show, Kolten reacts to viral cattle videos and breaks down what’s happening in real time. From unloading a heifer that’s ready to bolt to the controversial advice of knowing when to let go, he explains how positioning, halter placement, lead length, and an animal’s fight-or-flight response can completely change the outcome.

He also breaks down one of his own videos involving a difficult birth and a 135-pound calf, why timing matters when a cow needs assistance, and the risks of waiting too long to intervene.

Then there’s the heifer that simply NEVER settled down—despite multiple attempts to work with her—and the hard decisions that come with temperament in a cattle operation. Sometimes the biggest cattle-handling mistake isn’t what you do in the moment. It’s failing to set yourself up for success before things go sideways.

If you enjoy these reaction-style breakdowns, let us know what Kolten should react to next.

#CattleCoach #CattleHandling #Ranching #Cattle #Livestock #RanchLife

Learn From Kolten: https://www.cattle-coach.com/cattle-coach-academy-sign-up-page

One breeding decision today could impact your herd for the next seven years.

In this episode of Cattle Coach, Kolten breaks down the danger of breeding for what’s hot right now instead of staying focused on where you actually want your operation to go.

From choosing the right sire to studying his mother, offspring, feet, udders, build, and genetics, the decisions you make now can affect your herd for generations.

The scary part? If you get it wrong, you may not know it for years. By the time you see the consequences, you could be looking at selling cattle, buying something new, and starting over.

Do your homework. Know what you’re breeding toward. Make every decision on purpose.

Because the seeds you plant today may not show up for years.

#CattleCoach #CattleBreeding #Ranching #CattleIndustry #ShowCattle

The show cattle industry has a cheating problem, and Kolten says it’s time to stop pretending everyone doesn’t see it.

In this episode of The Cattle Coach Show, Kolten tackles the practice of backdating show cattle and why lying about an animal’s birth date doesn’t just affect one class or one show. It impacts exhibitors, judges, breed associations, data, and ultimately the integrity of the industry itself.

And the argument that “everybody does it” isn’t good enough.

Kolten breaks down why backdating can actually work against an animal as it matures, why judges shouldn’t be responsible for policing dishonest birth dates, and why sacrificing integrity for a ribbon contradicts the values the livestock industry says it wants to teach the next generation.

At the end of the day, the message is simple:

Don’t sacrifice your moral compass for the sake of competition. Just do right.

Subscribe to The Cattle Coach Show for more conversations about show cattle, ranching, breeding, business, and building an operation you can be proud of.

#CattleCoach #ShowCattle #CattleIndustry #StockShow #ShowHeifers #CattleBreeding #Livestock #Ranching

Learn From Kolten: https://www.cattle-coach.com/cattle-coach-academy-sign-up-pageWant to learn more about cattle, breeding, genetics, show cattle, and building a better cattle operation? Check out the Cattle Coach Academy at the link above.In this episode, Kolten takes us behind the scenes at the ranch during calving season and breaks down what he looks for in a newborn show calf — even at just 6 days old.How much can you actually tell about a calf that young? More than you might think.Kolten walks through the traits he starts studying from the moment a calf hits the ground, including vigor, structure, feet, bone, skull shape, hair, color, muscle, temperament, genetics, and overall build. We also take a closer look at a calf out of a $30,000 donor and one of Kolten's favorite bulls and see how close the mating came to producing exactly what he had envisioned.You'll also see the realities of raising cattle in the Texas heat, why newborn calves are sometimes separated from their mothers during the hottest part of the day, how calves are tagged and vaccinated, and some of the management decisions that go into keeping cattle healthy and developing properly.If you're interested in show cattle, show steers, cattle genetics, livestock judging, breeding cattle, embryo transfer cattle, calf evaluation, ranching, cattle management, or the cattle industry, this episode gives you a real-world look at how those decisions are made.Subscribe for more behind-the-scenes cattle content, ranch management, show cattle education, breeding conversations, and practical lessons from the ranch.In this episode:• Evaluating a 6-day-old show calf• What makes a good show steer• Calf structure and hoof shape• Cattle genetics and breeding decisions• Newborn calf care• Managing cattle during extreme Texas heat• Ear tagging and vaccinations• Comparing calves side-by-side• Show cattle development• Ranch management and stewardship#Cattle #ShowCattle #ShowSteers #Ranching #CattleGenetics #Livestock #CattleRanching #CalvingSeason #CattleBreeding #CattleCoach

In this episode of Cattle Coach, Kolten sits down with Adam and Kara Potts for a conversation about the side of the show cattle industry that doesn’t always get talked about.The Potts family had built the life they thought they wanted: a growing cattle operation, a family they loved, success in the show ring, and goals they were determined to reach. But somewhere along the way, the trophy became more than a goal. Winning became the measure of success, and they realized the pursuit of it was beginning to affect their business, their family, and the way they experienced the industry they loved.Adam and Kara share how financial pressure brought them to a breaking point, the moment their faith became real in a completely different way, and why surrender changed their perspective on success. They also explain why they now believe, “The reason we show is to lose,” and how learning to lose well can build better kids, stronger families, and a healthier perspective on competition. Cattle Coach - PottsThis is a conversation about cattle, competition, marriage, money, faith, raising kids, and realizing that sometimes getting everything you thought you wanted still isn’t enough.If you’ve ever chased the banner, built your life around the next win, or wondered what all of this is really supposed to be about, this episode is worth the listen.

In this episode of Cattle Coach, Kolten shares a perspective he didn’t fully understand until becoming a show dad himself: why some families eventually walk away from the show cattle world.

Showing cattle can demand an incredible amount of time, money, sacrifice, and commitment. But when the pursuit of winning begins costing your marriage, your relationship with your kids, or the health of your family, the price is too high.

Kolten talks about learning to recognize when ambition has crossed the line, why families need to regularly check in with each other, and how the hard seasons of showing cattle can either tear a family apart or refine it. The goal isn’t simply to survive the fire. It’s to come through it stronger, closer, and better than you were before.

Going all in isn’t the problem. But everybody involved has to understand the price, and even a good thing can be pursued the wrong way when the heart behind it gets out of order.If you’re raising show cattle, raising kids in agriculture, or chasing big goals as a family, this one is worth hearing.

Subscribe to Cattle Coach on YouTube and Spotify, and follow along on Facebook and Instagram.

#CattleCoach #ShowCattle #StockShow #CattleIndustry #RanchLife #ShowFamily #Agriculture #FaithAndFamily

The State Fair of Texas is right around the corner, and if you’re planning to show in Dallas, there are a few things you need to know before you get there.Kolten sits down with State Fair of Texas Livestock Show Director Emily June Williams to talk about what exhibitors and show families can expect this year—from livestock check-in and common mistakes to important updates surrounding New World screw worm requirements.Emily also shares what happens behind the scenes to prepare for more than 14,000 livestock entries, what first-time show families should know, and the one mistake they see exhibitors make every year that can ultimately keep an animal out of the show ring.Plus, they talk State Fair traditions, Big Tex, fair food, and what makes the livestock show experience in Dallas so special.Whether this is your first trip to the State Fair or you’ve been showing there for years, this episode will help you show up prepared.🐂 Want to raise better cattle, build a stronger operation, and make money doing it? Check out Cattle Coach Academy at the link below.Subscribe to Cattle Coach for more conversations about showing cattle, raising champions, and building a profitable cattle operation.

Everything you’ve done for the last 365 days comes down to this.

In the final episode of the How to Raise Your Own Grand Champion series, Kolten Thigpen breaks down what it takes to finish strong when you finally arrive at the show.

From keeping your calf eating and drinking in a new environment to exercise, show-day preparation, choosing the right class, understanding the judge, and making the right first impression in the ring, Kolten walks through the details that can make the difference when it matters most.

Because after a year of feeding, working, practicing, planning, and investing, it can all come down to about 15 minutes in the showroom—and the first 15 seconds may be the most important.

In this episode:
• Preparing your calf once you arrive at the show
• Keeping feed and water intake consistent
• Why exercise matters during show week
• Choosing the right class and show order
• Preparing your showman for the ring
• Why first impressions matter to the judge
• How to eliminate the “bad seconds” in the show ring
• Why the price you paid for your calf doesn’t determine the outcome
• Finishing the year knowing you left no stone unturned

It’s the fourth quarter. The chips are on the table. Now it’s time to finish strong.

Want more tips for building a successful show cattle operation? Check out Cattle Coach Academy.

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#CattleCoach #ShowCattle #GrandChampion #StockShow #CattleShowing #ShowSteers