Cattle Coach Academy — course & sign up: https://www.cattle-coach.comIn this episode I dig into beginnings — the mistakes, the lessons, and the moments that made the ride worth it. I tell the full story of buying my first promo bull with money I didn’t have, a terrifying vet reaction, a fence accident that looked like the end, and how that same bull ultimately helped build QB Cattle. I also share the single lesson from my grandpa that changed how I chase goals: if you want something, you’ll find a way.If you’re starting a cattle business, rebuilding, or just on the edge of a risky move, this one’s for YOU.Chapters (edit to match final cut)00:00 — Welcome / New Year talk01:20 — The $5,000 bull purchase (Woodrow)04:10 — Vet shots & bad reaction — panic moment06:00 — The fence accident — he looked dead08:30 — Recovery, semen sales, and selling for $20K10:20 — Lessons learned: fail forward, don’t despise small beginnings12:00 — Grandpa’s “no” story — why I bought my first heifer14:00 — How I rebuilt and what I teach in the Cattle Coach Academy15:30 — CTA / How to get involvedResources & LinksWhat helped me most: share one “small beginning” you’re proud of (or one mistake you learned from) — drop it in the comments below. I read them.If this episode helped you:Like the video — it helps other cattle families find itSubscribe for weekly episodes: short lessons, interviews, and cattle business strategyShare with a friend who’s on the fence about startingFollow & connect!

In this episode Kolten Thigpen and our favorite guests from 2025, reflect on building a cattle business grounded in faith and family, the bold decisions that changed everything (including the sell‑out that netted six‑figures), and the community that’s helped them raise banner-winning cattle. You’ll get candid stories about growth, the Heart of a Champion sale, rebuilding QB Cattle, and why doing the work the right way matters more than the trophy.Join the movement:Learn more and enroll in the Cattle Coach Academy (preview & full course): https://www.cattle-coach.com/kolten-landing-page• Buy a preview (Only $150): https://www.cattle-coach.com/offers/oz8EkgD4• Buy the full course: https://www.cattle-coach.com/offers/xLBMcFL9/checkoutFollow the channel:Cattle Coach on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@qbcattlecoSponsors & partners mentioned:Bullnanza Stud Services — custom bull collection & semen salesExpress Livestock Genomics — fast genetic defect testing for cattleIf this episode helped you:Like, comment, and subscribe — it helps us get these stories and lessons to more producers and families.Tell us: which moment in 2025 resonated most with you? Drop a comment below.Want more? Watch the full interviews, deep dives, and how‑to lessons on the Cattle Coach channel — from breeding strategies to running a profitable cattle business.#CattleCoach #QBcattle #KoltenThigpen #ShowCattle #CattleBusiness #FaithFamilyFarming #Bullnanza #ExpressLivestockGenomics

Kolten Thigpen sits down with Skeet & Tyler Smith — the small‑town restaurateurs behind Skeet’s and Scooter’s Coffee — to talk faith, family, restaurant life, and the hard lessons behind a long comeback. If you’re a restaurant owner, small‑business operator, cattleman, or anybody who cares about stewardship over hustle, this episode is full of practical leadership advice, real vulnerability about failure (fire, debt, COVID), and the mindset that helped them rebuild.What you’ll learn in this episode:How they grew from a one‑fryer start to multiple locationsWhy faith and community drove their business decisionsThe story of a devastating fire and a 10‑year financial recoveryHow COVID forced them to simplify and focus on what matteredHiring, culture, and the systems that let you scale with integrityPractical takeaways for entrepreneurs, ranchers, and family businessesTimestamps / Chapters0:00 — Intro: “It is a beautiful day…”0:27 — Meet Skeet & Tyler Smith (Skeet’s / Scooter’s Coffee)3:01 — From dishwasher to founder: their origin story9:58 — What makes their menu and steaks special17:14 — Faith, worship, and community impact23:36 — COVID: “we were done mathematically” — the pivot that saved them34:02 — Why Scooter’s / franchising story mattered40:59 — Character moment: “He’d give you his last shirt”1:03:09 — Fire, loss, and 10 years to recover1:12:34 — Advice for new entrepreneurs & show cattle families1:17:23 — Closing thoughts & where to find themResources mentionedCattle Coach Academy — Learn the business side of cattle & ranching: https://www.cattle-coach.com/kolten-landing-pageKolten Thigpen / Cattle Coach channel: https://www.youtube.com/@qbcattlecoLove this episode? Do these 3 things:Like the video — it helps others find these stories.Subscribe & hit the bell — new Cattle Coach Show episodes weekly.Comment below — what was the single biggest lesson you took from Skeet & Tyler?

Cattle Coach Academy: https://www.cattle-coach.comShould you breed for the quick dollar or breed for the future? In this episode Kolten Thigpen walks through the tradeoffs every breeder faces — short‑term profit, long‑term genetics, how to use line breeding and outcrossing intentionally, and a practical checklist for mating decisions that protect your herd’s future.What you’ll learn in this episodeWhy “breeding for the dollar” can lock you into a cornerThe power of heterosis vs. the benefits of homozygosity (consistency)How to balance quick profit matings with future herd developmentWhen linebreeding works — and when it becomes harmful inbreedingPractical due‑diligence: what to look at when you go see a bull in personOne short piece of advice that ties it all together: “Breed them how you like them.”Subscribe for weekly episodes & cattle business tips: If this episode helped you:Hit Like — it helps other breeders find this contentComment below: What mating are you debating right now? Tell us the scenario and we’ll weigh in.Share this with a friend who’s breeding for the quick dollar — they need to hear this.#CattleCoach #Breeding #Heterosis #Linebreeding #CattleBusiness #ShowCattle

Learn more about the Cattle Coach Academy: https://www.cattle-coach.com/kolten-landing-pageIn this engaging episode, we explore crucial "life lessons" and "personal development" insights that often go unrecognized on the journey to achieving your aspirations. Discover the power of a strong "mindset" and how cultivating a "success mindset" can reshape your approach to challenges. We also discuss practical "goal setting" strategies to help you realize your true potential.What you’ll hear in this episode:Why “the chase” becomes an addiction — and how to replace it with repeatable systemsThe recipe Kolten discovered for creating his first champion (and why persistence mattered more than pedigree)Why selling to the right family / keeping your circle small is critical for long‑term successThe #1 habit that changed his program: reviewing raw footage (the eye-in-the-sky doesn’t lie)How the “Heart of a Champion” sale and the big sell‑out reset his priorities and businessPractical, faith- & family-centered advice for raising champions while protecting your home lifeJoin our community and get notified about new episodes and trainingsLeave a comment with your biggest takeaway — and what you want us to cover nextIf this episode helped you, consider checking out the Academy — it’s designed to put you in business for the long haul, not just chase one banner.

Cattle Coach Academy – https://www.cattle-coach-academy.comWhen a buyer asks, “What do you want for her?” the worst answer a seller can give is:“As much as I can get.”Not because you don’t want to maximize profit — but because that answer instantly kills confidence, slows down the sale, and makes buyers question whether it’s worth pursuing.In this episode, we break down why having a clear price (or price range) is one of the simplest ways to look professional, build trust, and actually move cattle faster.

Want to go deeper? Learn more about our coaching & courses at https://www.cattle-coach.comYou have greatness inside of you — and in this Thanksgiving‑week message Kolton lays out the single mindset shift that unlocks it: trade expectations for appreciation. Honest, faith‑centered, and practical, this episode walks through why gratitude is the “ultimate enhancer,” how expectations crush joy and performance, and how the darkest pits can become the launching pad for your greatest comebacks.What you’ll get from this episode:Why an attitude of gratitude multiplies success, relationships, and resilienceHow to replace toxic expectations with appreciation in everyday lifeReal‑world examples (show‑ring analogies and an A&M comeback) that illustrate how perspective changes outcomesA faith‑rooted call to live on purpose and love your familyStandout lines (shareable)"Trade your expectations for appreciation and your whole world changes in an instant.""Gratitude is the ultimate enhancer. It's the ultimate encourager.""If you want to change the world, go home and love your family." — Mother TeresaIf this episode helped you, please:Like, comment who needs to hear this today, and share it with someone you’re grateful for.Subscribe for more weekly messages.

Cattle Coach Academy — full course & previews: https://www.cattle-coach.com/kolten-landing-pageWhat really goes on behind a flush & transfer day? In this episode we sit down with Casey Ballard and Matthew Markwood of Legacy Genetic Resources for a behind‑the‑scenes look at embryo transfer, conception rates, donor performance, and the management choices that make (or break) a program.What you’ll learn in this episodeThe months and management that tend to give the best conception rates (why April and November show up a lot)Why “big number” donors can be amazing — and why they sometimes have lower pregnancy stick‑ratesThe lab and field split: conventional flushes vs. IVF transfers (what Legacy handles and what they don’t)Real donor stories — the unicorn that repeatedly produced 24–30 embryos and one day almost made 24/25 pregnancies Practical tips for someone getting started in repro work: where to get hands‑on experience, what schools can’t teach, and how many reps it takes to get comfortableHow weather, nutrition and on‑farm management show up in your transfer resultsIf you found the episode helpful, please LIKE, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE — it helps us get more repro experts on the show. Drop your questions in the comments.#CattleCoach #EmbryoTransfer #LegacyGenetics #CattleRepro #Livestock

Cattle Coach Academy - https://www.cattle-coach.com/kolten-landing-pageExpress Livestock Genomics- https://expresslivestockgenomics.comLearn how to use genetic testing and smart mating plans to protect your herd, keep the show look you want, and avoid heartbreaking losses. In this episode we break down the three most‑tested defects in show cattle (TH, PHA, DS), show easy Punnett‑square math you can use for every mating, and explain the real-world risks and strategies breeders use to either eradicate or responsibly retain carrier genes.What you’ll learn in this videoQuick definitions: TH (tibial hemimelia), PHA (pulmonary hypoplasia/anascara), DS (digital subluxation)How each defect behaves (lethal vs non‑lethal) and what that means for calves and pregnanciesSimple Punnett‑square outcomes for Carrier × Carrier, Carrier × Clean, Positive × Carrier matingsWhy DS is different (variable expression) and why DS + PHA can be a dangerous combinationPractical breeding rules: when to test, when to mate carriers, and how to keep desired traits while minimizing riskReal examples, breeder best practices, and lab turnaround expectationsWhy this mattersIf you buy bulls, semen, or embryos — or if you’re building a show herd — understanding TH, PHA and DS is essential. These defects affect fertility, calf survival, conformation, and can even cause late‑term abortions. Testing and planned matings protect your herd’s welfare and your bottom line.TH, PHA, DS, tibial hemimelia, pulmonary hypoplasia, digital subluxation, carrier, lethal gene, Punnett square, genetic testing, show cattle genetics, breeding strategy, Express Livestock GenomicsTimestamps (approx.)0:00 Intro & why testing matters1:10 TH explained — genetics & outcomes6:20 PHA explained — pregnancy risks & outcomes10:30 DS explained — prevalence, expression & risks16:00 DS + PHA interactions & why this pairing is risky19:40 Practical mating rules & Punnett‑square examples23:00 How to use carriers responsibly in show programs26:30 How & where to get tested + lab turnaroundIf you’re buying genetics (bulls, semen, embryos) — ALWAYS test before you buy and plan matings using the sire/dam genotypes.Mentioned resources / partnersBullnanza Stud Services — semen collection, housing & custom bull services: https://bullnanza.com/QB Cattle Company — Kolten Thigpen’s QB Cattle program & sales: https://qbcattle.comExpress Livestock Genomics — genetic testing for TH, PHA, DS (fast turnaround): https://expresslivestockgenomics.comIf this video helped you: please Like, Subscribe, and hit the bell so you don’t miss future breeding strategy episodes! Share with a friend who’s buying bulls or planning matings this season.Questions? Drop them below — genotype data, mating scenarios, or requests for a downloadable planning sheet and I’ll help.

Cattle Coach Academy - https://www.cattle-coach.com/kolten-landing-pageExpress Livestock Genomics- https://expresslivestockgenomics.comToday we walk through flush‑day roster management: how we plan for a target number of fresh transfers, how we rank donors, what to do when a donor “bombs,” why you should enter flush day with frozen embryos as insurance, and fast decision rules for transfer vs. freeze. If you raise show cattle or run ET programs, this episode gives actionable steps you can use on the next flush.