The Cattle Coach Show

You can spend the money. You can buy the calf. But you still can’t buy a champion.

In this episode of Cattle Coach, Kolten sits down with legendary ag teacher and stock show figure Wade Shackleford for a conversation packed with decades of experience in the show cattle industry.

Wade shares the lessons behind more than 110 breed champions, what separates great showmen from average ones, why feeding and consistency matter more than people think, and why deep pockets alone will never replace hard work.

They also get into how the stock show world has changed, cattle classification, judging, picking calves, the rising cost of showing, the changing role of ag teachers and county agents, and some of the biggest problems Wade sees in the industry today.

From the feed bucket to the show ring, this episode is full of practical advice, strong opinions, and stories from someone who has spent a lifetime developing winning cattle, winning showmen, and young people.

If you show cattle, raise cattle, judge livestock, or have kids involved in the stock show world, this is one you’ll want to hear.

Subscribe to Cattle Coach for more conversations about raising champions, building better cattle, and succeeding in the cattle business.

Winning Grand Champion doesn’t happen by accident.In this episode of The Cattle Coach, Kolten continues the **Growing Your Own Grand Champion** series by breaking down one of the most important parts of the process: preparing your calf for show day.The real work for a specific show can start six weeks before you ever step into the ring. From choosing the right show and understanding the judge to dialing in your feeding schedule, practicing at home, preparing for travel, and making sure your calf peaks at exactly the right time—every detail matters.In this episode, Kolten covers:• Why show preparation should start weeks in advance• How to research a judge and understand what they prioritize• Choosing the right calf for the right show• Adjusting feeding schedules around show time• Getting your calf comfortable with a show halter• Preparing for travel, stress, and schedule changes• Why every show family needs a checklist• How small details can make the difference in the ringThe goal isn't to simply arrive at the show looking good. The goal is to have your calf at **12:00 when it matters most**.If you want to compete at the highest level, preparation has to be intentional. Grand Champions aren't made by luck—they're built through preparation, consistency, and doing the little things right.Subscribe to **The Cattle Coach** so you don't miss the final episode in the series, where Kolten breaks down **showing your Grand Champion**.If this episode helped you, share it with another show family and leave your questions in the comments.Have a blessed day, and we'll see you on the next episode of The Cattle Coach.

Want to learn more from The Cattle Coach?Join the Cattle Coach Academy: https://www.cattle-coach.com/Would Dave Ramsey finance a show steer? Probably not — and once you break down the numbers, it’s not hard to see why.In this episode of The Cattle Coach, Kolten takes Dave Ramsey’s approach to debt, risk, and financial decision-making and applies it to the show cattle industry.From financing a steer to investing in a show heifer, there’s a big difference between buying an animal because you want it and making a purchase that actually makes financial sense.The show cattle game is simply too expensive to approach without a plan. Kolten breaks down ROI, risk vs. reward, the long-term earning potential of heifers, and why an impulsive purchase can quickly turn into an expensive lesson.He also tackles a problem that’s become far too normal in the cattle business: taking possession of an animal before actually paying for it.And if you are going to borrow money for cattle, you’d better be able to explain exactly how that investment is supposed to pay you — and your lender — back. That means having a real business plan, understanding your risks, and having a Plan B, C, and D when working with livestock inevitably doesn’t go exactly as planned.Whether you’re raising show cattle as a family project or trying to build a profitable cattle business, this episode will challenge you to think differently about where your money is going — because winning a blue ribbon and making a good financial decision aren’t always the same thing.Subscribe to The Cattle Coach for more conversations about building better cattle, stronger businesses, and making decisions that set you up for long-term success.#TheCattleCoach #ShowCattle #CattleBusiness #ShowSteers #ShowHeifers #CattleIndustry #Ranching

Cattle Coach Academy & course: https://www.cattle-coach.com

Buying the right calf is only the beginning. The real work starts the day you bring them home.

In this episode of The Cattle Coach, Kolten breaks down what happens between purchase day and show day—and why that daily work is where grand champions are actually made.

From creating functional facilities and reducing stress to feeding consistently, building the right routines, practicing showmanship, and intentionally working with your animal, Kolten walks through the habits that can make or break your success in the show ring.

You'll learn why consistency matters so much with cattle, when being “consistently inconsistent” can actually make your animal better, and why every part of your routine should have a purpose.

You can't just buy your way into the champion circle. You've got to put in the work.

Subscribe to The Cattle Coach for more practical cattle knowledge, show cattle advice, and lessons from inside the industry.

Presentation matters, and when you're selling show cattle, it can directly impact your bottom line.

In this episode of The Cattle Coach Podcast, Kolten breaks down how intentional presentation can help you sell more cattle, attract more buyers, and ultimately command a higher price. From washing and clipping to lighting, timing, setting, and even how an animal is standing when a buyer first sees it, the details matter more than most breeders realize.

Buyers shouldn't have to imagine what a calf could look like. Your job is to help them see the vision. Kolten explains why first impressions are so powerful, how the exact same animal can look completely different depending on how it's presented, and why expecting buyers to "see the potential" could be costing you money.

If you're raising and selling show cattle, this episode will challenge you to look at your marketing from the buyer's perspective and become more intentional about the experience you're creating.

Because at the end of the day, you're not just selling the calf. You're selling the dream of what that calf could become.

All in. All out. Cattle Coach.

In Part 1 of How to Create a Grand Champion, Kolten breaks down where the road to the backdrop actually starts: picking the right calf.

Grand champions aren't simply bought. They're made through the right foundation, the right team, and a whole lot of work. Kolten walks through what he looks for when selecting a show steer, including structure, pedigree, age, projected weight, breed, and the importance of working with a breeder who wants to see you succeed.

If your goal is to win your class, your breed, or ultimately stand in the Grand Champion drive, it starts with knowing your end goal and working backward from there.

This is Part 1 of a three-part series on How to Create a Grand Champion. Follow The Cattle Coach and come back for Part 2 as we take the next step toward the backdrop.

Want to learn more from The Cattle Coach?Join the Cattle Coach Academy: https://www.cattle-coach.com/In this episode of The Cattle Coach, Kolten sits down with legendary Texas cattle breeder Joe Behrens for a conversation built on decades of experience in the cattle and show industries.Joe shares the breeding philosophies that shaped his program, what he’s learned about building productive cattle, and why chasing the most popular genetics doesn’t always produce the best results. He also doesn’t shy away from the problems he sees in today’s show ring, from classification and judging to fitting, hair, weight, and the pressure to make cattle look a certain way.At the heart of the conversation is a simple question: Are we raising cattle to win a show, or raising cattle that actually work?From breeding decisions and show-ring trends to faith, family, and lessons learned over a lifetime in agriculture, this episode is packed with perspective you only get from someone who has spent decades doing it.

AI isn’t just changing tech companies and big cities. It’s coming to the cattle industry, and it may change the way we ranch faster than we think.In this episode of The Cattle Coach, Kolten breaks down what AI could mean for ranchers, cattle producers, and show cattle families. From drones and virtual fencing to herd health monitoring, genetics, breeding decisions, and even AI evaluating cattle, the possibilities are getting wild.With all that opportunity comes a bigger question: what happens next for the cattle industry?The future of ranching is coming whether we’re ready or not. The question is how we use it.What do you think? Will AI make us better cattlemen, or are we moving too fast?#CattleCoach #Ranching #CattleIndustry #AI #Agriculture

🎓 Join the Cattle Coach Academy:https://cattlecoachacademy.com👇 Learn more about Sandhills Feeders:https://sandhillsfeeders.comEvery rancher wants better cattle, but very few stop to ask one critical question.What does your ideal cow actually look like?In this episode, Kolten Thigpen explains why there is no such thing as the perfect cow, only the perfect cow for your operation. Whether you're raising commercial cattle, seedstock, or show cattle, your breeding decisions should be driven by your end goal, not someone else's.If you've ever struggled with breeding decisions, selecting replacement females, or figuring out what direction your herd should go, this conversation could save you years of frustration.In this episode:• Why your cow is the "factory" of your operation• Why the ideal cow is different for every ranch• The mistake that holds many ranchers back• How defining your end goal changes every management decision• A memorable story from the legendary V8 Ranch that every cattle producer should hearIf you enjoy practical conversations about cattle, ranching, breeding, and building a more profitable operation, be sure to subscribe and turn on notifications so you never miss an episode.#Cattle #Ranching #BeefCattle #CowCalf #Livestock #CattleBreeding #ShowCattle #Seedstock #Agriculture #TheCattleCoach

👇 Learn more about today's sponsor, Sandhills Feeders:https://sandhillsfeeders.com/🎓 Join the Cattle Coach Academy:https://cattlecoachacademy.com/If you're just getting started in the cattle business—or you've been at it for years and feel like you're working harder than you should—this episode is for you.Kolten shares the three biggest lessons he wishes he had known before getting into ranching. These aren't theories. They're hard-earned lessons that came through years of trial and error, costly mistakes, and discovering what actually moves the needle.In this episode, we cover:• Why hiring help earlier can accelerate your operation• The management mistake that nearly cut conception rates in half• How focusing on the basics led to a jump from 30% to 70% conception rates• Why stocking rate and proper grazing matter more than expensive supplements• How staying true to your breeding philosophy creates long-term success• The importance of building a ranch you actually enjoy working every dayWhether you're raising commercial cattle, seedstock, or show cattle, these principles can save you years of frustration—and potentially thousands of dollars.If you enjoy practical ranching conversations built on real-world experience, be sure to Like, Subscribe, and Share so you never miss a new episode of The Cattle Coach.#CattleCoach #Ranching #Cattle #CowCalf #ShowCattle #BeefCattle #CattleRanching #RanchLife #Agriculture #Livestock #Cowherd #CattleBusiness #BeginningFarmer #FarmLife