Welcome back to Genetics & the Gavel, Powered by American Cattlemen Media. Just ahead, we have Aaron McKinney, he's the Field Editor for American Cattlemen Media, and he chats with Bart Carmichael, owner of Wedge Tent Ranch. In this episode, Bart and Aaron will dive into the Wedge Tent Ranch 22nd Annual Bull Sale, held on April 22nd, 2026, at 1PM MT, in Faith, South Dakota. 

Wedge Tent Ranch originated with Bart's grandparents Ver and Aldene Carmichael purchasing the ranch in 1945, where they raised 6 kids. They ran cattle here up until Bart started leasing it right out of high school in 1993. In 1995, he met his wife Shannon, and they were blessed with 4 wonderful children and were able to buy the ranch in 1996.

Wedge Tent Ranch holds the philosophy of focusing on the female—the cow—and making her work in a low-input, year‑round grazing system. He emphasizes fertility, easy keeping, and the ability to graze 11–12 months of the year. Their breeding program features tight, disciplined seasons: yearling heifers are bred for only 30–35 days, and cows for 45 days, using mass AI followed by a short bull exposure. This approach has driven open rates as low as 2% and significantly improved herd fertility and efficiency. Bart notes that by concentrating on the right kind of cow, they have also gained carcass quality and tenderness, with grass‑finished yearlings grading about 97% choice or better.

The Wedge Tent Ranch breeding program features tight, disciplined seasons: yearling heifers are bred for only 30–35 days, and cows for 45 days, using mass AI followed by a short bull exposure. This approach has driven open rates as low as 2% and significantly improved herd fertility and efficiency. Bart notes that by concentrating on the right kind of cow, they have also gained carcass quality and tenderness, with grass‑finished yearlings grading about 97% choice or better.

Genetics and cow families are discussed in detail. Bart highlights home‑raised sires like Beaver Creek and his son Holistic, known for producing excellent, long‑lived females with strong feet, good disposition, and masculinity in their sons. He stresses docility as essential for modern family operations and describes how hard they cull for bad temperament. Longevity is another key goal; many featured sale bulls come from 11‑ to 14‑year‑old cows still in production, which Bart sees as proof of fertility, production, and structural soundness.

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