We have a great group of people dedicated to raising TOTAL PERFORMANCE Cattle. They average 14 years of service. Their combination of experience and talent is why we say TOTAL PERFORMANCE is not a slogan at Wagonhammer, it’s a PROGRAM.
Jay Wolf
Jay Wolf is a 3rd generation cattleman from Albion, NE. Jay and his family own Wagonhammer Cattle Co. which celebrated its 100th year in 2010. Jay is a University of Nebraska Lincoln graduate. After spending four years as a banker in Denver, he returned home in 1984 to manage the family business. Jay is a Past President of the Nebraska Cattlemen, has served on the board of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association and the Cattlemen’s Beef Board. In 2016 Jay was inducted into the Nebraska Cattlemen Hall of Fame. He is a member of Ag Builders of Nebraska and the Nebraska Hall of Agricultural Achievement. Jay is active in supporting the University of Nebraska and was the 2008 Block and Bridle Club Honoree. He is also active in local community organizations. Jay and his wife, Susie, have been married for over 36 years and have 3 children. Mitchell is an occupational therapist in the San Diego area, Alex manages a grain purchasing group for the Scoular Company in Omaha, and Hilary is veterinarian in a small animal clinic in Omaha. Hilary married Ryan Opdahl in 2017. Ryan is a chemical engineer and a great addition to our family. Hilary and Ryan welcomed their first child, Willa Taylor Opdahl, on 8/11/2020.
Woodhill Complete A130-C2
One of the cowboys’ favorites at the ranch for his look, ease of flesh and his docility. His sons are making great curve bending sires for our commercial customers while his first set of daughters are our best uddered two year olds. The phenotypic quality he transmits is an extra bonus to the numerical figures he puts together with every economically relevant trait in the top 25% of the breed. His mother by Hoover Dam who produced Complete as her first calf just produced a $25,000 sale highlight this spring at Woodhill and recently sold for $22,000 to Riverbend Ranches in Idaho.
Click here to view his pedigree and EPDs
Semen available $25/straw, $40/certificate. Contact Beef 360 for semen
WAR Cavalry B063
WAR Cavalry B063 Z044 was the lead off lot in Wagonhammer’s 2015 Total Performance Sale. This Connealy Cavalry son out of a great CC&7 female had the Top WW & WW EPD, 2nd Top ADG, and Top YW & YW EPD in the entire Wagonhammer lineup. He is currently in the top 1% of the breed for $B, $F, $C and YW. His first daughter offered at auction brought $95,000 with 4 daughters averaging over $30,000 the same day. He tragically was struck by lightning this past summer and semen is limited.
To view pedigree and EPDs, click here.
Joe Epperly
Joe is Director of Genetics and Sales for our Angus and Charolais programs. He grew up on a diversified livestock operation in central Virginia comprised mainly of registered Angus seedstock along with commercial cattle, quarter horses, sheep and goats. Joe also spent much of his youth heavily involved in the family livestock market as well as 4-H, FFA and the National Junior Angus Association. He received his B.S. in Animal Science from Virginia Tech where he was on the livestock judging team and worked on the college research farm. Prior to joining Wagonhammer, Joe worked for the North American Limousin Foundation for seven years, first as the Director of Commercial Marketing before becoming the Assistant Executive Director. He has served on the board of the Beef Improvement Federation and the International Limousin Council. He enjoys judging cattle, fitting calves, and golf. Give Joe a call to set up a ranch visit or just talk cattle. (303) 884-3900
WAR Final Answer X020 U182
X020 is the mother of WAR Bullet Proof C357 who is doing a great job for Wagonhammer and Mill Bar Angus as well as the 2017 top selling bull, WAR Generation D243 X020 to J & J Angus in Iowa. With two daughters in the herd and two top sellers, it was time to get this girl into the donor pen. Look for a lot more progeny from this powerhouse Final Answer daughter in the years to come!
War Pioneer X212 T219
The most prolific donor on the ranch, this Pioneer daughter doesn’t miss. Her first calf was WAR Pay Grade Z018 who was featured in both the ABS and ST Genetics line-ups and her sons have been sale highlights ever since. She has more daughters in the herd than any other cow and 3 daughters recently took the champion banner at the inaugural pen of 3 bred heifers at the Wheeler County Fair.
WAR Safeguard B501 Z536
The mother of our young herdsire, Warwagon, owned with Swanson Cattle Co and Glover Cattle Co that topped our 2018 sale. This Safeguard daughter is as picture perfect as you can make one. We put in over 20 eggs out of her this spring and couldn’t be more excited.
WR Duchess Y601
One of the most influential cows in the Charolais breed. Her son WR Travel Agent is in stud at Select Sires and her grandson WR Foreman is in stud at ST Genetics. Her influence will be felt for years to come with the set of Affinity calves we have on the ground.
WR DUCHESS Z610
A maternal sibling to Y601 and the 2018 Composite Charolais Champion in Denver. This Ledger daughter is freaky necked and chested which she passes on to her daughters. She’s had 6 calves and all of them heifers, and all have been retained in the herd.
WR MISS LONG SHOT Z626
This Long Distance daughter is one of the most symetrical and feminine Charolais females to be found in the world. She’s the foundation of our Charolais expansion
WAR Final Product A027 Y085
This Pathfinder cow is the highest nursing ratio cow in the herd with a 116 on 4 calves. Her first calf sold for $30,000 to RB Angus and is proving to be a great herd sire for them.
WAR Upward A386 U376
The mother of one of our newest herd sires, WAR Tactics E231, along with one of top selling bulls in 2019 WAR Book It. This Upward daughter has proven herself to be a herd bull maker.
WAR Upgrade Y285 U091
One of our most productive Upgrade daughters. Her natural born sons have averaged $7500. She makes powerful scale crushing sons and we are looking forward to her progeny by TEF Outside to hit the ground
WAR Upgrade Z050 X184
High production value Upgrade daughter that has made her way into the donor pen through performance. Her 6 natural born sons have all made the sale while she’s maintained a 369 day calving interval.
WAR Final Product Z054 X369
This pathfinder Final Product daughter averages 113 and 115 on 5 calves and has one of the best udders you’ll find outside of the dairy industry.
War in Focus X224 S204
Powerful Mytty In Focus cow that is a female producer. She has the most natural daughters, granddaughters, and great granddaughters retained in the herd outside of the donors which moved her into the donor pen.
War Upgrade X280 T129
The combination of Upgrade, In Focus and 878 in this cow’s first three generations just screams cow power and she has it in spades.
WAR Bullet Proof C357
Top seller in the 2016 Sale to Mill Bar Angus, Hayes Center, NE. A KM Broken Bow son out of a top Final Answer Daughter with 4 calves at 105. We think he is the best prospect we’ve ever raised and we’re using him hard in our herd. We can’t find a hole in him, he’s Bullet Proof
Semen available $25/straw, $30/certificate.
To view WAR Bullet Proof C357’s Performance Pedigree, click on the link
WAR Pwyt’s Warwagon D502
The top selling bull of the 2018 Total Performance Production Sale to Swanson Cattle Company and Glover Cattle Company, Warwagon looks like he’s going to make a mark across three breeds. This highly fertile 1682 son put up 1,600 units of semen in about 3 weeks at stud and has continued as a breeding bull in the pasture (picture taken at Swanson Cattle breeding pasture). Both his Safeguard dam and Rocky granddam are beautiful moderate framed females that are highly fertile and consistently early calving. His combination of a 10 CED to 120 YW, a top 20% $B and exceptional phenotype make him a bull that fits a lot of industry needs and one we are excited to have calves out of.
WAR Windy A125 X157
One of the favorites of visitors to the ranch. This Windy daughter redefines capacity and balance. She optimizes the type of cow that we are striving to make more of.
WAR Brilliance B009 Z325
This SAV Brilliance daughter raised the top selling Bullet Proof son, WAR Kevlar, to Bear Mountain Angus, Palisade, NE
WAR Obsidian E056
This Black Granite son out of an Active Duty back to the X212 donor cow has been a stud since we weaned him. A top performance bull, he proved his true value as a breeding bull in the pasture. We use multi-sire pastures and Obsidian had 3 times as many calves as any other bull he bred with. Libido is hard to measure but it pays dividends when you find it. His bull calves on test are outstanding and his daughters will be front pasture cows. They’ll both highlight our 2020 Total Performance Production Sale.
S A Arsenal 216
A highlight of the Slagle Angus sale, this Arsenal son has been working on heifers for us for 2 years and has done a great job making soft easy fleshing cattle with more hip and top than his sire. He’s had to be more up to the cows this fall as he’s matured into a phenotypic standout. Stop by the ranch and check him out. His sons will be highlights in the fall division.
Steve Shermer
Steve is the Ranch Manager and lives near Bartlett on the Wagonhammer South Ranch. He grew up in Burwell and spent 15 years at the historic King Ranch in south Texas before joining Wagonhammer in 2002. Steve’s experience and expertise were critical assets during the historic drought of 2012/2013. Thanks to Steve and his crew, we were able to maintain our herd and the health of our range. Steve and his wife Yanci have two children. Daughter Justine and husband Andrew Smith have four children. Son Chantz and wife Shelby have one. Steve raises quarter horses and you can view them here.
K C F Bennett Stockade
Coming to Wagonhammer as one of the highlights of the 2017 Knoll Crest Farms sale, this son of 1682 is out of a full sister to the Select Sires featured K C F Bennett Fortress. His full brother sold for $70,000 to Kolberstein’s in Colorado. Stockade impresses with the product that he puts into a sound package. He combines elite growth with moderate birth weight and calving ease figures that we look to improve as his first calf crop gets to weaning time. These will be highlights of next year’s sale. Owned with ADR Cattle Company, Fincastle, VA and Knoll Crest Farms, Red House, VA
Click here for pedigree and EPDs
Semen available $25/straw, $30/certificate
Styles Exchange Rate V661
When we saw the first calf crop out of this maternal brother to our foundation herd sire Upgrade, we knew that we needed to add this Cash son to our program. His calving ease and docility are second to none while his sons are making great commercial heifer bulls and his daughters will be front pasture cows. Owned with Moore Angus, Artesian, SD.
Click here for his pedigree and EPDs
Semen available from owners. $25 straw/$50 certificate, call for commercial volume discounts.
K C F Bennett Fairbanks
Added to the program as an elite curve bending sire, this son of the now deceased Plattemere Weigh Up has excelled in that role. We calved 150 commercial heifers bred to him this spring with zero issue. They come small with vigor and grow. The heifer calves out of him will make outstanding replacements. Owned with ADR Cattle Company, Fincastle, VA and Knoll Crest Farms, Red House, VA
Click here for his pedigree and EPDs
Semen available $25/straw, $30/certificate. Volume commercial discounts available.
Chance Hobrock
Chance is the Ranch Manager and joined Wagonhammer Ranches in November 2020. Chance and his wife Jentry live on the East Ranch. Chance is from St. Francis Kansas and attended Fort Hays State University where he received his B.S. in Animal Science. After graduation from FHSU Chance worked on operations in Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado. In 2018 Chance graduated from the prestigious TCU Ranch Management program in Fort Worth, Texas. Following graduation from TCU, Chance worked on and managed a yearling ranch in Southwest Kansas. Jentry was born and raised in Wheeler County and attended Fort Hays State University where she received her B.A. in Human Resource Management. Chance and Jentry enjoy going to and participating in ranch rodeos, listening to live music, and working on their quarter horse business where they raise ranch and rope horses.
Bret Schlenger
Bret is the South Ranch foreman and joined Wagonhammer Ranches in November 2020. Bret grew up in NW Iowa where Bret and his family raised quarter horses and ran their family tack business. We moved to Nebraska in 2008 when Bret went to work at the Pitzer Ranch. After being in the area, we decided that the Sandhills was where we wanted to stay and raise our family. We enjoy the lifestyle that goes along with ranching and being able to do it as a family. In our spare time, we can be found in the arena riding horses we have raised. Bret a 2005 graduate of Northeast Community College’s Animal Science program. He and his wife Shawna reside near Ericson, Nebraska with their five children, Braelynn, Paige, Calvin, Bentley, and Evelyn. Shawna is the preschool teacher at Wheeler Central Schools.
WAR Final Answer B223 4033
Her son by Musgrave Invision sold to Hytrek Angus in WY in 2018
KR Outlier
Selected as a highlight of the 2019 sale at Krebs Ranch after being the anchor bull of their Fall Yearling Division Champion pen of bulls, Outlier has done nothing but impress. He possesses an outcross pedigree with TEF Outside and HF Stimulator in a calving ease and highly docile package. His first calves are impressive and will highlight our fall open house and the 2021 Total Performance Production sale.
Styles Upgrade:
Upgrade is an outstanding Sitz Upward son with a strong pedigree & EPDs for calving ease, growth and maternal. He has tremendous volume with exceptional soundness and he definitely has the Herd Bull Look. Here is a photo of Upgrade’s Dam. We are very excited to own this outstanding Herd Bull with Baldridge Bros. Upgrade sons have been sale toppers at every Wagonhammer Production Sale. Stop in and look at his calves and you’ll know why. Semen Available from the owners.
To view Upgrade’s Performance Pedigree, click on the link below. When the Angus Assoc. website appears, click on SEARCH and the pedigree will appear. Performance Pedigree Link
Steve Growcock
Steve and his wife Ashley joined Wagonhammer in 2016. They have a couple of growing boys, Ty and Garrett. Steve works with the registered cattle on the East Ranch. Steve and Ashley grew up in NW Missouri. Steve enjoys roping and hunting.
Bred Heifers for Sale
Wagonhammer has a fancy set of home raised Commercial Bred Heifers for sale. They are Angus and Angus X due to start March 1st AI’d to Connealy Answer 8748, KCF Bennett Architect, and Lucky 7 Copyright and cleaned up with Wagonhammer calving ease Angus bulls for 45 days. Some of these heifers can be registered. Contact Joe at 303-884-3900 for more details.
Fall Pairs for Sale Friday, September 29 in Burwell
Selling September 29th at Burwell Livestock Market Video Auction 35-40 Cow/calf pairs from the heart of the Wagonhammer fall herd with buyer’s choice on head count. Cows will be Angus, Angus Cross and Charolais cross with calves at side by Wagonhammer Angus and Charolais bulls. Cows will range in age from 3-9 and calves will be a minimum 30 days old. All calves will have Ultrachoice 7, Inforce 3 and BVD. Bull calves will be knife cut. Cows will get Preg guard 10 and be wormed with Dectomax. Delivery: October 15-31 at ranch 15 miles west of Elgin, NE. Video is of the fall calving cows that this group will come out of. For more information call Joe Epperly at 303-884-3900 or Jay Wolf at 402-920-2853. Click here to view on Burwell Livestock’s website. |
Don Kahl
Donnie’s career at Wagonhammer began in 1982. He lives at the West Ranch with his wife, Peg. Donnie looks after several hundred commercial cows and has a high standard of care for both the cattle and the range. Donnie has two sons & a daughter. Chelsey and her husband Dave and their two children live in Big Springs, NE. Chris lives in Lincoln. Trevor ranches around Whitney, NE and is engaged. Peg has four sons, Marcus & Jen and their three children are living in CA. Dannis & Jennifer have three children and reside in AZ. Dallas & Shelly and their two daughters are also living in AZ. Dustin & Jessica have two daughters and make their home in FL. Donnie & Peg enjoy their 13 Grandchildren, They all have helped on the Ranch, or are willing to, as time and travel permits.
Matthew Kurpgeweit
Matt joined the Wagonhammer team in August of 2019. He will be working with Steve and the commercial cows at the South Ranch. Matt studied animal science at Northeast Community College. Matt and his fiancee Alyx enjoy spending time with their daughter Wesley, along with hunting and fishing. Matt also enjoys working with and raising his horses. Alyx is attending Northeast pursuing her nursing degree.
Tag #5566 Steer
Sire = I Candy Son
Dam = MA x Simm x Chi x Ang
Tag #5559 Heifer
Sire = Unstopable Son
Dam = Char x An
Tag #5546 Steer
Sire = I Candy Son
Dam = P.B. Charolais
Tag #5528 Heifer
Sire = Comfort Zone
Dam = Simm x MA x Ang
Tag #5519 Heifer
Sire = Firewater Son
Dam = Charolais
Tag #5516 Steer
Sire = I Candy Son
Dam = Char x MA x Ang
Tag #5496 Heifer
Sire = Monopoly
Dam = MA x Ang
Tag #5425 Steer
Sire = Harlem Shake
Dam = Simm x Ang
Tag #4033 ET Heifer
Sire = Rumor
Dam = 3147 Donor Cow – Angus VRD
Tag #4024 ET Steer
Sire = Slugger
Dam = 2016 Donor Cow – MA x Simm x Ang
Tag #5434 Heifer
Sire = Pump Daddy
Dam = Charolais x Angus
Tag #5416 Heifer
Sire = Man Among Boys
Dam = Charolais x Angus
Tag #4022 ET Heifer
Sire = Slugger
Dam = 2016 MA x Simm x Ang
Tag #4026 ET Steer
Sire = Rumor Has It
Dam = 3147 (VRD Angus)
Tag #4028 ET Heifer
Sire = Combustible
Dam = 3265 – Meyer 734 granddaughter
Tag #5402 Steer
Sire = Man Among Boys
Dam = Charolais x Angus
Tag #5404 Heifer
Sire = Dakota Gold
Dam = Charolais x Angus
Tag #5445 Steer
Sire = Harlem Shake
Dam = Charolais x MA x Ang
Tag #5449 Heifer
Sire = Pump Daddy
Dam = Charolais
Tag #5473 Steer
Sire = Unstopable Son
Dam = Angus x Char x Simm
Tag #5514 Steer
Sire = Maine Anjou
Dam = Blue Chip daughter
Tag #5522 Steer
Sire = Maine Anjou
Dam = Simm x Ang
Tag #5536 Steer
Sire = Chi x MA
Dam = Simm x Ang
Tag #5543 Steer
Sire = Dakota Gold
Dam = Charolais x Ang
Tag #4021 ET Heifer
Sire = Broker
Dam = Angus S009 Donor Cow
Tag #5408 Heifer
Sire = Mob Boss
Dam = Simm x Ang
Tag #5427 Steer
Sire = Man Among Boys
Dam = Char x Ang
Tag #5548 Heifer
Sire = Simmental
Dam = Simm x MA x Ang
Tag #5420 Heifer
Sire = Man Among Boys
Dam = MA x Char x Ang
Tag #5488 Steer
Sire = Huf & Puff
Dam = Simm x Ang
Tag #5503 Steer
Sire = Simmental
Dam = Simm x Ang
Tag #5466 Steer
Sire = Dakota Gold
Dam = Simm x Ang
Tag #5414 Heifer
Sire = Man Among Boys
Dam = MA x Ang
Tag #5476 Heifer
Sire = Simmental
Dam = Simm x Char x Ang
Tag #5260 Heifer
Sire = Daddy’s Money
Dam = MA x Ang
Tag #5497 Heifer
Sire = I Believe
Dam = Simm x Ang
Tag #5484 Heifer
Sire = Low % Simm
Dam = Simm x Ang
Tag #5455 Steer
Sire = Django
Dam = Simm x Ang
Tag #5451 Heifer
Sire = Gold Dust
Dam = Char X Ang
Tag #5448 Steer
Sire = Man Among Boys
Dam = MA x Ang
Tag #5440 Steer
Sire = Smoke Stack
Dam = MA x Ang
Tag #5432 Steer
Sire = Django
Dam = Angus
Tag #5409 Heifer
Sire = Dakota Gold
Dam = Char x Shorthorn x Simm x Ang
Tag #5401 Heifer
Sire = Man Among Boys
Dam = MA x Ang
Tag #4023 ET Heifer
Sire = I80
Dam = Simm x Ang – Meyer T34 granddaughter
Tag #5276 Heifer
Sire = Nun Better
Dam = MA x Ang
Tag #5265 Heifer
Sire = Nun Better
Dam = MA x Ang
Tag #701 Steer
Sire = Ali
Dam = MA x Simm x Ang
Tag #633 Heifer
Sire = Django
Dam = P.B. Charolais
Tag #642 Steer
Sire = Fuman Chu
Dam = Charolais
Tag #744 Steer
Sire = Man Among Boys
Dam = Y737 – MA x Angus
Tag #705 Steer
Sire = Safe & Sound
Dam = Cunia 355 x Angus
Tag #712 Steer
Sire = Django
Dam = Angus
Tag #708 Heifer
Sire = I-80
Dam = #Y466 – Macho x Angus
Tag # 716 Charolais Steer
Sire = Smokin Bob
Dam = #3145 – VRD Angus
Tag # 652 Steer
Sire = Django
Dam = Charolais
Tag #714 Steer
Sire = Unstoppable
Dam = Meyer 734 Gr. daughter
Tag # 736 Steer
Sire = Safe & Sound
Dam = #U5173 – Strickley Biz Gr. daughter
Tag # 717 Steer
Sire = Nun Better
Dam = Cunia 355 x Angus
Tag #5405 Steer
Sire = Man Among Boys
Dam = Simm x Ang
Tag #5407 Steer
Sire = I67
Dam = MA x Ang
Tag #746 Steer
Sire = Comfort Zone
Dam = MA x Simm x Ang