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 40 years and have 3 children.  Mitchell is an occupational therapist in California.  Alex joined Wagonhammer in 2022  and relieving Jay of most of his responsibilities.   Hilary is veterinarian in a small animal clinic.  Hilary and her husband Ryan have two daughters, Willa and Madeline.

Alex Wolf

Alex joined Wagonhammer full-time in 2022. He graduated from the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska in 2010 and then spent 3 years working for Scoular as a grain merchandiser. In 2013 Alex was accepted into Harvard Business School where he earned a Masters in Business Administration. From 2017 to 2022, he led Scoular’s organic grain business. Alex is working to assume management of Wagonhammer, assuring our continued commitment to our customers, employees, and community. Alex is engaged to Ellie Clinch and they are planning a 2023 wedding.

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 served many years on the Board of the  Beef Improvement Federation and was President 2022/2023.  Joe is very active in the American Angus Association and is President of the Nebraska Angus Association.   He enjoys judging cattle, fitting calves, playing golf and spending time with his wife Kelly. Give Joe a call to set up a ranch visit or just talk cattle.  (303) 884-3900

Tim Norrell

Tim was born and raised in Texas, he met his wife Emily, a Nebraska native, in college.  Tim and Emily have two daughters Madison and Mallory, they both love the outdoors and animals. Tim also enjoys the outdoors hunting, fishing, and spending time with his family.  Tim works at the East Ranch with the registered cattle.

Tedd Mayer

Tedd joined the East Ranch Wagonhammer crew in June of 2021. Tedd & Meghan are both originally from SW Iowa. They met in Nebraska and got married in August of 2018. He received his associate’s degree in ranch management from Colby Community College in Colby KS.  He then studied animal science at Northwest Missouri State University, where he received my bachelor’s degree. Tedd & Meghan enjoy rodeo, cutting horses, and the ranching lifestyle in the sandhills.  Tedd works at the East Ranch with the registered cattle.

Alan Snider

Al looks after the South Ranch Registered Charolais herd.  Al and wife Kathy have been with Wagonhammer since 1997 and have raised their family on the South Ranch. Daughter Randi is married to Keith Brown and they have 2 children.  Daughter Cara lives in  Bartlett and is the Clerk for Wheeler County.  Son Monte lives in Wheeler County and trains horses.  Son Kent (Goober) lives in Sutherland and is married to Danielle and they have two children. The Sniders love rodeo and Kathy is an accomplished photographer.

Matthew Kurpgeweit

Matt joined the Wagonhammer team in August of 2019. He will be working with Bret and the commercial cows at the South Ranch. Matt studied animal science at Northeast Community College. Matt and his wife Alyx enjoy spending time with their children, Wesley and Rhett, along with hunting and fishing. Matt also enjoys working with and raising his horses. Alyx is attending Northeast pursuing her registered nursing degree.

Zane Patrick

Zane joined the South Ranch in May of 2021. After attending Wheeler Central High School in Bartlett, he attended Northeast Community College in Norfolk and got an electrical degree. Once he graduated from Northeast he then went to Mid-Plains Community College in McCook and was on the rodeo team where he made it to the College National Finals Rodeo in 2 events, steer wrestling and team roping. In his free time he enjoys roping in the arena, riding colt, or any other outdoor activities. Zane and Kamryn tied the knot in August 2023. Kamryn works as a radiology tech in Ord at the hospital.

Chris Kester

Chris began in 2022 with Wagonhammer. He is a graduate of Northeast Community College. He grew up near Clearwater working with feedlot and cow calf operations. Chris enjoys roping and hunting.

Arlyn Wilke

Arlyn Wilke is the Feedlot/Farm manager at Albion.  His responsibilities include purchasing and marketing the feedlot cattle, managing rations and consumption, commodity purchasing, crop production, and overseeing the feedlot/farming crew.  Arlyn has a great deal of industry experience.  After graduating from South Dakota State, he farmed and fed cattle with his brother on the family operation near Columbus NE.  Arlyn then joined Cargill, first working on the management team at the Schuyler processing plant, then at the Leoti KS yard where he was cattle manager.  When long-time feedlot manager, Jim Brown, retired in 2009, we were fortunate to be able to convince Arlyn to return to NE and take up his present position.  Arlyn and his wife, Theresa, have five children.  Joni and husband Jesse Hegemann have three children.   Eric and wife Chantelle have four children.  Son Trenton and his wife Sarah and their son live in Seattle.  Son Ethan is employed by Pokey Feeders.  He and his wife Paige live near Scott City, KS.  Daughter Lauren and husband Bryce, a Special Forces Marine, live in Yuma AZ with their twin boys.

Fernando Flores

Fernando Flores joined the Wagonhammer Crew in September of 2017.  Fernando brings to the crew vast knowledge of the cattle industry.  Fernando received his Bachelors of Science, Animal Science degree from California State University Fresno in May of 2016.  Fernando works at the Albion yard caring for the cattle there. Fernando and his wife Yoana have two sons, Sebastian and Santiago.

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.   

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.

Jon Hall

Jon grew up in Colorado and graduated from Ft. Lupton, CO in 1985. He started his trucking career in Fall of 1988 in the oil field. He moved to Albion in the spring of 1990 and drove for Coash for the fertilizer season. He bought his first truck in 1994 and been driving otr since. He met his wife Denise, an Albion native in 1996 and got married in 1997. They have 3 girls Amber, Erica and Crystal. In his free time he enjoys time with family and friends, hunting, fishing, camping, stock car racing, drag racing and muscle cars.

Shawn McBride

Shawn is the Cattle Manager at Wagonhammer’s Albion Feedlot.  He joined us in 2015.  Shawn has worked in the Albion area with livestock for many years.  His wife Sandra is an Albion native.  They have two sons.  Dustin is a teacher and Spencer is employed at Bomgaars in Albion.

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.

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 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.

Click here for his pedigree and EPDs

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.

Click here to see his pedigree and EPDs

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.

Click here to view is pedigree and EPDs

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.

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.

Click here for pedigree and EPDs

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

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.

Musgrave InVision 304-132

Here is a son of Musgrave Invsion we purchased from the 2015 Musgrave Angus Sale.  A fault free kind of a bull that is well-muscled and correct with a nice look.  He ranks in the to 1% for $Wean values yet retains calving ease.  He is out of a HA Image Maker Dam that holds a NR of 7@103 and has produced several herd sires including Musgrave Finalist.  We will be featuring  calves out of Musgrave Invision in our 2017 sale.  Stop in and see the calves this summer.

To view Musgrave InVision’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

KG Contractor

KG Contractor is the kind of bull ranchers demand.  Calving ease with growth, a moderate frame that is deep and structurally correct.  He’s a complete outcross for most of our customers.  You’ll see Contractor’s first get at the ranch this summer.

To view KG Contractor 4744’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

WDZ Kingsman 737 P

Kingsman was our selection out of the Zehnder-Waage Partnership pen at the 2018 NWSS where he was described by judge John McCurry as the most unique bull in the show. He combines that high quality phenotype with a great disposition and a balanced set of numerical figures. He was a favorite during his time at stud and has continued that trend among visitors to the ranch. His 2019 calf crop should be exciting. Semen available $30 straw/$30 certificate.

Click here for pedigree and EPDs

WCR Icon 756 p

Icon was our selection along with Leachman Cattle Company of Colorado as the top selling bull of the 2018 Wienk Charolais sale. Icon combines a tremendous phenotype with one of the most unique set of EPD values in the breed. The calving ease has been stellar on his first set of calves!

Semen available through Bovine Elite, click here to go to semen page.

HF Patriot 38A

HF Patriot is a complete out cross pedigree for our customers.  He comes from the great herd, Hamilton Farms, in Canada.  Patriot combines ideal phenotype with great thickness and structural correctness.  Patriot had many friends in Denver and he was a member of the Reserve Champion Early Pen of Three Bulls.  When you study him in detail, it is hard to fault him in any way.  His first calf crop were very will received at our 2016 Production Sale.  They looked like their daddy.  Real rancher bulls.  Semen available.

To view Patriot’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

Montana WA Trust 5A

Trust is expressively muscled, masculine, deep-ribbed, with a great disposition.  He is a true out cross for our customers.  This calving ease son of the popular AI sire, Sydgen Trust, recorded a gain ratio of 110. His dam is sired by the balanced-trait and leading ribeye EPD sire, New Day 454.  Trust was the the co-top seller in the 2014 Montana Angus Sale.

To view Trust’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

WR Foreman D602

Foreman is the product of a proven mating designed for multi-trait excellence and is homozygous polled. His dam and grand-dam (dam to WR Travel Agent) both serve as donors in our program. He is a big gauged individual with extra depth in his heart and forerib, a thick top and square hip. Foreman defines performance excellence with contemporary group ratios of 71, 113 and 111 for birth weight, weaning weight and yearling weight, respectively and is breed leading in his combination of CED to YW EPDs.

Semen available from ST Genetics by clicking here.

Click here for his pedigree and EPDs

WAR Pay Grade:

The top seller in our 2013 Total Performance Production Sale.  He is a son of Styles Upgrade and a 2yr old Pioneer Dam. He is an Upgrade to his very popular sire with: More calving ease, more growth, more end power, breed leading CED, and milk and growth that rank in the top 5% of the breed.  The stud of his class posting 113 WW, 105 YW, 125 Marb and 114 REA ratios. Deep ribbed, big bodied, big square hipped with a stout and attractive look.  Owned with Lienemann  Cattle Co. and leased ST Genetics.  Contact ST Genetics for semen.

 

Copyright

Copyright is a complete out cross sire for everyone.  He has tremendous spread from birth to yearling EPDs.  Copyright is extremely long sided, sound on his feet and legs, easy fleshing, and big bodied.  He is stamping his calves with the same look.  Semen available.

To view Copyright’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

Connealy Answer 8748:

is sired by SAV Final Answer. His dam is a very feminine nice uddered Overtime daughter. Answer 8748 offers sure shot calving ease with tremendous growth.  He is siring cattle with extra length of body with lots of eye appeal.

To view Connealy Answer’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

Mary Jo Lueken

Mary Jo became employed as the Office Manager in 2021. She and her husband David are Albion natives. They enjoy stock car racing, golfing, and family. They have two sons, Harvey and Noah, the joys of their lives.

Our Operation

Wagonhammer is a diversified cattle operation located in Nebraska’s majestic Sandhills near Albion and Bartlett, NE. Our registered Angus herd of 700 mother cows produces performance tested bulls and heifers for cattlemen throughout the central US. We have been a source of TOTAL PERFORMANCE cattle for over 60 years. We have been raising Charolais since the 1960s and sell bulls private treaty. We recently added a SimiX herd in response to customer feedback. Wagonhammer’s dedication to balanced cattle that work in the cow-calf segment as well as the feedlot explain why they are so popular with cattlemen. Wagonhammer understands what cowmen require in their pursuit of profitability. We produce cattle that fill those needs.

It all begins with the cow. A purebred herd backed by over 60 years of AI has been selected for function first. Females must be easy-fleshing, have excellent confirmation, adequate milk, and structural correctness to stand up under commercial ranching conditions. Ease of calving has been emphasized for generations as evidenced by the average Birth EPD of l.4. Many customers sell calves at weaning, thus, Wagonhammer cattle combine growth & eye appeal that attract the feeder calf buyer.

Family History

Wagonhammer is owned and managed by the Jay Wolf family. The business was founded in 1910 by brothers Julius and Max Wolf. They were followed by Julius’ son Jim.  Jim was a state and national leader in agricultural, public service, and charitable organizations.  Jim headed up Wagonhammer from 1949 until he passed away in 2002.  Jim’s wife, Elaine, was his partner in everything he did.  She was the matriarch of Wagonhammer and served her community in many ways until her passing in 2016.

Jim’s son, Jay, joined the business in 1984.  Jay is the President and General Manager of Wagonhammer.  He and his wife, Susie, have raised the fourth generation of Wolfs in Albion.

The Wagonhammer Crew

Wagonhammer is blessed with many long-term loyal employees. They’ve been with us an average of 12 years. That is a lot of dedication and experience working for you. They include Steve Shermer, Ranch Manager; Joe Epperly, Seedstock Manager; Don Kahl, Justin Sprague, Matt Kurpgeweit, Alan Snider, Justin Blackburn, Steve Growcock and Tim Norrell.  Visit our Wagonhammer Crew page to learn about each member of our team.

If you would like more information or wish someone to contact you, CLICK HERE.

Annual Bull Sale

Our business was founded in 1910 by my Grandfather and his brother. In 1895 they came to the new world as two penniless German teenagers. They came without their parents, didn’t know English, and had never raised cattle. But, they believed in the American dream. Now, a century later that dream continues. Many thanks to all of you that have supported us in the past as you have played an important part of our success. Together, we’ll have a great start on the next 100 years. We have a great group of people committed to raising “TOTAL PERFORMANCE” cattle.

The Total Performance Brand

Heifer Sale

Lorem Ipsum is simply dummy text of the printing and typesetting industry. Lorem Ipsum has been the industry’s standard dummy text ever since the 1500s, when an unknown printer took a galley of type and scrambled it to make a type specimen book. It has survived not only five centuries, but also the leap into electronic typesetting, remaining essentially unchanged.