Another year brought a new record-breaking sale for Missouri State University’s Journagan Ranch.

The ranch hosted its Genetically Yours 35th Anniversary Sale Oct. 3 at the Darr Agricultural Center. The sale grossed $709,200, surpassing last year’s record of $650,000.

Behind the numbers were months of preparation by staff and students.

Record results

For farm operations manager Garrett Kirk, this year’s sale was a success from start to finish.

“Preparation leading up to the sale and the event itself went smoothly,” Kirk said.

The ranch offered 103 lots and sold 102 after withdrawing one bred heifer. More than 200 people attended the event.

Kirk noticed more online and out-of-state buyers, while fewer attended in person.

He said rising diesel prices and production costs partly explained the shift.

For ranch manager Marty Lueck, the results showed the ranch’s focus on raising quality cattle continues to pay off.

“We share our genetics with the buyer,” Lueck said. “It’s an equation we’ve used for a long time, and it works.”

He credits the ranch’s success to carefully evaluating its cattle and using DNA testing to improve the herd’s genetics.

Getting their hands dirty

For students Grace Manning and Easton Cook, preparing for the sale meant gaining experience beyond the classroom.

Students fed and cared for cattle, prepared display pens and organized the auction space.

Manning, an agriculture graduate student, also trimmed the cattle’s hair to showcase their structure and muscles.

“I learned about the hands-on side of managing cattle, including how to determine how much feed they need, how to fix waterers and how to properly clip cattle,” Manning said.

For Cook, a junior agricultural education major, the experience was especially valuable. He had never worked at a cattle sale before.

He learned how to sort cattle without causing stress and watched staff provide medical care when needed.

Lueck believes hands-on experience teaches students a strong work ethic they can carry into any profession.

Hard work pays off

Kirk praised the students’ efficiency in preparing.

“It was the smoothest start to sale day since I’ve been a part of the process,” Kirk said.

For Manning, the hard work paid off when her favorite cow-calf pair sold for one of the highest prices of the day.

Cook also appreciated how Lueck recognized students’ contributions.

“My work felt worthwhile seeing how much Marty cared about our hard work and effort put into the sale,” Cook said.

According to Lueck, watching students grow into agricultural professionals is one of the most rewarding parts of his work.

Lueck began managing Journagan Ranch in 1981. He has spent 45 years helping fulfill Leo Journagan’s vision of providing students with hands-on ranch experience.

“I enjoy being able to share the ranch with the students,” he said.

Kirk himself began as a student under Lueck’s guidance and now helps teach the next generation of agriculture leaders.

Continuing a longstanding tradition

The Journagan Ranch team is already looking ahead to next year.

Kirk hopes to bring in more students and improve the process to make the event easier for everyone.

“Every sale gives us something to improve on for the next year,” he said.

Learn more about Journagan Ranch