06/16/2026
In January of 2025, we set a goal. It wasn’t a goal we advertised or talked about, because to be honest we weren’t entirely sure we could achieve it.
Let’s set the tone…we (my husband and I) had just launched Flat Broke Cattle on Facebook. Which was a leap in itself for us. We felt exposed and vulnerable to a world that can be hard. But we knew that growth comes from being uncomfortable, and the bottom line was: we wanted to grow.
I took to the camera, or should I say iPhone, and started documenting the end of 2024 and the beginning of 2025’s calf crop. I showed you guys all the cute that comes with calving, and even some of the really hard. You guys watched those calves grow through knobby and wobbly knees to zoomies in the freshly spread hay. You got a front row seat to how we believe calves should be raised and how our momma’s should be respected for their hard work, too.
All the while, our goal sat there in the back of our minds. Doubt, fear, and uncertainty sat there too. After all, you’re typically your own worst critic. Ty and I would have late night conversations, after we had finished our day jobs and tended the cattle. We’d discuss plans and the steps we needed to take to reach that goal. We didn’t always agree, but through it all we must of done something right.
Why you ask?
Because our goal, from the very beginning, has been to market our calves to other farmers as replacements in their herd. We wanted to cut out selling our calves to the local sale barns. Our goal was simple, raise a calf that our neighbor would look at and say, “Yeah, she’s gonna make a good momma one day, how much you want for her?”
We started with 18 calves this year. Through weaning, it was evident to us that two of those calves were never going to be something we wanted our name attached to. Some calves just don’t have it, and that’s okay, too. That left us with 16 calves. I am so proud to say that between six individuals, we sold all 16 calves to become (intended) replacement bulls and heifers. It’s not a large number, but to two people who didn’t really have any connections in the replacement market, it’s a big deal. Six individuals trusted us, and trusted what we were doing with our calves to spend their money with us. We can’t thank those six individuals enough, and we hope that they are pleased enough that they continue to consider us in the future.
Flat Broke Cattle was never intended to be one and done. We want to be a name that you trust.
Someone asked, “So you’re done now for the year, when does it start back up?” NOW. It starts now. 2026’s calf crop started hitting the ground at the end of February. And while we were finishing up one goal, the next goal was laid out before us. DO IT AGAIN. And don’t worry, the doubt and the “beginners luck” theory has already plagued our minds. But here we stand, ready to roll the dice and see if it was luck, or if all that hard work continues to pay off.
Here’s to last year, this year, and all the years to come at Flat Broke Cattle 🥂
