Heifers in Training: What We Watch for in Future Mamas

Our oldest son, Nate, came to visit this week. Between catching up and swapping stories, Tom took him out to the heifer pen — not just to check cows, but to show off a little. It’s been a few years since Nate moved out, and in that time, the herd has grown in ways you can see and ways you just feel.

We took over this ranch from Tom’s grandpa, and every season adds another chapter to the story. Watching Tom share it with our kids — especially when they see what they’re part of — reminds me that this isn’t just about cattle. It’s about legacy.

They stood at the gate, quietly watching the heifer calves work the hillside — head down in clover one minute, head up watching us the next. And I realized: They don’t know it yet, but they’re the future of this place. Just like Nate and his sisters are.

🐄 The 2025 Heifer Crop

This spring gave us one bull calf and three heifers, and we couldn’t have asked for a better lineup. These girls represent the next generation, and they’re already showing us why they made the keeper list.

But, we cannot forget the crop of calves that came last season. If all goes well, we’ll be breeding them this fall.

• NOOB Mandolin 247M (62% Lim-Flex, Homozygous Black, Double Polled)
  Born October 5, 2024
  Long, feminine, and smooth-moving. She’s the kind of heifer that blends in with the herd — until you realize she’s always first to the bunk. Cool-headed and consistent.
  
• J BAR J Milda 463M (75% Lim-Flex, Homozygous Polled, Red)
  Born April 6, 2024
  Red with a bold look and a confident presence. She’s sharp in her lines and has that “watch me” energy without being pushy. A standout from day one.
  
• NOOB Lavish 785L (59% Lim-Flex, Black)
  Born September 12, 2023
  The oldest of the group and it shows — steady, level-headed, and built right. She doesn’t make a fuss, but she’s always where she should be. She’s also bred and due to calve in December — our first look at what she’ll bring to the herd as a momma.
  
• NOOB Melody 242M (57% Lim-Flex, Double Black, Double Polled)
  Born March 24, 2024
  Clean-made with balance and a soft look. She’s the one who lingers behind a bit, thoughtful and observant. Melody is also the only registered calf we have from Jukebox — our first calf born on this ranch and the sire who started it all. That makes her a little extra special in our eyes. We think she’s going to surprise us — in all the right ways.

👀 What We Watch For

We don’t raise show cattle — we raise working cattle. That means our heifers don’t need to win banners, but they do need to:

• Move well and hold up in all weather
• Handle quietly, no fuss at the chute or gate
• Maintain condition on pasture
• Carry genetics we trust

A good cow is one you don’t have to think about. She calves on time, raises a good one, breeds back, and does it again. Our job now is to spot those traits early.

💡 Why Mommas Matter Most

Bulls get the headlines, but cows carry the herd. They raise the calves, set the tone, and build our legacy one quiet year at a time. And legacy’s a word that’s been on our minds a lot lately.

The heifers out there in the pasture, and the kids growing up beside them—both are learning what it takes to carry this place forward. The future’s standing right in front of us. And honestly? It looks pretty good.

📸 Around the Ranch

👂 Your Turn

What do you look for in your replacement females? Do you have a cow family that keeps proving itself? We’d love to hear what you’re watching this season.