ColoradoSun.com - The Durango Herald

ACLU, Colorado law firms sue ICE to stop ‘indiscriminate’ arrests and detentions

A 19-year-old college student detained in June is one of the plaintiffs

DATE: Oct 10, 2025 | CATEGORY: Regional News

When the federal government could shut down and what would it mean for Colorado

Impacts could be large and small, and vary on how long it lasts

DATE: Sep 29, 2025 | CATEGORY: Regional News

A moose fell off a cliff into Boulder Canyon. Wildlife officials authorized State Patrol to kill it

Eye witnesses saw the young bull tumble into a rockslide and break its back legs

DATE: Sep 19, 2025 | CATEGORY: Local News

No obvious injuries, foul play in deaths of elk hunters in southern Colorado, authorities say

An investigation into what caused the deaths of Andrew Porter and Ian Stasko is ongoing, said Conejos County Coroner Richard Martin

DATE: Sep 19, 2025 | CATEGORY: Regional News

7 Colorado counties plan to ask voters to double or triple lodging taxes to pay for roads, police

Government leaders hope voters will approve initiatives to offset budget shortfalls

DATE: Sep 15, 2025 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Jared Polis told Redditors to ask him anything. They pounced on his statements supporting RFK Jr.

In a lengthy Q&A, Colorado governor denied that he had endorsed Robert F. Kennedy Jr.

DATE: Sep 5, 2025 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Jared Polis vows to chain himself to plaza to stop $28M bridge he proposed

Walkway was governor’s idea to celebrate the state’s 150th anniversary

DATE: Jul 23, 2025 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Mountain Village voters overwhelmingly reject proposal to allow voting by LLCs, trusts

Town allows nonresidents to vote in local elections

DATE: Jun 27, 2025 | CATEGORY: Regional News

After Trump gripe, presidential portraits at Colorado Capitol may be replaced with governors

Conversations were underway before controversy, but drama kicked talks into high gear

DATE: Jun 23, 2025 | CATEGORY: Local News

Visitors to Colorado historic sites urged to report ‘negative’ information about America, per order

Signage asking for feedback went up last week at Amache and Sand Creek Massacre historic sites

DATE: Jun 18, 2025 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Top Republican in Colorado Senate resigns to take private sector job

Sen. Cleave Simpson is next in line to be minority leader

DATE: Jun 10, 2025 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Colorado law requiring people buying guns to be 21 or older can stand, federal judge rules

Ruling by a U.S. district judge is a win for gun-control advocates

DATE: Jun 6, 2025 | CATEGORY: Regional News

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Photos: Durango High School boys golf competes at stateDemons finished 14th after two rounds at Fox Hill Club in Longmont

Demons finished 14th after two rounds at Fox Hill Club in Longmont

Photos: Cowboy Gathering Social and Parade

Photos: High County Cattle Auction

High Country Cattle Auction brings top-notch stock and country charm to Southwest ColoradoFamily run, generational business dates back to 1940s

BREEN – The family-owned and operated High Country Cattle Auction is “in the bones” of the Cugnini family, said third-generation owner Chris Cugnini. The business was founded by Chris’ grandfather, Pat Cugnini, in the 1940s. Pat then passed the business down to his son, Duane Cugnini, who then turned the business over to daughters, Becky Hawkins and Chris Cugnini, whose daughters plan to take over the family business one day. The auction, which takes place once or twice a month from April to January at 13062 La Plata Highway (Colorado Highway 140) near Breen, attracts ranchers, farmers and those in the cattle industry from far and wide.

Former Durango resident Steve Greenburg has been attending the High Country Cattle auction for more than 40 years, and continues to travel to Breen all the way from Arizona, where he now lives. He attended the September auction last week, where around 1,200 animals were up for sale. Greenburg said effective bidding takes concentration and a practiced hand. “You want to make sure you don’t pay too much,” he said. “And if you do, you want to buy the business.” Amber Belvin, employee of 15 years and Chris’ operations “sidekick,” said bidders are most often looking for signs of good health in an animal, like a plump, filled-out body. If bidding on a herd, a look of uniformity among the animals is key to a good purchase, she said.

Despite Greenburg already having a handful of filled out bidding cards marking the cattle he had won within an hour of the Sept. 23 auction, he said the day was young. One sale day last year culminated in Greenburg taking home 22 semi-trucks worth of cattle, he said. Chris said Greenburg is one of the auction’s longest-term and most generous supporters. “(Greenburg) pays top-dollar,” Chris said. “And (that) makes me feel good, because we’re giving back to (the sellers). I know these people around here, and they’re the hardest working people on the planet. If I can get them 10 or 20 cents more per pound, then that makes us happy.”

Cattle auction prices have gone up in recent years, both at High Country and nationally, Chris said. This year, animals are going for $2,500 to $3,000 a head – double and triple the average prices from last year. The increase, Chris said, is in part because of a screw worm making the rounds in cattle in Mexico, which has lowered the number of cattle coming in from the south, along with people subdividing and selling cattle branches, and local cattle herd numbers diminishing, which has increased demand.

Chris called the price increase “good and bad.” “It’s great if you’re a seller, because there’s prices that you’ve never seen before,” she said. “Older men come in, (and they) can’t believe the prices. Some of them do this for a living, and they count on that, so they’re so happy.” Belvin said some smaller farmers opt to buy less cattle during price surges like this, but echoed Chris’ sentiment about sellers being ecstatic about the unprecedented profit.

Local cattle farmer Lawrence Martinez entered 59 steers and 95 heifers in the auction Tuesday. Martinez has been involved in the High Country Cattle Auction “pretty much forever,” but recent years have been especially fruitful for sales, he said. “These last few years, we’ve been coming here to sell, because this is the place to go,” he said. “I wouldn’t sell anywhere else. (The market here has) been so good.”The auction’s community roots and generational touch doesn’t stop at the Cugnini family: Shane Hatch, the auctioneer, took over the job after his father’s death, Belvin said.

The auction serves as an opportunity for community members to get together and bond, Belvin said. “When we do have an auction, it’s a great place where local farmers and ranchers can get together and talk,” she said. “They come to the cafe, and they talk about the hay, and the drought situation, and I think it’s a good connecting point.” Chris and Belvin both expressed feeling glad the auction can supply so much generational value to the local farming and ranching community. “I mean, what other business can you think of around here that’s the same, right?” Belvin said. “We’re fair, and we’re very meticulous at our jobs. We take it very seriously, because this is (some peoples’) livelihood.”

For the Cugninis – and long-term employees like Belvin, who have become an honorary part of the close-knit High Country Cattle Auction family – the heart of the business aligns with the heart of the local farming and ranching community. “We’re just good, hard working people – Americans – that want to make a good living, and live off this great land,” Belvin said. epond@durangoherald.com

Family run, generational business dates back to 1940s

Photos: Ride with the Champions bike parade

Photos: Changing colors

Photos: Fort Lewis College Volleyball sweeps Black Hills StateSkyhawks off to best start since 2006

Skyhawks off to best start since 2006

Photos: Durango High School football takes on Piedra Vista High SchoolDemons’ defense dominates in 17-0 victory on Friday night

Demons’ defense dominates in 17-0 victory on Friday night

Skyhawks beat Lubbock Christian 2-1 in season opener on Thursday

Photos: Four Corners Motorcycle RallyLots of motorcycles and tattoos were on display on Saturday

Lots of motorcycles and tattoos were on display on Saturday

ACLU, Colorado law firms sue ICE to stop ‘indiscriminate’ arrests and detentions

When the federal government could shut down and what would it mean for Colorado

A moose fell off a cliff into Boulder Canyon. Wildlife officials authorized State Patrol to kill it

No obvious injuries, foul play in deaths of elk hunters in southern Colorado, authorities say

7 Colorado counties plan to ask voters to double or triple lodging taxes to pay for roads, police

Jared Polis told Redditors to ask him anything. They pounced on his statements supporting RFK Jr.

Jared Polis vows to chain himself to plaza to stop $28M bridge he proposed

Mountain Village voters overwhelmingly reject proposal to allow voting by LLCs, trusts

After Trump gripe, presidential portraits at Colorado Capitol may be replaced with governors

Visitors to Colorado historic sites urged to report ‘negative’ information about America, per order

Top Republican in Colorado Senate resigns to take private sector job

Colorado law requiring people buying guns to be 21 or older can stand, federal judge rules

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