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Bridge scores

Durango Bridge Club online and in-person play – all pairs received 50+ percent Nov. 22 – Club Championship First: M. White/P. Hemphill Second: C.L. Lappen/W. Rosenberger ...

DATE: Nov 28, 2024 | CATEGORY: Community

Durango quizzes residents in ‘Nerds Night Out’ trivia series

City invites public to less formal space for engagement

DATE: Nov 24, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Photos: Pets with Santa

La Plata County Humane Society holds its annual fundraiser Pet Photos with Santa at Creature Comforts in Durango

DATE: Nov 23, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Four Corners AI Conference to be held

The inaugural Four Corners AI Conference will take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 6 at Fort Lewis College, 1000 Rim Drive. The event is free and includes a variety of speakers to accommo...

DATE: Nov 22, 2024 | CATEGORY: Community

Free solar training offered to 2024 high school graduates

Solar Energy International, an industry leader in solar energy education and training, in partnership with Opportunity Next Colorado, is offering scholarships to 2024 high school graduates (...

DATE: Nov 22, 2024 | CATEGORY: Community

La Plata County Lodging Tax Panel seeks board members

La Plata County is seeking volunteers to serve on the Lodging Tax Panel. The board administers the tourism fund to advertise and market tourism in La Plata County and provides an audited acc...

DATE: Nov 22, 2024 | CATEGORY: Community

Snowdown Follies to hold auditions

The Snowdown Follies will hold cast auditions at 6 p.m. Dec. 4 in the Banquet Room at the Doubletree Hotel, 501 Camino del Rio. Plan to arrive at 5:30 p.m. to get paperwork filled out and to...

DATE: Nov 22, 2024 | CATEGORY: Community

Senior Center Calendar

Durango/La Plata Senior Center 2424 Main Ave., 382-6445 Monday 9:30 a.m.: Intermediate Tai-Chi. 10:30 a.m.: Neo Delphi Meeting, Watch Your Step – Marvel, Chair Yoga. 12:30 p.m...

DATE: Nov 22, 2024 | CATEGORY: Community

Dolores Christmas Craft Bazaar prepares to spread holiday cheer

The annual bazaar features local artisans and vendors

DATE: Nov 22, 2024 | CATEGORY: Community

Bridge scores

Durango Bridge Club online and in-person play. All pairs received 50+ percent Nov. 15 – Open Pairs First: S. Caplan/E. Dorminy Second: W. Caplan/D. Squires Third: J. Wa...

DATE: Nov 22, 2024 | CATEGORY: Community

Durango airport plans extra parking, shuttle service over Thanksgiving holiday

DRO anticipates record number of passengers next week

DATE: Nov 19, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Summit United Methodist Bazaar turns 50

Summit United Methodist Harvest Bazaar will celebrate its 50th year this year, with its holiday bazaar, which will be held from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Nov. 23 at 2710 Aspen Drive. The Bazaar has g...

DATE: Nov 15, 2024 | CATEGORY: Community

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