Columnists - The Durango Herald

Tina Peters, Trump, and the defense of justice: states’ rights in a hyperpoliticized time

The horrific assassination of Charlie Kirk has left our country reeling. A suspect was arrested, and the next question is whether he will be prosecuted federally or by the State of Utah. Thi...

DATE: Sep 28, 2025 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

Celebrating a year of growth and success with La Plata County 4-H

As we wrap up another incredible 4-H year, I am inspired and so proud of the many experiences and successes our members have achieved. From local activities to international adventures, La P...

DATE: Sep 26, 2025 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

You shape our community’s future

In a time of rapid change and economic uncertainty, one message has remained constant in Southwest Colorado: Resilient communities are built on strong local economies. For more than 15 years...

DATE: Sep 26, 2025 | CATEGORY: Local First

Community Foundation serving Southwest Colorado proud to support growth in art opportunities

Orchestra performances, plays, lectures, art museums, movies, comedy shows, concerts in the park, powwows, dances and sculptures; the arts are essential to our way of life and mental health....

DATE: Sep 26, 2025 | CATEGORY: Creating Community

Gay man hurt by hateful posts

DEAR ABBY: I am a gay man who has been with my husband for more than 30 years. He’s from a different culture, as are our now-grown adopted children. Most of my family members are religiously...

DATE: Sep 26, 2025 | CATEGORY: Dear Abby

How gerrymandering lets politicians pick their voters before the first ballot is cast

The League of Women Voters is dedicated to empowering voters and defending democracy, and we are deeply concerned by the gerrymandering efforts currently undermining fair representation – a ...

DATE: Sep 26, 2025 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

An all-natural medicine you must know about

Summer 2025 has reached its end. Being the adult you are, with the responsibilities you have, it probably means summer flew by way too fast. If you didn’t prioritize spending time outdoors w...

DATE: Sep 25, 2025 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

Take a musical journey to ‘Poppletonia’

Local band The Poppletons have created their own world. “Poppletonia” is that place, a music-heavy land where guitar players Doc and Rock, bass player Rodney Bobby and drummer Chef, all with...

DATE: Sep 24, 2025 | CATEGORY: Downtown Lowdown

Siblings not interested in ‘party’ for dad

DEAR ABBY: My father was a terrible person. He was physically abusive to his wife and kids, and he sexually abused both of my sisters. He was a vicious bully who took every opportunity to hu...

DATE: Sep 24, 2025 | CATEGORY: Dear Abby

Doing our part to keep people safe and bears thriving in their natural environment

Bears are on the move as winter approaches, and it will take all of us to reduce human-bear conflicts

DATE: Sep 24, 2025 | CATEGORY: Opinion

Job change falls heavy on family

DEAR ABBY: My husband, “Andy,” and I have been together 25 years, married for 16. We have three kids ages 14, 11 and 9. Our marriage has always been a happy one. Andy began a government job ...

DATE: Sep 21, 2025 | CATEGORY: Dear Abby

Celebrating our students’ success: A closer look at student achievement

As we begin another school year, I would like to share the remarkable progress our district has made and address some common misconceptions about how we measure student achievement. The narr...

DATE: Sep 21, 2025 | CATEGORY: Opinion

‹ Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Next ›

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