Columnists - The Durango Herald

Trade wars and the $247 trillion global debt bomb

WASHINGTON – The untold story of the world economy – so far at least – is the potentially explosive interaction between the spreading trade war and the overhang of global debt, estimated at ...

DATE: Jul 14, 2018 | CATEGORY: Robert Samuelson

I hear you Preventing suicide can start with listening, and knowing that there are true heroes in our midst who didn’t do it

New information recently was released about the steady increase in suicides across the country. The number has risen significantly, and I know we’re all concerned. There are many ...

DATE: Jul 14, 2018 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

Huff: Recent decisions refine Colorado’s body of law

Every court decision further refines Colorado’s body of law. Recently, the Colorado Supreme Court issued two opinions that I found both interesting and relevant. The first concer...

DATE: Jul 14, 2018 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

Find Antares in the heart of Scorpius

Greetings, Stargazers. The 416 Fire has made it challenging for many of us to get outside to see the night sky. I have enjoyed breathing clean air again this week. Now that the sm...

DATE: Jul 14, 2018 | CATEGORY: What's up in Durango Skies

College student wants to be organized

DEAR ABBY: I am a 20-year-old college student. After attending a local community college for two years, I will be starting classes at a four-year school. I make excellent grades, but I s...

DATE: Jul 14, 2018 | CATEGORY: Dear Abby

Americans with Disabilities Act celebrates its anniversary

July 26, 1990, stands as a landmark day for civil rights in the United States. On that day, President George H.W. Bush (aka George I) signed the Americans with Disabilities Act into law. On ...

DATE: Jul 13, 2018 | CATEGORY: Creating Community

Summer camps connect children to nature, each other

We are in the midst of summer camp season. New friendships and memories occur on a daily basis. At the start of every camp, children’s nervousness may override excitement, but at...

DATE: Jul 13, 2018 | CATEGORY: Durango Nature Studies

After a fire, assess possible damage to food, medications

Skies are turning gray and thunder is here. We are happy the rains will finish off the 416 Fire and hopefully make a dent in this unprecedented drought. People have returned to t...

DATE: Jul 13, 2018 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

Worker has crush on boss

DEAR ABBY: I’m 20 years old and have a job in retail. I have been working here for a few years and am in a higher position than most associates. I’m in a relationship with my...

DATE: Jul 13, 2018 | CATEGORY: Dear Abby

Gerson: Count on Kavanaugh to stand against bullying

WASHINGTON – The Trump administration is not known for its consistency, but some contradictions are too revealing to ignore. In nominating Brett Kavanaugh to the Supreme Court, President Tru...

DATE: Jul 12, 2018 | CATEGORY: Michael Gerson

Egan: Down and out in San Francisco on $117,000 a year

It’s beyond laughable that a one-bedroom apartment can sell for $1.5 million in San Francisco – and get multiple offers within a day. Or that dumpsters sport satirical “for rent” signs. Or t...

DATE: Jul 12, 2018 | CATEGORY: Tim Egan

Remarriage starts cemetery discussion

DEAR ABBY: My brother-in-law “Charles” has earned the privilege of being buried in a military cemetery. He lost his wife, “Claire,” to cancer 10 years ago; she is buried in their plot in...

DATE: Jul 12, 2018 | CATEGORY: Dear Abby

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