Columnists - The Durango Herald

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

How to enjoy summer but avoid its pitfalls

Hanging with friends and family in the summer is all part of the fun. But the endless unhealthy summertime eats don’t have to ruin your waistline and leave you feeling “blah.” ...

DATE: Jul 11, 2018 | CATEGORY: Healing Nutrition

Wife cheats with no remorse

DEAR ABBY: I have a wonderful husband of 11 years and three children. “Carl” is attentive, caring and always puts the needs of our family first. You could say he is everyone’s dream husb...

DATE: Jul 11, 2018 | CATEGORY: Dear Abby

Understanding Kavanaugh’s conservative roots

In the weeks ahead, we’re going to spend a lot of time going over Brett Kavanaugh’s biography – where he’s from and what he’s written. But that is not the most important thing about him. ...

DATE: Jul 10, 2018 | CATEGORY: David Brooks

Speak up when journalists are attacked

Thinking about my Durango Herald and colleagues and journalists worldwide recently. It is a tough time to be in this profession. My experience has been of the amazing dedication, hard work (...

DATE: Jul 10, 2018 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

Dionne: ‘Bad’ jobs don’t have to be that way

WASHINGTON — So many policy proposals aimed at reducing economic inequality emphasize moving disadvantaged people into higher-paying, higher-skilled jobs, typically with more access to educa...

DATE: Jul 10, 2018 | CATEGORY: Guest Columns

Old friend slow to reconnect

DEAR ABBY: I recently reconnected with my best friend from high school. I moved out of state at the age of 30, and we lost touch. Turns out she lives about 70 miles from me. Neither of u...

DATE: Jul 10, 2018 | CATEGORY: Dear Abby

Certifying drug deaths pose challenge for medical examiners

A researcher from Harvard University called after I responded to a survey sent to members of the National Association of Medical Examiners. He wanted to know what criteria medical examiners ...

DATE: Jul 9, 2018 | CATEGORY: Coroner's Report

A battery of questions about hydrants, recycling

Since fires dominate the news, I’m curious why the city has pink fire hydrants. Is the city out of red paint? Not that pink is bad or anything. I just thought fireplugs should be red. Sign m...

DATE: Jul 9, 2018 | CATEGORY: Action Line

Remember that we are a community – be kind to each other

It would be pretty easy to write another article about the drought. As someone who deals with plants on a daily basis, I have seen the effects of this drought on trees, shrubs, lawns, weeds,...

DATE: Jul 9, 2018 | CATEGORY: From the Extension Office

Alcoholic woman may ruin wedding

DEAR ABBY: Our son and his fiancée are having a destination wedding. My husband and I are hosting a local reception here where we live because we would like our close family and friends ...

DATE: Jul 9, 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