Montezuma County - The Durango Herald

Two suspects in Cortez slaying to appear in court in December

One man dies in beating in Veterans Park; two others injured

DATE: Oct 8, 2025 | CATEGORY: Courts and Crime

Cortez Municipal Airport closes runway for $8.6 million rehabilitation

Work will suspend runway operations through Oct. 24, continue in spring

DATE: Oct 6, 2025 | CATEGORY: Community

Republican to challenge Katie Stewart for Colorado House District 59 seat

After 35 years in La Plata County, Naomi Riess is ready to take her community involvement to the next level

DATE: Sep 26, 2025 | CATEGORY:

Cortez teacher posts ‘vile message’ in reaction to Charlie Kirk assassination, district says

Lindi New was named district’s Teacher of the Year for 2025

DATE: Sep 17, 2025 | CATEGORY: Local News

Superintendent Tom Burris resigns after three years in the Montezuma-Cortez district

Burris gives board 60 days to find a new superintendent

DATE: Sep 17, 2025 | CATEGORY: Education

Montezuma County judge could face removal over court hearing involving school superintendent

Complaint alleges Ian MacLaren scheduled proceeding to publicly criticize defendant

DATE: Sep 8, 2025 | CATEGORY: Local News

Mancos Cult Movie Federation announces fall 2025 schedule

The classic movies will be shown at the Mancos Opera House

DATE: Aug 22, 2025 | CATEGORY: Community

Two arrested on suspicion of killing man in Cortez park

Victim reportedly died from blunt-force trauma; two others injured

DATE: Aug 21, 2025 | CATEGORY:

Sundog Gallery to showcase five decades of Stanton Englehart’s art

Artist born in Cortez, known for paintings of American Southwest

DATE: Aug 20, 2025 | CATEGORY: Arts and Entertainment

Cortez man sentenced to 21 years for shooting father in the hand

Robert Reinfeld allegedly said his father was watching too much TV

DATE: Aug 16, 2025 | CATEGORY: Courts and Crime

Update: Stoner Mesa Fire continues to grow, cause of fire confirmed

Smoke is predicted to be the biggest impact to nearby communities

DATE: Aug 6, 2025 | CATEGORY: Community

Cortez superintendent annnounces defamation lawsuit against former school board candidate

Tom Burris says claims made against him were ‘revenge or politics’

DATE: Jul 4, 2025 | CATEGORY: Education

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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