Newsletter - The Durango Herald

1 person, 2 horses test positive for West Nile virus in La Plata County

Human infected with virus Sept. 1 has recovered

DATE: Sep 29, 2016 | CATEGORY: Local News

November ballot comes with a price tag

If state, local ballot measures pass, what will you owe?

DATE: Sep 28, 2016 | CATEGORY: Local News

For 3 decades, Pagosa pilot savors soaring at Albuquerque balloon festival

For 30 years, Pagosa Springs resident Mike Marchand has faithfully floated above Albuquerque during the city’s international hot air balloon festival. This year isn’t any different. ...

DATE: Sep 28, 2016 | CATEGORY: Southwest Life

Football family helps Dugan family after death of mother, wife

Dugans surrounded by community as they honor mother

DATE: Sep 28, 2016 | CATEGORY: Youth Sports

Jury finds man guilty in 2007 sex assault, death

Harold Nakai could spend rest of life in prison

DATE: Sep 28, 2016 | CATEGORY: Local News

Suspect in killing, home invasion considers plea deal

Daniel Wright waives right to preliminary hearing

DATE: Sep 28, 2016 | CATEGORY: Local News

Natural gas service restoration continues in Durango

Atmos Energy says crews ‘out in force’

DATE: Sep 28, 2016 | CATEGORY: Local News

Bayfield volleyball dedicates Durango win to football team

Bayfield gets revenge at Durango

DATE: Sep 27, 2016 | CATEGORY: High School Sports

Herald forum offers insights into Colorado ballot initiatives

Arguments for and against presented Tuesday night at library

DATE: Sep 27, 2016 | CATEGORY: Local News

Enforcement may tighten on vacation rentals

Single-room rentals seen as boost to affordable housing

DATE: Sep 27, 2016 | CATEGORY: Local News

Durango High School students debate banning of books

Club discusses freedom to read

DATE: Sep 27, 2016 | CATEGORY: Education

Jurors deliberate fate of man in 2007 sex assault case

Editor’s note: This story contains material that might be disturbing to readers.By Shane Benjamin Herald Staff Writer For the third time in eight years, jurors on T...

DATE: Sep 27, 2016 | CATEGORY: Local News

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