Newsletter - The Durango Herald

State’s left-lane drivers are never in the right

I am amazed at how many people use the left traffic lane as the main lane, and they refuse to move over. Not only is it extremely frustrating, it’s dangerous. Why don’t we have reminder sign...

DATE: Jul 8, 2019 | CATEGORY: Action Line

Millie O’Ketter to represent US at international volleyball tournament

DHS libero selected in Global Challenge tournament

DATE: Jul 7, 2019 | CATEGORY: High School Sports

‘Undocumented’ Fort Lewis College students can apply for state financial aid

Several restrictions limit who is eligible for assistance

DATE: Jul 7, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Faith-based alliance seeks temporary shelters for homeless

Shelters would operate November through March

DATE: Jul 7, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Contest week 6: How well do you know Durango’s public art?

The Creative Economy Commission and Find the statue in town, identify the name of the public art piece and submit your entry below. Each Friday, a winner will be randomly selected from the...

DATE: Jul 7, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Jet lag no more: Frequent flyers share their tips for crossing time zones

Jet lag is a shape-shifting affliction that debilitates travelers of all ages. The merciless wrath of desynchronosis – or time-zone-change syndrome – can strike at any time, dragging you dow...

DATE: Jul 7, 2019 | CATEGORY: Travel

U.S. Forest Service may limit public comments

Under President Donald Trump, federal agencies have chipped away at the reviews and permitting required under the National Environmental Policy Act, one of the nation’s bedrock environmental...

DATE: Jul 7, 2019 | CATEGORY: Southwest Life

La Plata Electric Association requests buyout estimate from Tri-State

Co-op concerned Tri-State is seeking federal regulation

DATE: Jul 6, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Durango native charged with attempted murder

Judge denies defendant’s request for pretrial release

DATE: Jul 6, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Weekly planner for July 8-12

Information and agendas about local meetings City of Durango: La Plata County: www.co.laplata.co.us or call 382-6210. Town of Bayfield: www.bayfieldgov.org or call 884-9544. ...

DATE: Jul 6, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Tomac’s one-two punch at Redbud gives him the motocross win

Tomac widens lead in series standings; Musquin is a heroic second

DATE: Jul 6, 2019 | CATEGORY: Professional Sports

June inspections: Two Fiestas and two Dollars

June inspection reports are in

DATE: Jul 6, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

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