Newsletter - The Durango Herald

Taking grandma on a heavy metal road trip

Durango couple launching campaign for ‘once-in-a-lifetime’ journey

DATE: May 23, 2019 | CATEGORY: Music

Pediatric Partners of the Southwest to oversee Durango High School health clinic

Florida Mesa Elementary health center to close

DATE: May 23, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

CDOT announces Highway 550 closures for Iron Horse Bicycle Classic

The Colorado Department of Transportation will close U.S. Highway 550 between Purgatory Resort and Silverton from 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Saturday to accommodate cyclists during the Iron Hors...

DATE: May 23, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

EPA finalizes action plan for Silverton-area Superfund

Agency will address 23 mine sites over next five years

DATE: May 23, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Sure, it’s a little snowy now, but cyclists will have better weather Saturday

After a stormy week, skies will part

DATE: May 23, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

33-year-old man dies in Montezuma County jail

Autopsy on Michael McMordie planned this week

DATE: May 22, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Durango man suspected of possessing child pornography

Law enforcement says Lucas Schoepke had images, videos on his phone, computer

DATE: May 22, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Town of Bayfield invests $30,000 in drought plan

Document will guide long-term decisions

DATE: May 22, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Forest Service sued over decision to use chain saws in wilderness areas

Conservation groups argue federal land agency operated in secret, broke law

DATE: May 22, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

BP fined for 3 spills in La Plata County, will pay $12.5M to fix pipelines

Company says infrastructure in Southwest Colorado ‘good for service’

DATE: May 22, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

Judge allows dog sniffing evidence at Redwine trial, for now

Defense can present further arguments refuting science of cadaver canines

DATE: May 22, 2019 | CATEGORY: Local News

In season now: Microbiome-boosting leafy greens

Arugula, spinach, kale, bok choi, chock-full of cancer-fighters

DATE: May 22, 2019 | CATEGORY: Food

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

Photos: Ride with the Champions bike parade

Photos: Changing colors

Photos: Fort Lewis College Volleyball sweeps Black Hills StateSkyhawks off to best start since 2006

Skyhawks off to best start since 2006

Photos: Durango High School football takes on Piedra Vista High SchoolDemons’ defense dominates in 17-0 victory on Friday night

Demons’ defense dominates in 17-0 victory on Friday night

Skyhawks beat Lubbock Christian 2-1 in season opener on Thursday

Photos: Four Corners Motorcycle RallyLots of motorcycles and tattoos were on display on Saturday

Lots of motorcycles and tattoos were on display on Saturday

Photos: Four Corners Motorcycle Rally Rodeo

Photos: Durango High School football opens its seasonDemons lost 35-14 to Montrose at home on Friday night

Demons lost 35-14 to Montrose at home on Friday night

Photos: La Plata County Fair on Friday