Politics - The Durango Herald

Colorado Republican leaders try to clinch power with bylaw amendments

Proposed changes are ‘detrimental to democracy,’ La Plata County Republican says

DATE: Jan 7, 2025 | CATEGORY: Local News

AG Phil Weiser is first big name to declare for 2026 Colorado governor’s race

State’s top elected lawyer announced a big resolution: he’s running

DATE: Jan 2, 2025 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Durango locks in legislative agenda ahead of new year

City is watching Colorado Legislature on a number of issues

DATE: Dec 13, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

With budget cuts looming, Colorado governor and lawmakers are far apart on fix

Cutting close to 700 million dollars out of next year's state budget means tough choices for Colorado lawmakers in the upcoming legislative session that begins in January. Gov. Jared Polis p...

DATE: Dec 1, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

La Plata County considers scrapping 30-year jail agreement with Durango

City attorney says move would be a ‘disservice’ to community

DATE: Nov 22, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

How will Donald Trump’s presidency affect abortion rights in Colorado?

During the presidential campaign, Trump said he would veto a national abortion ban from Congress because the issue was sent back to the states when Roe v. Wade was overturned

DATE: Nov 16, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Elections and climate policy

Elections have consequences. Many are wondering what the just completed presidential election might hold for climate policy and action on reducing greenhouse gas emissions. Our region has ma...

DATE: Nov 15, 2024 | CATEGORY: Thinking Green

Durango, Southern Utes exchange olive branches

Tribal, city councilors say they’re looking forward to building positive relationship

DATE: Nov 14, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Durango school board may consider action to sanction certain flags

A formal resolution could avoid First Amendment complications

DATE: Nov 14, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Governor’s proposed Colorado budget cuts personnel funding to prepare for tighter spending

Colorado Gov. Jared Polis on Friday released his 2025-2026 state budget proposal, which prepared for tighter spending given decreasing inflation this year. Colorado’s budget growth is tied t...

DATE: Nov 9, 2024 | CATEGORY: Regional News

Democratic candidate Katie Stewart wins House District 59

Durango 9-R school board member ran against Ignacio Mayor Clark Craig in 2024 election

DATE: Nov 8, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

Contest between Clark Craig and Katie Stewart for Colorado House remains undecided

With votes yet to be counted, Republican candidate not ready to concede

DATE: Nov 7, 2024 | CATEGORY: Local News

‹ Prev
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
Next ›

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,” he 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