Tri-State Livestock News

MINOT, N.D. (October 11, 2026) – A season of rodeo ended in the Magic City this weekend. The Badlands Circuit Finals Rodeo, the culmination of a year’s worth of PRCA rodeo, wrapped up with titles won in two categories: year end, for the most money won over the regular season and in Minot, and aggregate, the fastest combined times or highest combined scores after three performances in Minot October 9-11. Bareback rider Ben Kramer got it done in Minot.

DORTHY ANN WOOD Provided Photo July 7, 1934 – October 4, 2026 Dorothy Ann Wood passed away peacefully in Spearfish, SD on October 4, 2026 at the age of 92. Dorothy was born in Mandan, ND on July 7, 1934, to Walter and Mary Staigle. She was the oldest of ten children. The family resided in Center, ND and later moved to Spearfish where Dorothy graduated from high school in 1952. She had many fond memories of the high school marching band and was proud of being a part of the Passion Play.

Share this story DONALD (DON) EUGENE KNAPP Provided Photo October 19, 1929 – September 27, 2026 “To put in one more horseback day and have one more chance To take her hand and hold her close and waltz across a floor Before the time to join the ranks of men who ride no more.” — Joel Nelson, “The Men Who Ride No More” Donald Eugene Knapp was born in Rapid City, South Dakota to Delmar and Mildred (Hughes) Knapp on October 19th, 1929 and passed away on September 27th, 2026.

Sheila Treeby Provided Photo June 10, 1966 – August 31, 2026 Sheila Sales Treeby, 6-10-1966, passed away at her home in West Laramie, Wyoming, on August 31, 2026, at sixty years of age.

Share this story This past week brought back memories of 2015-16 when record-high feeder cattle prices led to significant red ink in feedlots (unhedged). Using a March 6 feedlot placement week, the first cost of cattle into the feedlot for the 775 lb. feeder steer that was finished and slaughtered last week was $372.44 / cwt. That steer was on feed for 212 days and fed to a record-heavy finished weight with a total cost of gain of $714. The Nearby Corn Futures close last week was $4.11 / bu.

Share this story Every Sunday, when I was a youngster over 70 years ago, we had company. We always went to church in the morning, then most Sundays we returned home joined by at least one other family who enjoyed my mother’s great cooking, and usually stayed for the afternoon. Occasionally, we would be guests of another family. Kids would play outside (even in wintertime), the women would do the dishes, and the afternoon was filled with visiting, an occasional music jam, or horseshoe game.

That was a great week for cattle futures with the technicals signaling a breakout. Open interest did not grow, but prices did eclipse the September highs for futures contracts. After futures rallied, cash followed suit. A dismal thought of possible $215 trade ended the week with the north getting $220, and the south renewed trade around $226. In the north, it was perceived that feedlots are not current and packers did not need cattle. Many packers entered the market once cash started to trade.

Share this story Since he graduated high school in 1973, Larry Queen has fed cattle every year. “We’re not cow-calf people, we’re not backgrounders, we’re finishers,” said the Ohio farmer who buys hay and supplement and feeds home-raised corn to cattle in a small lot on his farmstead. Larry first fed cattle alongside his father and now his son and grandsons join him in the work. Not “big” feeders by industry standards, the Queens feed less than 1,000 head of cattle per year.

U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Brooke L. Rollins sent a letter to all ranchers holding grazing permits for federal land use encouraging them to put the USDA’s June 12, 2026 Grazing Directive into practice on their allotments.

Full time hay and cattle operation. Must have experience with all areas of hay farming including but not limited to:…