Optimism filled the air at the Glasgow Stockyards as producers gathered for the 37th Annual Big Dry Angus Ranch Production Sale. With bulls in the ring and buyers in the stands, Cody Cornwell, owner of the Glasgow Stockyards, spoke about the strong market and deep-rooted community ties.
“Every day we’ve been making new contract highs — highest ever traded prices on the board, highest priced cull bulls, cows, and steer calves ever recorded in history,” Cornwell said. “It is an exciting time.”
While high prices have energized sellers, Cornwell acknowledged that not everyone is in a position to take advantage of the market. Still, he encouraged producers to plan ahead and to have faith. “Drought is always a concern in Montana — especially eastern Montana — but we have to believe, have faith. It’s going to rain.”
The McRaes have worked with the Glasgow Stockyards since 1988, and Cornwell praised their long-standing reputation, noting that it shows in both the quality of their bulls and the turnout of loyal buyers. “They have the most stylish set of Angus bulls that I’ve seen to date in the yards,” he said. “The fact that most of their neighbors are here buying the bulls is a testament to their program.”
Brent McRae, now overseeing the operation with his wife Hillari, shared the ranch’s history, noting that the McRae family has been raising Angus cattle for over 60 years. “We started raising Black Angus cattle in 1963. Dad, Charlie McRae, bought some bred heifers from Harry Ross, right across the fence from his uncle. We’ve been raising Angus cattle ever since.” Today, Brent’s sons, John and Ben, represent the third generation of the family on the ranch.
The McRae family’s commitment to producing top-quality cattle is reflected in their breeding program. Operating in the dry, rugged terrain of Garfield County, they’ve focused on breeding animals that can thrive in these tough conditions. “With all that in consideration, we expect our cows to go out on the range, breed up at a high rate of pregnancy, and calve on their own,” Brent explained. “We want our bulls to do the same, and we want their offspring to be able to thrive in the conditions our customers face.”
Despite challenges like drought and rising production costs, the McRae family remains optimistic. “We’re all really excited about the prices,” Brent said. “The price of cattle are bringing in very good returns.” However, he also acknowledged the challenges of drought and grasshoppers. “It seems like we’ve been in the bullseye for that the last number of years.”
While high prices are a blessing for the industry, Cornwell emphasized that the cattle business is about more than just numbers. “The beef cattle business in general isn’t all about high prices, it’s about relationships. It’s about neighbors.”
With legacies built on quality, resilience, and strong community ties, the McRae family and the Glasgow Stockyards continue to have a strong relationship that helps support the cattle industry in eastern Montana.
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Grace McDonald – Northern Ag Network
