Dear Cattleman,

          First of all I want to wish you and your family a Happy 2011. It is hard to believe another year has passed. I have been wanting to write this letter for quite some time now. I am going to use the poor excuses of being too busy helping with household chores and raising a family. However, Cindy might dispute the household chores since I have trouble with laundry and dishes. Regardless, I apologize because you as a cattle producer are important to our operation and I value your business and friendship.

          I need to update you on Nagel Cattle Company and our family. Cindy sold her ultrasound business a couple of years ago to Steve and Amy Muller. She went back into education and works for Mid-Central Education Coop as an Instructional Specialist. This allows her to work with different school districts implementing various educational programs based on the needs of the district. Now she can be home most nights and attend most of the girls’ activities. The girls do keep us on our toes. Shayna (17) is a junior, Chesney (15) is a freshman, Cheylee (11) a fifth grader, and Shalayne (5) is in Kindergarten. Depending on the season we live and breathe sports, this includes volleyball, basketball, track, and then rodeo and showing cattle all summer long together. We are very proud of their accomplishments, values, and personalities. It is amazing how fast time goes by and the emphasis of business switches to family and their activities. Now for Landon ( 25), is married to Kelsey and they have a place by Coleman, SD. Landon has been working the last couple of years with various cattle producers. He has spent the last year working for a Club Calf breeder which has been a very valuable experience for him. He has gotten the clubby bug out of his system and is planning on coming home to help me. We are going to work strictly on enhancing the Maine-Anjou genetics we have and add some Simm. genetics for enhancing female production.

          Landon’s return home has energized me and has my wheels turning again! I look forward to utilizing his talents to present and promote our top end genetics on a national scale. This will allow me to focus on day to day activities, herd quality and expansion, and you our valued customers. With that being said, I want to invite all of you to come and see our cattle. I truly believe our females and bulls (both high % and/or maintainers) are as good as you can find anywhere in the breed especially in volume and uniformity.

          We work extremely hard to produce and select the best females that are moderate, functional, and productive cows that have longevity. I am very proud to have my cow herd in my pastures along the highway. Furthermore, my true pride and joy is raising and selling bulls. Bulls that are built from the ground up, big footed, clean jointed, that are big middle, thick and soft made both in muscle shape and fleshing ability. Along with this, paying close attention to highly heritable genetic traits that add value to whatever segment where pay weight is captured and end product adding value.

          Our 2011 sale bulls look great! A uniform set of bulls that still offer variety in bloodlines, percentages, and production goals. Stop in and see them and visit about your production goals and needs. It is a time in our cattle program that we are utilizing contacts to help develop, on a larger scale, a customer buyback program. I will keep you informed on the progress of this endeavor.

          I am proud of my family, cattle, and customers. I hope you feel the same to be associated with Nagel Cattle Company. I take great pride in the fact that once our cattle are sold, they do not return, only their progeny!

          We are once again giving out customer appreciation jackets at our bull sale. If you have purchased six or more bulls in the last ten years you will qualify for a jacket. You will need to attend the sale to receive your jacket. We have a NEW SALE DATE: MONDAY MARCH 7, 2011 at 1:00 located at the 7N Arena west of Springfield. The format of the sale will be the bulls housed in the arena for viewing and then the bulls will be run through the sale ring for auction. Please mark the date on your calendar.

          As always you are welcome to stop in or call. We look forward to hearing from you!

                                                  Nagel Cattle Company

                                                  Blane Nagel and family