Sorting Pen: The California Cattleman Podcast

For more than 20 years, The California Rangeland Trust has worked to serve the land, people and wildlife by conserving California’s working rangelands. Each conservation easement comes with a story. In this episode, we talk with CRT Marketing & Communications Manager Madison Goss about the people behind those easements, the stories that have stuck with her, and what she’s learned from the fami...

On this episode of Sorting Pen , Justin Oldfield, executive director of the California Cattle Council, joins us to discuss the Council’s latest work and investments, from advertising campaigns and research studies to the many other ways it’s supporting California’s cattle industry. Episode Resources: View the "Animal Care" commercial here or at  https://www.youtube.com/@calcattlecouncil...

At the time of recording, it was the final day of California’s legislative session for Governor Newsom to act on legislation—his final time doing so as California’s governor. Joining us to sort through how several of CCA’s legislative priorities fared this year is CCA Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur. We discuss the outcome of the state budget, plus legislation involving predators,...

CCA President Rick Roberti shares takeaways from CCA’s recent Fly-In to Washington, D.C., where staff and members were on the ground during the height of Farm Bill discussions. Hear about their meetings with federal agency leaders and a day on Capitol Hill advocating for California cattle ranchers on issues including wildfire, vacant grazing allotments, wolves and other predator issues, the Farm B...

On this episode, we're chatting through some good news and updates for cattle producers with WSR Insurance CEO Jim Vann and agent Matt Griffith. WSR Insurance is the exclusive insurance provider of the California Cattlemen’s Association. We discuss the latest updates and opportunities in Livestock Risk Protection (LRP), including USDA’s newly announced Beef Retention and National Development...

The first bull sales of California’s fall bull sale run are just days away. World Livestock Auctioneer Champion Col. Rick Machado joins Sorting Pen to chat about this year’s bull offerings, the demand for bulls as U.S. cow numbers sit at a historic low, and what today’s bull purchases could mean for calves hitting the market a couple of years from now. Rick also shares what producers should keep a...

On August 24, the U.S. border is set to reopen to cattle from Mexico at the Douglas Port in Arizona, more than a year after the border was closed due to the threat of New World screwworm. What will the reopening mean for cattle feeders in Arizona and California, and what will it take to get cattle moving across the border again? On this episode, we sort through the history and impact of the border...

Erin Borror, Vice President of Economic Analysis for the U.S. Meat Export Federation, joins Sorting Pen to discuss the global beef market. Erin, who also raises purebred and commercial cattle with her husband and sons at Tehama Angus Ranch in Northern California, shares the newest export numbers, why international markets remain critical even as U.S. beef production declines, and what the future c...

What does it take to build a producer-owned beef processing plant from the ground up? On this episode of Sorting Pen , Katie sits down with Trey Wasserburger, owner and operator of TD Angus and co-founder of Sustainable Beef, to discuss the vision behind launching a producer-owned packing plant in Nebraska. Trey shares how the idea for Sustainable Beef became a reality, the challenges of bringing...

Cattle-PAC is CCA's voluntary political action committee, working to support and educate candidates and elected officials whose decisions shape the laws and regulations affecting California ranchers. In a state with a democratic supermajority in the legislature, every pro-livestock, pro-business voice elected to office matters. On this episode, California rancher and CCA Cattle-PAC Chair Jack...

Consumer trust doesn't happen by accident. It’s built through the everyday decisions cattle producers make to care for their animals and produce high-quality beef. In this episode, we sit down with Josh White, Senior Executive Director of Producer Education & Sustainability for the National Cattlemen's Beef Association, to discuss the evolution of the Beef Quality Assurance (BQA) pro...

At CCA's Feeder Meeting in San Diego, Overland Stock Yard Co-Manager Jason Glenn provided an update on the West Coast's supply of feeder cattle. On this episode Katie and Jason chat about the market,  cattle feeding in California, and more. Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!

In our last episode, part one of this two-part series we covered a lot of background on the CA Wolf Project: how it got started, the people behind it, and what the project is—and isn’t—focused on. In this episode we pick that conversation back up. We sort through how the team is collecting research, who they’re collaborating with, what they’re seeing so far, what’s ahead, and how it all fits into...

The California Wolf Project is an initiative within the University of California Berkeley’s Wildlife Program. In this episode, the leaders of the California Wolf Project and principal investigators Dr. Arthur Middleton and Dr. Justin Brashars explain how this project got started, the people behind it, and what the project is and isn’t focused on.  This is the first episode of two on The California...

On this episode of Sorting Pen , we’re joined by Dr. John Madigan. Best known for developing the Madigan Squeeze Procedure, Dr. Madigan walks us through this simple yet groundbreaking technique used to treat neonatal maladjustment syndrome (often called “dummy foal syndrome") and how it’s now being applied to calves as well. Hear why it works, how it can be used on the ranch, the research beh...

As he prepares to term out of serving in the California State Legislature, Assemblymember James Gallagher joins us for a real, wide-ranging conversation about his time in office and what’s next. He shares his background in agriculture, what he’s learned about navigating Sacramento, and how he’s worked to elevate rural issues. We also discuss the passing of Congressman Doug LaMalfa and how that inf...

It's hot! What's up with California’s weather being unusually warm this March? Meteorologist & Climatologist Brian Bledsoe joins us to explain why this spring is feeling more like summer so far, break down this winter’s rainfall, and discuss whether a potential El Niño or even a super El Niño could be on the horizon. We also dive into the weather and situation with the devastating wi...

On March 5, initial findings from a new California study examining ways to improve produce safety—particularly on the Central Coast—were unveiled. The multi-year study was conducted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration in partnership with the Western Center for Food Safety at the University of California, Davis, the California Department of Food and Agriculture, and agricultural stakeholders a...

On this episode, we’re honored to sit down with current National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) President Gene Copenhaver and President-Elect Kim Brackett for a conversation to get to know them. They share insights from their leadership journeys, discuss the priorities shaping NCBA’s agenda, and reflect on what's ahead for them in their leadership roles with NCBA. Text us your comme...

National Cattlemen's Beef Association (NCBA) Executive Director of Government Affairs Sigrid Johanes is back on Sorting Pen . In this episode from CattleCon 2026 in Nashville, Sigrid shares about the years of work behind the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Also hear the latest on the threats of New World screwworm and the Asian Longhorned Tick.  Episode Resources: Secretary Kennedy&apos...

In this episode of Sorting Pen , we’re sorting through CCA’s early 2026 legislative efforts as lawmakers return to Sacramento for the second year of a two-year session. CCA's Vice President of Government Affairs Kirk Wilbur joins to talk about what CCA is watching early on, and whether the lack of major new threats so far is encouraging—or just the calm before the storm. We also dive into CCA...

To open the first episode of 2026, host Katie Roberti is joined by CCA President Rick Roberti for a conversation on the ongoing gray wolf crisis, thoughts on his final year as president, and what lies ahead for CCA. Together, they also take time to honor and remember the leadership and lasting legacy of Congressman Doug LaMalfa. Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!

How do you turn an idea like legalizing livestock composting into law in California? In part two of this two-part series, we go behind the scenes with researchers Laura Snell and Dr. Kasey DeAtley to cover the bill itself, how it moved through the Legislature, and what it means for ranchers going forward.  Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!

This episode was recorded where the cowboys shop— D Bar M — in downtown Reno. Hear from the owner himself about this iconic western store before our 109th annual convention takes place in Reno next week! Text us your comments, feedback and episode ideas!

How do you turn an idea like legalizing livestock composting into law in California? In part one of this two-part series, we go behind the scenes with researchers Laura Snell and Dr. Kasey DeAtley to hear how research, planning, and persistence made it all possible. Stay tuned for part two episode (dropping Dec. 8), where we’ll cover the bill itself, how it moved through the Legislature, and what...