CALF_News_October_November_2021

18 CALF News • October | November 2021 • www.calfnews.net R ed Steagall first met Johnny Trotter when famed cowboy poet Buck Ramsey was hospital- ized in Amarillo, Texas, after being thrown from a horse. To liven up Buck’s spirits, Red slipped a little hooch into the hospital room. As they took a swig, a Methodist preacher from Dumas walked in. He had with him his young son, Johnny. Red and Johnny laugh about that time and reminisce about their paths to success in fields they dearly love. While Red has entertained millions with his country music and cowboy poetry and tales, Johnny has finished millions of cattle through Bar-G Feedyards outside Hereford. Trotter’s successes in feeding cattle and support for the entire beef industry are reasons behind his 2021 induction into the Cattle Feeders Hall of Fame (CFHOF). He was honored at the 12 th Annual CFHOF Induction Banquet that coin- cided with the Cattle Industry Conven- tion in Nashville. Also inducted was Colorado’s Steve Gabel, whose Magnum Feedyard in Wiggins is a model for cattle feeding excellence. Gary Smith, Ph.D., longtime meat sci- ence researcher and visiting professor at both Colorado State University (CSU) and Texas A&M, received the CFHOF Leadership Award. George Eckert of Green Plains Feeding Company in Leoti, Kan., and Gaspar Martinez of Harris Feeding Co., in Coalinga, Calif., were presented the Arturo Armendariz Dis- tinguished Service Award. Steagall introduced Trotter and talked of his colorful career outside cattle feeding. Trotter grew up in Hereford and was on a horse as much as possible. He learned to work and care for cattle. Roping was also in his blood. In 1983, that passion led to him become a partner with other astute agribusiness lead- ers in purchasing what became Bar-G Feedyards. The facility grew from 40,000-head capacity to 90,000, along with an adja- cent 35,000-head yard. Trotter’s love of horses led to deep involvement in Quarter Horse breeding and racing. One of his interests has been in One Famous Eagle, a stallion that sired three All- American Futurity winners. He is a gen- eral partner in a group that purchased and helped revive Ruidoso Downs in New Mexico and is a member of the Texas Horse Racing Hall of Fame. He’s also a member of the National Cowboy &Western Heritage Center Museum Hall of Fame in Oklahoma City. Trotter’s love of his alma mater, West Texas A&M University (WTAMU), has been instrumental in helping the Her- eford’s Spicer Gripp Memorial Roping raise more than $1 million in scholarship funding for WTAMU ag students. Steagall described Trotter as a savvy businessman who happens to be a great roper. “He knows there’s a right time to throw that loop, the right time to grab your slack and the right time to dally,” Steagall said. “He is made of the right kind of stuff.” Steve Gabel is in the same mold. Raised in Weld County, Colo., he attended Colorado State and earned a degree in animal science. He spent time as a CattleFax consultant before helping manage two feeding companies. In 1993 he acquired a 3,500-head feedyard in Higgins with his wife, Audrey. The yard has grown to 35,000-head capacity, with much of its success attrib- uted to Gabel’s adaption of production technologies and his people skills. He 2021 CATTLE FEEDERS HALL OF FAME COVER STORY By Larry Stalcup Contributing Editor LEFT: Red Steagall: Johnny Trotter "knows there’s a right time to throw that loop, the right time to grab your slack and the right time to dally,” whether in business or in the roping pen. MIDDLE: Johnny Trotter, CFHOF inductee. RIGHT: Steve Gabel, Mangum Feedyard, CFHOF inductee, and John Campbell, manager of winter livestock for Magnum Feedyard.