Grandfather, grandson share Angus passion
Just this week, Gary was traveling through Tennessee when he had the opportunity to stop and visit with Wayne Day and Nick Rippy, a grandfather/grandson duo whose passion for good Angus cattle is evident.
Wayne, who runs approximately 475 cows in Tennessee and Kentucky, buys his Angus bulls from Deer Valley Farms in Fayetteville, Tenn. Nick, a Goodlettsville, Tenn, high school senior who has an interest in the purebred side, manages another 45 head of registered Angus cows on one of his grandpa’s farms. He purchased these females from Southern Light Farms at their dispersal sale in November of 2011.
Gary reports that Wayne, who also has several other business interests, is glad his grandson is interested in the cattle business, and may eventually fulfill his dream of managing his grandpa’s cattle operations. But first, he plans to pursue a degree in agricultural business.
Wayne sells his Angus calves at local auction markets and occasionally sells freezer beef to friends and relatives. At one time, he retained ownership on his calves, feeding them in western Kansas. But he tells Gary the price of corn and the long distance to the feedlot areas of the High Plains has him figuring he’s ahead to let someone else take that risk, at least for now.
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