Meet Gelbvieh Breeder Roger Olsen

• Roger Olsen’s Cattle Operation: Roger Olsen is involved in a family-run cattle business in eastern Colorado, operating the Mill Iron Lazy V Cattle Company. The operation specializes in registered Gelbvieh cattle, a breed chosen for its maternal traits, feed efficiency, and adaptability to pasture conditions. Despite challenges from area development and droughts, the cattle have performed well, and Olsen maintains a mix of pasturing and feedlot strategies. They also participate in an annual bull sale, the Pot of Gold Bull Sale, which has been successful over the years, with strong sales of both bulls and heifers.

• Broadcasting and Community Engagement: The interviewer, Brian from Hale Broadcasting, discussed how their radio broadcasting covers agriculture in multiple states, including a focus on cattle operations. Hale Broadcasting provides both radio and podcast formats to share insights from the agricultural community, emphasizing personal interviews rather than traditional news reports. The program celebrates a long heritage of cattle operations and promotes sharing stories and information within the community, highlighting its rootedness as a way of life.

• Online Presence and Advertising: Roger Olsen mentioned utilizing the website gelbviehbulls.net for promoting their annual bull sales. They also engage in various advertising channels, such as postcards and regional publications, with word-of-mouth playing a significant role in their sales success. Although initially lacking in social media engagement, Olsen’s operation recognizes the growing importance of digital presence.

• Family and Heritage: A significant highlight is the role of family in the operation, with Roger attributing much of the success to his wife, June. This underscores the operations as not only a business endeavor but also a lifestyle choice deeply integrated with family values and traditions.

Transcript

Today we have Roger Olsen, a Gelbvieh breeder from Colorado. How did you get started in the Gelbvieh, Roger? 

Well, in 1970, my dad bought a group of three-quarter blood Gelbvieh cattle from a gentleman in South Dakota. There was 75 head there. The Gelbvieh breed has always been really, really good for us. We’ve always just stayed with it. 

Why do you think that is? 

They check all the boxes, as far as maternal traits, feed gain, their do-ability as far as pastures are concerned, docile disposition, very fertile cattle. We have just a super breed up every year. The cows have just not ever let us down. Even drought years, like we are having this year, just having phenomenal calves. Like I said, they’ve always treated us very well. They’ve never disappointed. We have an annual bull sale, pot of gold bull sale, over in Montrose, Colorado, every year, last Friday in February. I have been doing that for 35 years and have just been a successful bull sale and sell feedstock. They’ve always just been really good for us. 

What kind of country is that where you are? Is that good for raising cattle? 

It was good at one time. We’re being invaded by subdivisions and investment groups and stuff like that, so we’re having a hard time as far as finding pasture and feed. It’s becoming a challenge. 

Your location is Platteville. Where is that? 

Fifteen miles south of Greeley, up in the north central. 

That was Roger Olsen from northeastern Colorado’s Mill Iron Lazy V Cattle Company. 

That’s going to do it for today’s Cattleman’s Corner.