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The Cattleman's Call That Never Fades: Scott Wolverton’s Journey From Farm to Fame

Wed, 11 Feb 2026 14:08:43 GMT

For Scott Wolverton , the path to Nashville didn’t begin under bright stage lights or inside a recording studio. It started on a cattle farm in southeast Nebraska — where early mornings, livestock chores and county fairs were simply part of everyday life.

Raised on a cow-calf operation in Seward, Neb., Wolverton grew up immersed in agriculture. He started taking guitar lessons when he was 10. He says music was always there, but it wasn’t always the priority.

“I grew up on a small cattle farm,” Wolverton says. “We have a cow-calf operation back home. I grew up playing music here and there, but it really took the back burner to football, baseball, wrestling, 4-H events, showing cattle and doing all that stuff.”

Agriculture wasn’t just something Wolverton participated in. It was embedded in his family.

“My dad’s a veterinarian back home in Seward. He has a small cow-calf operation, K.A.W. Red Angus, and that’s what we would show cattle through and do all that stuff, 4-H projects,” Wolverton says. “My mom works for 4-H Extension out of Seward County. She helps with after-school programs for kids. She helps the county fair set up, running this county fair, hiring judges, all the livestock shows. She does a lot of that.”

Wolverton, his older brother and twin sister were raised around livestock, showing both Red Angus cattle and horses. It was those experiences on the farm and showing livestock that prepared him for the challenges of building a career in Nashville.

“I feel like I learned a lot about responsibility and work ethic just through working with animals, working with my dad and my siblings on the farm and doing just everyday things out there,” Wolverton says.

(Provided by Scott Wolverton)

A Chance Introduction That Changed Everything

Growing up, Wolverton’s interests were split between 4-H and athletics. Baseball, in particular, became a major focus. In college, he majored in agronomy — a natural extension of his agricultural upbringing — while also pursuing baseball seriously enough that it eventually became his career. Wolverton coached at Hutchinson Community College in Kansas, and during that time, he quietly began recording music on his own.

What he didn’t expect was that a casual connection would open a door he never saw coming. The coaches he worked with introduced him to a man who would eventually become his manager.

That manager, Zach, happened to be in Hutchinson one night when an opportunity surfaced almost out of nowhere — a chance for Wolverton to open for country artist Riley Green in Salt Lake City the very next day.

“I was like, ‘OK, that’s awesome. I don’t know if I’m going to get there. That’s about 21 hours away,’” Wolverton says. “And he said, ‘We’ll just fly you out, and then fly you back on Friday.’ And so I flew out Thursday morning, played the show Thursday night, and flew back on a Friday morning. And I’m back in time for practice that afternoon.”

The experience was fast, surreal and life-altering for a farm kid from Nebraska.

“It was kind of surreal in the moment. The Riley Green thing kind of came out of the blue,” Wolverton says. “And it was one of those things where you’re kind of like, it happened so quickly. In the moment I was kind of like, ‘Is this really where I’m at right now?’ Because it happened in less than 24 hours. I was on a plane and back in Kansas.”

That moment set Wolverton on a new path — one that eventually led him to Nashville and a full-time pursuit of country music. But even as his career shifted, his connection to agriculture never faded.

(Provided by Scott Wolverton)

His Inspiration

Wolverton says his main inspiration as a songwriter comes from home and how he was raised — the work, love and lifestyle he learned growing up around cattle.

“A lot of my inspiration comes from home,” Wolverton says. “It comes from where I grew up, what I grew up doing, that west country life, I guess. It’s very simple, but a lot of it has to do with work ethic, my faith, that kind of lifestyle.”

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A post shared by Scott Wolverton (@scottywolverton)

His Most Personal Song Yet

One of his most personal songs, “ Cattleman’s Call ,” draws directly from his upbringing and a sound that defined his childhood.

“My dad has always done that cow, the ‘come-boss,’ cattle call, and it’s always been such a fascinating thing to me because growing up as a little kid, you hear your dad scream and you’re like, ‘What was that?’” Wolverton explains. “And then you kind of learn about it, but it’s so amazing the cows always come right when he calls. They’ll perk their heads up and you can see them just start walking because they know they’re going to get taken care of.”

That cattle call became more than a memory. It became a metaphor and a message.

“My parents have been my rock throughout college baseball and just life in general,” he says. “My dad’s always called me and he’s always been very reassuring of, ‘Hey man, if anything ever happens, you fall flat on your face, you can always come home.’ And so, I tried really hard to relate that cattle call to that feeling, and that’s kind of where that inspiration really came from.”

Released last summer, “Cattleman’s Call” serves as both a tribute to his father and a reflection of the values Wolverton learned growing up in agriculture — values that continue to guide him in an industry that demands persistence and grit.

“Working in any branch of agriculture, a lot of it is hard work. It takes a lot of discipline, it takes a lot of hard work, it take a lot know-how or ‘figure it out,’” Wolverton says. “And the music industry is not a whole lot different from that. It’s really difficult. There’s a lot people doing it. You kind of got to find a way to stand out. And I feel very prepared in that way through the hard work and the dedication that I learned through working with animals, through working on the farm.”

From cattle country to country music, Scott Wolverton’s journey is rooted in the land and shaped by the lessons learned on a Nebraska farm. No matter how far the road takes him, the call of home is never far away.

47% of Beef Producers Plan to Increase Herd Numbers

Mon, 15 Sep 2025 19:31:25 GMT

Takeaways from the 2025 State of Beef Industry survey reflect the industry is currently thriving financially but facing long-term structural challenges around herd rebuilding, succession planning and maintaining competitiveness through innovation and efficiency improvements.

Despite the challenges, optimism is rising: 47% plan herd growth, and two-thirds report profitability. Survey results summarize producers believe long-term success will depend on adaptability and innovation.

In its third year, Farm Journal’s State of the Beef Industry 2025 Survey, provides a comprehensive overview of the current status and outlook of the beef industry. The report surveyed 469 beef producers from across the U.S., focusing on those with cow herds that exceed 50 pairs or more than 500 on feed.

The year-over-year comparisons are starting to tell a story about what’s going on in the industry and the shifts producers are experiencing. Here are some key takeaways:

Two-thirds of producers have added new revenue streams like selling direct to consumer, developing a recipient herd, custom calving or hunting, which helps offset the risk of volatile markets.
Comparing the 2023 and 2024 surveys, the number of respondents who precondition calves before marketing has been consistent — 83% in 2025, 79% in 2024 and 82% in 2023.
Of the survey participants, 84% selected genetics and performance information as a consideration when buying bulls. Other top factors included disposition (79%) and phenotype or appearance (79%). Source came in at 56% and value 54%.

The State of the Beef Industry Report provides information to help producers when making decisions. Click here to download the full report.

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Be Aware: Dangerous Asian Longhorned Tick Continues Migrating West

Wed, 18 Jun 2025 14:42:46 GMT

The Asian Longhorned Tick (ALHT) poses a serious threat to cattle health. ALHTs carry Theileria, which is a protozoan parasite that infects red and white blood cells. It can lead to anemia and, in some cases, death.

ALHTs are native to eastern Asia, eastern China, Japan, the Russian Far East and Korea but were introduced to Australia, New Zealand and western Pacific Islands. In other countries, it can also be called a bush tick, cattle tick or scrub tick.

In the U.S., ALHT was first detected in New Jersey in 2017. Since then, it has spread to more than 20 states with recent confirmations in Illinois , Michigan and Iowa .

According to USDA’s Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) ALHTs are known to carry pathogens, which can cause disease and may also cause distress to the host from their feeding in large numbers. For example, a dairy cow may have a 25% decrease in milk production after becoming a host.

A female can reproduce without a mate and lay up to 2,000 eggs at a time. This can cause great stress on a heavily infested animal and result in reduced growth and production. A severe infestation can kill the animal from excessive blood loss.

Asian longhorned tick life stages and relative actual size.

(Photos of unfed ticks by Centers for Disease Control. Photos of engorged ticks by Jim Occi, Rutgers, Center for Vector Biology.)

What does it look like?

Unfed ALHTs range from a light reddish-tan to a dark red with brown, dark markings. While the adult female grows to the size of a pea when full of blood, other stages of the tick are very small — about the size of a sesame seed.

Adult females are a grey-green with yellowish markings. Male ticks are rare.

APHIS reports it only takes a single tick to create a population in a new location.

The above photos are of a AHLT engorged (on the left) and an adult AHLT not engorged.

(New Jersey Department of Agriculture)

ALHTs need warm-blooded hosts to feed and survive. They have been found on various species of domestic animals — such as sheep, goats, dogs, cats, horses, cattle and chickens — and wildlife. The tick has also been found on people.

What are the health risks?

APHIS says ALHTs are not known to carry Lyme disease, but they can cause tickborne diseases affecting humans and animals such as:

Rocky Mountain spotted fever
Heartland virus
Powassan virus

APHIS says those diseases have not been confirmed outside of a laboratory setting in the U.S. In addition, U.S. ALHT populations can transmit U.S. Theileria orientalis Ikeda strain (Cattle theileriosis) in the laboratory.

In an Iowa State University release , Grant Dewell, Extension beef veterinarian and associate professor, says cattle affected by Theileriosis will show signs of lethargy, anemia and difficulty breathing. They may develop ventral edema, exercise intolerance, jaundice and abortions.

“Although signs of Theileriosis are similar to anaplasmosis, younger animals and calves often display more severe signs compared to mature cows and bulls,” he says. “Due to anemia from both tick infestation and Theileria, the risk of death can be elevated. If cattle producers suspect either Theileria or ALHT, have a veterinarian collect appropriate samples and submit them to a veterinary diagnostic lab.”

According to an Oklahoma State University press release , under laboratory conditions ALHT is a competent vector of numerous pathogens that can cause disease in humans, including Rickettsia rickettsii (Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever), Heartland Virus and Powassan Virus.

In “ Clinical Infectious Diseases, ” Bobbi Pritt, MD, MSC, with the division of clinical microbiology at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., reported a human bite that occurred in New York in 2019. She says though the report of a human bite isn’t surprising, it proves the invasive longhorned tick continues to bite hosts in its newest location.

“This is extremely worrisome for several reasons,” she writes. “One reason is Asian longhorned ticks can carry several important human pathogens, including the potentially fatal severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) virus and Rickettsia japonica, which cases Japanese spotted fever. While these pathogens have yet to be found in the United States, there is a risk of their future introduction.”

Also, Pritt says several other human pathogens have been detected in the ticks, but it’s not clear if the ALHT species are able to transmit them to humans. They include Anaplasma, Ehrlichia, Rickettsia, and Borrelia species. Lyme disease is caused by Borrelia burgdorferi bacteria.

She warns the organisms are present in states where ALHTs have been found and that it’s possible the tick — known to be an aggressive biter— might be able to transmit Heartland virus given its close relationship to SFTS virus.

How to Tackle Ticks

According to APHIS, various strategies effectively mitigate tick populations on hosts and in the environment.

Regular tick treatments should be effective against ALHTs. Consult your veterinarian or agriculture extension agent about which products to use.
Check your livestock for ticks regularly.
Safely remove ticks from people and pets as quickly as possible. If you think you’ve found an ALHT, seal it in a zip-top bag and give it to your veterinarian for identification.
Habitat modifications can help prevent ticks on feedlots and pastures. This may include mowing grass, removing trees, reducing shade by thinning trees, understory removal and placing mulch barriers.
Apply acaricide using label instructions to tick habitats, such as woodland edges and grassy patches, during times when ticks are most actively seeking hosts. Although it varies by year, ALHTs are generally active from March to November. Consult your state and local regulations for approved acaricides.

“Cattle producers should aggressively control external parasites this summer,” Dewell summarizes. “Insecticide ear tags alone are not enough to control ticks. Consider incorporating a back rubber or regularly applying a pour-on during the summer. Pyrethroid-based products are also available that include a tick control label. If an increase in tick infestations is observed, an avermectin pour-on may be the best intervention.”

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Young California Couple Returns to Ranch to Build Beef Business

Mon, 09 Jun 2025 20:05:33 GMT

Nestled in the mountains an hour northeast of downtown San Diego, cattle graze the hillsides turning grass into beef to feed city dwellers.

Alli Fender and her husband, Bryce, created Flying F Ranch in 2020 and run cattle on Mesa Chiquita Ranch, which has been in her family since 1921. They market their beef to San Diego County and surrounding areas.

“This is a family business,” Fender says. “Bryce and I have our Angus cattle we care for, but we also help my dad and brother with their cattle as well. With our black Angus cattle, we sell beef direct-to-consumer in USDA retail packages and bulk whole/half shares throughout the year to Southern Californians.”

The Fenders selected black Angus for their maternal and carcass qualities, as well as being able to work well in the arid climate of southern California.

(Flying F Ranch )

The Fenders have two young sons and are expecting a third baby in June.

“We actively have our children involved in day-to-day tasks helping care for their livestock and critters they have on the ranch,” she explains. “Both boys have created a poultry business endeavor together raising Thanksgiving turkeys and meat chickens for locals in the San Diego region.”

Fender’s ranching legacy stems from her great grandpa, who immigrated from Switzerland and worked as a dairyman before eventually buying the ranch. It was then converted to beef cattle in 1990. The couple was gifted 10 bred heifers as a wedding gift in 2014 and have slowly transitioned their herd to black Angus for their carcass quality and adaptability to the environment.

Fender went to college and became a registered veterinary technician, working in the veterinary field for eight years before transitioning to the ranch full time.

Alli left a career in the veterinary tech industry to come back to the ranch and raise her young family in agriculture.

(Flying F Ranch )

“I did not think I would return to the ranch to solely work for myself and our family,” Fender says. “I always had a love and passion for agriculture and wanted to keep the legacy of our family alive. However, I thought going to college and getting a career job was what I was supposed to do based on what society has ingrained in so many of us.”

Fender says many believe staying on the farm or ranch won’t make enough money to raise a family comfortably, but she is proof it can work.

“Between being innovative, being open to diversification and having at least one spouse in the household with a solid career job has really made this possible for Bryce and I to make our dreams become reality.”

Alli handles the day-to-day management of the cattle, while Bryce works as a nurse at the local hospital three days a week. While she is thankful to be working for herself now, she has faced some challenges returning to the farm.

“This is a male-dominated field and being taken seriously as a woman in this space can sometimes be difficult — even with some of the people you think would respect you the most,” Fender says. “However, I believe throughout the years of working hard, speaking up for our community and being actively involved in cattlemen and cattlewomen groups at the state and national levels has helped me gain respect and confidence.”

Sharing Their Story

One of the hardest parts of being a young farmer was finding a niche in the industry, Fender says.

“I am a storyteller, and my current audience and clientele buy beef from us because they love our lifestyle, how we raise our animals and our story of how we got where we are today,” she says. “I think finding what makes you unique and stand out is crucial — especially when first starting out. The business will evolve but be open to what will set you apart from the rest.”

The Fenders have experienced this first hand. In the past, they only offered grain-finished beef but have had a lot of customers asking for grass-finished beef.

Alli shares about the benefits of beef to her local customers during Farmers’ Markets in San Diego county.

(Flying F Ranch )

“Bryce and I prefer the taste and texture of grain-finished beef,” Fender says. “This year we offered some grass-finished beef from open heifers we had in our herd. People who bought our grass-finished beef really have enjoyed the new option. Now, we are trying to find a way to offer both since we have a market for both.”

She says it’s important to balance what producers want to offer and what our customers are actually looking for.

“I think for the future, it is important for us to ask our customers what they want versus what we want,” she adds. “Costs will be the difficult thing to figure out. With drought, minimal grass availability and feed costs in general, our price point may need to increase. We still have to make a profit.”

In addition to selling beef through their website, Fender attends farmers markets and uses that time to communicate with consumers.

“Grain finishing cattle is more consistent and takes less time than finishing on grass,” she says. “We don’t want to deteriorate our land to raise a different product. A lot of people are conscious about things like land, the environment and climate. So, that’s another talking point I like to mention too.”

Being open to conversations and taking time to explain and answer questions goes a long way to building customer trust.

“I just explain to people, I don’t care what kind of beef you eat or what kind of beef you want to buy. If you want to buy at Whole Foods or at Walmart, it’ll be safe beef — and you shouldn’t feel guilty if you have to settle for something that you would believe is less than because it’s not. It’s going to be equally as healthy and full of nutrients that any other beef product would be too.”

In addition to the direct sales side of the business, another opportunity Fender sees for their ranch will be growing the seed stock herd of their Angus cattle.

“We see a void in our area of Southern California for access to high quality bulls and heifers with genetics that lead to longevity and efficiency into our neighbors’ herds,” Fender says. “In the next few years, we are hoping to offer cattle for local ranchers and even ranchers across the U.S. to have access to.”

Get Involved

As millennial rancher herself, Fender offers some advice to other young people interested in ranching.

“I always tell people who want to get into the cattle industry to join their local cattlemen or cattlewomen organizations,” she says. “You get to network and learn from people who have been in the industry for many years and have a passion for it.”

Fender explains there are older cattlemen or women who don’t have heirs to sell, lease or pass down ranches too, but they want to keep the ranch alive somehow.

“Some people are looking for a younger, eager person to come in and help them take over the ranch or farm. That’s where you find those kind of people in these different organizations,” she adds.

Another piece of advice Fender offers is to start small. Even though she comes from a multi-generational ranch, she has a younger brother who is also involved. Fender doesn’t expect to inherit anything. Her parents have provided assistance and guidance, but she and Bryce are building a business that will continue to grow into the future.

“I just want to make sure I have all the resources I need to create opportunity for our family,” she explains. “Part of that is starting small with our own business. We’re only selling 15 head a year when it comes to our direct-to-consumer beef sales — including our whole and half beef, plus our USDA beef we sell retail. Don’t get too crazy and in a rush. Start with selling one a year or a herd of five — whatever you can get.”

If produces don’t have land they own, leasing ground offers an opportunity to get started. In southern California, leases are hard to find. But Fender keeps her eyes and ears open all the time for new opportunities that come up.

“You just have to keep talking to people and looking up different leases that are available to you. Don’t be afraid to look into an ag or a small business loan,” she adds. “Many loans USDA has available for ranchers just sit there every year because people don’t take advantage of it or don’t realize it’s there.

She says it just takes a little bit of time, research and talking to people.

“It all starts with building that network,” Fender says.

The Fenders have hosted Farm-to-Table dinners on their ranch as a way to share more about how beef is raised.

(Flying F Ranch )

Future plans

Looking to the future, Fender hopes in the next five to 10 years, they will have their first bull and heifer sale on the ranch.

“We would love to offer purebred black Angus and commercial cattle to cattlemen both across the country and locally,” she says. “San Diego is a destination location, so it is a great place for people to bring their families for a mini-vacation and bring home some pretty cows. Additionally, I’d love to have a storefront butcher and meat shop to feature our meat products, as well as other local meats from various ranchers and farmers.”

Setting goals and moving forward remains important to Fender — who loves being able to raise her family and beef on the ranch.

“There is always something Bryce and I have an eye on that we would like to build or improve on,” she says. “For example, I would love to add more shade structures for our feeder steers, a pole barn for haystacks and an event barn for our Ranch-to-Table dinners we host a few times a year.”

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Spring Cattle Processing Tips to Enhance Herd Health and Diminish Stress

Fri, 09 May 2025 14:14:12 GMT

Pastures are turning green, which means it’s time to work cows and calves. Achieving the best results with vaccines requires using the correct syringes and needles, good management practices and functional facilities. It’s also important to involve your veterinarian.

A vaccine is used to reduce the risk of disease, but giving an injection does not completely prevent disease nor does it mean immediate protection. Most products will shorten the duration and severity of disease, but each immune system reacts differently, says Lindsay Waechter-Mead, DVM and Nebraska Extension beef educator.

“Once an animal receives the product, it may take up to one month for the immune system to create antibodies, which will be activated during the next disease challenge,” she explains. “Therefore, it is best to anticipate when and what diseases are a threat and administer a vaccine protocol one month prior.”

Before running the first cow through the chute, check out these reminders on maintaining equipment, reading the product label, handling vaccines, injection sites and keeping records.

Needle and Syringe Selection

One key to an effective vaccination strategy is selecting the proper needles and syringes.

“When selecting a needle, determine the appropriate route of administration, whether it is subcutaneous (SQ) or intramuscular (IM), from reading the product label,” says Nick Wagner, DVM and professional services veterinarian for Neogen. “Next, determine the weight of the animal, not only for proper dosage, but also for selection of the appropriate needle.”

The route of administration determines the length of the needle, while the size of the animal determines the gauge or diameter of the needle.

The type of syringe and proper care and use matters too.

“If you follow these best practices , along with selecting a needle of the proper gauge and length, you will ensure safe and effective injections,” Wagner says.

Cattle-Handling Tips

Reducing stress during livestock handling can increase productivity, maintain or improve meat quality, reduce sickness and enhance animal welfare.

“While temperament in cattle is moderately heritable, environment does play a role and even cattle that are less docile will benefit from low-stress handling methods,” says Beth McIlquham, University of Wisconsin-Madison regional livestock educator. “A good handler can help reduce fear in an animal, which is the primary driver of negative consequences associated with handling stress.”

These three steps — don’t use an electric prod, understand cattle’s natural instincts and work with cattle’s natural flight zone — can reduce stress during spring processing.

Don’t Forget the Handling Facilities

In addition to handling techniques, a well-maintained pen and chute system can help reduce stress on the cattle and the people. Preventative maintenance is key to keeping facilities in good working order and reduce the likelihood of injuries.

“Before processing, start with basic preventative maintenance, such as making sure the gear teeth are in order, that the movable points are well oiled,” says K-State veterinarian Brian Lubbers.
Take the time to walk through the system just as cattle will on processing day.

“Before you start moving cattle through the system, walk through the alleyways to see if there is anything protruding that will cause the cattle to get injured or balk as they are being pushed ahead,” adds K-State veterinarian Brad White.

If you’re looking to build or revamp working facilities, check out these recommendations as well as a comparison of sweep tubs and bud boxes.

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