Trevor Johnson: Sleepy Hollow Bull Sale Preview

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We sit down with Trevor Johnson of Sleepy Hollow Farms to preview a balanced, structurally sound set of Angus, Hereford, and Simmental bulls selling March 13. We trace breeding fundamentals, a key Hereford herd acquisition, and the lots that stand out for calving ease, growth, and carcass quality.

• sixth-generation roots and purebred focus 
• sale date, location, and DV Auction details 
• breeding for calving ease, feet, and structure 
• industry push to higher outweights and carcass 
• Top Gun Angus group highlights and utility 
• Final Print Herefords for replacements and feeders 
• Blacktop Farms cowherd acquisition and legacy 
• standout Angus Lot 11 as a power cow bull 
• Genesis-bred Hereford Lot 27 with balanced data 
• Simmental option for heterosis and practical pounds 
• AgBull Intel texts and market insights used on ranch

It’s $25 a month or $250.00 annual. You get text updates, emails, insight, and then you also get to call a broker whenever you would like.

Transcript

Welcome And Guest Intro

SPEAKER_00 0:22

Welcome everyone to the Ag Bull Podcast, Ag Bull Media. This is Jed Sidwell, the new co-host of Ag Bull Media. Have the reins in my hand for the first time tonight. And uh boy, I think we have a treat for you. We have Mr. Trevor Johnson, a longtime friend of mine. He and his family run Sleepy Hollow Farms. And they got something pretty special coming up. They got their bull sale on March 13th. Man, uh, let's add Trev to the show. Mr. Johnson, how are you doing this evening? I'm doing very well. Just glad to be with you, Jed. Thanks for the invite. Well, uh, we're certainly excited to have you on. If you want to go ahead and tell us uh where you guys are located and tell us what kind of operation you have and what's all going on.

Operation Overview And Sale Details

SPEAKER_01 1:09

Yeah, absolutely. So I just graduated from Kansas State here coming on two years ago and have since returned to my family's registered cattle operation. We live a half hour south of Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Centerville would be the hometown where we're located. And we operate a registered Hurford, Angus, and Cementol operation. And as Jed mentioned, we've actually got our annual bull sale coming up here in just about a little over two weeks. It'll be Friday, March 13th, there at the farm. So we're it's been an exciting time, obviously, incredible cattle market and just interesting times to have come out of college and and be back on the family operation. But we've had some exciting growth opportunities, and the set of bulls that we're going to offer up here in a couple weeks is definitely our best one to date, and so things are feel like they're clicking right along, and we're just excited.

SPEAKER_00 2:05

So nice. Nice man. I flipped through the catalog, Trevor, and kind of went through them, and man, they're impressive. And we'll get we'll get to them here in a bit. What are you guys kind of focusing on uh in 2026 and what you guys are raising and kind of in relation to what's going on in the world, what's going on in the market? Uh, what's your guys' view right now?

Breeding Philosophy And Fundamentals

SPEAKER_01 2:29

So, as far as I mean, breeding philosophies, I guess to back up just a little more history on the operation. So, where we sit today, I would be the sixth generation back around this area where my family homesteaded. But as far as the registered cows go, mom and dad started that deal from scratch here about 25 years ago, and my brother and I would be the second generation kind of stepping in and working into the purebred side of the operation. But, you know, our breeding philosophies really haven't changed much in that 25 years. We really strive to build, you know, kind of balanced, practical cattle that can go out and work in a lot of operations. You know, mom and dad really bootstrapped the cowherd, you know, and built it from the ground up, just the two of them. And so, you know, coming from humble beginnings, those cattle had to, you know, they had to breed up, they had to have some longevity, they had to calve easy, be incredibly docile. But then alongside that, we haven't strayed from you know the need to play into the real world and the commercial side of the business too, and still have some performance and growth and carcass quality. So as far as the breeding strategies, you know, that's kind of what we're looking at. And, you know, it maybe sounds cliche, but those are the fundamentals that we feel like, regardless of what side of the cow calf business you're in, those are pretty economically relevant traits. So that's what we really try to hone in on, and you know, every year just continue to improve the quality of the bulls as well.

Calving Ease, Growth, And Structure

SPEAKER_00 4:05

Right, right, yeah. I mean, it's evident in your guys' pictures and and what I've seen being to your place and the cows that you have there. We talked to Mr. Mike Sands earlier today on our uh Fat Tuesday show about how, yeah, now these days the cattle are better than they ever have been, and we're growing them to higher weights, which is awesome, uh, but we still got to keep them pretty safe calving, right? I mean, if we're gonna push them to these high, high weights, and man, flip through that catalog, uh, you see a lot of safe calving, kind of useful kind of bulls that still come with the right kind of performance.

SPEAKER_01 4:40

Yeah, and and to that note, you know, when you look at the industry, and like you mentioned, I mean, we're pushing these cattle to record large, you know, outweights at the feed yard, and consequently, I mean, you're seeing it in the carcass weights as well. That's something we'd really try to work on is you know, really, really good-footed cattle that have longevity and structural integrity. You know, whether it's mama cows or bulls running out on, you know, the deserts of of southwest Kansas, or you know, these 1800-pound mammoths that we're feeding in Iowa and Minnesota and stuff like that. You know, these cattle just really need some duability and some structural integrity. And so that's something we've really tried to incorporate into the breeding strategy as well.

Top Gun Sire Group Highlights

SPEAKER_00 5:29

Right, right. I mean, we gotta build them right from the ground up, and that's very evident in this set. Well, we'll go ahead and roll into some of these bulls, I think, Trevor. Let's go ahead and we'll start with this first set of sleepy top guns, lots three, four, five, and six. Man, what an impressive uh sire group there.

SPEAKER_01 5:51

Yeah, these top guns, that's uh a new sire group that we actually just used this year. And you know, I think these cattle really just clicked in terms of you know having some some real true muscle and genuine shape and some carcass quality, you know, especially when you get out in the pen, though, they're not they're not just muscle and carcass. You know, these cattle are are good built and flexible and and are gonna be able to get out and cover some country. So definitely an exciting sire group and one that we're looking forward to to see how they're received on sale day.

Viewing Catalog And Platforms

Hereford Final Print Group

SPEAKER_00 6:29

Right. And I think they'll be received real well, Trevor. And something I forgot to bring up, if you're listening on Spotify to this podcast, uh hop on over to YouTube uh so that way you can see the pictures and catalog snippets we have up, uh, or you can just go to Trevor's uh Facebook at Sleepy Hollow Farms and click on their catalog there. Let's roll on to these Herfords here, Trev. The final prints, a lot 33, 34, 35, and 36. We got a picture of your pup on there, too.

SPEAKER_01 6:59

Yeah, that's Ralph down in the corner, my fiance and I's little puppy. We sure love him. But now getting back to the Bulls, the the final prints, you know, as far as the Herford offering and what we're trying to do there, you know, a lot of our Herford customers are looking to both make replacement heifers as well as feeder calves. And I think these final prints really kind of click the ticket there. You know, they've got some maternal power behind them, they're backed by good cow families. I mean, those are going to be some some easy doing, you know, long-lasting females out of those bulls, but also, you know, have the growth and the performance to go along with that and make hopefully a ripping set of feeder calves for somebody and and ultimately go on and do good things at the feed yard as well. Right, right.

SPEAKER_00 7:49

And Tommy's throwing us up a little pop-up there. I don't think the dog's for sale. I think he'd be uh what you'd call invaluable, but I think everyone has their price, right, Trevor? Everything's for sale for a price, but I don't think you're gonna slide it past my fiance. Yeah, I think you get to buy the farm or you get to buy the dog, and they were about similar in value. Uh man, good set of Hurfords, though. And what I kind of noticed from top to bottom as a Colorado guy, man, their pigment uh is pretty on point there, Trev.

SPEAKER_01 8:19

It is, you know, and one other thing I'd like to mention, if for those people watching, you know, online, uh, you'll notice the sleepy BT prefix. That's actually something pretty exciting that happened in in the year 2025. We actually had the opportunity to purchase some longtime family friend and mentors, Herford Cowherd, and so the Reppening family from Mitchell, South Dakota, Blacktop Farms. So a lot of these final print sons that you see listed on the screen would actually be those that we purchased from the Reppening family, and so we were very honored to be able to work with them and and purchase that cowherd and looking forward to carrying on the legacy that they built.

Angus Standout Lot 11

SPEAKER_00 9:04

Awesome. Man, I really liked this set of calves, and uh I'm interested uh to see what they do on sale day. Well, we've gone through some of the groups now. Me and Sarah, Trevor's fiance, kind of went through and picked out some of our favorites to show you guys. Man, this Angus Bull, lot 11, he caught my eye immediately. A stout rascal, it looks real good footed, and man, you look at his genetic script there, that's pretty unique.

SPEAKER_01 9:32

Yeah, this is a I mean, this is one that when you just envision a you know, an awesome cowbull to turn out on a set of mature cows. I mean, this guy is kind of what I envision. These step-ups, you know, they're just big, growthy, you know, cowman kind of bulls. Obviously, a little extra birth weight here with this one, but I think it you know it's more than made up with his added performance and growth and power and muscle, and still doesn't sacrifice you know the structural integrity and the foot quality that we're really striving to build. So of the of the Angus lineup, he's definitely a highlight.

Hereford Genesis Lot 27

SPEAKER_00 10:18

Definitely. Yeah, I mean, uh flipping through the catalog, he catches your eye, but man, there's there's a bunch like him, I think, that kind of come with his power and performance and growth. But if you need one that comes with a little more birth weight, uh, there are those Angus Bulls in this set, Trevor. That I saw some real, real safe calving ones in there. Exactly. Awesome. Well, let's roll on to this Herford Lop 27, Sleepy Time BT, Genesis 5615. I thought if you're a show cattle guy, you like his pictures, and then you look at his numbers, uh and man, that one's pretty good.

SPEAKER_01 10:58

Yeah, I think obviously Genesis would be I'm not gonna call it a throwback pedigree, but kind of a a unique, unique pedigree in today's world. And I think, you know, like you said, from the side and just phenotype-wise, that bull is awesome. You know, he's so good built, he's good footed. Obviously, we don't have his video up today, but he moves incredibly well. That bull is, you know, he's big and deep-bodied and stout and big hipped and has you know a moderate birth weight, the growth, the ribeye area. You know, he's just kind of a total package here again.

Simmental Closer And Heterosis

SPEAKER_00 11:39

Absolutely. I I think he's a kind that works for a lot, a lot of people. Rounding off our individuals, we haven't brought up the semi-set of cattle yet, uh, but this guy's the very last lot in the sale. And man, we were talking about how this guy kind of uh showed himself off there when you guys got him in the picture pen. That looks like a pretty impressive one to me.

SPEAKER_01 12:01

Yeah, you know, the Cementals would be a newer, a newer deal in our program as of the last couple years, and really what it stems from is you know, customers maybe running a set of baldy cows or something like that, and really looking to capitalize on you know an additional shot of heterosis and maybe looking for a three-way cross or you know, going on a set of Angus-based cows and just trying to power them up. And so, I mean, this guy this guy does all of that. I mean, like the bulls we've talked about earlier, he checks the boxes from a fundamental standpoint, you know, good footed, good built, big hip, soft made, you know, and still has all that extra look and pounds and performance. So be looking for him on sale day as well.

SPEAKER_00 12:48

Yeah, I think his kind just kind of immediately hits you as a good doing practical kind of cattle. I mean, just we talk about slot judging them sometimes, and I think he fills that slot kind of to a T. Agreed.

SPEAKER_01 13:01

And, you know, his his kind is really what we're striving to build here, you know, just maybe doesn't do anything in terms of the extremes, but does all of the fundamentals so well and doesn't lack the extras. I just when we're thinking about what we're trying to breed and make in terms of cattle, like he he kind of fits that bill.

AgBull Intel Subscriber Benefits

SPEAKER_00 13:25

Yeah, I mean that that's just a very good kind there. Well, I think that has all of the cattle that we have to talk about this evening, Trevor. That sale should be fun. Trevor is actually a subscriber to the AgBull Podcast and AgBull Intel. Yeah, Trevor, you want to talk about kind of how you utilize some of those programs.

SPEAKER_01 13:49

Yeah, so I've been subscribed here for a little bit, and you know, one of the big things I really like are, you know, throughout the day, all the text from Tommy and Jed and the rest of the crew as far as what's going on in the markets, you know, it's a pretty easy way to stay abreast of what's happening in the world and what's driving the markets. And so from a day-to-day, just what I really enjoy, you know, I've enjoyed the text and the benefits that that's brought. And then as far as you know, the intel and the videos, I think the crew does a really good job of getting you know knowledgeable people on there that really see things from a 30,000-foot view, and so and I think they bring it in a concise package as well. It's easy to listen to, easy to follow, just really good for a guy like me that's out here doing the deal.

Sale Logistics And Contact Info

SPEAKER_00 14:43

Well, that that's high praise, Trev. I really appreciate it. Uh, yeah, bringing on high quality people is something we really try to do, like you yourself, Mr. Johnson. I knew once we kind of had the opportunity to bring on some folks, you were one of the first people I wanted to have uh because I think your insight uh is exceptional. But if you guys as well want to be a subscriber, I highly recommend joining us. It's$25 a month or$2.50 annual. Uh you get text updates, emails, insight, and then uh you also get to call a broker whenever you would like. Man, pretty unique opportunity there. But man, let's get back to the bulls, Trevor. What's kind of some closing remarks you have to say? Where can we find you? What's the sale gonna be on? All that good stuff.

SPEAKER_01 15:29

Absolutely, Jed. So if you want to follow along, like you might have seen on here, our Facebook page is Sleepy Hollow Farms, Herford and Angus. That's how you can follow us online. My phone number is 605-212-4977. Feel free to reach out anytime. If you have questions, call me, text me, Snapchat, whatever's easiest for you. Message us on Facebook. As far as viewing the sale, it will be live on DV Auction there on Friday night, Friday, March 13th at 6 p.m. So we do offer remote bidding for that as well. So if you guys would like to reach out with questions on the offering or request a catalog, there's multiple ways to get a hold of us.

Closing Thanks And Sign-Off

SPEAKER_00 16:21

Awesome. I'm sure uh it's gonna be a really fun set to watch sell. Trevor, thanks for coming on. Uh, it's been a pleasure having you on the show this evening. Folks, if you want to get a hold of Trevor, follow him on Facebook, call him at his phone number that he gave just a little while ago. You guys have a good evening. Trevor, thanks for coming on. Absolutely. Thank you, Jen.