In Episode 9 of The Source, Jamie Wolf is joined by Cody Jorgensen for a discussion on one of the most important topics in cattle breeding: phenotype versus performance. They break down why appearance alone isn't enough, how production data and genomics should influence breeding decisions, and why functional cattle with predictable performance create long-term success.

In the second half of the episode, Jamie sits down with Donnie Leddy of Cattle Business Weekly during the Florida Cattlemen's Convention. Donnie shares his background in the cattle industry, the evolution of seedstock marketing, what goes into a successful bull sale, and why relationships continue to be one of the industry's greatest strengths.

Whether you're a seedstock producer, commercial cattleman, or simply passionate about the beef industry, this episode offers valuable insight into breeding philosophy, cattle marketing, and the people helping move the industry forward.

Topics Covered:
• Phenotype vs. performance in cattle selection
• Functional cattle and structural soundness
• Using production data and genomics in breeding decisions
• Building predictable cow families
• Seedstock marketing and bull sales
• Donnie Leddy's journey with Cattle Business Weekly
• The importance of relationships in the cattle industry

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What role does genomics really play in today's beef industry, and why does performance data still matter?

In this episode of The Source, Jamie Wolf is joined by Lane Giess for a practical conversation about genetic evaluations, DNA testing, and how genomics can help both seedstock and commercial cattle producers make better decisions. They discuss why collecting quality performance data remains essential, how genomic predictions are developed, the importance of reference populations, and where the future of genetic testing is headed.

Whether you're new to genomics or looking to better understand how these tools fit into your operation, this episode breaks down the science into real-world applications for today's cattle industry.

Managing people may be one of the toughest jobs in agriculture.

In this episode, Jamie Wolf sits down with Nick Jorgensen to discuss how Jorgensen Land & Cattle has built and managed a growing team while expanding one of the nation's largest Angus seedstock operations. They cover hiring, employee retention, internships, H-2A workers, communication, leadership, company culture, and why creating systems for people is just as important as creating systems for cattle.

If you've ever struggled with managing employees, growing a business, or balancing work with family life, this episode is packed with practical insights you can apply to your own operation.

In this Field Notes episode of The Source, Jamie Wolf sits down with Bryan Jorgensen to discuss the launch of Ideal Soil Solutions and the first two principles of soil health.

Bryan shares the story behind Ideal Soil Solutions before diving into Soil Armor and Minimize Disturbance. The conversation covers soil biology, water infiltration, residue management, cover crops, grazing, organic matter, and practical strategies producers can use to build healthier, more resilient soils over time.

Jamie sits down with whoever he can grab at the 2026 Top Cut Pre-Sale Celebration. Hear from members of the Jorgensen team, genetic partners, Col. Roger Jacobs, and stick around to the end to hear from the man who helped build the branded beef program in South America.

We had a ton of fun with this one, and we hope you enjoy it.

Drought is impacting producers across much of the country, and the decisions made today can have long-term effects on both profitability and land stewardship.

In this episode of The Source, Jamie Wolf sits down with Bryan Jorgensen to discuss drought management through the lens of soil health. They cover current conditions, grazing and forage strategies, cover crops, livestock integration, and the five soil health principles that help build resilience in both crop and grazing systems.

Topics include:
• Drought planning and risk management
• Grazing and forage strategies
• Cover crops and livestock integration
• The five soil health principles
• Building long-term resilience

ISS: https://idealsoilsolutions.com/

JLC: https://jorgensenfarms.com/

In this Field Notes episode of The Source, host Jamie Wolf sits down with Andy Tegethoff to talk about the idea behind SmartBulls® and why mature, experienced bulls can make sense for commercial cattle operations.

Rather than spending time and resources developing a young bull, SmartBulls are bulls that have already been through additional age and development and are ready to go to work immediately. Jamie and Andy discuss how the program works, the advantages mature bulls can offer, and why many producers value bulls that have already proven durability and real-world performance.

The episode also previews the upcoming SmartBulls® sale at Fallon Livestock on March 17, where around 30 head of mature, ready-to-work bulls will sell.

In this episode of The Source, host Jamie Wolf sits down with Cody and Bryan Jorgensen to talk about the meaning behind the Jorgensen Land & Cattle logo — three diamonds that each tell part of their story. The center diamond represents their cattle business, the right represents their work in agriculture and crop production, and the left represents their focus on agritainment. Together, the diamonds capture what the Jorgensen operation is all about.