"Extension's Always Been a Part of This Place"

The "Window Sash Ranch," located in the middle of the mountain plateau that is the San Luis Valley and surrounded in the distance by the San Juan Mountains, is situated on land that sustains not only creosote bush, yucca and jackrabbits, but also the fresh air and prairie grass that nourishes prize-winning cattle.

This family-owned operation, located north of Center, Colo., has been ahead of its time since Frank Lobato began breeding cattle in the early 1970s. And ranching has been in the family since Frank's great grandparents homesteaded in the Valley five generations ago. In1953 Frank started his first operation on land adjacent to the ranch's current location.

Frank built this successful commercial cow/calf business–now being managed by his sons, Anthony and Michael–on a three-way maternal cross-breeding system using Red Angus, Limousin and Gelbvieh cattle breeds. He was among the first in this area to use artificial insemination (A.I.) and an elaborate record-keeping system that has enabled him to quantify the genetic progress he's made over the years.

"Dad started in this business with a pure production goal,"Anthony said. "He averaged an increase in weaning weights from 450 to 620 pounds on each steer at that time. He was one of the initial participants in Colorado State University's Beef Improvement Program, which added heritability to his production indexes. This index, known as the Most Probable Producing Ability (MPPA), gave him a way to evaluate all his cows on an equal footing. Then he began to discover those breed mixtures with outstanding performance and productivity over time."

"The University and Extension have always been a part of this operation," Anthony said.

Using information from Colorado State University's cross-breeding and A.I. research, a sophisticated record-keeping system from the University of Wyoming, and local Extension assistance with educational programs on such topics as reproductive soundness, estrus synchronization, and weighing and evaluating cattle, Frank, who is now 71, became a local pioneer in the beef-breeding business.

"We've always appreciated the unbiased information and suggestions for our operation from our local Extension agents," Anthony said. Those included former livestock agent Larry Brown and current agent Marvin Reynolds, who said the Lobatos "have always been able to gather and weigh Extension information to enhance their operation."

Anthony noted, "Years ago, Extension's Ranch Management School taught us that keeping records on each animal's breed and individual production is key, and gave us a better way to do business analysis. Because of our precise reproductive records-- the long-term data we've collected--our ability to do business analyses, which we now have all computerized, we transitioned about seven years ago to a Black Angus, Maine-Anjou and Black Gelbvieh cross."

This three-way mixture provides high performance and weaning weights, and more importantly, it results in the specialized breed of "club calves"or show animals the Window Sash is known for. The attractive dark-brown cattle are expertly raised, individually cared for--and separately marketed to eliminate the middleman in this highly competitive industry.

"We look more at each cow's income-producing ability, not just her production," Michael said. They want each of their steers, bulls and heifers to bring value to, and make money for, the next owner–through productivity, breeding quality and performance. They also offer follow-up services to their buyers, including management advising, A.I. services and showmanship, "to enhance profitability for the next guy," Anthony said.

"We want to make a big impact on the beef industry."Anthony emphasized. "We want our 20 to 30 bulls to multiply by 20 or 30 more quality animals each year."

In order to do this, Michael spends most of his summer and fall on the road doing the individual matchmaking of animals with buyers. His efforts at marketing the cattle at county and state fairs and special events, along with a new venture of marketing cattle semen to operators around the country, pays off in a successful ranching operation.

The Window Sash supports three Lobato families, including Frank and Eva, son Anthony and his wife Denise and their two children, Taylor and Alexa, and son Michael and his wife Renee and their two children, Nicholas and Jordan. The rest of the family–four other sons and daughters--have lives away from the ranch, but gather together several times a year. One of those times is branding and the ranching tradition that centers around that event. "It's a lot of work,"Anthony noted. "But we have a lot of fun!"

As far as the ranch management, Michael does the legwork, Anthony does the computer work, and Frank still gives advice. And they all do the cattle work–feeding, A.I., calving–all of it.

Anthony serves on the Board of Directors for the San Luis Valley Cattlemen's Assoc., on the SLV Extension Advisory Council and is chair-elect of the Colorado Extension Advisory Council. Michael has dedicated years to helping kids with junior livestock projects and has served as Regional Fair Board president and member. Renee is the Fair Board manager.

"Dad was on the local Extension Advisory Council, too,"Anthony said. "Extension has always been a part of this place."

Photo Cutline: Ranching has been in the Lobato family since Anthony's (left) and Michael's great-great grandparents homesteaded in the San Luis Valley five generations ago. Today Colorado State University's Research and Extension partnership continues to support local enterprises like the Window Sash Ranch.

For more information, contact your local Colorado State University Extension office.

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