On a ranch where the first cattle grazed in 1876, the Colyer family has spent nearly 150 years proving tradition and innovation are not opposites — they are partners. The rugged landscape of Bruneau, Idaho, is home to what began as a commercial cow-calf operation that evolved into one of the nation’s most respected seedstock programs.
A pivotal transition came in 1992, when the commercial herd and a portion of the ranch’s private land and BLM grazing rights were sold to Simplot Land and Livestock — a strategic decision that allowed the family to sharpen their focus on seedstock production and expand into registered Angus cattle to meet the evolving needs of their commercial customers. The dual-breed program that emerged from that decision has since become one of the operation’s defining competitive advantages.
Today, the ranch is a true family affair, managed by Guy and Sherry alongside their son, Kyle, daughter, Katie, and grandchildren Cruz and Piper.
For their excellence in disciplined genetics, comprehensive data collection and an unwavering commitment to the commercial cattleman, the Colyer family was recognized as the 2026 Seedstock Producer of the Year during the 2026 Beef Improvement Federation Symposium June 3 in Boise, Idaho.
While the Colyers are leaders in the showring, their primary focus remains the commercial cattleman.
“For nearly 150 years, the Colyer family has made a lasting impact on commercial cow herds across the U.S. by supplying Hereford and Angus genetics rooted in disciplined selection, comprehensive data collection and a focused breeding program,” says Shane Bedwell, American Hereford Association (AHA) chief operating officer. “Their longevity, combined with a forward-thinking approach to genetic improvement, is something that should be admired across the beef industry.”
The Colyers maintain approximately 200 registered Hereford and 200 registered Angus females, along with roughly 300 recipient cows used in their embryo transfer program.
The Platinum Standard of Data
For the Colyers, “good enough” is never the benchmark. They are pioneers in technology adoption, having integrated their first computer system in 1984.
Today, the ranch is one of only 23 Hereford breeders in the U.S. to achieve the Platinum TPR (Total Performance Records) status. This designation reflects a relentless commitment to data integrity, requiring complete reporting on every calf crop, from birth weights and calving ease to genomics and ultrasound data.
When the American Angus Association launched its own whole-herd reporting program in 2012, the Colyers enrolled immediately, ensuring the same level of data integrity across both breeds.
“We prioritize producing cattle that offer greater predictability, efficiency and profitability for the cattlemen who rely on our bulls,” Guy Colyer explains.
Genetics That Perform Where It Counts
The results of decades of disciplined selection are clearly visible in the 2025 American Hereford Association MyHerd benchmark report, which shows the Colyer cow herd ranking within the top half of the breed for nearly every measured trait and index.
The Colyer family has successfully combined curve-bending genetics with functional phenotype, resulting in cattle that perform. This balanced approach has contributed to the ranch’s annual bull sale consistently ranking among the top 10 of annual Hereford bull sales, a distinction maintained more than 46 years.
Operating both Hereford and Angus programs gives the Colyers a distinct advantage in serving commercial producers who want to capture the benefits of heterosis.
“We believe in the value of heterosis and the role Hereford genetics play in producing productive black baldy females for western range environments,” Colyer says.
The real-world results from commercial customers reinforce the claim: One producer reports a 96% rebreeding rate in resulting heifers, compared to 88% in straight Angus females.
Five Decades of Technology Adoption
The Colyer family’s embrace of technology is not a recent development — it is a half-century tradition.
“The Colyer family has been an early adopter of technologies that advance both performance and carcass evaluation,” Bedwell summarizes. “From utilizing artificial insemination (AI) since the 1970s to incorporating embryo transfer (ET), IVF (in vitro fertilization) and ultrasound carcass data collection, the operation has continually embraced tools that drive measurable progress. Participation in programs such as the AHA’s National Reference Sire Program further strengthens their ability to evaluate and validate genetics within the broader industry.”
On the data management front, Sherry helped develop one of the early computerized cow management programs in the 1980s, working alongside AHA’s Everett Stoll building interfaces between ranch systems and association databases. Today the ranch operates on the GEM livestock management platform, which centralizes all herd records, streamlines data submission to breed associations and models mating decisions by predicting EPDs across multiple sire options.
All mature cows carry tags that record heat activity and rumination, allowing AI to occur at each animal’s optimal time. Most recently, the ranch implemented the Performance Livestock Analytics System to monitor feed consumption and feeding behavior by pen — adding nutritional precision to an already data-intensive operation.
The operation has also responded to emerging health concerns in the industry. At the request of progressive commercial customers, the Colyers recently implemented testing for bovine congestive heart failure (BCHF), with AI tools now used to assist in sorting and evaluating bulls across multiple economically relevant traits including BCHF results.
Beyond the Bull Sale: A Full-Service Genetics Partner
Colyer genetics are marketed to customers in 33 states and have been exported to seven foreign countries, yet the operation’s identity remains firmly rooted in its relationship with the working commercial cattleman.
The family will host its 47th Annual Bull Sale next February, but the Colyer marketing commitment extends well beyond sale day.
Their commitment to the “conception to consumption” chain is further evidenced by their direct involvement in marketing their customers’ feeder cattle, ensuring Colyer genetics deliver value at every level of the beef industry. Throughout the summer video auction season, at least one family member is present at major sales, including Superior Livestock Auction and Western Video Market, working alongside customers to help market their feeder calves and connecting buyers specifically seeking Colyer-sired cattle.
The operation is as much about the land and community as it is about the cattle. The ranch raises 100% of its own feed and uses 15 center pivot irrigation systems to maximize water efficiency in their arid environment.
Beyond the ranch gates, the Colyer family remains deeply embedded in their community and industry. With family members serving as EMTs, school board trustees and industry leaders, their impact extends far beyond the cattle they sell.
“Colyer Hereford and Angus is built on integrity, consistency and a clear focus on advancing the profitability of commercial cattle producers,” Bedwell says.
After nearly 150 years in the business — and seven generations committed to leaving the land, the cattle and the industry stronger than they found them — Colyer Herefords and Angus is positioned for the future.
