Denver Rustlers Saddle Up for Junior Livestock Sale

Aren’t rustlers supposed to be cattle thieves? For 41 years, Denver Rustlers have continued to defy that notion in a big way. They’re the good guys in their uniform, custom white cowboy shirts, making a positive impact as the largest buying block at the Colorado State Fair’s Junior Livestock Sale. Their mission? To bid strategically to help every hard-working 4-H and FFA exhibitor at the sale fund his or her college education. Denver Rustlers represent a spectrum of elected officials, plus generous sponsors and supporters, and it’s an amazing day when the entire herd puts aside any political agendas and everyone unites for the cause.

(l to r) Josh Hanfling, Tim Schultz, Katie Kramer, Sen. Michael Bennet, Larry Mizel, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser

The annual junior livestock sale date is always circled in advance for these folks. The day begins at 9 a.m. in Denver, continues with a 100-mile road trip to the livestock sale at the fair in Pueblo and goes until the last bus returns to Denver that evening. Tasty breakfast fare at Shanahan’s Steakhouse gives everyone a hearty start. Folks can mingle, enjoy some chow and get the day’s gameplan.

Those speaking to the group during a very short program were: U.S. Sen. Michael Bennet, Colorado Gov. Jared Polis and Rustlers’ organizers Josh Hanfling, Larry Mizel, Tim Schultz and Katie Kramer. Also attending the event were U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse, Colorado Attorney General Phil Weiser and Colorado Commissioner of Agriculture Kate Greenberg.

Eve Lieberman, U.S. Rep. Joe Neguse

The organization writes: The Denver Rustlers, Inc. is a 501 (c)(3) with no paid staff, operating entirely on volunteer work. Over the years, the group has raised more than $3 million for student exhibitors at the Colorado State Fair Junior Livestock Sale, an event that supports Colorado’s young farmers and ranchers as they showcase their livestock to earn money for college. Tim Schultz and Katie Kramer (Boettcher Foundation) keep track of the bidding and the different buying groups. The Grand Champion and the Reserve Grand Champions will easily sell for tens of thousands of dollars. The Rustlers use most of their pooled funds to make sure the other young exhibitors get a fair price for their animals, staying until each and every animal is sold. The annual trek of the Rustlers has become the can’t-miss-event of the summer.