At nearly 8,000 feet above sea level just outside Steamboat Springs, CO, a young seventh-generation rancher is pursuing an ambitious goal of building her own show cattle program from the ground up.
“My goal is to raise good-quality show cattle for the youth of the industry and to give back to the industry that has taught me so much,” 16-year-old Makinly Long of Oak Creek, CO, shared with WLJ.
Long grew up on her great-grandparents’ ranch in Colorado’s Yampa Valley, where the family runs about 100 head of commercial Angus-Hereford cross cattle. The family’s roots in agriculture on the Western Slope trace back to the westward expansion of the Centennial State.
While Long’s passion runs deep for the family ranch, her involvement in showing cattle in 4-H and FFA ignited a desire to start her own show cattle business, Long Show Cattle, which has now grown to about 20 head.
“I’ve been AI-ing my own cows and trying to influence the industry in my own way,” Long explained. “Advocating for agriculture and showing others what I’m doing and why I’m doing it has guided many of the decisions I’ve made to make sure that my program is successful and that I’m reaching my goals.”
Starting her own herd is rewarding, but it also comes with real challenges. The current agricultural economy can make it tough to manage input costs as a young entrepreneur.
“Everything costs money,” Long said. “Whether that’s the hay I’m purchasing, the water that is coming through the irrigation ditch, the electricity or the barn that I’m using, even the gas and trailer that I have to use to go to all of these shows and to get my name out there.”
To help offset those expenses and utilize ranch resources, Long works out a labor exchange with her grandfather, trading work on the ranch in return for support of her growing business.
“Does that take away from my own time with my herd? Yes,” she said. “But also, that allows me to have all the resources that I need to be successful.”
Though an only child, Long is surrounded by a large extended family, including many cousins, who form the strong foundation of her support system. “Having that big family, and also being on a long-term ranch, has been super helpful in getting me to where I need to be to achieve my goals,” Long said. “That support system has meant a lot.”
In addition to her time on the family ranch and growing her show string herd, she also stays active in her community through FFA and 4-H, livestock judging and playing for the local high school’s varsity volleyball team.
Laying the foundation
With each show season that passed, as a youth showman, Long saw firsthand how much genetics influenced success in the ring. Determined to source cattle with the right traits for competition, her search led her to Casper, WY, where she connected with Jonah Wing of Wing Show Stock for her 4-H and FFA projects. In 2019, when the opportunity arose to purchase a high-quality heifer from Wing, Long seized it. That decision paid off when the animal won the county fair breeding show as a heifer and later twice more as a cow-calf pair.
“She really sparked my inspiration, and with my background in the cattle industry, I decided I wanted to start my own show string,” Long said. “Every year now, I buy a heifer or two that is of premium show quality and has the genetics, and show them for the rest of the show year.”
Once fair season ends, the heifers go straight into production, helping to establish the foundation of Long’s herd.
After losing two promising calves to brisket disease, a condition caused by high-altitude hypoxia, Long became more focused on managing genetic risk within her herd.
“It pushed my program back a little bit because it started to open up my world to genetic mutations and looking for those genetic indicators,” she said.
Learning from these setbacks, Long became increasingly intentional about breeding decisions and herd management, including pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) testing and culling calves with higher PAP scores to lower elevations.
This spring also marks the first calf crop out of cows Long AI-ed herself after earning her AI certification in 2025. After attending the certification program, as the youngest participant by several years, the experience sparked a new interest and opened the door to a potential career path. Originally planning to forgo college to focus on the family ranch and grow her own operation, Long is now considering pursuing additional certifications, including in-vitro fertilization.
“The set of calves that I have on the ground right now is the best quality I have ever had,” she said. “This year I have made exceptional strides in what I’m producing and also what I’m showing.”
Long has placed second in her class at the National Western Stock Show for the past two years, giving her the opportunity to compete in a division against cattle from across the country. Throughout her entire show career, Long has been in her county’s champion drive every year, apart from two years.
“Having these wins or successes might seem small, but overall, they have helped me grow in and outside of the ring and have molded me into the showman I am today,” Long said.
Long plans to begin marketing her current set of calves soon, relying on exposure gained through shows to expand her network and build visibility for her operation. While social media marketing is not yet her primary focus, she also connects with customers through her platform as an L&L Show Feeds dealer, using it to share knowledge and promote her program.
As she builds her program and reputation in the industry, Long is also committed to giving back, ensuring that younger showmen have the guidance and support she has received.
“Looking back at my time in 4-H and FFA, I want to make sure that the kids in the same industry are going to have a great experience,” she said. “I want to be there for the whole process, ensuring that not only are they representing my program well, but that they are having a rewarding experience.”
Livestock judging coach Rod Wille further emphasizes Long’s commitment to her endeavors.
“It’s really refreshing to see someone like Makinly have such passion for the agricultural industry because it honestly is what means the most to her,” Wille told WLJ. “Her love, dedication and willingness to learn is second to none when it comes to her involvement on her family ranch in Routt County. I truly believe that Makinly has a very bright future in the cattle business.”
Her dedication to helping the next generation mirrors the support she has received throughout her own journey. In the face of adversity over the past few years, including losing her dad, she credits family members and industry mentors as a strong support system.
“Without them, I would definitely not be who I am today,” she said. “I would not have the courage or bravery to put my voice out there.”
Long especially expresses gratitude to her mom, who has continued to support her over the years and in her new business endeavor.
