After wrapping up a long and meaningful chapter with Colorado Cattlemen’s Association (CCA) in 2022, Terry Fankhauser began thinking about what came next. He wasn’t ready to step away from the work he loved—especially the policy side of agriculture that impacted families across generations. Having spent years working with families, he knew how deeply policy decisions could affect their futures in succession to the next generation.
As he traveled the state attending affiliate meetings, Terry collected countless stories—real stories, from real families, about how they got started and how they worked to hold onto their piece of the West. I had the privilege of traveling alongside him, listening in on those stories, and seeing the pride that producers carried for their land and their legacy.
Terry often talked about capturing these stories in a book. Eventually, he decided a podcast would be the best way to bring these voices to life. A podcast could mix storytelling with his love for policy—a space where ranching families could share their generational wisdom, and experts could shed light on the policies shaping their futures.
When we returned to Kansas, we began laying the foundation. Terry outlined his vision: a format that blended interviews with insight, questions that would guide guests through their personal histories and professional hurdles. He even started a guest list. His goal was clear: keep these stories alive, connect them to the policy landscape, and help others navigate the road ahead.
My role was simple—I’d be the producer, the supporter, the one cheering from behind the scenes. But when Terry passed away in early 2024, that plan changed. Now, I’m stepping into the role of host, determined to carry out his vision and share the stories he so deeply believed in.
Using the questions Terry prepared, I’ve begun interviewing the guests he wanted to feature. These are folks he admired—people who worked alongside him, who shared his values and who helped shape the industry. Each conversation reveals something new, not just about their lives and operations, but about Terry himself. Terry’s niece, Shelby Fuller, has taken over my original role as producer. It’s been meaningful for her to learn more about her uncle through these conversations, and it’s brought us even closer as a family.
For the very first episode, I used the exact questions Terry had written—and recorded his responses. He sat down with me just a week before his surgery in January 2024. That recording is something our family will treasure forever, and I hope listeners will feel the same connection when they hear his voice.
Beyond the podcast, I’ve also taken over Terry’s cattle business, raising stocker cattle. It’s been a learning curve, but with the help of our children—Emma, Tess and Grant—as well as Terry’s family and my brother, we’ve been able to keep things going. I couldn’t do it without them.
There’s one more piece of Terry’s vision I want to honor. Before his passing, he was working hard to ensure CCA would establish a new permanent home at the National Western Complex in Denver, CO. As many of you know, it will be a return to our roots in reestablishing CCA’s place in the historic Livestock Exchange Building. Though Terry had moved on from his role as executive vice president, the building mission remained close to his heart.
In that spirit, we’re using the podcast to help raise funds for the CCA’s new home. Our goal is to secure sponsorships for the show, and all proceeds from the first year will go toward the Colorado Cattlemen’s Building Fund in Terry’s honor. It feels right to give back to something he believed in so strongly.
Through this work—on the podcast, on the ranch and in support of CCA—I’m reminded daily of the impact one person can have when they’re driven by purpose and committed to their community. Terry’s legacy is one of service, vision and unity—and I’m proud to carry it forward. — Hidi Fankhauser, Madison, KS
