From Ellis Island to Cokeville: The Teichert Family Ranching Story - Part 1 [Ranchonomics Stories Ep 14]

Long before Steve Teichert developed his own approach to cattle genetics and nutrition, his family was learning what it took to make a living in the rugged country of Idaho and Wyoming. In Part 1 of this Ranchonomics Stories conversation, John Haskell sits down with Steve, a fourth-generation cattleman, to trace his family's journey from German immigrant Adolph Teichert arriving at Ellis Island to establishing a ranching operation in Cokeville, Wyoming. Steve shares stories of his great-grandfather homesteading in Idaho, his grandfather building a cattle herd during the Great Depression, and the hard work that shaped the family's approach to ranching. Steve also explains how generations of observation and practical experience helped his family develop cattle that could thrive in the challenging environments of Idaho and Wyoming. From selecting for fertility and efficient production to crossing breeds, managing nutrition, and learning when cows need extra feed, he describes the lessons passed down from his grandfather and father. He also reflects on how his own experiments with cattle genetics, supplements, and mineral nutrition have helped him continue improving the herd over a lifetime in the business. Make sure to hit subscribe/follow so you never miss an episode! In this episode, we cover: - How the Teichert family journeyed from Ellis Island to Idaho and eventually Cokeville, Wyoming - How Steve's grandfather built a cattle herd through dairying, homesteading, and hard work - Why practical, low-input cattle were essential in the family's rugged ranching environment - How generations of crossbreeding and selection shaped the family's cattle - What Steve learned about fertility, nutrition, and knowing when cows need extra feed - Why cattle performance and profitability matter more than popular trends in breeding - How Steve's long-term experiments with minerals and supplements continue to shape his approach Connect with Ranch Right: - Subscribe on YouTube - Follow on Instagram @ranchrightllc - Follow on Facebook - Check out the website - Check out all of our past webinars here Resources & Links: - Book a Free Discovery Call to Learn More - Ranching for Profit - Ranching.FYI - Wally Olson, Olson Ranch LLC Mentioned in this episode: Come with your questions. Leave with a plan. The Ranch Right Conference is February 15–18, 2027 in Orange Beach, Alabama, with keynote speaker Dr. David Kohl. Click below to register by January 10th at: Conference