Bryan Shumaker
In Town: Shumaker Tires is a family business that’s served the community of Golden for more than 45 years. Bryan Shumaker has helped carry on his family business of selling and distributing wholesale tires across a four state region. “We sell about any tire you need,” said Bryan. “From trucks, cars, industrial and agricultural applications – we’ve got it all.”
In the Country: Right after graduating high school Bryan entered the cattle business through renting some land and running a few head of cattle until he had enough cattle to purchase his own farm. “I bought more land and cattle slowly,” he said. “We raise a commercial Angus cattle operation and try to follow the trends of the market.” Bryan and his son Alex farm together and Alex plans to own a farm someday. “I love the outdoors and everything about it,” said Alex. “I hope to keep farming with dad.”
Favorite part of the farm: “I love everything about the farm – the cattle, land and work. But, the best part is seeing that at the end of the day you’ve got something accomplished,” Bryan said.
How do you run your farm and manage your job?
“I’ve got a lot of irons in the fire,” explains Bryan. “It’s hard to keep them all warm.” Bryan says that his farm is his “golf game.” The farm is a place of relaxation from his day to day operations of Shumaker Tires. He says he strives to raise low maintenance cattle because with also working the family business it leaves little time to “sweat the small stuff.” “We have no choice with our schedules – we can’t see them daily,” he said. Therefore, Bryan looks to bulls that have a medium birth weight and good expected progeny differences (E.P.D.).
Any improvements you would like to make on your farm?
“I’m looking into maybe crossing Angus with some Simmental bulls,” he said. “I think sometimes you can get too much of one blood in them – cross bred cattle have always been good.”
By Lane McConnell
