MBC Team Winter 2023 16:9

The People Behind the Plate with Brady and Ashley Wulf

Baleigh Peterson | August 9, 2024

Welcome back to “The People Behind the Plate”, where I talk with beef producers to learn more about their operation, the breed they raise, and even what beef cut is their favorite. I will also dive into facts about the breed each producer raises and what makes it an ideal breed. 

This time, we are featuring someone a bit “closer to home." Ashley Wulf, our Communication Director raises beef cattle with her husband, Brady, in west central Minnesota. I got the privilege of interviewing Brady to find out more about their operation. Clear Springs Cattle Company, near Starbuck, Minnesota, is home to about 320 new calves every year. Brady says, “The farm consists of my parents, my wife, Ashley, and I, and my one of my two brothers.” Brady grew up on the farm his grandpa started, but their family moved to a new farm in 2011. It was at this time that they switched from the Limousin breed to the Simmental breed and the family now proudly raises Simmental and Simangus cattle.

Clear Springs Cattle Company farm site

When considering the switch in breeds, Brady says, “We liked the direction the Simmental breed was heading. It is a growing breed full of good people who have a similar breeding mindset as us.” Brady explains further that some people have a negative mindset around Simmental cattle because they have been known to be bigger framed and harder calving, but the breed has come a long way.  

When asking Brady about the future of the operation, he says his dad is ready to slow down so Brady and his brother take on as much as they can. Brady’s brother does the genetics side and handles the mating while Brady tackles the crop and equipment side of the operation. Together they tackle the calving and their dad works heavily on the preparations for their bull sale that happens every February with a few other breeders.  

Beef is an important part of Brady and Ashley’s diet, so I asked them what their favorite beef dish to make at home currently is. “A good smash burger or a steak in the sous vide machine is a new favorite of ours,” says Brady.

Lastly, I asked Brady to share something that he, as a producer, wants the public to hear about raising beef. Brady says one thing that makes Minnesota stand out from many of the other states in the Midwest is our land quality. He says, “You won’t find many very large cattle operations which allows Minnesota farmers to give more attention to each animal in their herd and maintain high quality livestock. Minnesota land has high value for raising crops but we are unique in that we raise cattle here too.” Brady also wants to stress the positive impact that cattle can have in the environment because “they often get painted in a negative light today and are actually doing good things for the environment.” 

Thank you, Wulf family for raising high quality Minnesota beef!    


Read more about the Simmental beef breed below.     

The Simmental breed is one of the oldest and most widely distributed of all the beef breeds. Being originally from Switzerland and red and white in color, the Simmental breed was known for their large frame and rapid growth. They are now more commonly black in color with red or black with white faces being common as well.  

There is estimated to be between 40 and 60 million Simmental cattle world-wide with appearances being in several countries. The American Simmental Association was formed in 1968 and ranks in the top four of the U.S. beef breed associations in annual registrations, meaning Simmentals are a well-liked and popular breed still today.     

 Breed information source: https://breeds.okstate.edu/cattle/simmental-cattle.html 

Photo courtesy of Drovers and the American Simmental Association