Shanna Long’s article “Our hometown newspaper may not be perfect, but we have it” is so true. Cattlewomen friends in California and nationwide are envious that I can post a beef recipe and write a column on the Farm page because we still have a print newspaper. *** Scarmardo Cattle Company, Caldwell, Texas, was an interesting surprise since in past tours, we have visited auction yards.
This was the “order buyer” business, and it was huge. Imagine having order buyers at 10 to 15 auctions each day buying cattle to fill the orders, attending 80 sales in six days each week. Pete and their son Craig Scarmardo greeted us at the headquarters, where they received the purchased cattle.
Bawling calves were in the adjacent barn when we saw where the cattle are processed, with a moveable chute leading to the Silencer squeeze chute. There the animals are vaccinated, and if still bulls, are cut (castrated). A mat of rubber tire squares for walking out of the chute, without digging into the sandy soil.
Earlier we learned Pete started the business in 1976. Together with his wife, Jo, and their three sons, Scott, Craig, and Ty, they run a diversified family business that includes many other agribusiness operations. They can graze, background and start the cattle for the buyers.
90% don’t sell as feeders at, so there was all kinds from small, baby calves to larger calves. Scarmardo buys what you, (the buyer) want, from roping cattle, cattle for cutting practice, to graze their land.
