410: How the Border Closure Changed the Roping Cattle Industry with Tara Hill

The cattle behind professional rodeo have a story of their own. Tara Hill of Hill Rodeo Cattle joins us today on the podcast to give an inside look at the roping cattle industry and how the closure of the U.S.-Mexico border has changed the way rodeo stock contractors source cattle. The Hill family has supplied the NFR team roping steers for many years and will once again provide cattle for the National Finals Rodeo this year. Tara explains the scramble to replace Mexican roping cattle, the differences between native and Mexican steers, and what it takes to prepare cattle for the biggest stage in team roping.

Links:

https://www.facebook.com/hillrodeocattle/

CattleUSA Insurance - https://info.cattleusainsurance.com/l/1102253/2025-06-04/288f5m
⁠CattleUSA Website - https://www.cattleusa.com/
CattleUSA App IOS: https://apps.apple.com/us/app/cattleusa/id1673147759
CattleUSA App Android: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.edgarmcbee.cusamobile&pcampaignid=web_share
Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/cattleusamedia
Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/cattleusa.media/
Subscribe to our newsletter - https://www.cattleusa.shop/products/cattleusa-drive-premium-daily-newsletter?utm_source=ig&utm_medium=social&utm_content=link_in_bio&brid=YWdncwFNXt0EmdzFy5cJJBp84J9g
CattleUSA Media - https://www.cattleusamedia.com/
Lauren’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/_laurenmoylan/
Lauren’s Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@Showboatmediaco
The Next Generation Podcast Website - https://www.thenextgenag.com/

Key Takeaways:

• The closure of the Mexican border forced rodeo stock contractors to completely rethink how they source ready-to-rope cattle
• Mexican roping cattle are often older and more heavily handled, making them particularly valuable for team roping and rodeo
• Native U.S. cattle have helped fill the gap, but there are not enough ready-to-rope cattle to meet demand across the industry
• The border closure has affected more than cattle supply, creating ripple effects for truck drivers, cowboys, veterinarians, inspectors and other agricultural workers
• High cattle prices and tight supplies have made it increasingly difficult for team ropers and stock contractors to purchase practice cattle
• Reopening the border could restore an important part of the cattle supply chain while creating additional economic activity across the Southern U.S.
• Imported cattle are purchased and raised by American ranchers and feedyards, making cattle trade an important part of the U.S. cattle industry
• Border inspections have long been part of the cattle import process, with additional measures now being used to address New World screwworm concerns
• The border closure has changed the way cattle move through the U.S. supply chain and highlighted how interconnected the commercial, rodeo and broader cattle industries are

Chapters:

00:00 – Meet Tara Hill and Hill Rodeo Cattle
03:44 – How the Border Closure Changed Their Business
05:00 – The Difference Between Native and Mexican Roping Cattle
08:00 – Finding Enough Practice Cattle
10:01 – Preparing Cattle for the NFR
11:00 – How NFR Steers Are Selected
13:29 – What Border Inspections Look Like
17:58 – The Economic Impact of Mexican Cattle Imports
25:27 – Why Bringing Cattle Across the Border Matters

Mexican cattle imports, cattle imports, U.S.-Mexico cattle trade, cattle border closure, cattle border reopening, cattle trade, cattle industry, U.S. cattle industry, Texas cattle industry, cattle supply chain, cattle shortage, cattle supply and demand, cattle market, cattle prices, cattle producers, American ranchers, Southern cattle industry, cattle transportation, livestock trade, U.S. beef industry, cattle production, cattle economics, USDA cattle inspection, New World screwworm, cattle health inspections, Mexican cattle, cattle from Mexico, rodeo cattle, roping cattle, team roping cattle, NFR cattle, NFR steers, practice cattle, rodeo stock contractors, National Finals Rodeo