Gerald and Phyllis Ludwig were named the 2026 Cattlemen of the Year by the La Plata-Archuleta County Cattlemen’s Association.
The Ludwig’s were presented with the award at the 76th annual cattlemen’s banquet in April.
The award reflects the couple’s deep commitment to the ranching lifestyle, said Wayne Jefferies, who recently stepped down as president of the association.
The Ludwig family’s ranching legacy runs deep.
Their roots in the Pine River Valley date back to 1884, when they first settled what is now known as Ludwig Mountain in the Bear Creek area. Phyllis Ludwig, originally from Arkansas, joined after marrying into the family.
Their small cattle ranch just outside Bayfield brings in enough income to sustain itself, Phyllis said.
She and her husband, Gerald, keep about 60 Hereford head of cattle and a few horses. They sell beef cuts to neighbors, with most of the revenue going toward irrigation fees, taxes, insurance and veterinary bills.
“It’s worth it,” Phyllis said. “You don’t live high on the hog, but we all love the lifestyle, and my whole family is involved in it.”
To receive the cattleman of the year award was a surprise, she said.
“We just thought it was quite an honor, because we are small ranchers, and we thought, ‘Well, that usually goes to the bigger ranchers,’” she said.
But the size of the ranch is not what makes or breaks a potential award recipient, Jefferies said. The award is meant to celebrate dedication, stewardship and commitment to the preservation of the community agricultural traditions.
The Ludwigs represent the “very foundation of ranching heritage,” in the La Plata Valley, he said.
The couple are extremely active in the cattleman association and are always willing to help other ranchers when asked, he said. Additionally, Gerald spent years serving on water and ditch boards.
Gerald spent years helping “ensure agricultural water remains in agriculture and protecting one of the most vital resources our ranching community depends upon,” Jefferies said.
The Cattleman’s Association was founded in 1950 and has evolved to help ranchers address modern challenges such as drought and wolves. It regularly hosts speakers and clinics focused on solutions to common challenges facing local ranchers.