our team
Owner, Paul Ramirez
Paul Ramirez has had a lifelong tie to agriculture. Paul’s past employment includes; Nelson Livestock, Shamrock Dairy, Walco International Veterinary Supply Company, and Arizona Feeds. He is the current owner of U Can Bid Auctions and continues to be an auctioneer. As a youth he had great success in both 4-H and FFA winning numerous livestock judging contests and awards including the America Farmer Degree.
Paul has had great success as an auctioneer. He was awarded the 2009 International Livestock Champion Auctioneer at the Calgary Stampede. Paul has sold over 3,000 auctions in his lifetime and continues to enjoy selling junior livestock sales and charity auctions.
Paul is also an agent with United Country Stockmen’s Realty based out of Sonoita Arizona. He covers the state of Arizona assisting buyers and sellers in purchasing or selling farms, ranches, horse properties and other agriculture entities. Paul is also the lead agent for the real estate auction division of Stockmen’s Realty.
Paul has been married for 32 years, has two children (Shay and Madison) and lives in Tucson, AZ. When not working he enjoys attending livestock shows and auctions.
CONNECT WITH PAUL
Paul Ramirez, Owner
(520) 241-3333
Contributor, Dean Fish-PhD
Dean has dedicated his life work to livestock production in the West. Growing up on ranches in southern Arizona, he participated in 4-H beef, livestock judging and leadership programs. Following graduation from Patagonia High School, he attained a B.S. and M.S. at the University of Arizona in Animal Sciences. During a 15 year career as an Extension Livestock Agent and Regional Specialist, he completed a PhD in Reproductive Physiology. In 2013, Dean changed careers and became the Ranch Manager for the Santa Fe Ranch Foundation and officially launched Anchor F Cattle Co LLC. He currently ranches and raises commercial Angus cattle and club calves. In addition, he works with other cattlemen to help solve production challenges and is a member of the National Cattlemen's Beef Association Stockmanship and Stewardship team. Dean also works in the auction industry as an auctioneer and ringman, raising money for worthy charities that empower youth and provide for the less fortunate in our communities.
CONNECT WITH DEAN
R. Dean Fish, PhD, Contributor
(520) 988-8009
Contributor, Matt Arendt
Matt Arendt is a first-generation operator in agriculture, operating a diversified cattle business, Desert Springs Cattle Co LLC, consisting of cattle procurement services and cattle feeding. Matt handles cattle across the Western U.S. and has a customer base consisting of feedlots, stocker operators, ranchers, and packing houses across the West. Matt got his start in the business working on a cow-calf operation and at the local sale barn during his teenage years. Matt gained a real appreciation for the marketing business while working the sales, and has since focused his attention on that portion of the industry. Matt graduated from Oklahoma State with degrees in Ag-Business and Animal Science while competing on the rodeo team. Upon graduation, Matt spent his first four years working for two different packers, both times in cattle procurement. Matt is now in the business for himself, and enjoys the relationships he has developed in the cattle industry. Matt is the author of “Catching Up With The Cattle Market”, a weekly article sent out to subscribers that provides an in-depth look at the cattle and beef markets.
Matt lives in Tucson with his wife Caroline and their horses and corgi, Pokey. Matt’s role at Western Ag Life will be to provide listeners with weekly market updates on the cattle and beef markets, on both a regional and national perspective.
CONNECT WITH MATT
Matt Arendt, Contributor
(949) 351-0212
Content Contributor, Patina Thompson
Contributor Patina Thompson earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Wildlife, Watershed and Rangeland Resources from the University of Arizona. She was raised in the mountains of Dragoon and has a diverse background; running heavy equipment in her teenage years, working on wildlife habitats as an intern with the Arizona Game and Fish Department, and managing farm properties and leases in southeastern Arizona. As a native to Cochise County, Patina has a great love for agriculture and specializes in crop insurance with AMS Insurance Company. She is part of a third generation ranching family and enjoys telling stories through photography. She is a wife, mother, rancher, hunter and conservationist in beautiful southeastern Arizona.
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Patina Thompson, Content Contributor
Creative Contributor, Renée Bidegain
Renée Bidegain is an animal enthusiast, urban farmer, poultry expert and fine artist. You can usually find her and husband Aaron on their days off helping family or cooking for an event. Renée was born and raised on a working cattle ranch in southern Arizona and is proud to carry her families’ agricultural legacy through the 21st Century.
CONNECT WITH RENEE
Renée Bidegain, Creative Contributor
(520) 334-5464
Creative Contributor, Caroline Arendt
As a bonafide horse girl and storyteller by nature, it made perfect sense to pair my creativity with my passion and tell rural stories using a variety of content to reach the masses. Through my company, Caroline Arendt Creative, I am blessed with the opportunity to share the stories of everyone from ranchers to pro rodeo athletes and everyone in between on a daily basis through content creation.
CONNECT WITH CAROLINE
Caroline Arendt, Creative Contributor
(913) 558-7959
Meteorologist, Michael Groff
My name is Michael Groff, the resident weather geek here at Western Ag Life.
Like many others, my family abandoned their snow shovels in Minnesota/North Dakota and moved to the desert southwest more than 40 years ago. As far back as I can remember, meteorology was a passion of mine. The weather across the southwest U.S. may not have the hurricanes, tornadoes and prolonged deep-freezes you'll find elsewhere, but it is still fascinating and challenging.
When I'm not looking at forecast models, charts and graphs you will probably find me hanging out with my girlfriend and our two dogs named Buddy and Topaz. I also play piano, compose music, create additional, random, non-weather related content for YouTube and play some video games here and there.
Click on this link to listen to Michael’s extended weather report daily
CONNECT WITH MICHAEL
Michael Groff, Meteorologist
Lifestyle Contributor, Tina Mead-Ramirez
Tina is a native of Tucson, Arizona. She has been married to her husband Paul Ramirez for 32 years and has two children, Shay and Madison. She learned about agriculture from Paul. Both her children have been heavily involved in 4H and FFA. Tina has a heart for philanthropy and has served on charity and fundraising boards. She has been a Farmers Insurance Agent for 26 years.
Tina has a passion for photography and baking and grew up with a long lineage of great cooks in her family. Her Grandparents owned and ran a breakfast and lunch counter during the 1960’s. Food has definitely been a “love language” to her and her family. Born and raised in Tucson with a southern lineage brings a unique flair to her cooking and baking.
Auctions, estate sales, and yard sales are hobbies Tina loves. With her husband Paul being a long time auctioneer and owning an auction company, she has been part of hundreds of auctions. She loves how unique each auction is, you never know what you may find or who you are going to meet and the stories they will share.
We are excited to share the gift of “Western Ag Life” to our friends old and new.
Jeremiah 17:7-8 “Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”