California Dream | September 2025

By Cheryl Kepes

Photos courtesy Colburn Cattle Co.

Colburn Cattle Company raises top Angus show cattle by combining proven results with forward-thinking strategies.

Matt Avila, general ranch manager for Colburn Cattle Co. (CCC) in Visalia, Calif., lives a life he’s envisioned since childhood. But even in his grandest dreams, Matt could not have scripted the fast and vast success he would experience so early in his career.

The life changing moment came when Matt purchased a show heifer for Colburn Cattle Co.’s owners, Ron and Lisa Colburn’s son, Wyatt. That Angus show heifer and her progeny would become household names for Angus producers across the country.

Colburn Cattle Co.’s immense success sky-rocketed more than a decade ago, but the operation refuses to rest on it laurels. The Angus operation pushes to produce relevant genetics and show ring superstars. “I’m very fortunate and blessed to be able to experience that at such a young age. I’m continuing to strive to experience it again,” Matt Avila shared.

Cultivating Cattle Knowledge

Though the rise to the top emerged rapidly it wasn’t by happenstance. From his earliest days, Matt honed his understanding of the cattle industry. Matt grew up in California working alongside his family, raising and marketing Angus performance cattle.

“I’ve always had a love for Angus cattle, and I remember it being almost like an obsession. I’d always be in the Angus Journals and listening to my family talk to people across the United States about different pedigrees. So, I was always fascinated with pedigrees, even pedigrees that reached back 50 to 60 years,” Matt Avila said.

Matt’s passion for the Angus breed has fueled his journey through each stage of his life. While attending Fresno State he managed the beef facility under the mentorship of Dr. Randy Perry. After graduation, Matt accepted an internship with Express Ranches, following that opportunity he landed a job with Colburn Cattle Co.

Sixteen years have passed since Matt started work for Colburn Cattle Co. During that time, Matt’s managed the cattle operations transforming the cow herd into a premier show cattle entity. Colburn Cattle Co. sells around 80 Angus show heifers annually.

“I am fortunate to be able to be involved with the Colburn family. They’ve been so great to work for and basically taken me in like family. It’s been a real blessing and great experience working with Ron and he lets me run this like it’s my own,” Matt said.

Started with a Dream

Through the years, Ron and Lisa’s children, Ryan, Tyler, Wyatt, and Abby, were involved in 4-H with steer and show heifer projects. When Matt first started working at Colburn Cattle Co., the cow herd was comprised of multiple breeds – Angus, Chianina, Shorthorns, Maines, and Simmentals.

After five or six years with the multiple breed approach, Matt guided the operation to turning all its attention to a single breed. “We started transforming the herd into just 100 percent Angus cattle and focusing on selling elite show heifers across the United States to juniors. And we had a lot of success right out of the gate,” Matt explained.

The soaring success started in 2012 when Matt set out to find Wyatt Colburn a competitive Angus female for the show ring. Matt hit a homerun when he discovered Silveiras Sara’s Dream 1339, a daughter of the famous Silveiras Style 9303.

Colburn Cattle Co. purchased Sara’s Dream, and she lived up to her name from the start. She swept the shows on the West Coast during her career on the tan bark. But as much attention as Sara’s Dream received in the show world, it was her progeny that put Colburn Cattle Co. fully in the Angus breed’s spotlight. To date, Sara’s Dream is one of the most renowned Angus females in the industry.

She’s the dam of industry leaders such as Colburn Primo 5153 (sire: Dameron First Class), Colburn Focus, Colburn Inspire, Colburn Creed, and Silveiras Primal plus many champion females.

Her son, Colburn Primo 5153, has developed into quite a legend. His semen sales are in the millions, and he has registered progeny across multiple breeds. Primo’s full sisters ruled the show circuit for years and his progeny bolstered the genetics of countless cattle operations.

Primo’s origins derived out of a mating decision Matt made guided by intuition he refined through years of studying pedigrees and immersing himself in the cattle industry. Matt owned some Dameron First Class semen and had a feeling it would be the perfect match with Sara’s Dream.

“I thought it’d be a really good mating, and it turned out to be something that paid for the farm,” Matt stated. “With getting Primo and all those full sisters that dominated the show circuit across the U.S, winning multiple ROV shows and the biggest multibreed shows in the country, that put us on the platform and got us noticed from there,” Matt added.

Staying Relevant

Colburn Cattle Co. continues to work to develop genetics that lead the Angus industry. One strategy the operation employs to stay relevant is to look outside its own ranks.

“We strive to breed as good of cattle as we can and stay open-minded and know that there are good ones out there and in other breeders’ hands. We’re not opposed to trying to get a piece of those genetics,” Matt said.

The cattle operation utilizes sires from other producers as well as from its own bull battery. Colburn Cattle Co. manages about 20 donor females, 150 recips, and 30 AI cattle. Though the herd is comprised solely of Angus, there’s still one beloved Charolais composite cow that stays in the donor pen to produce steers.

The cow herd is managed on several types of land. “We have 750 acres up in Orange Cove, where our cattle are run like commercial cattle. It’s very steep, rocky, native ground. So, they’re tough, they got to walk and survive,” Matt explained.

Colburn Cattle Co. also runs cattle on 200 acres at the home ranch, a hundred of those acres are irrigated. The cattle and future show calves move from the native ground to the irrigated lands when it’s time for halter breaking and breeding.

The operation also utilizes native ground in nearby Clovis and Springville. “The native ground is land that we just solely rely on the winter rains to grow feed for cattle. So, it does help out by giving them a break and getting them off the irrigated ground to where they can kind of go out and work like real cows,” Matt shared.

Show Ready

Colburn Cattle Co. prides itself in selling show calves that are broke, gentle, and ready for the show ring. Matt credits the work of two fulltime employees, Miguel Salomon and Nestor Salomon for their dedication with the show calves.

“These guys (Miguel and Nestor) have been with me for 14 years, so it’s pretty automatic - all the bugs and kinks are out of it. It works and it makes a big job seem effortless with these guys who are so passionate about it and care about the animals,” Matt said.

Colburn Cattle Co. markets its show calves through private treaty, online sales, and other breeders’ special sales. Once a junior takes the halter, Colburn Cattle Co. lends its support throughout the process.

Being a part of the juniors’ show journey is one of Matt’s favorite parts of his job. “Seeing a smile on a kid’s face when they win a show means a lot to me. It’s a lot of work. There’s a lot of disappointment in this. So, when you get one that’s good enough and it wins, and you see that kid proud and their family proud, I think that’s one of the biggest rewards of it,” Matt said.

The days are long but Matt soaks in each moment with gratitude. As Colburn Cattle Co. forges ahead with its pursuit of the next Angus legend, a new crop of show kids is entering the operation. The Colburns’ grandchildren and Matt’s daughters are reaching show age – perhaps fanning the competitive flames just a tad bit more and creating room for even more dreams to be realized.

Sale Offerings:

Contact CCC for private treaty sales, and watch for CCC genetics on sconlinesales.com

learn more at www.colburncattle.com